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Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen,
indeed!
Between Palm Sunday and the Second Sunday of Easter,
I had the privilege of worshipping in nine different
congregations, from northern and southern California to
Arizona. One of those places was First Lutheran in San
Diego, where Debbi and I worshipped on Easter Sunday.
Our daughter has been worshipping there, and we were more than
pleased to affirm her recently renewed interest in church by
attending with her.
What we experienced on
that Day of Resurrection was a warm and inviting group of
people, a well planned worship service, powerful preaching,
amazing music and an overwhelming awareness that the Spirit of
the risen Christ was inviting us to be just as present as
Christ was truly present in that moment. During the
invitation to communion, the pastor reminded us that the feast
we were about to share was not unlike other meals that were
served during the week through that congregation's outreach to
the homeless of San Diego - in that all were welcome.
I heard in that invitation to communion a
call to be fed and then to serve -- a reminder that our
experience of the Risen Christ is never meant to be held
on too tightly or for too long - it is a gift
that is meant to be shared. I also heard in that
invitation a reminder that others need to experience from us
the same gracious welcome we have received from God - and that
we bring through our daily ministries the
Spirit-borne and Spirit-led opportunity and responsibility of
extending this welcome to all.
May God's
abundant and empowering love and grace be with us as we are
led by the Spirit to welcome and serve all - and together, as
those who are served, and those who serve, cry out -- Christ
is Risen! Christ is Risen,
Indeed!
Bp. Mark
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor Ken Bancroft (retired), recently
hospitalized with pneumonia and recovering at home.
Pastor Glenn Johnson (retired), recovering from a
broken ankle.
Faith Lutheran Church, Reno, NV, as they worship in the
Episcopal Church following a fire to their church
building. Because of asbestos issues, they will be out
of their building for 4-5 months.
The granddaughter of Pastor Vern Holmes (American,
Woodland), who is expected to be released from the hospital in
the coming week.
The following synods as they meet in Assembly this
week:
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The Alaska Synod
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The Northeastern Minnesota Synod
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The Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod
-
The Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING
SIERRA PACIFIC SYNOD
ASSEMBLY 
- The Bulletin of Reports and Agenda for
the Synod Assembly will be available to download from the
Synod website on Wednesday, May 6th.
- Please
make sure your congregation has registered for the Synod
Assembly before April 29th. Late fees will apply for
all who register after that date.
- Individual banquet tickets will NOT be available for
sale at the Assembly -- only those who have registered as
voting members or visitors will be able to attend the meal
events.
Link
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MASS CHOIR AT SYNOD
ASSEMBLY
We are looking forward to "creating" a
Mass Choir, under the direction of Tom Lindstrom, to lead the
closing worship service of the Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly
on the morning of Saturday, May 30th. Fresno-area
singers are invited to weekly rehearsals beginning Wednesday,
May 6th, from 6;00 to 7:00 pm in the sanctuary of Hope
Lutheran Church, 364 E. Barstow Ave (corner of Fresno and
Barstow), Fresno, CA 93710.
We will learn Festival Setting 2 from ELW
(accompanied by brass, organ and timpani) and an anthem
(From One Generation to Another, by Allen Pote, Hope
Publishing #C5130). Singers from outside the Fresno area
are invited to come to the Wednesday night, May 27th,
rehearsal at Hope and/or the Saturday morning rehearsal in the
Synod Assembly chapel prior to the worship service.
If you have questions or would like
additional information, please contact Doris Payne at
Doris
Payne.
Link
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BOOK DONATIONS REQUESTED AT
ASSEMBLY FOR CENTRAL VALLEY BOOK
BANK
As we prepare to gather in Fresno for the
2009 Synod Assembly, we want to have a positive impact on
the community that will host us. One of the significant
educational resources in the greater Fresno area is the
Central Valley Book Bank.
The vision of the Book Bank is that
every child in the region will have access to an adequate
supply of appropriate books to help them become proficient
readers.
We are encouraging all delegates to bring
at least one new or almost new
children's book (grades K-6) to the Assembly. On
Saturday the books will be blessed and presented to a
representative from the Central Valley Book Bank. In
this simple way, each of us can make a positive difference in
the life of a child!
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SPIRITUAL CARE
BASICS:
CARING FOR THE WHOLE PERSON AND
ENGAGING THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
On May 7, 2009, Epiphany Lutheran &
Episcopal Church, Marina, CA, will hold the first in
a series of seminars previously offered in Southern California
for caregivers, clergy and healthcare providers through the
Center for Spirituality and Aging of Lutheran Homes of
Southern California. These programs of CSA have proved to be
helpful to caregivers and clergy in responding to the
emotional and spiritual needs of older seniors as they serve
or minister to them.
May's seminar, "Spiritual Care Basics,"
will explore the principles behind spiritual care giving and
its effect on providing quality care with older adults.
The seminar's presenter will be Donald Koepke, ELCA pastor and
Director Emeritus of California Lutheran Homes' Center for
Spirituality and Aging.
For registration or further information,
contact: The Rev. Joan Anderson, Epiphany Lutheran &
Episcopal Church, 831-384-6323 or by e-mail at epiphanydeacon@sbcglobal.net.
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MT. CROSS WOMEN'S
RETREAT
Mt. Cross is planning a women's retreat on
September 26, 2009. All women in the synod are
encouraged to place this date on their calendars. For
more information, go to the Mt. Cross website at Mt.
Cross.
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Upcoming Events
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April 24 Professional
Leadership Conference
Committee
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
April 24-25 Candidacy
Committee at PLTS,
Berkeley, CA
April 29 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Bay Area
10:30 am St. Andrew's
Lutheran Church,
San Mateo
April 30 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Valley Area
10:00 am Emanuel
Lutheran Church, Lodi
May 27-28 Synod Council
May 28-30 Synod Assembly
Fresno, CA
May 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - At Synod
Assembly, Fresno
June 1 Synod Office Closed
June 10 Council of Deans
Shepherd of the Hills,
Vacaville, CA
July 10-12 Catechumenate
Training - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
July 22 - 26 ELCA National
Youth Gathering - New
Orleans
August 17 - 23
Churchwide
Assembly, Minneapolis,
MN
August 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - Trinity,
Pleasanton
September 19 District B
Conferences Assembly
St. John's, Sacramento
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
September 26 Women's
Retreat - Mt. Cross
October 10 District A
Conferences Assembly
Cross & Crown, Rohnert
Park
October 11 District C
Conferences Assembly
PLTS
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October 19-20 Council of
Deans Retreat -
Asilomar
October 20-22
Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 23-24 Word &
Sacrament Event - ELW
Freedom &
Flexibility
October 24 District E
Conferences Assembly
Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 1 Joint Lutheran /
Roman Catholic Service in
Stockton - 4:00 pm
November 7 District D
Conferences Assembly
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops
2011
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 - October 4
Conference of Bishops
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INFORMATION ON CALIFORNIA BALLOT
PROPOSITIONS
The Lutheran Office of Public Policity has links to
information about the State of California May ballot
propositions on its website, www.loppca.org as
well as voter registration.
LOPP is especially interested in hearing your stories
about the potential impact of the diversion of First Five
Children and Families funding (Prop. 1D) and Mental Health
Services Act funding (Prop. 1E). Send your stories to
Mark Carlson at LOPP. Link
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PARTNERS IN
CARING:
A Seminar for Faith Leaders on
End-of-Life Care
The Compassionate Care Alliance of
the Greater Sacramento Region will present a seminar for faith
leaders on end-of-life care called "Partners in Caring."
The seminar will be held June 3, 2009, from 8:30 am to 4:30
pm at the Sierra Health Foundation Conference Center,
1321 Garden Highway, Sacramento, CA.
For more information and a registration form,
go to www.chcd.org.
Link
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CORRECTION RE CLERGY-ONLY AA
MEETING
One of the phone numbers listed last week
for the next Lutheran clergy-only AA meeting on Monday, April
27, was incorrect. For information, contact Mary
S., (209) 745-1825, (209) 744-1056 or (916)
947-5253.
The meeting will be held from 12:00 to
2:00 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744 University Ave.,
Berkeley.
Any Lutheran clergy with a desire to stop
drinking is welcome at this meeting.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 
