In the
coming week, the E.L.C.A. Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality and
Report and Recommendations on Ministry Standards will be released. On February
18th at 10 a.m., PST, there will be an "embargoed" release to rostered leaders
and then, one day later, also at 10 a.m., PST, there will be a public release of
the document. For more information, follow the link below to view the process
by which this statement has been drafted and the next steps for the
consideration of the statement at this summer's Churchwide Assembly in
Minneapolis. http://www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Social-Issues/Social-Statements-in-Process/JTF-Human-Sexuality.aspx It
is my hope and prayer that as this proposed statement becomes
public, we will take the opportunity to prayerfully and
deliberately read and re-read the statement. I
pray that we will take the time to gather with people who read
the statement with different expectations and hopes than our
own to learn more about its implications for our life together
as congregations, conferences, synods and as a church. I
pray the Spirit of Christ will guide and lead our
conversations as members of congregations and as pastoral
leaders together seeking God's wisdom as it revealed through
this statement, through Scripture and through our
understandings of sexuality.
Most of all, I pray that the communities where we have
all been called to serve in ministry will be blessed by the
quality and character of our conversations, and that our faith
will be strengthened and encouraged by the witness we offer to
each other - even and especially in the challenging
conversations that are a part of our life together.
God's Blessings in our lives and
ministries,
Bp.
Mark
.Link
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor Anne Tracy Carlson and her husband, James,
grieving the death of James' mother.
Pastor Kay Doyle and family, grieving the death of
her nephew, Darrell.
Pastor Mike Murphy and family: his mother,
recovering from a broken hip; his daughter, recovering from
illness; and his grandson, undergoing tests for heart
issues.
The family, colleagues and friends of Pastor
Bill Willms, former SPS Pastor and recent Synod staff in
Southern California, grieving his death from colon cancer
Wednesday. More details about services will be sent
later.
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DISCOVERING HOPE
in
Small Town and Rural
California and
Nevada
A Conference
for Clergy and
Lay Leaders
Saturday, February 14, 2009
9:30
am to 3:00 pm
St. Luke Lutheran Church
7595 Center Parkway,
Sacramento
Sponsored
by
Witness &
Service Discipling Team, Sierra Pacific
Synod
Presenters
Rev. Brenda
Smith Director for Discipleship, Evangelical Outreach
and Congregational Mission, ELCA
Ms. Sandra
LaBlanc
Director for
Rural Ministry Networking and Resourcing,
Evangelical Outreach and Congregational
Mission, ELCA
Rev. Robert
Vaage
Parish
Pastor
First Lutheran Church, Milford, Iowa
Rev. Nancy
Nyland
Parish Pastor
St. Peter Lutheran
Church, Bassett, Nebraska
St. John's Lutheran Church,
Atkinson, Nebraska
Rev. Mark
Nelson
Assistant to the Bishop
Eastern
Washington - Idaho Synod
1)
to gather Small Town and Rural (STaR) congregations for
fellowship and networking
2) to provide tangible
resources for stewardship and evangelism in STaR
settings
3) to create connections between/among STaR
congregations for future support, encouragement, resource
sharing, etc.
Link
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Congregational Observers at  2009 Churchwide
Assembly Have you considered the possibility of being a
"Congregational Observer" at the August
17-23 Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis, MN?
Each congregation of the ELCA may register with the
Secretary of the ELCA one "congregation observer" prior to May
31st. Such individuals will have reserved seating in the
observers section of the plenary hall. They will receive
a copy of the report of recommendations for assembly action
and other materials. Such observers have neither voice
nor vote in plenary sessions.
The registration fee for congregation observers is
$150. The meal package is not included, but may be
purchased separately.
Contact the Office of the ELCA Secretary at
1-773-380-2800 for more information.
Link
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The next
Clergy AA meeting will be Monday, February 23, from 12:00
noon to 2:00 pm. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744
University Avenue, Berkeley, CA.
When we meet here, we often have the meeting
first, then stroll down the block for lunch, so plan
accordingly. Questions? Call Mary (209)
745-1825.
Any Lutheran pastor with a desire to stop
drinking is welcome at this meeting.
Link
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Upcoming Events
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February 13 Professional
Leadership Conference
Planning Committee
February 15-17 Clergy/AIMS
& Spouses Retreat
Asilomar Conference Ctr.
February 23 (Noon) Clergy
AA Meeting - Lutheran
Church of the Cross
Berkeley, CA
February 26 Interim Pastors
Gathering - Epiphany
Lutheran Church, San
Leandro
March 2-3 Retired Pastors,
Spouses, AIMs Retreat -
San Damiano Retreat
Center, Danville, CA
March 3 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force
March 5-10 Conference of
Bishops, Chicago
March 6-8 SPS Youth
Committee Elementary
Retreat - Mt. Cross
March 19-22 ELCA Bishops'
Assistants Gathering in SF
March 24 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force -
Synod Office
March 27-28 Racial & Ethnic
Ministries Task Force
Gathering - LSS Offices
Concord, CA
March 27-29 SPS Youth
Committee Elementary
Retreat - Sly Park,
Sacramento
April 6 Chrism Mass
Rohnert Park
April 7 Chrism Mass,
Modesto
April 21 - 22 Mobility
Conference
April 16-18 Gathering for
Women of Color in
Ministry
Eaglewood Resort &
Spa,
Itasca (Chicago) IL
May 27-28 Synod Council
May 28-30 Synod Assembly
Fresno, CA
August 17 - 23
Churchwide
Assembly, Minneapolis,
MN
September 22 LSS Garrison
Keillor - Live in Concert
Memorial Auditorium
Sacramento
2010
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Reno,
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Ecumenical
Positions Open
Bishop
Holmerud is calling for persons interested in ecumenical and
interfaith activities to join the work of the Commission
on Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Affairs (CEIA).
Persons must be available to attend meetings, participate
in local activities, and represent the Bishop at events upon
request.
Volunteers
are needed in the following specific geographical areas:
Monterey, Chico, Stockton, Redding, Fresno, San Francisco and
Santa Rosa.
If you are
interested in serving in this way, please contact Bishop Mark
Holmerud by e-mail at bpmark@spselca.org
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The Synod Youth Committee is sponsoring a
retreat for young people in the 3rd - 6th grades and their
adult sponsors. It will be presented two times in
different places:
March
6-8 at Mt. Cross, Felton, CA. Arrive Friday night by
8:00pm and leave at 11:30am Sunday
March
27-29 at Sly Park, Sacramento,
CA
Arrive Friday night by 8:00pm and leave
at 11:30am on Sunday
Theme:
Superheroes of Faith: Believers Assemble
Cost:
$125/person
To
Register: Click on '2008 High School Yough
Event' at www.spsyc.org then click at 'download registration
materials' and scroll and follow the
prompts.
More
info: Call Pr. Craig Minich, Adult Chair, at
510-390-4045 or call Christina Espegren, Youth President, at
916-813-5881.
Link
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 