I am deeply grateful to all who helped plan,
served at, and attended our Synod Assembly in Fresno. I
believe it was a time for us to see and celebrate our shared
ministry, to hear calls to greater accountability to make
Christ known to those who are suffering all around us, and to
give thanks to God for the gifts of the Spirit which enable
our faith, witness and service.
One of my
only disappointments was that we had to refer some unfinished
business to the Synod Council, a normal process for all
unfinished business at an Assembly. While I am confident
that the members of the Synod Council will give these items
deliberate, faithful and prayerful consideration, it is
clearly preferable that the Assembly as a whole deal with such
concerns. I take full responsibility for having
scheduled less time for business items on the agenda, which,
while it afforded us an opportunity to hear reports from our
many ministry partners, and to worship, fellowship and
celebrate together, left us in the position of having to refer
the budget and other items of business to the Synod
Council. We will use this information, along with the
results of the on-line evaluations (have you taken the time to
complete this yet?) to try to bring more balance to next
year's Assembly in Reno.
Elsewhere in this
newsletter, you will find an invitation to attend the Synod
Council Meeting when it meets June 26-27 at St. Mark's
Lutheran in Fairfield, especially when the 2010 Budget will be
considered on Saturday morning. (To see the budget,
click here.) The
Synod Council will meet during that time in the Sanctuary of
St. Mark's to consider the budget, which will allow for
greater numbers of members of the synod to attend, should they
choose to do so. Alternatively, you could contact your
Synod Council representatives (names, electoral districts and
contact information are available through your congregation or
the synod office) and let them know your hopes and concerns
for the budget - which is an important statement about the
mission and ministry of our Synod.
I also
invite your attention to the Synod Assembly Evaluation Form, a
link to which is also in this newsletter. It is
important that you take the time, soon, to offer your
evaluation of the Assembly - it should only take you a few
minutes, or as much time as you like. Please take the
time to help us plan future Assemblies by filling out the
evaluation.
Thanks for your partnership in this
ministry we share.
God's Peace,
Bp. Mark
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We remember in prayer . .
.
Eliot, grandson of Pastor Ray Olsen
(Advent, Citrus Heights), recovering from surgery
Pastor Mert Johnson (retired),
recovering from hip replacement surgery
Pastor Dan Severson (Faith, Castro
Valley), recovering from back surgery
The following synods as
they prepare for their Assemblies in the
coming weeks:
Grand Canyon Synod
Central/Southern Illinois
Synod
Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Lower Susquehanna Synod
Southwestern Minnesota Synod
as
they gather to
elect a new bishop
Southeastern Iowa
Synod
Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod
Northern Illinois Synod
Upper Susquehanna Synod
The Caribbean Synod
The Slovak Zion
Synod
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LOPP INVITES YOU TO LOBBY DAY FOR CA STATE
BUDGET PRIORITIES
Please join the Lutheran Office of Public
Policy - California and ecumenical partners for an urgent
state budget lobby day in Sacramento on Tuesday, June
16. The group will gather at 9:00
a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church,
1701 L St., for a briefing before heading to the
Capitol later in the morning. Bring stories and
letters of how budget cuts, recent or proposed, affect people
you know and "the least of these." Lobby visits should
conclude early afternoon. No experience necessary;
questions and RSVP's to Mark Carlson, director@loppca.org or 916-447-6666.
Let Mark know if you would like to join him
for the 5 pm book release reception at the UC Center for Sasha
Abramksy, author of Breadline USA - The Hidden Scandal of
Hunger in America (field research includes rural Fresno
County, Siskiyou County, the Oak Park neighborhood of
Sacramento), with the option of moving to the annual reception
for Jericho: Voice of Justice, which begins at 5:30 pm and
will be honoring former Roman Catholic Bishop of Sacramento,
Rev. Francis Quinn .
Link
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THANKS TO ASSEMBLY
MUSICIANS
Special thanks to the musicians who graced our worship
events with their gathering music at the Assembly. Our
appreciation goes to:
Thursday afternoon gathering: Doris Payne
and Ruth Andersen, Piano/Organ Duo from Hope
Lutheran-Fresno
Thursday evening gathering: Crosswind Light
from Fresno Pacific Univeristy
Friday morning gathering: Ruth
Andersen, Organist from Hope Lutheran-Fresno
Friday afternoon gathering: Saxophone
Quartet from Fresno Pacific University
Saturday morning gathering: Clendenin Brass
Quintet from Fresno State
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"TOUR DE REVS"
100 DAYS FOR HUNGER
The Tour de Revs - 100 Days for
Hunger - is making its way around the United States, and
will be in Northern California in July. The Tour de
Revs is a group of three ELCA pastors who are using sabbatical
time to ride a bicycle built for three to raise money for
world hunger. They plan to appear in all 65 synods
of the ELCA.
For more information about their appearances July 11-12
in Northern California, click on the following link, which is
posted on the Synod website: Tour de Revs
Information. For a bulletin insert, go to Bulletin
Insert.
Link |
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RECEPTION IN OAKLAND FOR PASTOR JOHN
RUTSINDINTWARANE OF RWANDA
Sunday, June 14
3:00-7:30 pm
Resurrection Lutheran
Church
397 Euclid Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
Bishop Mark Holmerud, Resurrection
Lutheran Church of Oakland, and PICO (People
Improving Communities through Organizing)
invite you to a reception to celebrate the remarkable and
effective ministry of Pr. John Rutsindintwarne, Director of
the Rwandan organization CRCR: Congregations Rebuilding
Community through Organizing.
The event will include food, fellowship,
fundraising and prayer. Hear about the opening of the
clinic in Mumeya and other projects. All are welcome.
Come show your support. Checks may
be made payable to PICO-CRCR.
RSVP:
Fr. John Baumann
510-655-2801
Ron or Pat Synder
510-895-2829
Pr. Lucy
Kolin
510-444-5382
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VOTING RESULTS FROM SYNOD ASSEMBLY AVAILABLE
SHORTLY
The voting results for Synod Council
positions, the Discipling Team positions and the
resolutions will be posted on the Synod website shortly.
Check the website for all updated information regarding the
Synod. Here is the link : Sierra Pacific Synod
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Upcoming Events
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June 13 Media-Enhanced
Worship Workshop
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Lutheran Church of the
Ascension, Citrus Heights
June 26-27 Synod Council
St. Mark's, Fairfield, CA
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
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 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
January 13-14 Council of
Deans Retreat - Christ the
King Retreat Center,
Citrus Heights, CA
January 15-16 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
March 1-2 Retired Clergy/
AIMs/Widows-Widowers/
Spouse Retreat
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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SYNOD ASSEMBLY
EVALUATION
The Synod Assembly Planning Committee would
like to receive feedback and evaluations from those who
attended the Synod Assembly in Fresno, to help with planning
future assemblies and to help the committee in its evaluation
of this past Assembly. The link to the evaluation form
is below. Thank you for your help!
Link |
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2010
BUDGET AT JUNE SYNOD COUNCIL MEETING: YOU'RE
INVITED
The Synod
Council will be meeting later this month on June 26-27 at St.
Mark's Lutheran Church,
1600 Union Ave., Fairfield,
CA. Among the items of business they will consider are
items referred to the Synod Council at the Synod Assembly,
including the 2010 Synod budget.
On
Saturday morning, June 27th, from 9:30 to 11:00 am, the Synod
Council will be considering and voting on the 2010 budget and
would like to invite anyone from the Synod to attend.
We will meet in the sanctuary of St. Mark's
Lutheran to accommodate any persons who wish to come to
address the Synod Council regarding the 2010
budget.
Link |
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ASILOMAR PROFESSIONAL LEADERS
CONFERENCE
Attenion
all synod rostered professional leaders: Mark
your calendar for the Professional Leaders Conference October
20-22 at Asilomar State Park. Information about
the Conference is now posted on the synod
website.
Go to Asilomar for
preliminary information about the program. Check
the synod website regularly for additional information
and registration instructions as they becomes
available.
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BISHOP'S REPORT AVAILABLE ON
WEBSITE
Bishop
Mark's report to the Synod Assembly is available on the Synod
website. Click here to view the report: Bishop's
Report
Link | |
Sierra
Pacific Synod 
