As we approach the 4th of July, we
are all encouraged to stop and think about the beginnings of
our country and to celebrate the foresight our founding
leaders had as they worked to create a different kind of
union. My sense of that period of time in our country
was that there was amazing creativity and courage present ...
and that there were an even more amazing number of drafts and
rewrites. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure those
continue to this day.
Much of the same things could be
said about this time in the life of our Sierra Pacific
Synod. We are in the midst of likely making some fairly
significant changes. Fortunately, we have a
creative, patient, and committed group of people - The
Transition Team - helping develop and, soon, implement a new
way of being the Sierra Pacific Synod together.
Three
groups having been working on your behalf. The Ministry
configuration team has been looking at all the different
functions, expectations and needs to which the Office of the
Bishop must respond. Because we are going to have
deployed staff, that configuration gets a bit more
complicated. This group continues to refine their ideas
and plans.
The Facilities and Technology group has been
extremely busy - sharing their own insights and wisdom from
years of working in the business world; seeking the advice of
experts in particular fields; and visiting, visiting, visiting
all around our synod territory. That group is getting
closer and closer to making recommendations about sites for
the synod offices. In this first phase, recommendations
will be made for space in Sacramento, the San
Francisco/Peninsula area, and Fresno. As our synod is
able, additional sites may be considered in the future.
The Implementation Group is already beginning to
work with detailed plans for actually making a move, including
looking at lease issues as well as possible and sometimes
required renovations.
The three groups met together
last week as a Team and it was an exciting and inspiring time
to talk and report. The plan is to present a set of
recommendations to the Synod Council for their endorsement
at their September meeting (Sept. 24,25). If you
have questions or ideas, the Transition Team membership is
listed on the
SPS
website. Or
send me an email and I'll forward it to the
right team/person.
I think there were many days and
nights that went into the making of our nation. Rules
were broken and expectations were often .... hmmm? what
shall I say? Expectations were shifted. If we can
remember how our nation came to be, it will help us understand
that while this is by no means the same, maybe it
is.
Wishing you a Happy 4th of July ... May all our
fireworks (now and in months to come) be safe and
sane!
Peace,
Rev. Nancy Feniuk
Nelson
Bishop's Associate
Link
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We remember in prayer . .
.
Pastor Tom Nibbe (Holy Cross,
Pacifica), recovering from an injury suffered in a
fall
Pastor Scott Minke (Interim, Trinity,
Hollister), undergoing tests
Pastor Ivan Larsen (retired), undergoing
tests and treatment
Pastor Dan Severson (Faith, Castro
Valley), recovering from back surgery
Pastor Mert
Johnson (retired), recovering from hip replacement
surgery
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CONGREGATIONS IN
TRANSITION
Key:
(1) New Vacancy/Seeking an interim
pastor
(2) Forming a call committee
(3) Developing profile
(4) Preparing slate of
candidates
(5) Interviewing
(6)
Calling
Congregation
Interim Pastor
Alameda, Immanuel
(1) Bruce
Johnson
Aptos, Christ
(5)
Herb Schmidt
Carmel, St. Philip (1)
Davis,
Incarnation
(4)
Stan Niemi
El Dorado Hills, St. Stephen
(3)
Fremont, Good Shepherd South
Asian Ministry
(2)
Ray Waespi
Half Moon Bay, Coastside (4)
Laurie Andersen
Hollister, Trinity
(2)
Scott Minke
Kelseyville, Galilee (1)
Kingsburg,
Concordia (3) Carl
Bengston
Los Altos, Immanuel
(3) Marcus
Hess
Lincoln, Grace (1)
Marysville, Faith
(4)
Kirk Shipley
Merced, Shepherd of the Valley (4)
Arlynne Turnquist
Mi-Wuk Village, Mt. Calvary (3)
Eric Yochheim
Oakland, Bethlehem (1)
Orland, First
(2)
Bill Kees
Redding, St. James (3)
Rio Linda, Calvary
(4)
Todd Eckblad
Sacramento, Our Redeemer (4)
Dick Smith
Sacramento, St. Paul
(1) Mike
Kerrick
Salinas, El Buen Pastor (4)
San Leandro, Epiphany (5) Lori Eickmann
San Leandro, St. James (3) Ruth
Lesher
Turlock, Light of Christ (5)
Frank Starkey
Visalia, Christ (Pastor of Discipleship)(5)
Walnut
Creek, Hope (5)
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MINISTRY/ROSTER
CHANGES
Roger Bauer - On leave from call
(disability)
Janet Carlson - On leave from call
Lynn Freele - to retirement
Martin Malzahn - On leave from call
(study)
Roger Thompson - to Hope, Fresno
(from Grand Canyon Synod)
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LSS ENDORSES DISASTER RESPONSE COURSE OFFERED THROUGH PLT
Lutheran
Social Services of Northern California is the regional
affiliate of Lutheran Disaster Response. In partnership
with our synod and the LCMS District, LSS encourages you to
take advantage of this great opportunity for congregational
planned response to disasters.
Details:
Instructor:
Kevin Massey, Lutheran Disaster Response
Director
Date: July
20-24, 2009
Time: 5:20
pm - 9:30 pm
Course School
Ownership: PLTS
Units:
Audit ($330.00)
2 Continuing Education Units
($355.00)
This course will seek to address the need
for congregations to have a planned response to a disaster,
with themes like "Spiritual and Emotional Care in Crisis and
Disaster," and "Congregational Disaster Preparedness and
Business Continuity Planning."
Lay leaders in congregations are
particularly encouraged to take this class. Students
from the same congregation will be charged $50 only after the
first member from your congregation registers at the above
price.
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Upcoming Events
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July 3 - Synod Office closed
for July 4th holiday
July 10-12 Catechumenate
Training - San Damiano
Retreat Center, Danville
July 11-12 Tour de Revs
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 7 - Synod Office
closed for Labor Day
holiday
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 25-26 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
September 26 Women's
Retreat - Mt. Cross
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
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
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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JOB POSTING: DIRECTOR FOR MISSION
SUPPORT
We are
pleased to post information for an executive staff position
opening with the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. This posting is for a new
position, Director for Mission Support, which is
funded by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregation Mission
unit of the ELCA. It is 0.5 FTE. The full position
description can be found on the synod website at: Sierra Pacific
Synod.
This
position is open to both lay and clergy applicants. The
person who works in this position will work closely with the
Director of Evangelical Mission, Rev. Harvey Blomberg,
Bishop's Associate Nancy Feniuk Nelson, and Bishop Mark W.
Holmerud.
Applications will be received through July 20,
2009. Those who are interested in applying are asked to
send a cover letter, resume, references and any other
appropriate information to:
DMS
Search
Sierra
Pacific Synod - ELCA
401
Roland Way, Suite 215
Oakland,
CA 94621
Or
Questions
may be directed to Bishop's Associate Nancy Feniuk Nelson at
nfn@spselca.org or to the Sierra
Pacific Synod Director of Evangelical Mission, Rev. Harvey
Blomberg, at blomberg@spselca.org.
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SYNOD ASSEMBLY EVALUATION
AND SUMMARY ON
WEBSITE
The Synod
Assembly evaluation form is still available on the synod
website. Please take time to fill it out. You can
access it at: Assembly
Evaluation.
The Synod Assembly summary is also
available on the website. Access it at:
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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE OCTOBER 20-22
The Professional Leadership Conference
will be held October 20-22 at Asilomar.
Registration materials will be coming out in
July. See Asilomar for
more information.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 
