For the past few days, I have been at the Jesuit Retreat
Center in Los Altos, participating in a nationwide training for P.I.C.O. -
People Improving Communities through Organizing. I have been involved with
P.I.C.O. for over 15 years, when a group of clergy and laity formed an
organization called P.A.C.T (People And Congregations Together) for Stockton.
It was good to be able to make connections again with the people and the
principles that guided our work so many years ago, and continues to be a guiding
principle in ministry for me.
All of the people in attendance were practitioners of Faith Based
Community Organizing; they were members of congregations committed to reaching
out to communities because their faith or values encourages them to do so. One
of the people I met at the training was a woman named Ashanti, who was born and
raised in New Orleans, and survived hurricanes Katrina and Rita. She is
currently working through faith based organizing to help restore the devastated
9th Ward of New Orleans. When she saw that my name tag identified me as a part
of the ELCA, her eyes lit up as she said, "Are you a part of those Lutheran kids
that came to our city?" She went on to tell me how a hundred youth had come to
the community center where she works to paint and clean and help put the center
in good order, and to interact with the children. She also shared stories she
had been hearing from others about the work our Lutheran youth did while they
were in New Orleans, and how people were continuing to talk about it.
I
pass this along to you in hopes you will know the difference that nearly 40,000
ELCA youth and adults have made in the lives of the people of New Orleans. I am
so pleased that nearly 300 youth and adults from this synod were able to be a
part of this life changing experience - for the youth and for the people of New
Orleans. Perhaps you have heard a few of their stories, and seen some pictures
as the youth of your congregations have shared their stories with you. If not,
I encourage you to go the ELCA website - there are a host of sites to be found
there that chronicle the experiences of our youth in New Orleans.
I
wonder how the presence and work of these young people among the people of New
Orleans will continue to bear fruit in the lives of those our youth were blessed
to serve, and in the lives of those who served. It causes me to wonder how the
work that is being done by the people of congregations and ministries of the
Sierra Pacific Synod is impacting the lives of people in the communities we
serve, as well as the lives of those who serve. May God's grace and peace
continue to empower our loving and serving others in Christ's name.
God's Peace,
Bp. Mark
P.S. Please remember to hold in prayer all of
those who will be gathered in Minneapolis this week as we begin the Churchwide
Assembly.
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We remember in prayer . . .
Voting members of our synod as
they travel to the churchwide Assembly being held August 17-23 in Minneapolis
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BOOK OF FAITH WORKSHOP
August 29, 2009
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church
1225 Hopyard Road
Pleasanton, CA 94556
925-846-6363
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What is the Book of Faith initiative?
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How do we get involved?
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What does it mean to "sign up to be a Book of Faith congregation"?
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What are four approaches to the study of scripture?
These questions will be addressed,
along with interaction time to share ideas and uses of the Book of Faith
initiative and resources thus far. There will be a visit to the Book of
Faith website, an overview of new resources, and
free materials to take home.
Please bring something for your lunch. Beverages and some snacks will
be provided.
For directions to Trinity, check the website at
www.trinitypleasanton.org or phone the church office during business hours: 925-846-6363.
Pleasanton too far from your home?
Additional Book of Faith events this fall and winter:
Oct. 24 - Good Shepherd,
Fresno
Nov. 14 - Christ the King,
Orangevale
Jan. 30 - Bethel, Cupertino
May 6-8, 2010 Synod
Assembly
in Reno, NV
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BOARD OF PENSIONS
FINANCIAL WELLNESS WORKSHOPS
Andrea Arey, Regional Representative for the ELCA
Board of Pensions, will be in the Sierra Pacific Synod September 17th and 18th.
She will present two Financial Wellness Workshops (see locations below) to which
all Board of Pensions plan members are invited.
The Financial Wellness Workshops will explore what makes a
financially well person and how you can enhance your own financial wellness.
What does a financially well person look like? Is it "just about money" or is
there more to it?
In addition to offering education events, Andrea will be available
for individual appointments before and after each event. Lunch will be
provided.
Please RSVP to Andrea at aarey@elcabop.org or call 612-619-4990 to reserve your space or
schedule an appointment.
Financial Wellness Workshops:
Thursday, September 17th
St. Matthew Lutheran Church
399 Wiget Lane
Walnut Creek, CA
10:30 - 12:00 + Lunch
Friday, September 18th
Grace Lutheran Church
3149 Waverly St.
Palo Alto, CA
10:00 - 11:30 + Lunch
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TAIWAN LUTHERAN CHURCH AIDS TYPHOON VICTIMS
Bishop Mark met this week with Bishop Chen of the Taiwan
Lutheran Church, and they discussed the impact on Taiwan of the recent typhoon. The Taiwan Lutheran Church, its pastors and members were not
directly affected, but they are committing themselves to serving those who
were.
If you would like to assist the victims of the typhoon, Bishop
Mark suggests making a donation to ELCA Disaster Response.
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Upcoming Events
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August 17-23 Churchwide
Assembly, Minneapolis, MN
August 29 Book of Faith
Conversation - Trinity,
Pleasanton
September 7 - Synod Office
closed for Labor Day
holiday
September 14-15 Region 2
Consultation - PLTS
September 19 10:00 - 4:00
District B Conferences
Assembly - St. John's,
Sacramento
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
September 23 PLTS
Founders' Day
September 25-26 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
September 26 Women's
Retreat - Mt. Cross
October 1-6 Conference of
Bishops - Chicago
October 10 10:00 - 4:00
District A Conferences
Assembly - Elim,
Petaluma
October 11 1:00 - 4:00
District C Conferences
Assembly - PLTS
October 1-6 Conference
of Bishops, Chicago
October 19-20 Council of
Deans - Asilomar
October 19-20 Pre-
Conference Professional
Leaders Women's
Retreat - Asilomar
October 20-22 Professional
Leaders
Conference,
Asilomar Conference
Center
October 23-24 Word &
Sacrament Event - ELW
Freedom & Flexibility
Good Shepherd, Fresno
October 24 10:00 - 3:00
District E Conferences
Assembly - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
October 24 Book of Faith
Conversation - Good
Shepherd, Fresno
November 1 Joint Lutheran /
Roman Catholic Service in
Stockton - 4:00 pm
November 7 10:00 - 3:00
District D Conferences
Assembly - Grace,
Palo Alto
November 7 - Book of Faith
Conversation - Faith, Chico
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
November 14 - Book of Faith
Conversation - Christ the
King, Orangevale
2010
January 4-9 Bishops'
Academy, Itasca, IL
January 13-14 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
January 30 - Book of Faith
Conversation, Bethel,
Cupertino
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops -
Chicago
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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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
OCTOBER 20-22
The Professional Leadership Conference will be held October
20-22 at Asilomar. A link for registering for the conference available on the Synod website.
Please note that online registration is for
conference registration only. Housing registration must be handled
directly with Asilomar using the form available on the Synod website.
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PRE-CONFERENCE PROFESSIONAL LEADERS WOMEN'S RETREAT
Dates:
Mon., Oct. 19 -Tues., Oct. 20
Cost: $40, exclusive of housing & meals
Theme: The Enneagram and Spirituality
Room reservations for this event must be made directly with Asilomar Conference
Center. To register or for more information, please contact Katy Grindberg at Pastor Katy. |
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WORSHIP & MUSIC FORUM
Evangelical Lutheran Worship: More Freedom and
Flexibility
October 24,
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Fresno, CA
To register, go to the Word and Sacrament website and click on "Events and Resources."
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 
