|
|
|
Sierra
Pacific Synod
God's Work. Our
hands. | |
| |
Sierra
Pacific Synod,
ELCA Sept.
30, 2010
|
| |
|
|
|
In many congregations this is the time
of year when stewardship campaigns are getting started.
All too often the conversation moves in the direction of
making sure that there is enough money to support a
congregation's budget. Unfortunately, the deep
significance of stewardship as a spiritual discipline, as an
opportunity to deepen one's faith and dependence on God, can
be lost
Let's focus today on two of the
spiritual dimensions of stewardship - proportionate sharing
and first fruits giving. A story:
There
was a poor worker in Portugal, named Miguel, and he was an old
man. He would make 30 cents a day picking up trash in the
streets and selling it to the city. When he got home, he
would put 15 cents in a tin can for the church and keep 15
cents for himself. Once when it was suggested to him
that he was giving too much and that he should keep more for
himself, he replied, "Senhor, there are two of us on the job -
God and me - and we split the proceeds 50/50!"
Miguel's giving to God's work was
proportionate; that is, he saw that all of what he had was
God's gift to him, and he responded with a joyful and generous
heart. So often our approach to proportionate giving is
in relation to how much we think we need for ourselves and how
much we can "afford" to return to God. When we are
convinced that God is the source of all that we have, then our
focus can be on God's generosity, not our sense of
scarcity.
Another story -
Once there was a boy who brought a fish to his pastor.
"Here's my tithe," he said proudly. "That's great,"
replied the pastor. "Where are the other ones?"
"They're still in the river," the boy said, "I will go catch
them now."
First fruits
giving discloses our willingness to rely upon God to sustain
us. Setting aside our offering first - the first fish,
the first fruit and grain, the first division of the paycheck
- says that we trust that God will provide all that we
need. As disciples we are committed to give our very
best to God, not our leftovers.
Where are you
in your stewardship walk? I pray that you are moving
ever more deeply into relationship with God in Christ, and
that proportionate sharing and first fruits giving are a
blessing to you along the path of discipleship. Our
gifts of money - and time and abilities - are important ways
in which we do God's work with our hands.
God's
peace,
Pastor Jim
Goldsmith Director for Mission Support
|
 |
|
We remember in
prayer...
Pr. Mark Price's (St. Paul,
Lodi) mother, Barbara, recovering from a severe stroke
Art Fabsits (Transition Team) undergoing hip
replacement surgery Oct. 6th
Pat Cash (Synod Council Secretary) walking the Susan G.
Komen 3 Day for the Cure of breast cancer
We invite you to lift
up these ministry partners in prayer: Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, Concord; St. Paul's Lutheran Family, Carson
City; Lutheran Church of the Cross, Berkeley; St. Philip's
Lutheran Church, Carmel; Mountain Lutheran Church,
Groveland |
|
|
"Travel
As a Spiritual Act"
A
Presentation by Travel Guru
RICK
STEVES
A
Benefit for The Rwanda School Project and Lutheran Social
Services of Northern California
October 20, 2010
5:00
Reception ·
6:30 pm Lecture
at St.
John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento
Hosted
by Christ the King, Orangevale, and St. John's Lutheran
Churches
Rick
Steves, author of over 50 European travel guidebooks and
host of PBS' "Rick Steves' Europe", is coming to
Sacramento. He believes that thoughtful travel expands
our world view and helps us "challenge truths we were raised
to think were self-evident and God-given." Rick will
share how the other 96% of humanity sees our nation and
explore how his social activism has grown naturally out of his
travel experiences. Time for Q & A and autographs
will follow his talk.
Reception + Lecture: $99 - Admission
to an intimate reception with Rick Steves prior to the lecture
with light refresh-ments, reserved seating for the lecture,
and an autographed copy of one of his books. Space is
limited.
Lecture Only: $40
- Includes
general admission seating for the lecture.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION & TICKETS, PLEASE CLICK
HERE
|
|
SEEKING GOD'S GRACE IN THE GULF
You are
invited to join in a national day of prayer and lament for the
Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, Oct. 3. Host a worship
service, candlelight vigil or other event that lifts up the
needs of those in the Gulf. Worship materials, a
bulletin insert, educational resources and other activities
have been developed for your use; these materials can be found
here. Please let us know if your
congregation will be participating.
Blessings,
ELCA Washington Office
|
|
DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS
Is Your
Church a "ReadyChurch"?
Even as September's National Prepared-ness Month
comes to a close, Lutheran Disaster Response is challenging
Lutherans everywhere to become a part of the ReadyChurch
Initiative. We are "called to love and serve the
neighbor" and being disaster prepared is a great way to do
just that.
Everything you need to participate in the
"ReadyChurch" initiative can be found on the Lutheran
Disaster Response Web site at www.ldr.org/ready. The site includes additional information
about each of the three steps, links to helpful information
from other organizations like the American Red Cross, and
the downloadable "ReadyKit" list. Don't delay... get
READY today!
|
|
MINISTRY/ROSTER
CORRECTION:
Kirk
Shipley
- Interim Ministry
|
|
GIVING
BEGETS MORE
GIVING...
Christ
Lutheran Church in Visalia just completed a 3 year building
campaign. A major part of the effort included the
congregation's pledge to give a tithe of the campaign proceeds
to Bethel Lutheran Home in Selma, CA. A check for
$150,681.96 was presented to Bethel, which will help them
expand their physical and spiritual offerings to residents for
the next 15 years. Kaylene Steele, Bethel's
administrator, told the congregation, "Your recent gift of
$150,681 from your capital campaign is a wonderful, timely,
generous donation that will enable us to expand a vital
resident mobility program. Our residents will receive
direct and lasting benefit as a result of your
gift."
This is
the second time that the congregation has tithed from a
capital campaign. The earlier tithe was given to Lord of
Life Lutheran Church in Clovis, then under development.
Pastor Brian Malison shares, "Our members have discovered a
greater joy in giving when they see that their gifts are
making a difference beyond the walls of Christ Lutheran
Church. I believe this tithing focus has raised the
level of stewardship in the congregation beyond what we would
have done without the tithe."
(from left) Pastor Brian Malison, Christ, Visalia;
Kaylene Steele, R.N., Executive Director, Bethel Lutheran
Home; Phil Benner, Bethel Board President; Bob Hartman,
Board President, Christ, Visalia
 | |
|
|
Thrivent Choice is for YOU and your
CONGREGATION
For
YOU:
Help Lutheran organizations near and dear to you.
Eligible benefit members 16 and older can help direct Thrivent
Financial charitable funds through Choice Dollars. By
directing designated Choice Dollars, you can request funding
for your local congregation or for Lutheran camps, schools,
seminaries and campus ministries. Visit Thrivent.com/choice for more
information.
For your
CONGREGATION:
If your congregation is not an enrolled recipient in Thrivent
Choice, visit Thrivent.com/choice to enroll. You can
also review the tools and resources available to promote your
congregation to Thrivent Financial members who may be eligible
to direct Choice Dollars.
|
|
FAITH AND COURAGE
October 10, 2010
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary invites
all of the congregations in our synod to celebrate Oct. 10 as
Faith and Courage Sunday. PLTS was born in Portland 100
years ago by a small group of faithful and courageous
people. There are many stories of faith and courage in
our congregations, and pastors and congregational leaders are
encouraged to lift them up in honor of those who founded PLTS
100 years ago.
PLTS
sent Faith and Courage Sunday informational items to every
congregation recently. If your congregation did not
receive these, or if you have any questions, contact
Joel S.
Wudel, Vice President for Seminary Relations, at 510-524-5264
or jwudel@plts.edu.
|
|
|
More than a billion people around the world are
hungry. Many struggle to live on less than $1 per day.
What if we could join together to make a difference in
the fight against hunger? What if it started at your
next potluck?
A Month of Potlucks is a movement started by two
Lutheran pastors. The idea is simple. Host a
potluck, include a talk or activity about hunger and take a
collection for ELCA World Hunger. 74 congregations are
already onboard. Will yours be the next to join
them? Register your potluck and find great resources at
www.amonthofpotlucks.org.
| |
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Events
|
|
September 30 - October 5
Conference of
Bishops
October 11-12 Council of Deans
Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City
October 12-14 Professional
Leaders Conference
Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City
October 15-17 High School Event
at Mt. Cross
October 16 District E Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Shepherd of the
Valley, Merced
October 17 District C Fall
Assembly 2:00 - 5:00 pm
St. Mark's, San Francisco
October 22-23 Candidacy
Committee, PLTS,
Berkeley
October 23 District A Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Our Savior's, Lafayette
November 6 District D Fall
Assembly 10:00 - 3:00
Advent, Morgan Hill
November 12-14 Junior High Event
at Mt. Cross
November 12-14 Spouse of Clergy
Retreat, San Damiano Retreat
Center, Danville
2011
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
January 19-20 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights
January 28-29 Synod Council
February 25-27 Elementary
Retreat #1 - at Mt. Cross
February 28 - March 1
Retired Clergy/Spouse/Lay
Rostered//Widows/Widowers
Retreat
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
March 25-27 Elementary
Retreat #2 - at Sly
Park
May 12 Synod Council
Burlingame, CA
May 13-15 Synod Assembly
Hyatt Regency Airport
Burlingame, CA
June 24-25 Synod Council
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 23-24 Synod Council
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
2012
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
January 18-19 Council of Deans
Retreat - Christ the
King
Retreat Center, Citrus
Heights
July 18-22 ELCA Youth
Gathering
New Orleans, LA
2013
February 28 - March 5 Conference
of Bishops
October 3-8 Conference of Bishops
Lutheran Center,
Chicago
|
|
|
|
VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Valparaiso
Univer-sity in Valparaiso, Indiana, believes refining the
leader-ship gifts of Lutheran young people is an impor-tant
calling. In pursuit of that goal, Valparaiso
awards
two
prestigious, full-tuition scholar-ships to gifted Lutheran
high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership ability
in the church at large, exhibit academic excellence, and who
intend to serve the Lutheran church as a lay or rostered
leader.
If you believe you know of a senior, who will
graduate next year, that deserves consider-ation, you may
nominate her or him for this
award. The deadline for nominees is Oct. 15,
2010. Send their name and contact information to Bishop
Mark at bpmark@spselca.org
|
PROFESSIONAL
LEADERS' CONFERENCE
October
12-14
Registered for the Conference yet? Contact
Registrar Diane McGeoch at dlmcgeoch@juno. com or at 510.430.0500 x117
for more info. |
FALL CONFERENCE and DISTRICT
ASSEMBLIES COMING
UP!
District E - Sierra San Joaquin, Central
Valley, Central San Joaquin and South Valley Conferences on
Sat., Oct. 16th, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Shepherd of the Valley
Lutheran Church, Merced: "Money... For Jesus' Sake" - A
Conversation about Stewardship with Mark Allan Powell
Visitors from other Districts are
welcome!
District C - San Francisco, East Bay and
Southeran Alameda Conferences on Sun., Oct. 17th, 2:00 am to
5:00 pm, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, San
Francisco |
|
WHERE ARE
YOUR COLLEGE STUDENTS?
Wouldn't it be great if they were hooking up with the
Lutheran Campus Ministry at their school? Well, they
can, with your help! Send your student's name, cell
phone number, e-mail address and other contact in-formation to
the school's campus ministry staff, and they'll do the
rest. Don't know how to get in touch with them?
You can find a list here
or you can send the infor-mation to jgold smith@spselca.org and we'll get it to the right
campus ministry team. |
|
"Gathering Voices: How to turn Advocacy
Into Action"
Sponsored by the Synod Hunger
Network
Join us
at Lutheran
Church
of the Incarnation, 1701
Russell Blvd., Davis, on Sat.,
Oct. 23, 2010, from 9:30
am until 3 pm; an optional social hour will
follow. David
Gist and Holly Hight from Bread for
the World will facilitate inter-active
training that will make advocacy ministry come alive in your
church.
This is a family-friendly event with a parallel
youth and children's program. Cost for the
day, including lunch, is $10; there is no charge for
congregational hunger contacts or seminarians.
The schedule has been arranged to accommodate travel on
AMTRAK. Contact Edie Lott for more info at
thelotts@gmail.com or 530 582-5362.
Hear the Asante story and buy life-changing
products at our African fair-traded gift market... a great
holiday shopping opportunity!
|
|
|
GLOCAL MISSION
GATHERING:
Oct.
8-9 in West Linn, Oregon, near Portland. Build the
skills needed to be a part of God's mission, no matter where
service happens; just $35 per person for 1-1/2 days of
programming. Contact
Global
Mission to attend.
| |
claimed .
. . gathered . . . sent
The
Sierra Pacific Synod
PO Box
276648, Sacramento, CA 95827-6648
|
Contact
Information
|
Karen Idler, Newsletter
Administrator |
End your newsletter with a kick --
consider an additional message or prayer, or a last thought to
leave your members with. Link
| | |
|
