If we can know nothing else about this summer in the
ELCA, we can know that this has been a time of intense,
passionate, and deeply felt conversation and prayer in
sanctuaries, fellowship halls, living rooms, parking lots and,
yes indeed, in cyberspace.
This is a good thing! Even
when it is uncomfortable, it is a good thing, for all the
reasons we already know and for a few we hate to
admit.
My purpose today is to encourage those
conversations to continue in yet another venue. As you
probably already know, all the congregations in the Sierra
Pacific Synod are gathered into geographic groups called
conferences. There are 18 conferences. The
conferences are also clustered together into 5
Districts. This Fall, all the Conferences are
meeting together as Districts. There will be times to
meet separately and times to meet together. There will
be times for nominations and elections if needed. There
will be time to hear from the Office of the Bishop and there
will be time to hear from and talk with the people who went to
the Churchwide Assembly in August. I write to invite you
to attend one of these gatherings and join in or continue this
amazing conversation we find ourselves having. The
Districts, Conferences and Dates are listed below. If
you're not sure which one to go to, or what the specifics are,
talk with your pastor. S/he can help you with the
details. But please don't miss this opportunity to hear,
speak, learn, and grow in faith and in our relationships with
one another.
District A Conferences (Redwood,
Vineyard, Gateway, Delta Diablo)
October 10,
2009 10 AM to 4 PM
Elim, Petaluma
District B Conferences (Northern Mountain
Valley, Sierra Nevada, Foothill,
Sacramento)
September
19, 2009 10 AM to 4 PM
St.
John's, Sacramento
District C Conferences (San
Francisco, East Bay, Southern Alameda)
October
11 1:00 PM to 4
PM
PLTS
District D Conferences
(Peninsula, Santa Clara, Monterey Bay)
November
7 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Grace, Palo
Alto
District E Conferences (Sierra San Joaquin,
Central Valley, Central San Joaquin, South Valley)
October
24 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Good Shepherd, Fresno
God's peace,
Pr. Nancy Feniuk Nelson
Bishop's Associate
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We remember in prayer . .
Pastor Kay Doyle (Gethsemane, Carmichael) and family
in the death of her sister, Jodi
Pastor Scott Minke, continuing cancer treatment, and for
all who battle cancer and its accompanying side effects
Firefighters and emergency workers who risk their lives
each day
All students, teachers and staff as they begin a new
school year
That the Holy Spirit continue to move throughout the
ELCA, as we gather together in the midst of differing
opinions
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DR.
MARTIN MARTY TO SPEAK AT LOPP CELEBRATION
The Rev. Dr. Martin Marty will be
featured at the 25th anniversary celebration for the Lutheran
Office of Public Policy.
Date: Thursday, September 24,
2009
Location: St. John's Lutheran
Church, 1701 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
11:30 am Refreshments in
the Courtyard
12:00 pm Program with Rev. Dr. Marty
in the sanctuary
1:00 pm Lunch served in Oehler
Hall
Respondants:
David Lesher, Governmnet Affairs Manager, Public Policy
Institution of CA
Mary Wiberg, Executive Director, CA Commission on the
Status of Women
Moderator: Gregory Favre, St. John's Church Council
President
RSVP by September 22 to:
LOPP - California, 1701 L Street, Sacramento, CA
95811
Suggested donation: $20
Make checks payable to "Lutheran Office of Public
Policy"
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DR. MARTIN MARTY TO SPEAK AT PLTS ON
FOUNDERS' DAY
Founders' Day at PLTS on September 23, 2009
will feature Rev. Dr. Martin Marty, speaking on
"Building Cultures of
Trust."
For more information and to register,
go to PLTS.
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CONNECTIONS: MORE JESUS IN
MORE PLACES!
Attention: Youth Directors, Youth
Volunteers, Pastors and Parents
The high school-aged and adult leaders of the
Synod Youth Committee invite high school-aged youth (grades
9-12) and their chaperones to participate (to
connect!) in the annual faith and leadership retreat
at Mt.
Cross.
Theme: Connections: More
Jesus in
More Places!
Bible Verse:
Romans 8:28
Date:
October 16-18
Location:
Mt. Cross (Felton, CA)
Cost: $110
early (before Sept. 18)
$125
late (after Sept. 18)
Check out the SPSYC website at
www.spsyc.org for registration, proposed
constitutional changes, contact and other
information.
The Committee is planning an amazing
event. Plan to be a part of it!
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ELCA / UNITED METHODIST FULL COMMUNION
PARTNERSHIP CELEBRATION
At 7:00 pm on Sunday, November
15, congregations in the ELCA's Sierra Pacific Synod and
the UMC California-Nevada Conference will celebrate their full
communion partnership.
The Eucharist worship and reception will
be held at First UMC Church at 21st and J Streets in
Sacramento. Bishops Mark Holmerud and Warner Brown will
participate.
Mark your calendar for this great
celebration!
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LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES
BRINGS GARRISON
KEILLOR
September 22, 2009
7:00 pm
Memorial Auditorium,
Sacramento
Lutheran Social Services of Northern
California is bringing Garrison Keillor, radio host and
world-renowned creator of Prairie Home Companion, to celebrate
their 125th anniversary and to raise funds for services
provided to former foster youth, families and vulnerable
individuals.
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Upcoming Events
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September 14-15 Region 2
Consultation - PLTS
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 23 PLTS
Founders' Day with
Martin Marty - Berkeley
September 25-26 Synod
Council - Mercy Center,
Burlingame, CA
September 26 Women's
Retreat - Mt. Cross
October 1-6 Conference of
Bishops - Chicago
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 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 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
November 15 - ELCA-UMC
Full Communion
Partnership Celebration
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
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 -
Chicago
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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FINANCIAL
WELLNESS WORKSHOPS
POSTPONED
Due to unforeseen circumstances,
the Financial Wellness Workshops with Board of Pensions
Representative Andrea Arey have been postponed to
November. The rescheduled times and locations are listed
below.
If you pre-registered for the event and have not been
called by Andrea, contact her by e-mail at aarey@elcabop.org or by
phone: 612-619-4990.
Grace Lutheran,
Palo Alto
Mon., Nov. 16th
10:30-12:00
Lunch provided
Delta Diablo Conference (location to be
determined)
Thurs., Nov. 19
10:30-12:00
Lunch
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RWANDAN PASTOR TO VISIT
FAITH LUTHERAN, CHICO
Faith Lutheran Church in Chico, CA will
be welcoming Pastor Twahirwa Eldard from the Kagitumba Parish
in Rwanda on Sundays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4
at the 8:30 and 11:00 am services.
There will be an adult forum with
Pr. Eldard on Sept. 27th at 9:45 am, and a Blessing of the
Animals with Pr. Eldard participating on Oct. 4 at 9:45
am. Luncheons follow on both Sundays. All are
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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.
Please note that online registration is
for conference registration
only.
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 Conference Center. To register or for more
information, please contact Katy Grindberg at Pastor Katy.
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Sierra
Pacific Synod 
