WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Lenten Blessings March 10, 2016 
The 2016 Plan for Mission Support is now available in a fillable PDF  
Please submit your plan as soon as possible.

Click here for a fillable PDF of the 2016 Plan for Mission Support
In This Issue
A message from Rev. Carlton Monroe, Director of Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop


Dear , 
 
Beloved, we continue our blessed wilderness journey that is the season of Lent! I submit for your perusal Mark 10:17-21: Jesus is confronted by a man who asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus reminds the man of the commandments. The man tells Jesus he has kept all of these commandments since his youth. Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." The man was shocked when he heard this and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Now let's enjoy Mark 10:17-27 from a different stewardship perspective and substitute you and I as the individual speaking with Jesus, understanding this conversation happens in today's context! I like to believe our response may start with, "Jesus, I heard what you said and I know I'm not rich by today's standards, but I have some money so I'm willing to give it to the poor. We more than likely would present a checkbook and ball point pen..."To whom, Jesus, should I make out the check?" Jesus answers, "That won't be necessary. Just give me the checkbook." "You want my whole checkbook?" With a deep love in His eyes, Jesus responds, "I care about you. I care about how you use all your money, not just the ten per cent, more or less, that you put in the offering plate."
Suddenly Jesus asks, "Do you have anything else in your pockets?" Incredulously I fish around in my pocket, "I've got some cash." Jesus responds as though He is surprised, "You've got cash?" I lay the cash on His palm. Then Jesus asks, "What's that plastic card?" I explain, "That's what I depend on when someone just got all my cash and my checkbook." Jesus says, "Let me have that." And I give Jesus the credit card.
Jesus asks, "What's that other card, the one with your picture on it?" "That's my driver's license." Jesus acts as though surprised, "You've got a driver's license?" I say, "Yes, it's required when I drive my car." Jesus asks as though even more surprised, "You've got a car too?! Give me your car and your keys." I give my car and keys to Jesus. Jesus then asks, "What's the other key?" I say nervously, "Uh...that's my house key." Acting surprised with His held out Jesus asks, "You've got a house?!" As I give my house key to Jesus I say, "Wait 'til my wife finds out about this." Jesus asks. "You've got a wife?" I say, "Jesus, you want my wife too?" Jesus says, "Absolutely, especially if you think she is yours. I just loaned you to each other until you complete your stewardship on earth!"
I respond, "O.K. Jesus, you win. I'm yours; I surrender, with all my heart!! What else may I joyfully give?" Then an amazing thing happens. Jesus says, "That's all I wanted all along - your heart." And to my surprise, Jesus says, "Here take back your house key. Just let Me live there with you, treat your wife like she belongs to Me instead of you, and here's your car key. Just drive with Me in the passenger seat...and please slow down. Here's your money and your credit card. Just use them to sustain God's glory in mission and ministry. I have a whole lot more blessings to bestow upon you!!"
Everything we have is God's. It's only ours to use to glorify God and to build up the Body of Christ. If we gave all to God, it wouldn't be nearly as much as what Jesus gave for you and for me when Jesus laid down His life for your sins and for mine. Jesus gave you and me a new life in all its fullness, including everlasting life! Beloved we can do no less than live as faithful stewards for and of Jesus the remainder of our days!!
There is a song entitled, "What If I Give All?" What would happen if you gave all? How would you rejoice in doing so? God's Blessings to you as we journey through the wilderness of Lent to the Empty Tomb of Easter Morning!!
DON'T MISS OUT!
RSVP FOR CHRISM MASS TODAY

All rostered leaders are invited to attend for worship, fellowship and distribution of oils. Lunch will follow the worship. 

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



You must RSVP to [email protected] by TODAY!

SYNOD ASSEMBLY
June 3 - 5, 2016
(Friday - Sunday)
Grand Sierra Resort, Reno

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip to Reno:
 
The Grand Sierra Hotel is waiving the normal $10 per night "resort fee."
 
There is free wi-fi and valet parking.
 
Passage can be made from the meeting areas to the room areas via "no smoking" routes.
 
The hotel is honoring the "convention room rate" of $99 three days before and three days after.
 

For more information on activities in Reno please see:  https://www.visitrenotahoe.com


Applications for Workshop Proposals and Display Space now available

Please click here if you are interested in submitting a workshop proposal application for Synod Assembly

Please click here if you are interested in submitting a request for display space for Synod Assembly
Special Prayer Request

Please lift up in prayer those unarmed Oromo University, college, and elementary students and all Oromo people who are oppressed and persecuted by the Ethiopian federal security officers and Ethiopian militaries. The atrocities are committed against the Oromo people because they dare to question the government's land grab and the "master plan" of the capital city. The present ruling government is conducting a forced evacuation of the Oromo farmers from their land and selling it to foreign investors and using the funds for their personal gain. As the Oromo people throughout the country, including University Students and family farmers, raise their voice in non-violent opposition, they are being gunned down and disappeared. Please pray for peaceful resolution to the oppression and massacres, and that justice may prevail where conflict and violence runs rampant.



NEWS FROM THE ELCA
"God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday"

Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 11, when congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will again have the opportunity to participate in "God's work. Our hands." Sunday and celebrate who we are as the ELCA - one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

If your congregation cannot participate Sept. 11, please consider another time. The 2016 dedicated day of service will also mark the 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. 

"The world can be a dangerous place. But there are some who, when disaster strikes, run toward the danger. These are first responders, firefighters, police and EMTs, who live out their baptismal vocation in service to their communities in times of intense need. They do God's work with their hands." - ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton

"God's work. Our hands." Sunday service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace. View this video to learn how some ELCA members organized their 2015 day of service.

T-shirts will once again be available from Old Lutheran at Old Lutheran.com. The deadline for ordering your congregation's personalized shirt is Aug. 19.

We look forward to doing this work together. Visit ELCA.org/dayofservice for the 2016 toolkit and more.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNOD
AND BEYOND
You are invited to attend the annual meeting of the
 
Sierra Pacific Synod Rwanda Connections Committee
Coordinated by Cindy Tuisku, Pat Baker, Pastor Todd Wallace and Lyna Myers
Saturday, March 12, 2016
1:00 - 4:00 PM
at
Lutheran Church of the Master
1900 Potrero Way, Sacramento 95822
 (behind Raley's market on Freeport Blvd.)
 
RSVP to [email protected] or (916) 452-5536


California Lutheran University Choir
2016 Concert Tour
 
Palo Alto
Saturday, March 19 at 7:00pm: Concert, Grace Lutheran Church
Sunday, March 20 at 10:45am: Worship Service
 
Sacramento
Sunday, March 20 at 7:00pm: Concert, St. John's Lutheran Church

San 
Fransisco
Monday, March 21 at 7:30pm: Concert, St. Mark's Lutheran Church
 
Fresno
Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00pm:                                             Concert, Hope Lutheran Church
 
Visalia
Thursday, March 24 at 7:00pm:                                             Service (Maundy Thursday), Christ  Lutheran Church                                          




California Lutheran University, in partnership with the Center for Equality and Justice, the SEEd Project (Sustainable Edible Education), and the Segerhammar Center for Faith and Culture invite you to tune into a live stream presentation of "Cultivating the Sky: How the Ethics of Food Matters to the Politics of Climate Change" by esteemed speaker, Willis Jenkins.

Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.

Watch the event live at www.callutheran.com/live and join the conversation with #CLUfaithculture
 
For more information, contact Sam Thomas at (805) 493-3693 or [email protected]

REFORMATION 500

Bibliodrama Workshop
From Reformation to Transformation

Dr. Peter Erlenwein

Friday, May 20, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 
3281 16th Street/Dolores, San Francisco

A core teaching of Martin Luther is his statement that neither penance nor good deeds bring the individual closer to God; only God's grace given as a free gift will save human beings. What does that mean in postmodern times, where Dorothee S�lle, a protestant theologian, intimately connected to the American way of life, speaks not of faith but of the necessity of remembering G.O.D. in a world of extreme consumerism and fundamentalism? Creative resistance against the oblivion of an innate sacredness or just goodness - the daily experience of many- was her spiritual answer.
With the tools of Bibliodrama- inquiring personal narratives, role play, body and movement rituals/meditations we will be tracking some of our own footprints between oblivion and tastes of moments of transformation out of nowhere whose beauty often seems hard to believe with our skeptical minds.
 
Suggested Donation:
$40 - $25 for students or seniors
Includes light snack on Friday and lunch on Saturday; nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Please RSVP by May 18 to [email protected]  or 415-863-6371

To read more about the event and Dr Erlenwein click here.

Healthy Congregations Workshop  
November 4 - 5, 2016
Good Shepherd, Salinas

The workshop will be led by Richard Blackburn, Executive Director of Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC). The event is most helpful when attended by a group of lay and Pastoral leaders from the same church, group discounts are available!
Click here for more information about the event.
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. 

Stay connected with us:

We Remember in Prayer...
For the family, friends and colleagues of Pr. Joan Randall (All Saints Lutheran and Sunnyveiw Lutheran Home, Cupertino), who died this week after a short illness.  We thank God for this good and faithful servant of Christ and her ministry.  Funeral plans are pending at this time.

Pr. Dot Lundgren (Immanuel, Alameda) and family on the death of her father, Leonard Cassaday.

For Corrine and Pr. Gary Stevenson (Hope, Fresno) and family on death of Corrine's mother, Birdie Scholberg.

Pr. Lori Keyser-Boswell (Mt. Zion, Yreka) and Pr. Brad Keyser-Boswell (Holy Trinity, Weaverville) and their family on the death of Pr. Lori's father, Harold. 
 
Pr. Joan Randall (All Saints, Cupertino and Chaplain, Sunnyview Lutheran Home, Cupertino), hospitalized and undergoing tests. 

Ginger Chiu, mother of Pr. Joseph Chiu (Good Shepherd Christian Community, Cupertino) who is hospitalized in Taiwan after suffering a stroke.

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.

Those around the world who are fleeing terror and violence; that they find compassion and welcome as they seek refuge.

Second Mile Giving


March 2016
Congregations in Transition
Upcoming Events

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: [email protected]

2016 Grace Gathering

The Grace Gathering will be held in partnership with the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans Aug. 10-13.

Learn more and register visit www.ELCA.org/GraceGathering.

Stay up-to-date on gathering news by going to the 2016 Grace Gathering event on Facebook!

Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process

December 5-7, 2016
March 13-15, 2017
May 22-24, 2017

Hope United Methodist Church
San Diego, CA

Clergy Clinic is designed to enhance the ability of participants to function as self-differentiated leaders in their ministry setting.  It can be taken as a follow-up to MSTI, or, on its own.  The clinic meets three times during the year for three days each time, providing a total of nine days of training. The training is presented by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.

Download a brochure with registration form
You can also register online.

Synod Calendar

Events and Meetings

  

March 12, 2016
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento, CA

March 17, 2016
Chrism Mass
Bethlehem, Auburn

March 18, 2016
Chrism Mass
Holy Trinity, Fremont

April 8 - 9, 2016
Candidacy Committee
PLTS, Berkeley

June 3-5, 2016
2016 Synod Assembly
Grand Sierra Resort
Reno, NV

CANDIDACY COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
PLTS, Berkeley
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.
STEWARDSHIP DISCIPLING TEAM 
MARCH COUNCIL DEVOTIONS

Generous People Living God's Love 
...by pausing to experience God's presence in silence
 
"Be still and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:10a

Click here to download the devotions
Quick Links
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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
  
For more information click here

Staff Listing
Mark W. Holmerud, Bishop
Nancy Feniuk Nelson, Bishop's Associate

Committed to being re-formed...
The Sierra Pacific Synod

9985 Folsom Blvd, 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)