Conference 2, “Bridges,” will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 8th, 2:30 pm at All Saints Novato. This meeting is for both rostered leaders and laity. Question? Contact Pastor Jill Ross, Dean at Conference2@spselca.org

 Conference 4, Sierra Nevada Foothills, will hold its Annual Meeting on Saturday, March 7th, at 10 am on Zoom. Please email Conference Dean, Pastor Christian Schweter for the link. This meeting is for both rostered leaders and laity. Question? Contact Pastor Christian Schweter, Dean at Conference4@spselca.org

 Conference 9, Central San Joaquin, will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, March 1st, at 3 pm on Zoom. The link is HERE. This meeting is for both rostered leaders and laity. Question? Contact Pastor Jodi Golden-Lund, Dean at Conference9@spselca.org

The people of Faith Lutheran Church in Meadow Vista warmly invite you to celebrate the installation of their new pastor, The Rev. Dr. Gabriele (“Gabi”) Schroeder. A reception will follow the worship service.

Join in this joyful occasion on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 3:00 pm at Faith Lutheran Church 1116 Combie Road, Meadow Vista, CA.

Rostered Leaders are invited to vest in their favorite color.

Fresh Expressions Learning Cohorts will begin on February 15 at 2 pm. Come learn and practice building gospel-centered community in the world. This monthly gathering will support and inspire participants to try new things and explore a loving-first model of church that sends us out to be guests wherever God’s people are.

Join the Zoom link HERE!

Join Christ Lutheran Church Elca, Reedley, CA on Saturday, February 14 at 2 pm for the ordination of their pastor, Virgil Miller! Rostered leaders are invited to vest and the color of the day is red! A reception will follow the service.

Join us as we celebrate the ordination of Andrew Koa Stephens on Saturday, January 31 at 11:00 am at Resurrection Lutheran Church Dublin, CA (7557 Amador Valley Blvd.). The color of the day is red!

Koa has been called to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Aitkin, Minnesota. Come give thanks and pray God’s blessing on this new ministry!

Please join Christ the King Lutheran Church in Fremont as they celebrate the Installation of the Rev. Ray Waespi on Sunday, January 25 at 1:30 p.m. All are warmly invited to share in this joyful service of worship and thanksgiving.

The color of the day is Green and there will be a reception after the service.

The ELCA, in partnership with Augsburg Fortress, will observe the 2026 National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) with a free evening program on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 4-6 p.m. PT

“Just Us Narratives: A Night of Centering Multiracial Voices Across the ELCA”
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 4-6 p.m. PT ONLINE

The event is HERE!

A Night of Centering Multiracial Voices

As a sacred practice, story sharing highlights history, preserves language, engages culture, offers wisdom, sustains survival and teaches lessons that foster connection. Join us for a night of intentional storytelling, deep listening and reflection, featuring diverse voices that will draw us closer together.

About the National Day of Racial Healing

The NDORH follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of its Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation efforts to raise awareness of the need for racial healing and encourage actions that build a more just and inclusive church and society.

Join the community of All Saints Lutheran Church in celebrating the installation of The Rev. Ariel Mink on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 3:00 PM.

Gather with us at 2 San Marin Drive, Novato for worship, joy, and blessing as Pr. Ariel begins this new call. Light refreshments will follow.

Rostered leaders are invited to robe; the color of the day is red.

All are welcome!

Curious about new ways of being church?

If you missed our October Fresh Expressions training—or want to keep exploring—join us for a two-part webinar serieshosted by Heather Jallad of Fresh Expressions U.S. on Sundays, January 4 and 11, from 3:00–5:00 pm on Zoom. Please bring a friend and enjoy an engaging, interactive learning experience as we explore how to share the good news in a changing world. Participants will also be invited to continue learning in Fresh Expressions cohorts beginning in February.

Register HERE!

📅 Save the Date!

Join us for the Ordination of Sam R. LaDue to the ministry of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She has accepted a call from University Lutheran Church in Palo Alto!

🕑 Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 pm

📍 All Saints Episcopal Church, Palo Alto

Presiding: Bishop Brenda Bos & Bishop Jeff Johnson

✨ Festive fiery finery encouraged | Light reception to follow

Please RSVP so we can make sure there's enough food and drink for all!

University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley invites you to the Installation of their new Pastor, The Rev. Kwame Pitts, on Sunday, November 23rd at 2:00 pm. The Rev. Jill Ross will preside, and The Rev. Angie Shannon will preach. Clergy are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red. The service will be in-person and online. Please find the information to join online below. An in-person reception will follow the service.

Any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to Catherine at administrator@ulcberkeley.org. Please come and celebrate!

The Installation of Pastor Kwame Pitts

Sunday, November 23rd

2:00 pm PST / 4:00 pm CT / 5:00 pm EST

Click Here to Join Pastor Kwame's Installation Online

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81924185799?pwd=b7JqjoG3xN9Y9lg9IfGFRz4cFUdMrG.1

Meeting ID: 819 2418 5799 

Passcode: 570794

Join the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network on Wednesday, November 19, at 7 pm on Zoom as we explore how to address the hunger crisis. To register, email Edie Lott at thelots@gmail.com.

Join the Sierra Pacific Synod on November 17 at 7 PM on Zoom for Toward Improved Compensation Guidelines: A Listening Post for Executive Committees. This gathering invites congregational executive committee members to explore best practices for fair and sustainable clergy compensation across our synod.

The Zoom link is HERE.

If you have any questions please contact Pr. Jeremy Serrano at rev@gsconcord.com.

Join us in celebrating the installation of Deacon Katie Laurence as Open Cathedral’s Minister!

📍 UN Plaza, San Francisco | 🗓️ Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 | ⏰ 2 p.m.

Rostered leaders are invited to vest in green. 💚

All are warmly invited to celebrate the installation of The Rev. Lauren E. Chambers as Pastor of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Mateo. Clergy are invited to vest and process; the color of the day is green.

📍 600 42nd Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94402

📅 Saturday, November 15 at 1:00 PM

Join us for this joyful worship service as we gather in prayer, song, and thanksgiving to welcome Pastor Lauren into her new call. Reception to follow.

You are warmly invited to attend the Service of Installation for The Rev. Beate Chun as Pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 3281 16th Street, San Francisco, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.

The service will be presided over by The Rev. Courtney Geibert, Dean, with Michael Pappas, M.Div., preaching.

A reception will follow the service.

Clergy are invited to vest and process; the color of the day is green.

Please note that on-site parking is limited. Public transit is encouraged—St. Matthew’s is just three blocks from the 16th St./Mission BART Station and the Hoff Street Parking Garage.

For more information, contact office@stmatthews-sf.org or call 415-863-6371.

Join us in celebrating the Ordination of Lauren E. Chambers into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament! She has been called to Hope Lutheran San Mateo!

📅 Date: Saturday, November 8

🕛 Time: 12:00 PM

📍 Location: Christ Lutheran Church, Visalia

💻 Watch Online: Available via YouTube livestream

🎨 Color of the Day: Red

🥗 Reception to Follow

Come share in this joyful moment of worship, blessing, and celebration as we welcome Lauren into ordained ministry. All are invited—your presence and prayers are a gift to this special day!

After all the regional gatherings are completed, and the online business meeting, voting members are invited to attend the online BUDGET business meeting from their home or congregation on Saturday, November 1 from 9 am - 11 am.

For voting members only:

Saturday, November 1 - BUDGET Business Meeting On Zoom

The zoom link was sent out to voting members on October 22.

Please email Pr. Courtney at communications@spselca.org if you did not receive it.

📅 Budget Hearings

Join us on Zoom for one of the upcoming budget hearings.

• Wednesday, October 29 at 12:00 Noon OR

• Wednesday, October 29 at 6:00 PM

Please see the newsletter or email Pr. Courtney at communications@spselca.org for the link!

These hearings are open to all. You’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from the Synod Treasurer, Synod Council, and Finance Committee, ask questions, and engage in conversation about the proposed 2026–27 budget.

Thanks to faithful stewardship and disciplined spending, we are preparing to present a balanced budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year—the first time in 15 years that this has been possible. We give thanks for the many hands and hearts that have contributed to this milestone.

We invite you to read a letter from Bishop Jeff Johnson, Treasurer Scott Taylor, and Vice President Simon Wong, reflecting on this important step forward. READ LETTER HERE.

📅 Budget Hearings

Join us on Zoom for one of the upcoming budget hearings.

• Wednesday, October 29 at 12:00 Noon OR

• Wednesday, October 29 at 6:00 PM

Please see the newsletter or email Pr. Courtney at communications@spselca.org for the link!

These hearings are open to all. You’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from the Synod Treasurer, Synod Council, and Finance Committee, ask questions, and engage in conversation about the proposed 2026–27 budget.

Thanks to faithful stewardship and disciplined spending, we are preparing to present a balanced budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year—the first time in 15 years that this has been possible. We give thanks for the many hands and hearts that have contributed to this milestone.

We invite you to read a letter from Bishop Jeff Johnson, Treasurer Scott Taylor, and Vice President Simon Wong, reflecting on this important step forward. READ LETTER HERE.

Join Saron Lutheran Church on October 25 at 11 am as they celebrate their partnership with The Rev. Nelson Rabell. The Rev. Idalia Negron, former Bishop of the Caribbean Synod, will be the guest preacher. Rostered leaders are invited to vest with the color of the day being red. Come celebrate what God is doing among us!

Learn what it means to be Lutheran in El Salvador! Join Bishop Guadalupe Cortez as we hear about the ministry of our companion synod, the El Salvador Lutheran Synod. The event will take place at St. Matthew’s, Walnut Creek, on Monday, October 20, from 6–8 PM, with a light meal provided. Register HERE!