New Year's Blessings
December 28, 2016
The Office of the Bishop will be closed on January 2 
 for the New Year's holiday.


In This Issue
We Remember in Prayer
Places and people living in areas of violence and uncertainty, both locally and globally.

Pr. Russ Mueller (retired; father of Pr. Sylvia Mueller, Light of Christ, Turlock), recovering from hip surgery.
 
Pr. Wendell Brown (retired, former pastor of Good Shepherd, Salinas) and family on the death of his wife, Joyce, on December 24th. 
 
The family and friends of Jane Okubo (former Synod Council Member), who died on December 24th in Alaska, where she had been living with her daughter. 

The family and friends of Sandra Lee Poirier (Treasurer of the SPS WELCA), who died on December 25 in Reno where she had been hospitalized.

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

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
Synod Calendar 
Events and Meetings

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.
DON'T FORGET: Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Sunday is January 29th, 2017






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

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

Leadership & Anxiety in the Church
February 1, 2017
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Phoenix

Worship at the Center 2017 Engaging Worship & Culture
February 19 - 21, 2017
Santa Monica, CA

 May 8 - 12, 2017
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Phoenix 

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.

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We Are a Reconciling in Christ Synod

News from the ELCA
Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Delivers Her Christmas Message


ELCA Mobility System and Candidacy Portal Closure

The ELCA has shut down the Mobility System and the Candidacy Portal on the ELCA website until January 18, 2017 in order 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.
 
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.

Worship at the Center 2017

Registration is open for the ELCA worship event Worship at the Center:  http://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Congregations-and-Synods/Worship/Worship-at-the-Center
News from around the Synod and Beyond
Celebrations

Installations:
Pr Joshua Serrano - Saturday, January 7, 2017, 4:00 pm at
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 149 Manzanita Ave, San Carlos, CA 94070.

Pr Ryan Eikenbary - January 8, 2017, 2:00 at Zion Lutheran Church, 808 Porter Ave, Stockton, CA 95207.

Pr. Casey Kloehn to serve at The Belfry at UC Davis - January 18th, 7:00 pm at Davis Lutheran Church, 317 E 8th St, Davis 95616.

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.

2017 Plan for Mission Support

The 2017 Plan for Mission Support is due by January 20, 2017

2017 Mileage Rates

The IRS has released the 2017 mileage rates. Business and ministry rates have lowered to 53.5 cents / mile. To see the entire list go here: 
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."


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.

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!

Director of Children and Teen Ministries

 Mt Carmel Lutheran Church in San Luis Obispo, is looking for a full time Director of Children and Teen Ministries
The Director of Children and Teen Ministries has the primary responsibility for continuing and expanding programs for children and teens from birth through 18 years of age (nursery through high school) with the assistance of the CAT Ministry Team and lay leaders.


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)