Advent Blessings
December 7, 2016
In This Issue
We Remember in Prayer
For the friends and families of those who died in the Ghost Ship, Oakland fire.

Pr. Jim Lapp (St Stephens, Santa Cruz) having hip replacement surgery 12/13.

Joyce Brown, the spouse of Pr. Wendell Brown (retired) who is on hospice care.

In thanksgiving for God's healing power as Pastor Paul Theiss and his wife Nancy Satterford celebrate a successful stem cell transplant and his remission from multiple myeloma.

The family and friends of Pr. Bill Strehlow (ret.) after his death last week.

Continued comfort and healing for Barbara Schaefer, Dennis Jones and Prs. Ajer, Swee, Scott, Dunbar and Fey.

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. 

For those affected by the wildfires, especially those in Tennessee, this week. We ask for comfort and security for those who have been displaced and lost their homes and belongings. We give thanks for the firefighters, rescue and relief workers - may they be sustained in their work and may they be safe.

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.

Second Mile Giving
December 2016



Congregations in Transition
God's Work, Our Hands Day Contest Voting is Open!

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.
 
If you have questions, please send them to: [email protected].

Synod Calendar 
Events and Meetings

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:
January 20-21, 2017
PLTS
March 17-18, 2017
Hope Lutheran Church, El Sobrante
August 25-26, 2017
Location TBD  
November 3-4, 2017
Location TBD

Please take note of our office schedule:
All Synod offices are open Monday-Thursday and closed every Friday.
Upcoming Workshops
Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process
March 13-15, 2017
May 22-24, 2017
Hope United Methodist Church
San Diego, CA

January 4 - March 15, 2017
March 15 - May 31, 2017

January 9 - 13, 2017
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center

Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process
March 13-15, 2017
May 22-24, 2017
Hope United Methodist Church
San Diego, CA

May 28 - June 2, 2017
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin

June 11 - 16, 2017
Seminary of the Southwest, Austin

Reformation 500
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. 
The deadline is December 31, 2016. 
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

For program information and registration visit:  www.travelillume.com/trc/vks   or call:  800-368-6757 ex 128 at the Illume organization in Boston.

Quick Links
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We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod

A message from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
 
 
Here at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, we are very grateful for the regular and special support we receive from you congregations, individuals and the synod. You are a shining example to others! Besides helping to keep theological education more affordable for our students!
 
We ask prayers for the following things:
  • That faithful people who are gifted and moved by the Holy Spirit would be encouraged and enabled to attend seminary.
  • That the upcoming move of our seminary from its hilltop location to downtown Berkeley in the late spring would proceed well.
  • That our faculty and staff would be encouraged and strengthened in their vocations.
  • That our students and alums would prove to be inspiring, capable and joyous leaders in their ministries.
  • That the open and hidden purposes of the gospel of Jesus would be accomplished among us.
  • That God would be born among us again these Advent and Christmas seasons. 
Thank you to congregations which have put PLTS into your second mile giving efforts. New and increased gifts from congregations will receive one-to-one matches of up to $1000 from generous donors through the end of the year!
 
And mark your calendars for Saturday, May 27, 2017, 10:00 a.m. for the Decommissioning of the present campus and a procession three miles down the hill (some may drive!) to the new campus for its opening blessing. More information to come!
 
Brian Stein-Webber
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
Contact me with any questions!  
[email protected], 510-559-2711

ELCA Mobility System and Candidacy Portal Closure

We have been informed that the ELCA will be shutting down the Mobility System and the Candidacy Portal on the ELCA website from December 15, 2016 through January 17, 2017 to implement updates related to the new Word and Service roster. 
 
No Mobility forms (RLPs, MSPs, references, etc.) can be completed, submitted, or edited during this time.
 
No Candidacy forms (applications, decisions forms) can be completed or submitted during this time.
 
If you are working on a document, PLEASE make sure that you have saved a copy to your computer.
 
Contact Pr. Katy Grindberg in the Sacramento Office of the Bishop if you have questions about mobility forms during this time; and Laurie Gaumer in the Bay Area Office of the Bishop if you have questions related to candidacy.

December Council Devotions

Generous People Living God's Love 
...by being inspired and inspiring

"And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Most High God, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior' " Luke 1:46-47.

(Please see Luke 1:46-55 for the full Bible reading)

For the past several years, Advent has been, for me, a season of writing down daily "Gratitude Lists" (I write down a list of 5 people/experiences/things I give God thanks for each night before sleep).  Some days, the gratitude flows quickly, while other days I struggle to list things I'd otherwise take for granted ("Thank you, God, for a roof over my head").  

See full devotions
News from the ELCA
ELCA Church Council approves strategic directions plan

The Church Council of the ELCA took action that will help determine the future directions and priorities of this church when it met Nov. 10-13. 
    
The council, which serves as the ELCA's board of directors, adopted Called Forward Together in Christ - ELCA Strategic Directions 2025. The document provides a framework for shared leadership across the ELCA to realize common goals and better meet challenges the church may face in the future. It is the result of a process that invited the 3.7 million members of the church into conversations to provide ideas and feedback about the future of the church. 
     
In her report to the council, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton addressed the Called Forward Together in Christ process and said, "We've seen that leadership and faith formation seem to be two major priorities that have been identified everywhere across the church."
    
Eaton emphasized the work of the advisory committee to the Church Council created by the Theological Education Advisory Council. She said the committee is working to implement ideas that will lead to "more effective development of leadership, recruitment - support and development of leadership, as well as faith formation."
     
Related to the issues of leadership and faith formation, Eaton announced a $3 million gift to the ELCA Fund for Leaders, which will provide full tuition seminary scholarships for 60 additional students over the next three years. The scholarships will be awarded through the ELCA Fund for Leaders, an initiative to build an endowed scholarship resource to provide tuition assistance for qualified candidates studying at ELCA seminaries.
     
Eaton also announced a new leadership initiative to inspire ELCA leaders to seek out and encourage gifted people in their congregations, communities and networks to consider a call to the ministry of the gospel, supported by growing levels of scholarships for  seminary tuition.
     
"We will now have a focused, coordinated, ongoing effort to raise up leaders in the church," said Eaton.
     

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States, featuring more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra. The Festival has been broadcasted on public television and featured in national media.

To provide more flexibility for congregational viewing, St. Olaf College is making the video download available for FREE to all ELCA congregations. The download is available for pre-order now and will be available to watch starting December 14.

This generous gift has been given to the ELCA in an effort to share the joy of the Christmas season.

Enjoy the concert together as a church by visiting stolafchristmas.com and entering code
ELCAVIDEO during checkout for the video download.

The above code is for congregational use only. This is not for individual use.

As a church we center ourselves and our mission as God's people in worship. In worship around word, meal, and bath. In worship amidst the assembly gathered to sing, pray, and praise God. We bring who we are into worship. We bring our own culture and the culture of our upbringing, the cultures of our neighborhoods, the cultures we are called into ministry, mission and service with, and we join with the cultures that everyone else brings with them into that worship. 
 
How can the beauty and diversity of those cultures be seen as gifts in our assembly's worship life? How can culture help to shape our liturgies and even our understanding of worship in much deeper ways? How can these intentional conversations lead us into becoming a much more richly diverse church? All of these questions and more are ones that are crucial to nurturing the worship life of each of our worshiping communities.
 
Where:  St. Paul Lutheran Church
              Santa Monica, Calif.
When:   Feb. 19-21, 2017
Cost:     $40.00 per person
             $100.00 per congregation
 
Registration opens Dec. 2016



ELCA Good Gifts are a meaningful way to honor loved ones with gifts that grow the church, fight hunger and transform lives.

News from around the Synod and Beyond
Celebrations

Ordination:
Pr Rebekah Davis  - February 19, 2017 at St Marks Lutheran Church, 3051 Putnam Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. 12:00 Potluck, 1:30 Installation service.
Clergy please vest - color of the day is green.

*******************************************
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.

NEW OVERTIME LAWS DELAYED BY COURT INJUNCTON 

On November 22, 2016, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant granted a preliminary injunction on the new overtime rules that were to take effect December 1, 2016.

U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant III ruled in favor of the plaintiffs who argued that the new OT rules would have caused an an increase in government costs in their states and would require businesses to pay millions in additional salaries.

Some business have argued that the new OT rules would have eventually led to staff reductions.

 As of right now, the new law is currently on hold and will not go into law on December 1, 2016.

Learn about the current overtime laws in place and find out how this injunction will affect your church by visiting the Clergy Tax Law Blog.


Extravaganza 2017, the premier training event for adults who work with children, youth and families in congregations of the ELCA, will be held from January 20-24, 2017 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Gathering around the theme "500," volunteers and professionals will experience spiritual renewal, continuing education and networking and connections.

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.

SPS Bulletin Board


If you have a change of address please notify the ELCA AND the Sierra Pacific Synod.

Letter from Synod Secretary Regarding Bylaws

An email was sent Tuesday, November 15 from Synod Secretary, Jeff Pennington, about changes to the synod bylaws. If you did not receive the email you may find his letter here.

You can find the bylaws changes on the Resources page of the synod website under "For Congregations."

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."

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.

Western States Youth Gathering
June 28 - July 2, 2017

California Lutheran University is again hosting the Western States Youth Gathering.
 
Registration is open!
 
Information about the event itself can be found at: www.WSYG.com and you can follow and add to our hashtag: #wsyg17.


WYLE: One Day Pre-Event Multicultural Youth Leadership Event
June 27 - 28, 2017

The theme for the Western State Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (WYLE) is also "Dream Big!" 

Cost: $100
Speakers: Rev. Yeheil Curry, Rev. Leila Ortiz
Workshops: Social Justice Issues (Police Brutality, Dream Act, Lack of Resources), Racism, Breaking out of your Box, The Gospel According to Hip Hop

Register at WSYG site and click the WYLE as an Add-on!


St John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento is looking for a full time youth coordinator. This position directs and leads children and youth programming and faith development for Preschool through middle school/high school age youth. This person shall seek to foster Christian community through building relationships with young people and their families that strengthen their commitment to the church and their growth in faith in Jesus Christ.

Director of Teen Ministries

We are seeking YOU: a dynamic, fun-loving, team player passionate about teens and leading teen ministry who also wants to bring your other gifts and talents to Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, located in Granite Bay, CA.

Messiah Lutheran Church provides a ten to twelve-week immersion experience designed for current full-time college students. The experience will provide the opportunity to deliberately and intentionally engage in one's own discernment process with respect to vocational call and more!

All application materials and reference letters must be returned by January 15, 2017.

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)