The news reports from Haiti in the last
few days have been reminiscent of the reports we received just
over five years ago when the tsunamis hit Malaysia - the
devastation is almost too great to comprehend. Deaths in the tens of
thousands, millions without food and water, many thousands
wounded, international relief efforts hampered by damaged
airports and dock facilities.
Then, yesterday morning, the disaster
became much more than mind-numbing statistics. I received an e-mail
informing me that the son of Bishop Emeritus April Ulring
Larson and Judd Larson, Ben, a senior at Wartburg Seminary,
had been killed in Haiti when the house he was staying in
collapsed during the earthquake. Ben's wife, Renee, and
cousin, Jonathan, staying in the same house, escaped
unharmed. You may
remember that Bp. Larson was our Bible Study leader at last
year's synod assembly; she also has many friends and
colleagues in our synod.
Please
keep the Larson family in your prayers as they make their way
to Haiti, as well as all of those who are suffering great loss
and devastation as a result of the earthquake.
I invite you to read the letter below
from Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson, encouraging us to do
whatever we are able to help our sisters and brothers in
Haiti. Please
make opportunities available this weekend in your worship
services for people to respond through Lutheran Disaster
Relief, a highly regarded agency throughout the world. Now is the time that
help is needed, and can literally save lives.
God's Peace,
Bp. Mark
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
The
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America already is responding
through the Lutheran World Federation's Haiti Program. Given
the devastation caused by this earthquake, the ELCA has
committed an initial $250,000 from ELCA International Disaster
Response for Haiti and has authorized an additional $500,000
as congregations respond both to the immediate needs and
long-term rebuilding efforts...
More details of the
ELCA's response and a disaster insert for congregational use
are posted on www.elca.org/disaster
as communication channels are restored. Please share with
members and friends both the urgent need in one of the United
States' closest neighbors and the effective means by which
their church is responding. Please go to http://www.elca.org/haitiearthquake
or call 800-638-3522 to give
toward our response to the disaster in Haiti.
In God's
grace,
Mark S. Hanson
Presiding
Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America
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We remember in prayer . . .
Pastor Katy Grindberg and family, grieving the death of
her father
Pastor Dean Lindquist (retired), receiving
hospice care
Former Bishop of the LaCrosse Area Synod April
Ulring Larson, her husband Judd Larson and their family
and friends, grieving the death of their son, Benjamin,
in the Haiti earthquake
All those who are suffering as a result of the
devastating earthquake in Haiti, and all those who
are giving them support and aid
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CANDIDATES FOR SYNOD VICE PRESIDENT
SOUGHT
In
May 2010 at the Synod Assembly in Reno, we will be electing a
new Vice President of the Synod. The constitution
requires that this person be a lay person who is a member of
an ELCA congregation. The VP typically chairs the Synod
Council meetings, serves on the Executive Committee and
provides other services as needed, when available. A
good working knowledge of both the synod and Roberts Rules of
Order would be helpful, as well as flexibility in
schedule.
Do you know someone who you think would serve well in
this capacity? A few folks have already been identified,
but the Nominating Committee, in its process of offering
two names for the election, is seeking other possible
candidates. Do you know someone who fits? If so,
please encourage her/him to contact the office at info@spselca.org to receive the brief
questionnaire the Nominating Committee has designed.
February 4th is the deadline to receive those completed
questionnaires, so please don't delay. Thanks for your
help!
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ASSEMBLY WORKSHOP
SURVEY
The Assembly Planning Committee is asking
for your input in regards to workshops for the 2010 Synod
Assembly being held in Reno May 6-8, 2010. Please fill
out this brief
survey on line to assist the Committee in meeting your
workshop needs during this upcoming assembly. The
committee appreciates your time and effort.
If you have a workshop that you would
like to present for the 2010 Synod Assembly, please send in a
proposal by e-mail, including an outline of the workshop,
name(s) of the presenter(s) and the goals/objectives of the
workshop to Perry Gray-Reneberg at perryggr@gmail.com. The workshops are now
planned for two sessions of 1 hour 10 minutes each on Friday,
May 7, from 4:00 pm to 5:10 pm and 5:20 pm to 6:30 pm.
Kathryn Beck
Assembly Planning Chair
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INVITATION TO ALL
PASTORS
Formerly an interim pastors gathering,
the following event is now open to all clergy due to the
change in presenter:
Tuesday, January 26,
2010
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Keynote Speaker:
Barbara Keller from ELCA
Churchwide
Topics:
Sexual Misconduct
and
Abuse of Power &
Authority
There will be breakout sessions for interim pastors and
for permanent pastors
Location:
Our Savior's Lutheran
Church
1035 Carol Lane
Lafayette, CA
94549-4716
(925) 283-3722
916-428-8347
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ANNUAL
CONGREGATIONAL REPORTS DUE FOR
SUBMISSION
The
annual Congregational Report for the Year Ending December 31,
2009 should now be submitted by every
congregation.
You may submit your report on line by
going to this link
on the ELCA website.
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ELCA.org
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Upcoming Events
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January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
January 18-25 Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity
January 26 Synod-wide
Pastors Gathering
9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Our Savior's - Lafayette
January 26 Racial & Ethnic
Central Committee - 6:00 pm
Our Savior's, Lafayette
February 14-16 Clergy/AiMs
& Spouses Retreat
Asilomar
February 26-28 SPSYC
Elementary Retreat - Mt. Cross
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
March 6 Synod Rwanda
Connection Committee
1:00-4:00 - 708 Lake Front
Drive, Sacramento
March 10 Honoring our
Foremothers - PLTS
March 12-14 Spring Youth
Retreat at PLTS
March 11-13 Anti-Racism
Workshop - Mt. Cross
March 22-23 Pre-Retirement
Seminar - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
April 16-18 SPSYC Elementary
Retreat - Sly Park, Sacramento
April 22 Mt. Cross Shalom
Camp Meeting for Pastors/
Youth Directors
10:00 - 2:00 pm
Advemt. Citrus Heights
May 5 Synod Council
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
June 25-26 Synod Council
July 11-16 Mt. Cross
Shalom Camp
September 24-25 Synod
Council
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops
2011
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
January 19-20 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
March 3-8 Conference of
Bishops
May 12 Synod Council
May 13-15 Synod Assembly
Hyatt Regency Airport
Burlingame, CA
August 14-20 Churchwide
Assembly - Orlando,
FL
September 29 October 4
Conference of Bishops
2012
January 5-9 Bishop's
Academy
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MUTUAL MINISTRY COMMITTEE
QUESTION
Does your congre-
gation have a
Mutual Ministry Committee you believe works well? If so,
the Leadership Discipling Team (LDT) would like to talk with
you.
Please send your contact information to
info@spselca.org and a member of the LDT will be in touch
soon.
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LUTHERAN CLERGY AA
MEETING
The monthly Lutheran clergy AA
meeting will be held Monday, January 18, noon - 2:00 pm at
Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744 University Ave., Berkeley,
CA. The meeting will be first, and any who can stay to
eat after are welcome. Questions: Mary S.
(916) 947-5253 or (209) 744-1056.
Start the new year off right by sharing your
experience, strength and hope with your colleagues in
recovery.
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SECOND MILE
GIVING
In the month of January, our second mile
offerings will be divided among the Sierra Pacific Synod's
Companion Synods: The Lutheran
Church of Rwanda, Lutheran Synod of El Salvador and
the Taiwan Lutheran Church.
Please remember to lift up these
important ministry partners for support from your
congregation. A bulletin insert is available on the
Synod website: www.spselca.org. Click on
"Second Mile Giving 2010 Download" in the left-hand
column.
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MISSION SUPPORT STATEMENT
DUE
Please send in your congregation's
Statement of Intent for ELCA/Synod Mission Support as
soon after your congregation's annual meeting as
possible.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 