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In thanksgiving for the democratic process and the right to vote. We pray for open hearts and minds as we move forward living into the election results together.
Bill Strehlow (retired) for recent hospitalizations.
Pr. Rebecca Swee (Good Shepherd, Burlingame) who will be undergoing a procedure this week to treat cancer of the kidney.
Continued comfort and healing for Prs. Scott, Dunbar, Theiss and Fey.
For those affected by fire and flooding. We especially remember firefighters, rescue workers, and those providing care and services.
We pray for those who have lost their homes and those who are providing rescue and relief.
Places and people living in areas of violence and uncertainty, both locally and globally.
Those around the world who are fleeing terror and violence; that they find compassion and welcome as they seek refuge.
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Congregations in Transition
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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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November 10, 2016
Intentional Interim Synod-Wide Event
Trinity Lutheran Church, Pleasanton
November 11 - 13, 2016
SPSYC Middle School Retreat
Mt. Cross
November 24, 2016 Thanksgiving
December 10, 2016
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento Office of the Bishop
December 26, 2016 Synod Offices Closed
January 2, 2017
Synod Offices Closed
January 20 - 21, 2017
Candidacy Committee
PLTS
January 27 - 28, 2017
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento Office of the Bishop
January 31 - February 1, 2017
Dean's Retreat
Christ the King Center, Citrus Heights
February 24 - 26, 2107
SPSYC High School Retreat
Mt. Cross
February 27-28, 2017
Annual Retired Pastors Retreat
San Damiano, CA
March 11, 2017 Rwanda Connections Meeting Lutheran Church of the Master, Sacramento
March 17 - 18, 2017
Candidacy Meeting
Hope, El Sobrante
May 3, 2017
Synod Council Meeting
Fresno
May 4 - 6, 2017
Synod Assembly
Thursday - Saturday
Fresno
June 23 - 24, 2017
Synod Council Meeting
Sacramento Office of the Bishop
June 28 - July 2, 2017
Western States Youth Gathering
California Lutheran University
August 25 - 26, 2017
Candidacy Committee
TBD
October 16-17, 2017
Deans & Women's Retreat
Monterey
October 18-20, 2017
Professional Leaders Conference
Monterey
November 3-4, 2017
Candidacy Committee
TBD
CANDIDACY COMMITTEE MEETINGS:
PLTS
January 20-21, 2017
Hope Lutheran Church, El Sobrante
March 17-18, 2017
Location TBD
August 25-26, 2017
Location TBD
November 3-4, 2017
Please take note of our office schedule:
All Synod offices are open Monday-Thursday and closed every Friday.
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Our PO Box is no longer active.
Please send all correspondence to the Sacramento Office of the Bishop at:
Sierra Pacific Synod
9985 Folsom Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95827
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May 28 - June 2, 2017
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin
June 11 - 16, 2017
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin
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These are not official Synod events, we hope you'll find this information useful as you plan for the 500th anniversary.
Student Multimedia Contest: Reconciliation: "The Love of Christ Compels Us"
The North State Ecumenical Conference is sponsoring an ecumenical multimedia contest for 9th - 12th grade students. Submissions may include, but are not limited to, written essay, visual art form, digital or video production. First prize is $250.
The theme "Reconciliation: The Love of Christ Compels Us" (2 Corinthians 5:14-20) supports world-wide week of prayer for christian unity, January 18 - 25, 2017 - part of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
The deadline is December 31, 2016. Finalists will be honored at an ecumenical dinner on January 18, 2017.
Mail submissions to: John Berger, Secretary, North State Ecumenical Conference, 3736 Laguna Way, Sacramento, CA 95864-2923
For more information please call 916-482-6976.
Opportunity to Travel to Germany to Celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
August 30-September 6, 2017
Join Pastor Dan Smith and members and friends of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis, California, for an important celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. We will visit sites associated with the life, times and events of Martin Luther to explore the visionary call for reform he made in the 16th century. We will be joining people from around the world marking this important event. Our program is being offered as a land-only program (you will make your own flight arrangements to and from Germany) which allows you to go early, stay longer, and shop for special airfares. We have created a program that includes several nights in the beautiful medieval town of Erfurt and several in Wittenberg - Luther's town. We conclude our visit with an overnight in the exciting cosmopolitan city of Berlin. Join us to learn more about this visionary man and explore the people, places, and events of the 16th century. Space is limited and registrations are being accepted this summer. For program information and registration visit: www.travelillume.com/trc/vks or call: 800-368-6757 ex 128 at the Illume organization in Boston.
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Newsletter Submissions
Please submit any newsletter requests to
by Thursday at 5:00 pm
Thank you!
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A message from Katy Grindberg, Assistant to the Bishop
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I am writing this on Monday afternoon, sitting in a room at Bethany Lutheran Church in Denver with about 50 pastors and deacons who are serving in their first three years of ministry. The topic of the week is "Church and Society" and we are grappling with faith and politics and society and culture.
This is a time of great national discord. No matter where people fall on the political spectrum, I have heard folks lament the tone and tenor of this political season. Many of us know people who are on the "other side" - friends, family, co-workers, members of our faith communities and we are wondering how to enter into these areas of disagreement and discord, and still maintain these relationships. And it's hard...people seem particularly passionate this year - whether it's the strength of their convictions, or fear of what the other side represents, or frustration with the current situation, or something else all together - our emotions and passions have been tapped into very strongly, and it is showing in how we are relating to one another and to the national conversation. What I'm reminded of in our time together in Denver is that as people of faith, we are called together in our unity in Christ. No matter where we fall on the political spectrum, we are all named and claimed by God at the Font and fed by bread and wine at the Table. No matter the results of the elections - that will likely be known by the time you're reading this - we are the Body of Christ together and our hope is in Christ and we have the news of a loving God to take to a hurting world. God's peace be with you - The Rev. Katy Grindberg
Assistant to the Bishop
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ELCA presiding bishop calls for Veterans Day prayers
In honor of Veterans Day (Friday, Nov. 11), the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, is calling on the church to pray for members of the armed services, veterans, chaplains and their families.
"Let us pray for an ordered civic life and respect for the dignity and worth of every person," Eaton wrote. "In worship on these days, please remember the impact of family separation and mobility for veterans and those currently serving, many of whom are members of our congregations and communities."
In her letter, Eaton refers to a memorial adopted by the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, which asks "the Office of the Presiding Bishop to establish a Sunday of prayer and action closest to Veterans Day each year to unite this church in prayer and encourage practical assistance for military members, veterans, ELCA chaplains and families."
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Leadership Program for Musicians Offers Online Courses
 The Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM), a cooperative program between the ELCA and The Episcopal Church, is a teaching ministry that gives church musicians an increased awareness, along with the tools and resources to enable congregations to sing well and participate actively in worship.
LPM is now offering some of their courses online so students can participate from wherever they live with a more flexible schedule. These courses are perfect for musicians of all levels who are new to a liturgical church or simply want to deepen their knowledge and understanding of their role as a leader of song in the church.
The upcoming courses include: - Hymnody of the Christian Church, winter 2017; Julie Grindle, instructor
- Developing a Philosophy of Church Music, spring 2017; Jennifer Baker-Trinity, instructor
- Liturgy and Music for Lutherans, spring 2017; Scott Weidler, instructor
To read more about these courses and for registration information, visit lpm-online.org.
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Help Spread the Word! ELCA Colleges and Universities
ELCA colleges and universities have a helpful website  - whygolutheran.org - for students and parents as they embark on the college search process. On the site families can: Help spread the word by downloading posters and bulletin inserts to incorporate in your congregational communications!
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News from around the Synod and Beyond
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Celebrations
Ordination:
Ryan Eikenbary - December 3, 2016, 2:00 pm at St John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento
Book Publishing:
Pastor John Rollefson (St. Francis, San Francisco), now retired in San Luis Obispo, is delighted to report the recent publication of his new book, Postils for Preaching: Commentaries on the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A. Copies are available from his publisher's website, wipfandstock.com, or after Dec. 1 on amazon.com. (Subsequent volumes for Year B and Year C are forthcoming.) The Rev. Barbara Lundblad, Emeritus Professor of Preaching at Union Seminary in NYC, writes in a cover blurb, "If you can read only one new book for this lectionary cycle, Postils for Preaching will not disappoint you." John himself describes his intention in writing as "to dip into a lifetime of that exegetical and homiletical 'bag of tricks' as Jesus himself obliquely recommended when he noted how "every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old" (Matt 13:52).
******************************************* Do you have other Celebrations (installations, ordinations, book publishings, etc.) that you'd like listed in this column? Feel free to submit them to our enewsletter editor, Kathye Hamm.
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Intentional Interim Synod-Wide Event
Thursday November 10, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1225 Hopyard Road, Pleasanton, CA 94566, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. Led by the Interim Steering Committee. Guest speaker, Bp. Mark W. Holmerud. Lunch provided. Cash donations welcome. All pastors serving as interims (or hoping to!) are expected. Contact person: Pr. Lori Eickmann
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God's Work, Our Hands Day Contest Voting is Open!
There are two categories: narrative and video. The winning entry in each category will have the honor of having a $100.00 gift made to ELCA Good Gifts in their name.
Everyone, including your children, your extended family members, school teachers, your grumpy neighbor, everyone, is invited to vote in this contest. Voting will be open until December 15, 2016. You may vote in each category and you may vote more than once.
We will tally and announce the winning congregations in early 2017.
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Warner Trust Now Online
Information about the Warner Trust and the Grant Application are now available on the synod website. The deadline for applications is December 15.
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California Lutheran Executive Skills Workshop for Clergy/Church Workers
Jan. 9-13, 2017
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
Gain valuable and needed skills for pastors, leaders, administrators in congregational settings. Led by California Lutheran School of Management Faculty For the 3rd year, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center & California Lutheran University are teaming up for what has become a very powerful and popular workshop - a week of continuing education with faculty from the School of Management.
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Amendments to the Model Constitution for Congregations
An email was sent Tuesday, October 11 from Synod Secretary, Jeff Pennington, about changes to the congregational constitutions following the 2016 Churchwide Assembly. If you did not receive the email you may find his letter here.
You can find the amendments and the new model constitution on the Resources page of the synod website under " For Congregations." |
Register for the SPSYC Retreats
The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee is excited to invite your youth to the upcoming High School Retreat at Mt. Cross on February 24 - 26, 2017
Scholarships are also available. All registration and payment can be done online as a group or as an individual, or can be done by mail.
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Western States Youth Gathering
June 28 - July 2, 2017
California Lutheran University is again hosting the Western States Youth Gathering.
Information about the event itself can be found at: www.WSYG.com and you can follow and add to our hashtag: #wsyg17.
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Over 600 adults who work with children, youth and families (CYF) in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will gather at The Galt House Hotel and Conference Center in Louisville, Kentucky for Extravaganza 2017. The "E" is the premier training event for adults who work in faith formation.
Held January 20-24, the Extravaganza will focus on the theme "500," with an emphasis on the ongoing re-forming work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the world and the church. Dynamic spiritual renewal, transformational continuing education and supportive networking are critical elements of Extravaganza. For more information on the Extravaganza, and to register, please visit www.ext17.org. Our local contact for information about the Extravaganza or the Youth Ministry Network is Lisa Herlocker.
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