The Office of the Bishop, all locations,

will be closed on Thursday, November 24,

and Friday, November 25, 

in observance of Thanksgiving

Dear ,  

"Master... I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground." Matthew 25: 24-25  

When God entrusts us with goods and blessings, the immediate question for us is, are we ready to answer God's trust positively or not?  The positive answer to God's trust is exactly the same; it is our personal trust in God's wisdom.  We call this answer: faith.  We answer with faith showing that we believe what God is offering and giving to us is best for us.  God not only gave us responsibilities but God also gave to each one the ability to manage these responsibilities.

I invite you to think for a moment about all the different events in your personal journey of life and faith, and the life of your church; please think and recall all the blessings, job opportunities, professional skills, spiritual teachings, Synod trainings, workshops, assemblies, worship, Bible studies and all the examples of faith and generosity received from others.  You have received all these blessings to awaken your understanding that you and your church have been entrusted by God with talents to manage.  You have also received the ability to do it well.

The Gospel talks about some servants that, understanding the blessings and the abilities they had, could use the gifts they received very wisely.  But one did not.  He said: I was afraid, and I went and hid the talent in the ground.

Fear is the real enemy of generosity.  We cannot be generous if we have fear of making mistakes.  We cannot be generous if we have fear of not having enough.  We cannot be generous if we have fear of becoming poor.  We cannot be generous if we have fear of receiving judgment.  We can be generous if when overcoming fear we make a strong commitment to walk by faith sharing God's abundant provisions.

You and your church are invited to participate in the Synod's Mission Support 2012 and send your benevolences to the Synod and the ELCA to support ministry and mission for the upcoming year.  I invite you to be generous and do not be afraid of the economy and the challenges of the global crisis.

We, people of faith, are invited to focus not on scarcity but to put our eyes on the unlimited grace of God.  We should not forget that there is not scarcity in God, for Jesus shared abundantly God's love and showed this love in every word and deed during his ministry.

Finally, "Our giving (or lack of giving) reflects whether we are listening to the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God".  Let's practice the wisdom of generosity, the wisdom of God.

God's Peace,

We remember in prayer:    

All who have suffered loss or harm from severe weather in the Southeast

New Assistant to the Bishop Begins Work December 5th 

It is our pleasure to introduce the newest member of the SPS staff, The Rev. Katy Grindberg.  Katy was called to serve as Assistant to the Bishop by the Synod Council on October 19th; she will be located in the Office of the Bishop, Bay Area, in Burlingame.

Formerly the Associate Pastor at Advent Lutheran Church in Citrus Heights, she is a 2006 M.Div. graduate of PLTS, with an MA in Liturgical Studies earned in 2009.  In her free time, Katy enjoys reading, coffee with friends, movies and being outdoors - especially on or near the water.

She can be reached starting Dec. 5th at katy@spselca.org or 650-590-0980.

Welcome aboard, Pr. Katy Grindberg!

ELCA Presiding Bishop Writes to President Obama and Congress about the DREAM Act

Apply Now to be an

ELCA Young Adult in Global Mission   

Young adults (ages 19-29) are invited to apply to serve for a year in an international program in Argentina and Uruguay, Jerusalem / West Bank, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Central / Eastern Europe, Southern Africa and the United Kingdom.  For more information or to apply, please click here.

Sponsors Needed for

Missionaries in Argentina 

You can be a sponsor for the Rev. Dr. Jose Rodriguez, who serves as chancellor at the seminary of the Lutheran Church in Argentina, and his wife, Kathryn Bake, who serves the church as coordinator for event planning.  Sponsors from Nebraska, Texas, and the Chicago area are especially welcomed to minimize their travel time and maximize their effectiveness while on home leave.  For more information, click here or call 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2657.

2012 Clergy/ AIMs/Diaconal Ministers and Spouses/Partners Retreat

Santa Cruz Mtns.

Feb. 19-21, 2012 

Retreat cost is $500 (room and board); $250 is needed by Nov. 30th to reserve your spot; space is limited to 21 couples.  Make your check payable to Santa Clara Valley Lutheran Parish and mail to: ELCA Rostered Leaders & Partners, c/o Jim & Peggy White, 3744 Cadwallader Ave., San Jose 95121.

Contact Information

Cindi Eckert, Newsletter Administrator                            Pr. Jim Goldsmith, Synod Communicator