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The friends and families of those who died in the Ghost Ship, Oakland fire.
The family, friends and colleagues of Pr. Larry Koger, who was serving as Interim Pastor at First Lutheran Church in San Diego. Pr. Koger previously served as the Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Porterville. He died unexpectedly on Monday while working at church. He is survived by his wife, Sharan, and a daughter, Janae. The memorial service will be Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 191 S. Columbia Street, Hemet, CA
Pr. Jim Lapp (St Stephens, Santa Cruz) who had hip replacement surgery 12/13.
Joyce Brown, the spouse of Pr. Wendell Brown (retired) who is on hospice care.
Continued comfort and healing for Barbara Schaefer, Dennis Jones and Prs. Ajer, Swee, Scott, Dunbar and Fey.
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.
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Congregations in Transition
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Synod Calendar
Events and Meetings
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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.
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January 4 - March 15, 2017
March 15 - May 31, 2017
January 9 - 13, 2017
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
Leadership & Anxiety in the ChurchFebruary 1, 2017 Memorial Presbyterian Church, Phoenix
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.
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
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Newsletter Submissions
Please submit any newsletter requests to
by Thursday at 5:00 pm
Thank you!
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Was this newsletter forwarded to you?
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A message from Kathryn Gulbranson, Assistant to the Bishop
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"Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear: . . ."
(Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers)
When Bishop Mark Holmerud and our Synod Council extended the call for me to be the Assistant to the Bishop for the Bay Area - I thought I had won the lottery! I write this article to you on my twelfth day, and I am still so thrilled. (Okay - I am also a bit overwhelmed!)
When I look back upon my twenty-six years of parish ministry, I think about all the Assistants to the Bishop from New Jersey and California who have had such a positive impact upon my husband's (Thomas Gable- Pastor, Marin Lutheran Church) and my ministry. They have been role models for us, helped us discern our calls - including figuring out how to be married and co-pastors simultaneously, supported us personally and spiritually and provided support for our congregations. I'll never forget Pastor Gladys who showed up at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan before our four-month-old baby's second open heart surgery. She prayed with us and then I said, "Thank you so much for coming, Gladys." She said, "What? I'm not leaving until we hear from the surgeon - after your baby's surgery!" She didn't leave until later that night, when the surgeon let us know that our sweet baby had survived and was recovering well!
It's that dedication and faithfulness which I have already seen among our bishop and synod staff. It's that dedication and faithfulness which I hope and pray I can live into with this new call. Please let me know if you'd like for me to come and visit your church. I'll preach, preside or simply be a pew-dweller.
I pray for all our rostered leaders, congregational leaders, and congregations every day. I hope and pray that our synod staff will be in your prayers as well as we serve God together.
Advent Blessings,
Pastor Kathryn Gulbranson
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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.
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Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the God's Work, Our Hands  Day Contest
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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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. See full devotions
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Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Delivers Her Christmas Message
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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.
ELCAVIDEO during checkout for the video download.
The above code is for congregational use only. This is not for individual use.
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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
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 ELCA Good Gifts are a meaningful way to honor loved ones with gifts that grow the church, fight hunger and transform lives.
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News from around the Synod and Beyond
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Installations:
Pr Ryan Eikenbary - January 8, 2017, 2:00 at Zion Lutheran Church, 808 Porter Ave, Stockton, CA 95207.
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.
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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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DON'T FORGET: Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday is January 29th, 2017
Does your community have everything it needs? Most communities celebrate the last Sunday in January, but many also choose the anniversary of their welcome statement or a Sunday coinciding with their local Pride festival. Are you taking a special offering at your RIC Sunday celebration and n eed envelopes? Contact Ryan Muralt at ReconcilingWorks to request free special giving envelopes. QUICK RIC SUNDAY TIPS: - Take photos and tag ReconcilingWorks on facebook and twitter or send them to zacb@ReconcilingWorks.org.
- Publicize online on Facebook, in email, in local print newspapers or on your website.
- Have a member who lived through the initial RIC process tell the story of that spirit led journey as the sermon. Many congregants may not know this story so this could be a great moment for the congregation to remember what it meant and what it continues to mean to be RIC.
- Use this day of celebration to kick off a larger educational season where you can re-explore your RIC commitments.
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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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." |
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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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.
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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