This issue of the Synews is for:
August 9 - August 22
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Southwest California
Synod Staff
Dean W. Nelson
Bishop
Assistants to the Bishop
Mission Support
The Rev. Laurie Arroyo
Lay Mission Leadership
AIM Agnes S. McClain
Rostered Mission Leadership
Maria Paiva
Director of Evangelical
Mission
Directors The Rev. O. Dennis Mims African Descent Ministry The Rev. Alexia Salvatierra Justice
Support Staff Andreas Hirsch Accountant Melissa Onnen Chaddick Administrative Assistant Sherri Miller Administrative Assistant Courtney Bassler Communications Assistant
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91206
(818) 507-9591 Phone
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Synod Meetings & Events
Held at Synod Office unless otherwise noted
Thursday, August 9
Greater Long Beach Colleguim
11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Monday, August 13
Multi-Synodical Candidacy Committee (MSCC)
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Pacifica Synod
Thursday, August 16
Executive Committee
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Synod Board Room
Saturday, August 18
Synod Council New Member Orientation
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Synod Board Room
Kelli Garretson Ordination
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Ascension, Thousand Oaks
Sunday, August 19
Reginald Hansome Installation
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Ascension, Los Angeles
Wednesday, August 22
Chapel with Bishop Dean Nelson
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Synod Trinity Conference Center
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Synod Council
Vice President
Dr. Joyce Thompsen
Secretary
The Rev. Keith G. Banwart, Jr.
Treasurer
Dr. Jim Gilbert
Members-At-Large
The Rev. Terry Tuvey Allen
Ms. Tempie Beaman
The Rev. James L. Bessey
Mr. Robert Chillison
The Rev. Rustin Comer
The Rev. Lynn J. Enloe
Mr. Jeremy Hovland
Ms. Vickie Kropenske
Mr. Paul Muller
Ms. Kristal Shipp
The Rev. Dr. George Villa
Conference Representatives
LA Metro
Mr. Eugene Williams
South Bay
Mrs. Margarita Gonzales
Twin Valleys
Ms. Jan Smith
Central Coast
Ms. Mary Bankert
Greater Long Beach
Ms. Nancy Neyer
San Gabriel Valley
Ms. Gladys Chow
Tehachapi
The Rev. Glen K. Egertson
Foothill
Mr. Ross McConnell
Channel Islands
Mr. Ted Jensen
Youth Representative
Mr. Caleb Arndt
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Intercessions
Please pray for the following:
The family and friends of
The Rev. Dr. Vernon Jahnke
Aida Arroyo
Jerry Frantz
AIM Barbara Hoffman & family
Pastor Charlie Kurtz
Pastor Ray Kibler
George Liesenberg
Pastor Chris Lindstrom
Pastor John Miller
Pastor Dan Parr Pastor Carlos Paiva Lori Splinter The Rev. Dr. Jarvis Streeter
Susan Tapia AIM Gerri Wilkowski AIM Karen Wilson |
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Save the Date!
Mark your calendars for these
future events.
Bishop's Fall Stewardship Events
We look forward to seeing you
at your conference Stewardship
event. Congregational councils
should attend along with all congregational stewards!
Central Coast and Channel Islands Conferences
Saturday, September 22
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trinity, Santa Barbara
Foothill Conference
Monday, September 24
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location - to be announced
Twin Valleys Conference
Tuesday, Sept. 25
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
All Saints, Sun Valley
LA Metro Conference
Thursday, September 27
Ascension, Los Angeles
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
South Bay Conference
Monday, October 15
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Olivet, Hawthorne
Tehachapi Conference
Tuesday, October 16
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location - to be announced
San Gabriel Valley Conference
Thursday, October 18
6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Greater Long Beach Conference
Date, time and location to be announced.
Equipping Leaders for Mission (ELM) Fall 2012 Dates
ELM is a two-year process of
spiritual formation through
theological and practical
education for members of
Southwest California Synod
congregations. Instructors
include California Lutheran
University faculty members,
synod staff, pastors, and lay
leaders. Courses are offered on
Saturdays, beginning in the
Fall, and run consecutively.
Tuition is $150 per year, not
including textbooks
(scholarships are available).
Contact Pastor Laurie Arroyo
for further information.
Latino Strategy with DEM Maria Paiva and African Descent Strategy with Pastor Dennis Mims
Saturday, September 22
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Comparative Religions: Who is my Neighbor? with The Rev. Dr. Janet Bregar
Saturday, September 29 and Saturday, October 6
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Synod Mission Strategy with DEM Maria Paiva
Saturday, October 13
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Baptismal Living - Rev. Dr. Thom Johnson
Saturday, November 10
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Centering in the Word with Pastor Ron White
Saturday, November 17
9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Community Capacity Building with Pastor Stephen Fiechter
Saturday, December 1
9:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m.
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ELCA Youth Ministry
Network Extravangza
Dates Announced!
The 17th Annual ELCA
Youth Ministry Network
Extravangza will be at the
Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Anaheim, California on
January 24-28, 2013.
The Extravangza is an
annual conference for
professional and volunteer
congregational children,
youth and family ministry
leaders that focuses on
renewal, continuing
education and networking.
Click here to view
an informational video on
the Extravagnza. For
further information--such
as the speakers and
theme--about the
Extravaganza, click here.
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Vibrant Faith Ministries Free iPhone and Android App
Vibrant Faith Ministries--
formerly The Youth & Family
Institute--has launch its new
free iPhone and Android app
VibrantFaith@Home.
VibrantFaith@Home offers free
tips and tools to support and
strengthen family's spiritual
journey no matter the age or
stage. With VibrantFaith@Home,
there are plenty of tools to build
a strong Christian household.
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Did you know Lutherans have their very own credit union?
The Synod
has had an
ongoing
relationship
with Lutheran
Credit Union of America for
many years. You may think
that you need a local branch,
however they are as close as
picking up the phone or a click
of the mouse. They understand
us and can relate to our needs,
and they can relate to yours
too!
Does your church need a loan?
Or do you need a great rate
auto loan? Credit Card? Home
Loan? Home Equity Line of
Credit? Free checking
account? Free bill payment?
Even a free box of checks! Call
800.729.7307 and speak with
one of LCUA's friendly,
knowledgeable member service
officers to find out how
Lutheran Credit Union of
America can help you too.
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"Motor City" to host the 2015 ELCA National Youth Gathering
The ELCA Youth Gathering will
be in Detroit, Michigan.
This July more than 30,000 high
school youth were in New
Orleans for the 2012 National
Youth Gathering.
For highlights from our synod,
click here.
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"Like" the Synod!
The Southwest California Synod
is now on Facebook!
Now, you will get updates about
Synod events and other
information to share with those
that you serve!
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Synews, the email newsletter of the Southwest California Synod,
ELCA, brings you news and information from the synod office in an
environmentally friendly format. Please share this information with
those you serve. |
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A Big Thank You to You!
At mid-year the synod was 3.2 percent ABOVE budget in
mission support receipts. Thank you for your phenomenal
stewardship.
Remember 49 percent of all undesignated congregational mission support receipts is sent on to the ELCA churchwide organization.
Your dollars are at work in your congregation, across the synod, nationally and around the globe. To find out exactly what your phenomenal stewardship is doing, click here.  |
Remembering The Rev. Dr. Vern Jahnke
A Memorial Service for Pastor Vern Jahnke will be on Saturday,Sept. 8 at 10:00 a.m. at La Verne Church of the Brethren.
Pastor Jahnke served as Pastor of Our Saviour Lutheran Church
in LaVerne (now Rock of the Foothills Lutheran Church).
Additionally, he provided regular pulpit supply at Lutheran Church
of the Cross in Arcadia and most recently served as Interim Pastor
at American Lutheran Church in Burbank. |
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Please save the date for the second annual Gather, Grow & Go,
synod-wide day of learning.
Saturday, November 3 at Emmanuel, North Hollywood at 9:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For those who are interested in leading a workshop, please
email the topic and a brief description to Assistant to the Bishop
for Mission Support, AIM Nancy Ackerman.
Click here to download the bulletin insert.
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Synod Office Worship: A Chance for Mid-Week Reflection
Worship at the synod office is held twice a month on
Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. All are welcome to join the synod staff
for this brief service.
We join together in the Eucharist and hear the Word from various synod pastors.
Scheduled to preach on Wednesday, Wednesday, August 22 is Bishop Dean Nelson. If you would consider leading mid-week worship, please email
Assistant to the Bishop for Lay Mission Leadership, Pastor Laurie
Arroyo.
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 Important Information from the Synod Office
Communication for Synod Publications
We appreciate the emails that we get
from you about events or news items.
To strengthen the communication we are altering the way congregations and agencies would like to have news or events publicized.
Please click here to download the form, fill it out and send it to
Congregational Council Contact Information
To improve our communication with congregations in our synod,
- Position
- First and Last Name
- Email Address
- Term Ending
Synod Email List for Your Congregation
Please encourage your congregation council members and
committee chairs to sign up for the synod's e-mail list to keep up
with Synod news, educational events and more. Click here to sign up! |
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Trinity, Long Beach Receives Grant from Women of the ELCA
On Saturdays, Trinity, Long Beach hosts its Spanish speaking worship followed with a meal for those who are apart of the Trinity Lutheran Outreach Program.
 | The tutoring serves more than 20 kids in Long Beach through the congregation and LSS in Long Beach.
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The Outreach Program--a joint program with the congregation and Lutheran Social Services in Long Beach--serves elementary school children and anyone in the community who would like to stregthen their computer skills.
The tutoring mainly focuses on English, math and science, according to Pastor Josh Ebener. "It's a good way to supplement learning, especially with the [school] budget cuts," said Pastor Ebener. The $2,000 grant from the Women of the ELCA will go to the meals that are a part of programming, reported Pastor Ebener.
Since 1990, the Women of the ELCA grant support for women and children has totaled over three and a half million dollars, wrote Executive Director of the Women of the ELCA Linda Post Bushkofsky in a letter to the Southwest California Synod Bishop Dean Nelson. |
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Adminstration and Finance 101 Workshop 
The Administration and Finance 101 workshop will be traveling to the Central Coast on Saturday, October 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Gloria Dei in Santa Maria. Join synod staff Andreas Hirsch and AIM Nancy Ackerman for an introduction/review of the responsibilities of congregational leaders.
To register, email the Synod Office. |
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Based on Micah 6:8 "... to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Love in Action will involve a free honorary luncheon for two from each congregation with a ministry that shoes God's love in action to the community, certificates for each congregation a well as special Amos and Joseph awards for two selected congregations, workshops and a mercy and justice ministry fair.
The event dates for Love in Action are as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at First Lutheran, Glendale
1300 E Colorado St.
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 240-9000
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012
8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran, Santa Barbara
909 N La Cumbre Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
(805) 687-1577
Click here to download the registration form for the events.
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News from the Shashogo Parish - Ethiopia Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus
First Batch Bible School Students Graduate
On Saturday, July 7 eleven evangelists were graduated from
Bonosha Bible School of the EECMY Shashogo Parish. They were
admitted to the bible school in September 2010 and stayed in the
school for the last two years.
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The Bible School graduates at the worship service. |
There were two full time
teachers for the Bible school.
The teaching learning process
was undertaken in a rented
house. Since all the expenses
of the school and its
administration were covered
by the congregations of the
EECMY Shashogo Parish, it
was hard to provide all the
materials needed for the
teaching until the Southwest
California Synod sent funds.
The graduation
ceremony was held at Bonosha
Congregation in the presence of Mr. Mamo Wojega, the
Coordinator of the EECMY Peace Office, Chairperson of EECMY
Shashogo Parish Provisional Committee and the Representative
of the EECMY Central Office on the occasion and Rev. Ganjula
Geito, EECMY Outreach Ministry Coordinator who represented the
EECMY Department for Mission and Theology. In the graduation,
the congregation and parish leaders and governmental officials of
the SNNP Hadiya Zone Shashogo District were present.
In the graduation ceremony, the EECMY Shashogo Parish
leaders have expressed their gratitude to all those who
supported them in their endeavors including ELCA Southwest
California Synod. They have also asked the same kind of
cooperation and support in the upcoming ministers training and
evangelism ministry of the parish.
If you would like to make a donation to help the Bible School
of the Shashogo Parish, please send your check with memo line Shashogo Bible School to:
Southwest California Synod
1300 E Colorado St.
Glendale, CA 91205
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 LRCC News
Winter Retreats Dates are Now
Available
Winter Camps start in January
Have an Afternoon of LRCC Come to Your Congregation!
Aaron can do a presentation on the ELCA Malaria campaign, lead your children's message lead Sunday School, lead a Bible study and/or discussion at your youth group! Contact him at camp for his availabilty at (661) 245-3519 or email him. |
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Global Links shares highlights from the ELCA, Living Lutheran and other churchwide websites of ELCA ministry and connections in other countries. |
Geneva and Taize: Sponsor a Future Plunge
Consider sponsoring a future pilgrimage for young adults to deepen their spirituality by experiencing the global faith community in Geneva, Switzerland, and Taize, France. The first step is to send an "observer learner" on the Plunge pilgrimage to these ecumenical centers on May 29-June 9, 2013. Visit the local events page for more information.
Educational and worship resources for the upcoming seasons
Have you wondered what Advent is like in Argentina? Are you interested in learning more about Christmas traditions in Kenya, Japan or Haiti? Looking for Lenten sermon material? Sign up for the Hand in Hand blog digest. Each week, two stories will arrive in your email inbox from missionaries who reflect on their work and life in the church in which they serve.
Mexico: Immerse yourself in transformative travel
"Seeds of Transformation" offers opportunities for individuals and groups to take trips that deepen discipleship through hands-on service learning, stimulating site visits, cultural exchanges and lectures. Trips are available in Mexico City and the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Travel options include pre-designed five- to seven-day trips on the themes of Sustainable Economics, Lutheran Identity and Food Justice; and trips with customized places, themes and length of stay. For more information click here.
Attention church communicators!
Global Links is now also available as a monthly PDF for you to copy and distribute in newsletters, bulletins and other publications. See the right sidebar of the Global Links page to download this issue. |
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Seeds for the Parish is the resource newspaper of the ELCA. Each issue contains articles about resources that can help congregations in their worship, service, and ministries. Typical issues have stories on resources available from churchwide units and Augsburg Fortress for worship, youth ministries, Christian education, stewardship, evangelism, social ministries, and leadership. Seeds for the Parish is sent to congregational leaders four times a year, without charge. |
 New ELCA Roadmarker Now Available
Sometimes we all need a sign--now congregations can lead the way to their front door with a new ELCA roadmarker. These rustproof aluminum signs are available in a four-color enamel finish and heature an authorized use of the ELCA emblem. The sign is printer with the words,"Lutheran Church Welcomes You" and allows customizable space for your congregation's name, address and arrow if needed. Prices vary depending on the needed customization but range from $68 to $91 with shipping and handling extra.
Order forms can be found at www.elca.org/brandmark in the
"Get started" section. Congregations should fax their orders
directly to Stout Industries, an approved supplier, which will
handle production, payment processing and shipping. All orders
will ship direct to each congregation. Be sure to check your local
regulations before placing your orders. Summer is a perfect time to
update old signs or welcome new visitors with new directional
roadmarkers. Order yours today. |
Strategic Planning with Church Innovations at Trinity, Santa Barbara in October
Does your congregation have strategic plan or have trouble
with the follow through of that plan?
God has a plan for each of our congregations. The problem is
figuring out what that is--and then how to get there! Consider
attending with members from your congregation, "Dwelling in the
Word" at Trinity, Santa Barbara on Friday, Oct. 26 at 5:30 p.m. to
9:15 p.m and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 9:00 a.m to 3:15 p.m.
The goal of "Dwelling in the Word" is to help each congregation
figure this out - with God's help. The program begins with a time of
dwelling in the word, and then a time of beginning the
discernment process. Your congregation can then make the
decision to continue working with the team from Church
Innovations and go on into a structured visioning, planning - and
implementation process with a coach from Church Innovations.
The fee is $30 for Friday and Saturday, or $25 just for Saturday
(there will be time on Saturday to catch up from Friday). The fee
includes the meals and a copy of the book "Dwelling in the Word." |
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