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HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND!
Dismantling Racism: An Introductory Workshop
Act now by joining us for Dismantling Racism: An Introductory Workshop sponsored by the Racial & Ethnic Mission Strategies Discipling Team of the Sierra Pacific Synod of the ELCA on Saturday,
July 25, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Auburn CA.
(FYI - payment by credit card only!)
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A message from Reverend Katy Grindberg, Assistant to the Bishop
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I'm writing this from Atlanta, where I am attending the ELCA Worship Jubilee "Called to Be a Living Voice." In a shift I call 'vocational whiplash' I came to Atlanta from the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit. This move from 30,000 singing, dancing, screaming teens to 800 pastors and music directors (still singing and dancing, not so much screaming) has been beautiful, tiring and inspiring.
The ELCA is a church of many gifts - in music, theology, and mostly in our people. I have been blessed by hearing a large variety of people speak and share their stories and how God, through Jesus, has worked in and through them. There will be much to digest and live into, as once again my heart has been cracked open and filled with the blessing of people who take a risk and share themselves with a large number of strangers.
They have not all been easy stories to listen to. I was privileged to hear from a number of non-white Lutherans - those who have grown up in and through Lutheran formation, and those who came to Lutheranism as a teen or adult. I was confronted with the many ways that I hold preconceptions about non-European-American-Lutherans and the many ways that we, as a church, have marginalized their experiences and wisdom and stories.
I had the blessing to worship at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached and pastored. We worshiped together in a service of lament, prayer, and joy in our relationship as Children of God and members of the Body of Christ. My heart was broken open and filled with the songs, stories, and the history we shared during that worship service.
Of the many things that I will ponder when I return home is how can I continue to put myself in places, and with people, where my heart will be broken open and filled. Where can I place myself in a posture of listening and openness to the stories, experiences, pain, joy, and wisdom of those whose experiences are different from mine? How can I continue to celebrate, in joy, the wide diversity in God's world? I do know that when I make those efforts, my heart will be broken open, and filled, to love in new and holy ways.
Reverend Katy Grindberg
Assistant to the Bishop
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FREE PORTICO FINANCIAL WORKSHOP
REGISTER BEFORE AUGUST 4th TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Thinking about retirement?
Then think about attending the Pre-Retirement Seminar made available through Portico Benefits.
The next event scheduled in our Synod is in Sacramento... take a look!
Pre-Retirement Event - Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Register By - Tuesday, August 4, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
1615 Morse Avenue
Sacramento, California 95864
Register (by August 4!) Click here for registration information
Meal charge of $35 per person or $70 for a couple will be invoiced to you for this workshop. Meals include lunch, continental breakfast, and snacks.
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 NEWS FROM THE ELCA |
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ELCA presiding bishop to hold live webcast on confronting racism
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In an effort to continue understanding the complexity and implications of racism, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), invites the 3.8 million member church to participate in a live webcast Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. (CDT).
William B. Horne II, a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Fla., and a member of the ELCA Church Council, will serve as host. Eaton and Horne will have an on-camera conversation about the church's efforts in defining and confronting racism, advancing racial justice and more.
"Talking about race and racism is hard work for most of us," said Horne. "Our Christian witness compels us to confront our sinfulness in all forms from within and outside of ourselves. It is more beneficial if we do it together."
Eaton said the webcast conversation serves in part as "a call to action" to guide members' efforts to address "the sin of racism." Click here to read more... |
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ELCA youth rise up to help residents of Detroit
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Participants of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering held in Detroit July 15-19 responded to the event's theme "Rise Up Together" by taking part in neighborhood service projects throughout the Detroit metro area.
The projects included helping clean up neighborhoods and boarding up abandoned houses, creating community gardens, painting and cleaning schools and community centers, packaging food into family-sized portions for distribution and helping install mosaics on the backstops at a neighborhood baseball field. Click here to read more...
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July 2015 Issue of Administration Matters
We invite you to learn more about Administration Matters. "Administration Matters" is a bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and management in church settings. Click here to read the July 2015 Issue
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNOD
AND BEYOND
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Time is running out!
Attention Young Adults (ages 21-31) Interested in a LEVN opportunity
LEVN is looking for young adults (age 21-30) with Bachelor's degrees for an 11-month program of non-profit work and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2015 to the end of July 2016, our corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health insurance, transportation, spiritual direction, and a $400/month food stipend. There's also a $1000 re-entry grant at the end of the program for moving expenses.
The work placement sites include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations, camp, and our campus ministry at UC Davis. We meet each week for worship, dinner, and discussion. The corps members live in intentional community in a 4-bedroom apartment. We're an ecumenical program, and applicants needn't be either Lutheran or Episcopal to apply--interest in Christian spirituality is the only "requirement".
Click here for application.
For more information contact::
Casey Kloehn, MDiv
Program Director, The Belfry
LEVN: Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network
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This year, Professional Leaders Conference will be held at Unscripted Monterey Bay (formerly known to us as Monterey Beach Resort Hotel). During our time together, The Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan will speak to the topic of 'Proclaimers of God's Good News.'
Deans' Meeting 
Oct 19 starting at 3 PM
Women's Retreat
Oct 19 starting at 3PM
Professional Leaders' Conference
Oct 20 starting with dinner -
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Free E-Book
 As a thank you, we would like to offer you a free e-book. This PDF will cover a wide variety of church topics including recent developments, charitable gift reporting, employer reporting requirements and information reporting requirement. To receive the "Reporting Procedures for Congregations" just follow these two steps:
2- Send us a Private Message and request the book
Private messages can be sent by clicking on the "Message" link on our cover photo. We will attach the book in our response.
To learn more about Clergy Financial resources visit their website at: https://www.clergytaxnet.com/
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We Remember in Prayer...
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Pr. Rebekah Davis: prayers for healing as she continues treatment.
Pr. Gail Cromack, (Retired), who was recently hospitalized and released.
Pr. Matt Smuts, (Grace, Palo Alto), whose son, Eli, who will be having heart surgery on August 7th. Also for his nephew , Daniel, who recently suffered a stroke causing partial paralysis.
Pr. Vern Holmes (Gethsemane, Sacramento) who is recovering from hip replacement surgery.
For the places in our country that are experiencing violence against black churches
Those who are battling wildfires, and for the families and wildlife that are affected by the fires.
Those who are affected by the ongoing drought, including those whose wells have now gone dry, ranch and farm workers, and farmers and ranchers.
For all those who work with communities that continue to face challenges of poverty, race relations, unemployment and sub-standard housing who are left feeling powerless. Pray we all find ways to address the root causes and help bring necessary changes to eliminate these challenges.
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Congregations in Transition
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Second Mile Giving
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Second Mile Giving
July 2015
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Check our Classifieds!
Check the Classifieds section of the SPS website for congregational employment opportunities and donated items that your congregation may find useful.
| Click here to view employment opportunities in our Synod |
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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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God's Work. Our Hands.
October 9-11, 2015
SPS WELCA Retreat
Evergreen Conference Center
Oakhurst, CA
Oct 16-18, 2015
SPSYC
October High School
Youth Retreat
October 19-20, 2015
October 20-22, 2015 Professional Leaders Conference Monterey, CA Click here to register nowOctober 24, 20159:30 am-4:30 pm I was Hungry, I was Thirsty, I was in Prison and... Incarnation, Davis Nov 13-15, 2015SPSYC November Middle School Youth Retreat Feb 26-28, 2015SPSYC February Elementary Youth Retreat Please take note of our new office schedule: All Synod offices are open Monday-Thursday and closed every Friday.
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Not on our mailing list?
Click Here
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We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod
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| For more information click here
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Committed to being re-formed...
The Sierra Pacific Synod
PO BOX 276648, Sacramento, CA 95827-6628
916-756-1665 · 800-275-3522 · 888-789-6434 (Fax)
Click here to visit our website www.spselca.org
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Office of the Bishop, Sacramento
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Office of the Bishop, Bay Area
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Office of the Bishop, Fresno
Synod Resource Center
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9985 Folsom Blvd.
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500 Airport Blvd. Suite 442
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2311 E. Shaw Avenue
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Sacramento, CA 95827-1405
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Burlingame, CA 94010-1938
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Fresno, CA 93710-8204
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916-756-1665 (Direct)
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650-590-0980 (Direct)
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559-345-2725 (Direct)
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