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Hello from Chicago, where the Fall
Conference of Bishops Meeting has just concluded, and where I
am about to take part in a delegation visiting the Lutheran
School of Theology. As you might expect, some of our
time this past week has been spent discussing how our synods
and congregations are faring in the wake of the decisions
reached at the Churchwide Assembly. Among the many
opportunities we had for such discussions was a time called
"café conversations" - where the bishops sat in tables of four
to "check in" with one another, and then moved on to other
tables to continue the conversation. It was a very
helpful way for us to hear from one another.
It was
also helpful for me to hear from bishops with more experience,
and different experiences than my own. It was good to
get to know these sisters and brothers at a deeper level, and
to know that even though we are not of one mind, there is a
strong commitment to move forward together in implementing the
decisions of the Assembly, and in working to support the
ministry of this church in all of its expressions.
In that spirit, I look forward to having an
opportunity to meet with you and to discuss the ministry to
which God has called all of us, hopefully at one of our
upcoming District Gatherings. There is much to talk
about, much for which we can give thanks and much to look
forward to as people who have been called to share the saving
grace of Jesus Christ. There will also be information
shared about the recently approved Sierra Pacific Synod
Transition Plan, as well as opportunities to meet with voting
members who attended the Churchwide Assembly. We hope to
see you there.
God's Peace,
Bp. Mark
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We remember in prayer . .
The pastors and congregations of the conferences of
Districts A and C, meeting this
weekend in assembly
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CONGREGATIONS IN
TRANSITION
Key:
(1) New Vacancy
(2) Seeking an interim
pastor
(3) Forming a call committee
(4) Developing profile
(5) Preparing slate of
candidates
(6) Interviewing
(7) Calling
Congregation Interim
Pastor
Alameda, Immanuel
(3) Bruce
Johnson
Carmel, St. Philip
(4)
Roy Blumhorst
Davis, Incarnation
(6)
Stan Niemi
El Dorado Hills, St. Stephen
(6)
Fremont, Good Shepherd South
Asian Ministry
(6)
Ray Waespi
Half Moon Bay, Coastside (6)
Laurie Andersen
Hollister, Trinity (2)
Kelseyville, Galilee
(3) Denis Eucalyptus
Kingsburg, Concordia
(4) Carl Bengston
Los Altos, Immanuel
(5) Marcus
Hess
Lincoln, Grace
(1) Mary
Adelsberger
Marysville, Faith
(6)
Kirk Shipley
Merced, Shepherd of the Valley
(6)
Arlynne Turnquist
Mi-Wuk Village, Mt. Calvary
(4)
Eric Yochheim
Novato, All Saints (3)
Oakland, Bethlehem (3)
Orland, First
(3)
Bill
Kees
Redding, St. James (4)
Rio Linda, Calvary
(5)
Todd Eckblad
Sacramento, St. Paul
(3) Mike
Kerrick
Salinas, El Buen Pastor (5)
Salinas, Good Shepherd
(1) Bill
Embree San Leandro, St. James
(4) Ruth Lesher
Turlock, Light of Christ (6)
Frank Starkey
Visalia, Christ (Pastor of
Discipleship)(6)
Woodland, American
(1)
Dick Smith
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MINISTRY/ROSTER
CHANGES
Jason Bense (newly ordained) -
to
Our Redeemer,
Sacramento
Dale Sollom-Brotherton - to Christ,
Aptos
Wendell Brown - to
retirement
Richard Sherrill - to Grand Canyon
Synod
Russell A. Bolm (Retired) - received
from Nebraska
Synod
Coy Roberts (AIM) - resigned
from
roster
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SUMMER COLLEGIUM:
LEADERSHIP IN THE SMALL CONGREGATION
Applications are now available for the
Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations,
at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria,
Virginia. Clergy (and their spouses or
partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian
denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia
Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and
renewal. All expenses, including travel,
books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply,
are paid by a grant from the Lilly
Endowment.
Dates for the Collegium are June 23 -
July 1, 2010. The keynote speaker will be Alice Mann, a
prolific writer on congregational ministry. John Bell
from the Iona Community in Scotland will join the worship team
for the conference.
Applications must be postmarked by
December 15, 2009, to be considered. For application
forms and more information, call 703-461-1760 or go
to www.vts.edu/education/collegium.
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF INGATHERINGS
-- BE INVOLVED!
Don't forget! The Lutheran World Relief Central and
Northern California Ingathering is coming up soon!
Quilts, layettes, soap, sewing fabrice, and sewing, school and
health kits are being collected.
Specific assembly guidelines for the projects are
available online at www.lwr.org/beinvolved or by requesting a
free "Be Involved" project handbook from the LWR Resource
Center at 1-800-LWR-LWR-2.
MORGAN HILL
Advent Lutheran Church,
16870 Murphy Avenue
Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Friday, October 23
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturday, October 24
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Contact: Marge
Johanson
REDDING
St. James Lutheran Church
2500 Shasta View Dr., Redding, CA
October 19 - October 23
By Appointment
Contact: Sandy Weatherford
Cell:
530-515-6138 .
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Upcoming Events
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October 10 10:00 - 4:00
District A Conferences
Assembly - Elim,
Petaluma
October 11 1:30 - 4:00
District C Conferences
Assembly - PLTS
October 15 Workshop on
Renewable Organization
St. Mark's, San Francisco
October 16-18 Synod High
School Youth Retreat -
Mt. Cross
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 12:00 - 2:00
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 7 Agents of
Change Hunger Network
Workshop
Incarnation, Davis
November 7 - Christ Lutheran
(Visalia) Academy for
Discipleship
9:00am - 3:00 pm
Christ Lutheran, Visalia
November 13-14 WELCA
Gathering - Peace,
Grass Valley
November 13-14 Bible
Study with Dr. Hans
Wiersma - Bethel,
Cupertino
November 13-15 Spouses of
Clergy, AiMs & Diaconal
Ministers Retreat - Eagles
Rest, Sonora, CA
November 13-15 Synod
Youth Middle School Event
Mt. Cross
November 15 - ELCA-UMC
Full Communion
Partnership Celebration
7:00 pm
First UMC Church,
Sacramento
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 - San
Damiano Retreat Center,
Danville, CA
March 4-9 Conference of
Bishops
April 22 Mt. Cross Shalom
Camp Meeting for Pastors/
Youth Directors
10:00 - 2:00 pm
Advemt. Citrus
Heights
May 6-8 Synod Assembly
Silver Legacy Hotel
Reno, NV
July 11-16 Mt. Cross
Shalom Camp
September 30 - October 5
Conference of Bishops -
Chicago
2011
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
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Evangelical Lutheran
Worship: More Freedom and
Flexibility
October 23,
6:30 - 8: 30 pm
and
October 24,
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church
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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.
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. To register or for more information,
please contact Katy Grindberg at Pastor Katy.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 