I had an interesting sojourn into Nevada
last week that began with a meeting of the Synod Assembly
Planning Committee in Reno. In anticipation of holding
our next Synod Assembly at the Silver Legacy Hotel, May 6-8,
2010, the Planning Committee looked over the convention
facilities, met with the dean, pastors and members of local
congregations who will be welcoming us to the "biggest little
city in the world," and began the work of planning an agenda
for the Assembly that will be well worth the time and energies
of those who attend. More word about our theme "Vital
Congregations - Just Communities" will be coming from the
Planning Committee soon. Keep this team in your prayers
as we look for ways to celebrate the work God has called us to
do in Northern Nevada and Northern California.
From Reno, where I also met with local clergy to
hear about our ministries in the Reno area, I next travelled
to Fernley, where Pr. Paul Theiss leads Gift of Grace
Fellowship. I had a great meeting with the leadership of
Gift of Grace, and heard about their hopes to represent Christ
to a community that hosts a distribution center for
Amazon.com. Pr. Paul also drove me out to Pyramid Lake,
which is 1/3 larger than Lake Tahoe, and is a beautiful,
undeveloped reservoir of the Truckee River.
Next, it was on to Elko, and a beautiful 4-hour
drive across the high desert of Nevada. Not too far out
of Fernley, the only stations I could pick up I wasn't
interested in, so I turned to my iPod. I have always
appreciated the desert. I used to camp there when I was
growing up, and the Borrego desert was where the Astronomy and
Rocketry Club held their rocket/star parties (it was less
nerdy than it sounds - OK, it was really nerdy, but it was
great fun).
When I arrived in Elko,
Pr. Melissa Lundquist (fairly new to our synod) met me and
took me on a tour of Elko and a beautiful valley east of
town that still had snow on the ground from a few days
before. On Sunday morning, I was privileged to preach
for a Consecration Sunday Service and Celebration of Ministry
that was truly a joyful experience in a congregation packed
with children, families, singles and seniors. Faith
Lutheran, one of the congregations in the "far flung" reaches
of our synod, is doing vital work on behalf of all of us to
serve the somewhat isolated community of Elko, which is 2 ½
hours west of Salt Lake City. Please remember them in
your prayers, and give thanks to God for their witness in a
community that is blessed by their witness and service.
My drive back - 465 miles and 7½ hours from Elko
to Stockton on less than one tank of gas in my Prius (51 mpg
on this trip) was long, but again beautiful. I thank
Carole King, Jackson Brown, Sheryl Crow, Gustav
Holst and John Fogerty for their company on my
trip. I also thank Jesus Christ and you for your
presence on this trip, since it is you I am honored to
represent when I make such journeys.
God's
Peace,
Bp.
Mark
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We remember in prayer . . .
The family and friends of Pastor Ross Hidy, as they
celebrate his life in a memorial service this Saturday
Ann Brannen (Synod Council), recovering from a mild heart
attack
Eli Smuts, son of Pastor
Matt Smuts (Grace, Palo Alto) and Mariel Spengler (Mount
Cross), undergoing heart surgery
Pastor Scott Minke (on leave, disability), continuing
treatment for cancer
Pastor Duane Woida (Chaplain, Salem Lutheran Home),
continuing treatment for autoimmune hemolytic
anemia
The conferences and pastors of District D,
meeting in assembly this weekend in Palo Alto
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LUTHERAN OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY
RECOMMENDS EVENTS
Agents of Change, Annual Hunger
Event, Saturday, November 7, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
- Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, Davis.
Featuring Rev. Daniel Rift, Director of the ELCA
Hunger Appeal. More information:
Edie Lott, 530-582-5362
San Francisco Stroller Brigade -
Champions for Children's Health, Sunday, November 8,
2009, 2:00 pm - San Francisco City Hall. The
purpose is to send a strong message to Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein that
California children need their leadership now to ensure that
children are better -- not worse -- off after health care
reform. A family friendly event including activities for
children. More information: http://cdfca.org.
2009 Energy Oscars, Tuesday, November 10
- Grace Cathedral, San Francisco; 6:00 pm reception, 7:15 pm
awards program. Featuring Rabbi Michael Lerner,
who will help honor congregations in the areas of green
building, energy efficiency and conservation, education &
advocacy. Free event, donations welcome. More
information: Jennifer Toth, 415-391-4214 or www.interfaithpower.org.
Enrique's Journey - Friday, November 13;
5:30 light refreshments, 6:00 Sonia Nazario. An
evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Sonia Nazario, author of
this true story of a Honduran boy who braved unimaginable
hardship and peril to reach his mother in the US (and inspired
the HBO documentary, Which Way Home). Sponsored
by Interfaith Coalition on Immigrant Rights,
415-227-0388.
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JESUS, JUSTICE, JAZZ CONCERT TOUR FOR ELCA
WORLD HUNGER
The Jesus, Justice, Jazz Concert
Tour is making its way around the country
to raise awareness and funds for ELCA World Hunger.
Building on the excitement generated at the New Orleans
National Youth Gathering, the only scheduled stop in
California will be in Sacramento on January 29.
The concert, featuring Lost and Found
and Agape (Dave Scherer), will be hosted by
several Sacramento area churches and will take place at
The Refuge at St. John's Lutheran Church in downtown
Sacramento. Tickets will be $10 and the concert will
start at 8:00 pm.
Additional details, including possible service
opportunities, are being planned. Save the date!
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Upcoming Events
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November 7 10:00 - 3:00
District D Conferences
Assembly - Grace,
Palo Alto
November 7 Agents of
Change Hunger Network
Workshop
Incarnation, Davis
November 7 - Christ Lutheran
(Visalia) Academy for
Discipleship
9:00am - 3:00 pm
Christ Lutheran, Visalia
November 11 Regional
Interim Pastors Gathering
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Immanuel, Alameda
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-14 Bible
Study with Dr. Hans
Wiersma - Bethel,
Cupertino
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
November 13-15 Synod
Youth Middle School Event
Mt. Cross
November 15 - ELCA-UMC
Full Communion
Partnership Celebration
7:00 pm
First UMC Church,
Sacramento
November 16 Financial
Wellness Workshop
Grace, Palo Alto
November 19 Financial
Wellness Workshop
Our Savior's, Lafayette
November 19 Regional
Interim Pastors Gathering
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Gloria Dei, Sacramento
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
January 12 10:00 - 12:20
Interim Pastors Steering
Committee - Synod Office
January 13-14 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
January 26 Synod-wide
Interim Pastors Gathering
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location to be announced
February 14-16 Clergy/AiMs
& Spouses Retreat
Asilomar
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
March 12-14 Spring Youth
Retreat at PLTS
April 22 Mt. Cross Shalom
Camp Meeting for Pastors/
Youth Directors
10:00 - 2:00 pm
Advemt. Citrus
Heights
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
July 11-16 Mt. Cross
Shalom Camp
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops -
Chicago
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
May 12 - Synod Council
May 13-15 Synod Assembly
Hyatt Regency Airport
Burlingame, CA
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
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INTERIM PASTORS'
MEETINGS
Attention all Interim Pastors:
Please plan to attend one of the following Regional
Interim Pastors Gatherings:
Bay Area - Wednesday, November
11
10:00 - 2:30
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1910 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda,
CA 94501
(510) 523-0659
Valley Area -
Thursday,
November 19
10:00 - 2:30
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 4910 Lemon Hill Ave.,
Sacramento, CA 95824
(916) 428-8347
Also note:
Synod-wide Gathering
Tuesday,
January 26, 2010
10:00 - 2:00,
with Pastor Richard J. (Dick) Bruesehoff, ELCA Director
for Leadership Support.
Location to be announced.
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FINANCIAL WELLNESS
WORKSHOPS
Andrea Arey, Regional Representative for
the ELCA Board of Pensions, will be presenting two wellness
workshops in the Sierra Pacific Synod.
All Plan members are invited to attend one of these
evemts:
November 16
10:30 - 12:00
Lunch provided
Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverley St.
Palo Alto, CA
- or -
November 19
10:30 - 12:00
Lunch provided
Our Savior's Lutheran
Church
1035 Carol Lane
Lafayette, CA
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 