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Epiphany Blessings January 7, 2016
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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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A message from Second Mile Giving Partner: Companion Synods
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What I did on my November Vacation:
The Encuentro in El Salvador
As a part of our synod's Global Mission Advocacy Team, I was excited in November to visit our Companion Synod in El Salvador to be part of the Encuentro, a triennial meeting hosted by the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod of representatives of the SLS's worldwide network of companions. Attending with me from our synod were Mary Ritter and Sarah Liv Beck of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, San Francisco. Mary also serves on the GMAT. Both St. Mark's and my church, First Evangelical, Palo Alto, also have sister parishes in San Salvador.
I had no idea before going that this was such a high level meeting or that we would become a part of history while we were there! The Encuentro began in a meeting called in 2004 by the Lutheran World Federation to discuss how best to support the struggling SLS. Subsequently, the ownership of this gathering was transferred to the SLS for a 2007 meeting, the first Encuentro, and for further meetings in 2009, 2012 and now 2015 (Encuentro #4) The Encuentro acts as an international advisory board for the SLS in keeping with the Accompaniment Model of mission -- the accent is on the advisory nature of the gathering. Those invited represent congregations with sister parishes in the US, Germany and Scandinavia and representatives of church judicatories with companion synod relationships of the ILS (four ELCA Synods -- Sierra Pacific, Southwest California, Metropolitan Washington DC, Greater Milwaukee, several regional German church bodies, the Archdiocese of Turkku, Finland and similar bodies from Sweden).
The agenda involved hearing reports from the SLS, evaluating goals set by the previous Encuentro, studying a 6-year strategic plan drawn by the SLS for 2015-2021, and working out a proposed set of goals for the next three years. There was much lively discussion over the course of three long days of meetings at a Roman Catholic retreat center just southwest of San Salvador. Click here to read more...
Cordially, Joseph Haletky for the Global Missions Advocacy Team
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 Second Mile Giving
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January 2016
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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and ponder God's unconditional love for us, may the new year bring you peace and renewed ways to listen and learn from one another.
I hope you will join me for another live webcast "Confronting Racism: A Holy Yearning" - Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. CST. This conversation will offer a variety of perspectives on the U.S. criminal justice system. As with the previous webcast, we will work from two commitments. One is this church's proclamation of Christ and the confidence that this good news brings to set us all free from the captivity of racism. The second is this church's enduring commitment to address the complexity of racism and end discrimination.
If your congregation and members of the wider community plan to view the webcast together, consider these questions for conversation:
- How has the criminal justice system intersected with your life?
- What are some injustices that need to change in the criminal justice system?
- There are many voices crying out. What story would you like to share that involve people in the criminal justice system - police officer, judge, family or others?
- How is God's justice wondrously richer and deeper than ours?
While many of you have held conversations about racism in your congregations and communities, view this video to see what our sisters and brothers in the ELCA South Carolina Synod are doing as an example of ways we can build new relationships, listen and learn from one another.
Again, join me for this important conversation.
God's peace,
Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNOD
AND BEYOND
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Sierra Pacific Synod Youth CommitteeElementary Youth Retreat
February 26-28, 2016
Registration is now open
Click here to register
Hello everyone!  This year, SPSYC has put together an incredible elementary retreat, including our key speaker Pr. Abby! We will be focusing on our theme Love is a Verb: Creation, as we dive into the creation story of Genesis. In order to guarantee a spot for our retreat, you MUST register now! Early registration allows us aspiring youth to better prepare our activities and events to guarantee a wonderful retreat. Please, register today and come join us at Mt. Cross in February!
Catherine Slabaugh
SPSYC Chair
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RISE UP Together - The Tour
Rachel Kurtz and Agape* (David Scherer) in Concert
Saturday, February 20 at 7:00pm
St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento
Tickets are just $10 and ALL proceeds will go to ELCA World Hunger's Walk for Water project
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Mt. Cross Programs
for Jr. High & Confirmation Groups
Jr. High Winter Weekend 
Jr. High Spring Weekend
April 29-May 1, 2016
Shalom Camp
July 10-15, 2016
Mt. Cross Ministries offers 3 amazing programs specifically tailored for your Jr. High and Confirmation aged youth. Our Jr. High Winter Weekend and Jr. High Spring Weekend are both are 3 day, 2 night retreats that provide a chance for youth to explore their faith through engaging worship, thought provoking sessions, small group discussions, groups activities and fellowship youth from other churches. SHALOM Camp is a dynamic, week long confirmation camp made possible by a partnership between pastors, youth workers and the Mt. Cross Staff. Campers spend their mornings in learning groups where Pastors lead them through our specially designed SHALOM curriculum, their afternoons enjoying traditional camp activities like archery or high ropes and their evenings are filled with special all camp games and worship opportunities. Mt. Cross Ministries receives program support for all three programs from synod churches and church workers, so you can rest easy know that we are providing a theologically sound and safe program.
For more information on these programs, please click on the link below or contact the Director of Programs at program@mtcross.org.
2016 Jr. High Winter & Spring Weekends
2016 Shalom Camp
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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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2016 is World Hunger year!
 In 2016, ELCA World Hunger is extending an invitation to our congregations: Lift up the life-changing work of ELCA World Hunger through new levels of giving - spiritually, intellectually and financially - starting with Lent.
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 7, and extending through the season of Lent, congregations across the ELCA will join together to raise $2 million to benefit the ministries of ELCA World Hunger. This support will enable crucial work to get underway and help us kick-start our year-of-emphasis.
We hope your congregation will join us!
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We Remember in Prayer...
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For the family and friends of Mr. Jack Pease, member of the Synod Council, the Synod Council Executive Committee, and an active member of Holy Shepherd Lutheran in Orinda. Jack died from complications following a surgery on his aorta.
A Memorial Service will be held for Jack on Saturday, January 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Shepherd Lutheran, 433 Moraga Way, Orinda, CA.
Thanksgivings for Paul Theiss being declared in remission from multiple myeloma. He'll continue in chemotherapy awhile longer to drive the remission deeper. Praise the Almighty!
Pr Deborah Butler, Hope El Cerrito, while in recovery from hip replacement surgery on January 6, 2016.
Pr. John Kuehner, Unity Lutheran Church in South San Francisco, hospitalized this last week.
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.
For those in the Southeast and Midwest who are dealing with the effects of flooding, blizzards, tornadoes, and extreme weather. For those who are displaced, and for the rescue and aid workers, we ask comfort, guidance and safety.
We continue to remember 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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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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January 22-23, 2016Candidacy Committee Meeting PLTS Berkeley, CA
January 29-30, 2016
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento, CA
February 2-3, 2015
Dean's Retreat
February 4, 2016
Interim Steering Committee
Bay Area Office of the Bishop
Burlingame, CA
February 22-23, 2016 Retired Clergy/AIMs/Spouses/Widows & Widowers Retreat San Damiano Retreat Center Danville, CA
February 23, 2016
Regional Interim pastor gathering
Bay Area Office of the Bishop
Burlingame, CA
February 25, 2016
Regional Interim pastor gathering
Sacramento Office of the Bishop
Sacramento, CA February 26-28, 2016SPSYC February Elementary Youth Retreat Click here to registerMarch 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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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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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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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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