Prophets as God's Messengers for Social Justice
This semester-long Bible study will take a deeper dive into some of the prophets of the Old Testament. It is designed for pastors and lay persons, primarily in the Lutheran Church (ELCA), to highlight the message and work of the prophets as messengers of God with instructions to care for others in need, with an eye to today's world, understanding prophets were not fortune-tellers nor apocalyptic.
The class will meet every Thursday (excluding March 28 and April 11) in Oehler Hall at St. John's Lutheran Church and online via Zoom.
Rev. Dianne Wendt, currently serving as pastor at Lutheran Church of the Cross in East Sacramento, will be teaching this bible study. The development and leading of this class are part of Pr. Dianne's Doctorate of Ministry Program at the Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA.
Participants will only need their Bible; note-taking and journaling are encouraged.
RSVP and/or questions: RevDianneLCOC@gmail.com or (916)456-8880.
From Crisis to Chrysalis: Cultivating Pathways to Wisdom, Cultivating Purpose Workshop
Modern Elder Academy is the world’s first midlife wisdom school—and to a community built on spreading wisdom and navigating transitions together.
Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a calling. That’s certainly the case for the three co-founders of MEA—Chip Conley, Christine Sperber, and Jeff Hamaoui—who saw an opportunity to reframe aging and help people make the most of midlife, an era that lasts decades longer than it did a century ago.
From online courses to workshop retreats on the beach in Baja or on the newest campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Modern Elder Academy blends midlife wisdom and social science-based knowledge to help adults find—and focus on—their calling. MEA students learn from the brilliant minds and teachings of world-renowned experts across various fields to connect with and grow their own wisdom.
This workshop will help equip you with the tools to ignite your life with purpose. What are the things that bring meaning to your life? The purpose of your life is to discover your gift. The work of your life is to develop it and the meaning of your life is to give the gift away. Join us as we build a purpose portfolio for the next step of life.
Memorial Day Work Weekend at Mt. Cross Ministries
Save the date for Mt. Cross Ministries Memorial Day Work Weekend, May 24-26! Spend the day volunteering at camp and the evenings around a campfire with new and old friends. In thanksgiving for your hard work, registration is free.
2024 Synod Assembly
This year's assembly theme builds upon two recent events – the 2023 Synod Assembly and Bishop Jeff's installation. Last year's assembly theme (“Broken Yet Whole”) addressed the dichotomy of our fractured relationships and our experience of being made whole by Christ. It is precisely within the enduring context of individual, collective, and systemic brokenness that we must claim the hope we have in Christ. The assembly planning team also revisited the Gospel reading at Bishop Jeff's installation, the story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). In this story, the Risen Christ met his followers where they were – broken yet whole – and offered them hope. On this occasion just as throughout his public ministry, Jesus practiced the art of storytelling. He is known for telling powerful stories that continue to engage, inspire, and transform people. Storytelling is an important, albeit under-utilized item in our own ministry toolbox, too. To help us refine that tool, the assembly planning team has engaged a keynote speaker who effectively utilizes storytelling in her worship services and ministry – Rev. Rebecca Anderson who serves at Gilead Church in Chicago. Over several sessions, Pr. Anderson will show us ways to utilize storytelling in our respective ministry settings. Her time with us will also include opportunities for us to consider our own stories and hear the stories of others. The assembly theme of hope also sets the framework for the workshops we will offer. All of the workshop presenters, each in their own way, will focus on finding and claiming hope within our own lives and proclaiming that hope to a world in need.
For more information, please visit our 2024 Synod Assembly page in the navigation bar at the top of the website.
Interfaith Earthfest
Our second annual Earth Day Festival is bringing together the local interfaith community along with partners of civic, school, and community organizations with a common purpose: channel our collective energies to more responsibly steward our sacred planet.
This Town of Danville community event is a collaborative celebration of Baháʼí, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Sufi, Hindu, Taoist, and Christian friends, with acknowledgement to our Indigenous relations.
The entire family will enjoy fun and learning opportunities throughout the afternoon of ritual, art, music, speakers, booths, activities, and ceremony. We will spotlight our eco-success stories, draw hope from one another, and inspire ongoing local commitment to action!
PLTS Signs Along the Way Discernment Weekend
Have you ever considered seminary? Have you ever felt like God might be calling you into ministry, but you’re not sure how or where to start? Join others in discernment at Signs Along the Way, a visit weekend at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley.