Dear ,

As stated in the ELCA Social Statement on "Our Calling in Education" --

Education belongs to our baptismal vocation.  Our particular calling in education is two-fold:  to educate people in the Christian faith for their vocation and to strive with others to ensure that all have access to high-quality education that develops personal gifts and abilities and serves the common good.  This calling embraces all people in both Church and society.

The calling of Lutherans and of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in education is closely tied to a Lutheran understanding of vocation.  While many understand vocation as a job or career or as the call to be a pastor or priest, Lutherans understand vocation as a calling from God that encompasses all of life for all the faithful.

As your university, California Lutheran University takes this work seriously as we prepare youth to answer God's call in their lives.  We equip students to serve as youth leaders in the Youth and Family Ministry program within the new Theology and Christian Leadership major and support their work in serving as camp counselors and interns in your congregations.  CLU also provides programs such as Invitation to Service, a vocational event for youth ages 15-22, and the Youth Ministry Training program which equips youth leaders.  These events are held every August.  And this past July the campus hosted more than 600 youth and adult counselors from 11 states for the Western States Youth Gathering.

CLU owes its existence to congregations such as yours.  From 1961, when the first 330 freshmen and sophomores arrived, until today with 2713 undergraduates and 1390 graduate students, the University is thriving.  The campus has expanded thanks to our faithful friends and donors.  In the past 10 years a new structure has been built every year to accommodate the growing student body.  With a future greater than its past California Lutheran University is educating leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.

We at California Lutheran University express our gratitude to the congregations in the Sierra Pacific Synod for your support in prayer, sending students and financial gifts.     

Thank you, 

The Church Relations Office

Rev. Arne Bergland, Director

Linda LeBlanc, Assistant Director

We remember in prayer:

Pastor Jim DeLange (retired), family and friends, following the death of his wife, Diane; a funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, October 29 at 3 p.m. at St. Francis, San Francisco; reception following

Rachel Webb, daughter of the late Rev. David Webb (St. Mark's, Fairfield), recovering from a serious car accident

Pastor Cindy Carroll (St. John's, Sacramento), family and friends, after the death of her father, Charles Carroll

Pastor Bob McKee (St. Luke, Sunnyvale), family and friends, at the sudden and unexpected death of his brother, Victor Conrad 

Anti-Racism Workshop in Walnut Creek November 17-19

You are invited to attend the next Anti-Racism Workshop at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek. The training begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.  Experienced presenters, led by the Rev. Joseph Barndt, provide a historical context for the institutionalized racism in our society, and also give us tools to work to dismantle racism in our neighborhoods and in our churches.

The cost for this workshop is $125 and includes breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday.  There is a special rate of $100 per person for congregational groups of 3 or more. Registration closes Nov. 1; click here for more info or to register.

 
Special group rate for lodging of $99 per night (up to 4 people per room) has been arranged at the Renaissance Club Sport in Walnut Creek; call 925-942-6388 by Nov. 1 (Note: # in flyer is incorrect).

Reformation Event at PLTS 

Sunday evening, Oct. 30 at 7 pm

Celebrate the Reformation with PLTS, and meet the Rev. John Nunes, President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief, leading staff in 17 countries to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.

Luther Lecture at PLTS

Registration is now open for this annual event!  On Wed., Nov. 2, Dr. Robert D. Hawkins will present Recovering the Biblical Narrative: The Hymnic Dialog of Proclamation and Response.  His keynote lecture will focus on the content of hymnody as it presents the full biblical narrative and the music that makes this possible.  If music is indeed, following Luther, the primary "handmaid" of the biblical text and theology, then questions regarding style remain secondary to the faithful setting forth of the narrative.  For more info or to register click here.

FALL DISTRICT / CONFERENCE GATHERING SCHEDULE

DISTRICT A -- Redwood Conference (TBD); The Vineyard Conference (TBD); Gateway Conference (early 2012); Delta Diablo Conference (TBD)

 
DISTRICT C -- San Francisco Conference; East Bay Conference; Southern Alameda Conference
Sun., Oct. 16, 2-4pm, St. James, San Leandro

 
DISTRICT D -- Peninsula Conference; Santa Clara Valley Parish; Monterey Bay Conference ·Sat., Oct. 22, 10am- 3pm, Christ the Good Shepherd, San José

DISTRICT E --

   Sierra San Joaquin (electing a Dean)
        and Central Valley Conferences

        Sat., Oct. 29, 10am-2pm,

        Emanuel, Modesto

   Central San Joaquin Conference

        Tues., Oct. 25, 5:30-7pm,

        Hope, Fresno

   South Valley Conference (electing a

   Dean) 

        Tues., Oct. 18, 6:45-8:15pm

        Christ, Visalia 

Synod Staff Wellness Log

SPS staff members have reported wellness progress for the month of September...

Pounds Lost:

September - 7   --   To Date - 61 

Exercise Hours:

September - 20.5   --   To Date - 274.5

Spiritual Development Hours:

September - 26 --   To Date - 374.5

Checked Out the SPS Website Lately?

If you haven't looked at our synod website recently, you really should! There are new features, including a "Classifieds" area where you will be able to find information about local events, job opportunities and free items. We have also added links to each of those website pages in the "Quicklinks" section of the newsletter (above). Try it out!

Sixteenth Annual Essay Contest:
Bullying in California's High Schools

Bullying is an extremely serious issue that effects not only students in California, but students across the nation.  Imagine that you are a state legislator, able to make decisions that could impact this issue.  How would you fight bullying in schools?  Are there effective ways to deal with this issue that are not being used in schools?

Students are asked to share their thoughts and views on this important topic, explore what strategies are working to help curb bullying in schools, and what work still needs to be done.  Ten winning essayists will be invited to spend a day in Sacramento at LegiSchool's 16th annual Student Legislative Summit on April 11, 2012, where they will be able to discuss this issue at a Summit Meeting with policymakers. Postmark deadline for essays is Fri., Jan. 20, 2012; click here for more information.