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Advent Blessings December 10, 2015
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Warner Trust Application
Only 6 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 Reverend Carlton Monroe
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop
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The season of Advent is always a very special time for mission and ministry for us as The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Sierra Pacific Synod. This season of Advent, specifically considering the nature of current events swirling around us today, we may have emotions which cause us fear, confusion or despair and quite possibly a desire to distance and/or isolate ourselves from others in need.
Still, this season of Advent, as Children of God, we are called to be sensitive to and aware of the world's brokenness, and be willing to go out into the world as God's hands and feet in mission and ministry to a world in need. Holding tightly onto that regard, prayerfully we will also recognize the mission and ministry opportunities for each of us as faithful Christians and as members of our congregations to be Christ into the needs and challenges of the world AND our neighbors too.
Understand Beloved Child of God that this is mission and ministry not for pushing Christian theological salvation agendas onto an unsuspecting family member, friend, neighbor or acquaintance. This kind of mission outreach definitely is not intentional to build the membership of our congregations. This type of mission and ministry is you and I being present as a caring listener of others with an empathy and understanding that Christ's Gospel can provide strength, hope, comfort and direction in people's lives. This is mission and ministry exclusively built upon and around the grace and love of the Gospel! With this understanding this is mission and ministry outreach built around you and I going out and caring for the stranger, our walking WITH, listening to and hearing what is going on in another person's life journey.
Truly Beloved, going outside the doors of our worship spaces and earnestly just listening to the needs of our neighbors and others can be intense, maybe even daunting and intimidating for us. For sure, genuinely hearing the needs of our community and BEING WILLING to take action and steps addressing those needs may be tremendously challenging and demanding. Nonetheless trusting solely in God and embracing the grace and love that is ours in Jesus Christ as we go outside the doors where we gather in mission and ministry, we are expanded as individuals and as congregations. In this component of God's mission and ministry we are then truly disciples growing in our faith through reaching out to address the needs of others.
This season of Advent, as individuals and congregations growing in faith through mission outreach to the needs of our world and our neighborhoods, know that growth in our faith comes in losing one's own needs and one's own agendas as we walk WITH those we encounter in mission and ministry. This particular and special season of Advent through the Christmas season and beyond, you and I as The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Sierra Pacific Synod, trusting in God my prayer and desire presents as a question, how might you and I, and our congregations reach out in mission and ministry, not just to the world, but into our neighborhood and communities with the love and grace of Jesus our Lord?
Reverend Carlton Monroe Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop
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The 2016 Plan for Mission Support is now available in a fillable PDF
Please visit our website at www.spselca.org The due date for returning it is January 22.
Click here for a fillable PDF of the 2016 Plan for Mission Support
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UMOJA Newsletter - Decemer 2015
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 NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNODAND BEYOND
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Celebrations and Update
We live in a very mobile society; people are coming and going all the time. In the midst of all that change, we sometimes forget to take note of these celebrations and transitions. Today, we are listing transitions that have occurred since they were last announced at Synod Assembly. After this, we will announce these more regularly.
Newly Called:
- Pr. Cary Bass-Deschenes - Lutheran Church of the Cross, Berkeley (Aug. 2015)
- Pr. Heidi Hester - Trinity, Pleasanton (Oct. 2015)
- Rebecca Swee - Good Shepherd, Burlingame (Nov. 2015 - ordination scheduled for Jan. 3 at Grace, Palo Alto)
- Pr. Gary Stevenson - Hope, Fresno (Sept. 2015)
- Pr. Jon Haug - St. John's, Sacramento (Aug. 2015)
- Pr. Mike Patterson - Gift of Grace, Fernley (Nov. 2015)
- Pr. Randy Knutson - Trinity, Ft. Bragg (Sept. 2015)
- Pr. Eileen Smith LeVan - Peace, Grass Valley
(Aug. 2015) - Pr. Lynette Crase - Emanuel, Modesto (Aug. 2015)
Retirements:
- Pr. Eric Ackerman
- Pr. Ross Merkel
- Pr. Ginny Bishop
- Pr. Bill Feeser
- Pr. Gail Cromack
- Pr. Lynn Bruer
- Pr. Paul Theiss
- Pr. Lucy Kolin
(If we missed someone, please contact info@spselca.org with a gentle nudge of information!)
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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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Stewardship Monthly Devotional
Council/Meeting Devotion for December 2015
Congregational Community
Stewards of God's Abundance
We have spent the year looking at the many ways in which we have been blessed by God's love and how we are called upon to steward what we have been given to serve God, the church and the world.
God has come down to us through the gifts of grace, creation, and the story of salvation.
We have received talents and abilities, money, time, 'stuff'...in abundance ...to use in ministry in, through and for others in acts of justice and care for community-global, local and congregational.
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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.
For a full schedule see www.solarismusic.org
For more information:
Mark Carlson, director@loppca.org, 916-548-3056 cell. 
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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) undergoing surgery.
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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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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