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| Lenten Blessings | February 11, 2016 |
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The Offices of the Bishop will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2016
in observance of President's Day.
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The 2016 Plan for Mission Support is now available in a fillable PDF
IF YOU HAVE NOT SUBMITTED YOUR PLAN YOU ARE OVERDUE!
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PLAN TODAY!
Click here for a fillable PDF of the 2016 Plan for Mission Support
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2016 Rostered Leader and Congregational Reports
Due February 15, 2016
- Parochial Reports Forms A & C for congregations are also due. Please make every effort to work with your leadership to complete the report and submit it by the date requested. You should have received information, including your congregation's ID number and password, from the Churchwide Offices of the ELCA. If you have not, please contact the Sacramento Office of the Bishop at info@spselca.org for assistance. You and your leadership can complete this report at: https://webapps.elca.org/FormAAndC/Login.aspx
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A message from Bishop Mark W. Holmerud
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I am very pleased to welcome to the work of our synod's ministry Ms. Kathye Hamm, who is now serving as Synod Communications Director. Her responsibilities include the publication of our weekly e-newsletter (including this one!), oversight of our website and social media connections, and other forms of communication, including electronic and print media. Kathye is currently the Chairperson of the Congregational Life Discipling Team and formerly worked at congregations in Citrus Heights and Auburn. She brings a wealth of experience and energy to her work among us. It is my hope this new position will enhance the ability of all of the congregations and ministries of our synod to receive and share helpful information in our calling to serve Christ in northern California and northern Nevada.
Kathye is a fan of all things Disney, and likes Las Vegas, reading, movies, her two cats, and dancing, and recently was certified as a Zumba instructor. She and her husband, Kevin, have a daughter, Kelsey, who is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and is a music teacher in Tacoma, WA. Welcome Kathye!
With the addition of this new position, and because of staff changes that have occurred within the last year, there are other shifts in how the staff of the Office of the Bishop will be working to support the congregations and ministries of our synod:
- Diana Suruki, who formerly edited the e-newsletter and maintained our website, will now be working with roster issues, including the development of a new database.
- Laurie Gaumer, in addition to her other duties, is now working to support the candidacy process.
- We are currently in a hiring process for a receptionist/office assistant for the Sacramento Office of the Bishop. We hope to have that process completed soon.
Your prayers for the staff of the Office of the Bishop will be much appreciated. We look forward to continue serving the congregations and ministries of our shared ministry as the Sierra Pacific Synod.
Peace,
Bp. Mark
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Council/Meeting Devotion - February 2016
Generous People Living God's Love 
Through Fearlessness
Read 1 Kings 17:8-16
Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid..." (v. 13)
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ELCA Members Support Those
Impacted by the Flint Water Crisis
In response to the water crisis in Flint, Mich., members from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Livonia, Mich., delivered more than 3,000 gallons of donated water Jan. 31 to the congregation of Salem Lutheran Church in Flint.
"I thought it was a tremendous outpouring of love," said the Rev. Monica Villarreal, pastor of Salem. "It was a wonderful expression of love that came to Flint."
"We've got a little heart for Salem and what they're doing in Flint," said Kathy Weinberg, a member of Holy Trinity. "We know how important it is that they stay in their community and reach out to the people."
Villarreal said including the donations from Holy Trinity, Salem has received water from 25 Michigan congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Villarreal, who was born and raised in Flint, said the city's water crisis has affected her "personally as well as professionally."
"This situation has changed how I view ministry. It's changed how I view my work and role as a pastor," she said. "The church must be a place of the community. The church is, in fact, the people. And when you're serving in a community that has been afflicted upon in the ways that Flint, Michigan, has, there is no boundary. The church walls explode and we become the body of Christ, the wounded body of Christ in the world."
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New resources for Lent, including an exclusive 40-day devotional, and other initiatives are now available.
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 NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNODAND BEYOND
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New Synod Communications Coordinator 
Welcome to Kathye Hamm, our new newsletter,
website, social media, and all things communications coordinator. Please submit all newsletter requests/articles to her at kathye@spselca.org, no later than Tuesday, to be included in the current week's newsletter. Thank you, Bishop Mark
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Stewardship Discipling Team Co-sponsor of
Workshop on
Unleashing the Soul of Money
with Lynne Twist
February 19, 2016
Starts at 9:30 AM
PLTS Berkeley Campus
2770 Marin Ave Berkeley, CA
Congregational leaders, stewardship teams & pastors are invited to a 1-day workshop on how to move from fear to love to unleash the church's potential, on February 19th at PLTS. Click on the link below to register through PLTS. Event is co-sponsored by our Stewardship Discipling Team and includes lunch & a copy of Lynne Twist's book, The Soul of Money, which she can sign at the event!
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2016 Chrism Mass Schedule
March 17, 2016
10:30 am
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1279 High Street, Auburn, CA 95603
March 18, 2016
10:30 am
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
38801 Blacow Rd, Fremont, CA 94536
All rostered leaders are invited to attend for worship, fellowship and distribution of oils. Lunch will follow the worship.
You must RSVP to debbie@spselca.org by March 10!
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Workshop Proposal Application for the Synod Assembly now available
Please click here if you are interested in submitting a workshop proposal application for our upcoming Synod Assembly June 3-5, 2016 at the Grand Sierra Resort, Reno
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News from Kate Warn, ELCA YAGM County Coordinator, Rwanda
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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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Interim Pastors Regional Gatherings
Tuesday, February 23, Burlingame
Thursday, February 25, Sacramento
These gatherings are a time for learning and support for those serving as Interim Pastors.
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California Lutheran University Choir
2016 Concert Tour
Palo Alto
Sacramento
Fresno
Visalia
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Save the Date!
Sierra Pacific Synod Reformation 500 Event
Oct 29, 2017
3pm
Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
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Clergy Tax Info 
2016 Standard Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increases The Internal Revenue Service has issued its 2016 optional standard mileage rates. Effective January 1st, 2016, the IRS standard rate will be 54 cents per mile driven for ministry or business purposes (The new rate is down from 57.5 cents per mile for 2015 because of lower gas prices. ). Use of this rate is optional, though it is widely seen by churches as a simple way to determine a standard rate for calculating mileage reimbursement for employees who use their personal vehicle for ministry or business purposes. If your organization uses the IRS rate to calculate mileage reimbursement, be sure to update your systems to account for this change. Clergy always have the option of claiming deductions based on the actual costs of using a vehicle rather than the standard mileage rates. When a church owns the vehicle driven by a staff member and uses the vehicle for personal use, the value must be added to their W2 income. Personal use is any use which is not ministry related. Commuting is considered personal use. The individual is required to log their mileage and provide the church with a statement showing the ministry/business miles driven and the total miles driven.
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We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod
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| For more information click here
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We Remember in Prayer...
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Pr. Adam Knudson (Assoc. Pastor, Hope, Fresno) and his family upon the death of his grandfather, The Rev. Newell P. Knudson, a pastor of the United Methodist Church.
Pr. Cary Bass-Dechenes (Berkeley, Church of the Cross) recently hospitalized for a heart procedure.
Barbara Schaefer, spouse of Pr. Marty Schaefer (retired), for treatment and surgery of Stage 2 breast cancer.
Shirley Ericson, spouse of Pr. Jack Ericson (retired), who is recovering from surgery for cancer. Pr. Bill Knezovich (Our Saviour's, Fresno), who is hospitalized and undergoing tests. For the more than 100 in Southern Taiwan still buried under the rubble as a result of the recent earthquake.
For ongoing concerns regarding runoff and erosion in areas damaged by the Butte and Valley fires.
Those around the world who are fleeing terror and violence; that they find compassion and welcome as they seek refuge.
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Second Mile Giving
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February 2016
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Congregations in Transition
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Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee
February 26-28, 2016
Registration closes February 16!
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California Lutheran University
Executive Skills for Pastors:
Lessons from the World of the MBA
When: Monday, July 18-22, 2016
Where: The campus of California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
Cost: $799 which includes classes, materials, room and board
The event begins at 9:30 am on Monday and concludes with lunch on Friday. For those who are traveling housing may be arranged for Sunday night the 17th or Friday night the 22nd.
For more information or to register contact the Office of the Congregational Relations by phone at (805) 493-3936 by e-mail: leblanc@callutheran.edu
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2016 Grace Gathering
The Grace Gathering will be held in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans Aug. 10-13.
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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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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 March 17, 2016
Chrism Mass
Bethlehem, Auburn
March 18, 2016
Chrism Mass
Holy Trinity, Fremont
June 3-5, 2016
2016 Synod Assembly
Grand Sierra Resort
Reno, NV
CANDIDACY COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
April 8-9, 2016
August 26-27, 2016
October 14-15, 2016
January 20-21, 2017
Please take note of our office schedule: All Synod offices are open Monday-Thursday and closed every Friday.
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News from Mt. Cross Ministries
Jr. High Spring Weekend registration is now open!
Summer camp registration is now open! Check out all of the life-changing summer camp programs we have to offer this year! 2016 Summer Camp Programs
Do you know a young adult who is looking for summer employment? Mt. Cross Ministries is looking for enthusiastic young adults with a passion for working with youth of all ages, families and church congregations in outdoor settings.
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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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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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