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| Lenten Blessings | March 17, 2016 |
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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
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A message from Bishop Mark Holmerud
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Dear ,
You may have heard that one of our ELCA Colleges offered a candidate for President the opportunity to speak at a forum on its campus this week. This was the same type of forum to which other candidates in this election process had also been invited, but only one candidate accepted. The administration of Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina did not choose to avoid what proved to be a controversial decision to invite Donald Trump, as he was the only candidate to accept. He appeared there on Monday, and as you might expect, drew large crowds of supporters and detractors to the university.
Due to poor weather conditions, Mr. Trump's arrival was delayed. The crowds waiting outside the auditorium where he was expected grew throughout the morning to about 5,000 people. Included in that crowd was the Bishop of the North Carolina Synod, Tim Smith, and a number of clergy and members from congregations near Hickory, as well as students who were on Spring Break. They had come to appeal for a more civil campaign, to call upon Mr. Trump to remember the needs of all people, including people from groups Mr. Trump has disparaged at his rallies and during the debates.
At one point while waiting to get inside the auditorium, a group of Trump supporters and a group of those opposed to his candidacy began shouting at each other, then made gestures, and finally rushed towards each other. It was at that moment that Bp. Smith and other pastors stepped between the two groups, locked arms, and sang "Jesus loves you" to both sides. Amazingly, it helped to ease tensions and the groups separated from each other. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the crowds parted from each other almost as quickly as they had rushed towards each other. A few moments before, Bp. Smith and the pastors of the North Carolina synod had been bystanders, and suddenly, they were a part of the drama of that moment.
This week, on Palm/Passion Sunday, we'll hear once again the reading of the passion of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. A part of that story speaks of another bystander, Simon of Cyrene, who was compelled to carry the Cross of Christ. In a moment, he became forever associated as the embodiment of what Christ calls all of us to do - to bear the Cross in and with our very lives. I am very proud of my colleague, Bp. Smith, and all those who, in a moment's notice, chose to move from being bystanders to becoming cross bearers. Their gesture of peace and embodiment of the love of Christ is a witness that I pray will not be lost on me and all who hear this story and consider the ways we are often called to move from being bystanders to those whose faith becomes active in love. I invite all of us to pray and wonder with God how we might respond at the next opportunity we will be given to move from bystander to Cross bearer.
Blessings as we journey together with Christ in Holy Week.
Peace,
Bp. Mark
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 SYNOD ASSEMBLYJune 3 - 5, 2016
(Friday - Sunday)
Grand Sierra Resort, Reno
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2016 Synod Assembly Resolutions Process
Resolutions - and the resolutions process - are an integral aspect of our annual synod assembly. As the highest legislative body of the Sierra Pacific Synod, the Synod Assembly requests action by congregational, synodical or churchwide expressions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America through resolutions. Resolutions may be proposed or endorsed by synod congregations, conferences, discipling teams, task forces, affiliated organizations and institutions, or at least fifteen voting members of the Assembly itself.
Prior to their presentation to the Assembly, resolutions are vetted by the Resolutions Committee. The Resolutions Committee is asked to "receive, review and prepare" resolutions so as to ensure that they are legal, factual and understandable. Additionally, the Resolutions Committee works with submitters of resolutions to edit (or occasionally consolidate) resolutions for clarity and procedural purposes. While the Resolutions Committee has authority to recommend action on any resolution that the Committee presents to the Assembly (including the adoption or rejection of the resolution, or a referral of the proposed action to another synodical entity), resolutions are normally referred to the Assembly without recommendation.
The 2016 Resolutions Committee humbly requests that resolutions to this year's Assembly be submitted to the Chair of the Resolutions Committee (emailed to Pastor John Valentine at jvalentine@holyshepherd.org) no later than Monday, March 28th. Submitting them by this date will ensure that the Resolutions Committee has ample time to properly prepare and promptly distribute them to all voting members.
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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.
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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
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ELCA's Comprehensive Campaign Finishes Second Year
with $80 Million Raised
The ELCA's first comprehensive campaign, Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, is celebrating the completion of its second year with $80 million in cash gifts and gift commitments, representing 40 percent of the five-year, $198 million goal by Jan. 31, 2019. In addition, the ELCA has received another $17 million in planned gifts commitments to the priorities of the campaign.
"This is exciting news about the campaign. At a time when people are concerned about contracting resources, we see the generosity of our members expanding," said the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, ELCA presiding bishop. "At a time when some wonder if the church has the capacity to be engaged in the world, we are actually extending our work. Truly, together we can do more."
Launched Feb. 1, 2014, the campaign seeks to raise $198 million to help sustain and expand the ministries of this church through four priorities - Congregations, Hunger and Poverty, Leadership and Global Church. The additional resources will help our church grow our communities of faith, form new leaders, welcome our neighbors, overcome malaria, confront hunger and poverty, accompany our global churches and so much more.
Already, gifts to the campaign are making an impact throughout our church:
- Twenty-one new or enhanced ministries with ELCA youth and young adults received funding to expand current efforts or launch new initiatives.
- ELCA and local partners broke ground on a new Lutheran Center in Juba, South Sudan, as part of the Global Ministry project, South Sudan: A New Church for a New Nation. The groundbreaking signified the beginning of a project to establish the Evangelical Lutheran Church Africa Mission in South Sudan.
- The campaign's Renewing Congregations priority distributed 17 grants to synods and congregations across the ELCA. This includes 11 Synodical Renewing Congregations strategies, four fast-growth congregations and two area-ministry strategies.
- ELCA World Hunger experienced its second year of growth, expanding work in 10 countries, including the United States.
Click here to read more...
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"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.
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.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYNOD
AND BEYOND
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California Lutheran University Choir
2016 Concert Tour
 Palo Alto
Sacramento
Fresno
Visalia
Thursday, March 24 at 7:00pm:
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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.
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REFORMATION 500
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Bibliodrama Workshop
From Reformation to Transformation
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 Sölle, 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.
To read more about the event and Dr Erlenwein click here.
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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!
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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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We Remember in Prayer...
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For Pr. George Spindt (retired) on the death of his wife, Evelyn. Pr. Spindt formerly served Messiah Lutheran in Redwood City.
Pr. Paul Theiss upon a diagnosis of pneumonia.
Pr. Joseph Chiu (Good Shepherd Christian Community, Cupertino), whose mother, Ginger Chiu, died in Taiwan on Sunday, March 6th. Services were held March 12th in Taipei, Taiwan.
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. The memorial service will be held Saturday, April 16, 11:00 a.m., in the Community Room at Sunnyview Retirement Community.
Pr. Dot Lundgren (Immanuel, Alameda) and family on the death of her father, Leonard Cassaday.
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.
For peaceful resolution to the oppression and massacres of the Oromo people in Ethiopia, and that justice may prevail where conflict and violence runs rampant.
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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March 2016
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Congregations in Transition
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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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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.
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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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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.
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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 |
Newsletter Submissions
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Please submit any newsletter requests to kathye@spselca.org
by Tuesday at 3:30 pm
Thank You!
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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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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
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
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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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