|
|
|
|
A message from Reverend Katy Grindberg, Assistant to the Bishop
|
|
I am privileged in my work as a member of the staff of the Office of the Bishop to have the opportunity to talk to many people in the course of a week. Maybe it's just the people that I'm interacting with recently, or maybe something is in the air these days, but many people are in times of uncertainty and transitions; people are asking questions and wondering what the future holds and where God is leading them. These people are lay leaders and rostered leaders alike.
I, too, if I am honest, am asking a lot of the same questions. Bp Mark last week shared with you that due to the staff cuts and restructuring, I am moving to the Sacramento Office of the Bishop. I am packing and sorting both my office and my home, and I am saying farewells and hellos, and wondering what God has to say to me in the midst of the mundane and the extraordinary details of my life.
I do find that in the midst of all of this current chaos in my life I am deeply thankful for many things, but two stand out. The first is my spiritual director. I have been blessed by this relationship for over seven years. She has been my companion through struggle, celebration, discernment, confusion, two moves, and two calls. She has come to know me deeply, holds me in prayer, and asks the hard questions that pull me out of myself and help me listen more deeply to God.
The second blessing is a song refrain that I learned and sang at the ELCA Worship Jubilee in Atlanta last month. It was written by Jonathan Rundman, and the words are simple, "could it be that we are called, for such a time as this?" This song refrain has been an abiding reminder that I am am not alone. And that God is with me, but more significantly these days, I am reminded that we are called, the song says - together, as the Body of Christ, following the call of the Holy Spirit, we are about God's work in the world, as a community.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to do. The lists, the needs, the tasks, the demands, are many, and we are only individuals. God calls us into community, with all of its blessings and struggles, we are the Body of Christ together. And God call us as community, together to be about God's work in the world - to visit the lonely, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and bring water to the thirsty. There is always work to do, but I'm reminded tonight, that it is important to remember that we are called, together, for such a time as this.
Reverend Katy Grindberg
Assistant to the Bishop
|
(rooms are available until September 18, unless sold out before this date)
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 -
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
ELCA to join AME Church Sept. 6 for prayer, commitment to end racism
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In response to a statement and call to action from the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), has pledged the 3.8 million-member ELCA to participate Sept. 6 in "Confession, Repentance and Commitment to End Racism Sunday."
The AME Church, together with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, are calling "every church, temple, mosque and faith communion" to "confess and repent from the sin of racism" Sept. 6 during their respective worship. Faith leaders worldwide are being asked to preach about racism and engage as "people of faith to end racism."
"We received the AME Bishops statement and call to action," wrote Eaton in a letter to AME Church leaders. "I pledge to you that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will participate, and I will invite our bishops, pastors, and leaders to reach out to ecumenical and inter-religious partners to encourage them to do so as well, and to consider possible ways of joining together," she wrote. Click here to read more... |
|
 NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNODAND BEYOND
|
|
Portico Benefits Services
Why Are Our Health Care Costs Going Up?
Join us for a webinar, Aug. 28, 10:30 - 11 a.m. (Central Time), to see what drives ELCA health contribution rates, such as market trends and our collective use of care.
Invite other decision-makers to attend too!
Duration:30 minutes
Description: Join Portico Benefit Services for a look at what drives ELCA health contribution rates, such as market trends and our faith community's use of care. This live, 30-minute webinar will include an opportunity to ask questions. Organizational decision-makers are invited to attend, such as congregation presidents, treasurers, senior pastors, or others who help shape their ministry's budget.
|
|
|
Register now for the
SPS High School Youth Retreat!
$150
October 16-18, 2015
Mt. Cross
Santa Cruz, CA
|
|
|
Cal Lutheran offers Executive Skills for Pastors
Cal Lutheran University is offering a week long course in Executive skills for Pastors led by the faculty at the School of Management at California Lutheran University.
January 11-15, 2016
|
|
We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod
| |
| For more information click here
|
|
Not on our mailing list?
Click Here
|
|
|
We Remember in Prayer...
|
Pr. Barbara Caine (Holy Redeemer, Newark), whose mother, Billie, died last week.
Prayers of healing for Deb McAllister (awaiting call) who injured her knee. Those who have died fighting our recent wild fires, especially the three fighter fighters who died while fighting the Twisp fire, nearby Holden Village, and two California fighter fighters who died earlier this month while battling the Sierra wild fire near Lake Tahoe.
Prayers of healing for Pr. Mert Johnson (RT) recovering from a fractured hip.
For all of those affected by wildfires. Shield those who are in harm's way, protect those working to contain the fires and comfort those who are experiencing loss. We especially pray for Holden Village retreat center, a Lutheran ministry in the Wenatchee National Forest of Washington, which has been evacuated due to the threat of nearby wildfires. We pray that Holden Village will continue to be a place of welcome in the wilderness for years to come.
Dr. Paul Brosy (President, LC of the Good Shepherd, Reno) and his wife Dr. Lynn Brosy as they deal with her diagnosis of and treatment for cancer.
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, will be having heart surgery on September 8th. Also for his nephew, Daniel, who recently suffered a spinal stroke causing partial paralysis.
For the places in our country that are experiencing violence against black churches
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.
|
|
Congregations in Transition
| |
|
|
Second Mile Giving
|
|
Second Mile Giving
August 2015
|
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 |
|
|
Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
|
August 28Portico Benefits Services Webinar Why are our health care costs going up? Click here to registerSeptember 13, 2015
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
Office of the Bishop, Sacramento
|
Office of the Bishop, Bay Area
|
Office of the Bishop, Fresno
Synod Resource Center
| |
9985 Folsom Blvd.
|
500 Airport Blvd. Suite 442
|
2311 E. Shaw Avenue
| |
Sacramento, CA 95827-1405
|
Burlingame, CA 94010-1938
|
Fresno, CA 93710-8204
| |
916-756-1665 (Direct)
|
650-590-0980 (Direct)
|
559-345-2725 (Direct)
|
|
|
|
|
