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Advent Blessings December 3, 2015
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Warner Trust Application
Only 12 days left to apply!
The Warner Trust application period is now open until December 15, 2015. The Warner Trust grants are designed to help in the areas of youth or family ministries. A grant may be requested for youth projects, school and pre-schools and education ministries. Feel free to be creative. These grants will not be awarded to fund salaries, mission trips, national or synodical youth gathering or building maintenance.
A decision will be made at the Synod Council's January meeting and recipients will be notified by February 14th.
Click here to apply!
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A message from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Rev. Brian Stein-Webber, Interim Chief Administrative Officer & Director of Seminary Relations
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Greetings from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) of California Lutheran University. We are now approaching the end of our second year as a part of a larger institution which guides, instructs, protects and also lives out our mission to form leaders for the wider church. Folks in Thousand Oaks - site of the University - through this strategic merger, have doubled their commitment to the wider church and individual congregations and religious dialogue in general. Thanks be to God!
Some of our important news:
- Cal Lutheran has hired a new Director of Congregational Relations, Desta Goehner, who with the seminary will be coordinating contact and communications with the congregations of Regions 1 and 2. Desta is a dynamo of faith and practice, very conversant with social media, and an inspiration to many. Please welcome her!
- PLTS has three new professors this fall semester: Dr. Kirsi Stejrna in Lutheran History and Theology; Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda in Christian Ethics; and Dr. Julian Gonzalez in Old Testament. We share Drs. Moe-Lobeda and Gonzalez with our neighboring Episcopal seminary, Church Divinity School of the Pacific.
- The new faculty are joining with those professors already in place in an innovative and forward-looking revision of our curriculum. They will be combining the best of our tradition with Holy Spirit vision about method, formation and pedagogy.
- Thanks to Synod Council member Larell Fineren for attending our last advisory board meeting. She is taking back ways in which synod and seminary can be mutually supportive.
- We have initiated a new online program for all in the church, called Praxis. Starting January 18 are two classes: Responding to God's Call: Racism, Injustice, and the Church, with Prof. Jeremy Rehwaldt; and The Good News According to Luke Today, with Prof. Eric Barreto. Visit http://www.plts.edu/praxis for more information or to register.
- Week of Renewal 2016: Worship: Beyond Style will be held January 11-14 on campus. Guests include Susan Briehl, Jonathan Rundman and Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein. For more information, visit www.plts.edu/programs/continuing-education/week-of-renewal.php.
We continue to be grateful for the generous support of many of you toward our seminary. We strive to be faithful and responsive to that support! Contact me if you want to talk: bsteinwebber@plts.edu.
Rev. Brian Stein-Webber
Interim Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Seminary Relations
PLTS
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ELCA affirms commitment to help end AIDS pandemic
CHICAGO (ELCA) - In observance of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirms this church's commitment to the goals outlined in the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS. The goals include stopping the spread of the epidemic through prevention, treatment and care; eliminating the stigma experienced by those who are HIV-positive; and reducing the conditions of poverty that contribute to the spread of the disease.
"The ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS affirms that the body of Christ has AIDS," said Ulysses Burley, program associate, ELCA strategy on HIV and AIDS. "We are church together, and people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS include members of this church and people of faith and goodwill around the world. When one member of the body of Christ suffers, the rest of the body suffers with them." Click here to continue reading...
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 NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNODAND BEYOND
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Sierra Pacific Synod Offices
Closed for the Holidays
Please take note that our Synod offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday on December 24-25, 2015, and closed in observance of New Year's Eve and Day on December 31, 2015 and January 1, 2016.
You may leave a message on our voicemail and send us emails during these times.
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29th Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly
June 3-5, 2016
Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV
Did you know...?
- The planning team chose the Grand Sierra Resort because: 1) it is in the Reno area; 2) conference rooms are big enough for us; 3) reasonable room rates; and, 4) ability to be in smoke-free areas (conference level, guest rooms, and even walkways are smoke-free).
- The hotel is honoring a limited special room rate (basic rate of $99/night!) for early arrivals and those wishing to stay after the Assembly. Come early, or stay late, and enjoy Reno!
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PLTS announces opportunities for learning and continuing education
Week of Renewal- "Worship: Beyond Style"
January 11-14, 2016
Join us after Christmas at PLTS for a time of learning and renewal. This year's theme is "Worship: Beyond Style." Susan Briehl will lead a workshop on stewarding the words we use for worship, and the three aspects of this stewardship: Cherishing, Curating, and Crafting. Songleader/composer Jonathan Rundman will lead an interactive discussion about worship and congregational participation. In the mornings, Kyle Schiefelbein facilitates a conversation among the two workshop leaders and participants about connecting liturgical language and participation with the larger Lutheran traditions that we do and will encounter. Click here for more information.
Praxis: Lifelong Education for Faith and Practice - Online Continuing and Community Education
Praxis is fully online and taught by well-known faculty and practitioners in a variety of fields. The spring term begins January 18 and includes the following two courses:
- Responding to God's Call: Racism, Injustice, and the Church with Prof. Jeremy Rehwaldt
- The Good News According to Luke Today with Prof. Eric Barreto
Visit http://www.plts.edu/praxis for more information and to register.
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Solaris, Parliament of World Religions' musicians, in Northern California
Solaris, a folk music group from the Pacific Northwest that performed at the October Parliament of World Religions in Salt Lake City, will be in the Bay Area and Sacramento in late November and early December. Their mission is "To inspire, educate and connect those striving to live rightly and in harmony with all life on planet earth."
The series runs daily, including weekends, through Dec. 23. Bay Area dates include Dec. 4 at St. Cyprian's Church in San Francisco.
For a full schedule see www.solarismusic.org
For more information:
Mark Carlson, director@loppca.org, 916-548-3056 cell. 
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We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod
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| For more information click here
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Not on our mailing list?
Click Here
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We Remember in Prayer...
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Pr. David Olson (retired) undergoing surgery and treatment for kidney cancer
Jack Pease (Synod Council, lay male, Orinda) who will undergo surgery next week.
Paul Stum (Spouse of Pr Martha Stum, Interim, Ukiah) who is recovering from heart surgery.
The victims and those who were affected by the shootings on Wednesday in San Bernardino area.
Those around the world who are affected by terrorist actions; that they find compassion and welcoming as they flee from danger to a safe place.
Those who are being affected by fire, flood and other natural disasters.
Those who are affected by the ongoing drought, including those whose wells have now gone dry, ranch and farm workers, and farmers and ranchers.
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Those wishing to volunteer on the Valley fire are asked to register with North Coast Opportunities at www.ncoinc.org. Once registered NCO will contact individuals directly.
If you, or someone you know, have been affected by the fires, please click on the links below for resources that are available to you:
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Congregations in Transition
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Second Mile Giving
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December 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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December 24-25, 2015
Synod Offices Closed
December 31, 2015-January 1, 2016
Synod Offices Closed
January 22-23, 2016Candidacy Committee Meeting PLTS Berkeley, CA
January 29-30, 2016
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento, CA
February 22-23, 2016
Retired Clergy/AIMs/Spouses/Widows & Widowers Retreat San Damiano Retreat Center Danville, CA Feb 26-28, 2016SPSYC February Elementary Youth Retreat March 12, 2016Synod Council Meeting Sacramento, CA June 3-5, 20162016 Synod Assembly Grand Sierra Resort Reno, NV CANDIDACY COMMITTEE MEETINGS:April 8-9, 2016 August 26-27, 2016 Please take note of our office schedule: All Synod offices are open Monday-Thursday and closed every Friday.
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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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