A year later and students remain mostly off-campus. Instead of living in dorms or apartments near California State University Monterey Bay, or one of the other five campus ministries in our synod, they are scattered...
So what’s a deacon anyway? Glad you asked! I was certified as a Lay Professional Leader in the Lutheran Church in America in 1986. In 1987, as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was birthed,...
The Christian Community around the world will begin its Lenten journey this week through Ash Wednesday. Many are discerning on spiritual practice/s that they may begin or amplify during this time individually and collectively. A...
Three months from this week, we will have just completed our 33rd Synod Assembly, online, where among other items of business we will elect the fifth bishop of our Sierra Pacific Synod. As we prepare for this...
I am enthusiastic about 2021 but tempering that enthusiasm. Last year LSS added several new programs for youth, families and adults. This year we will expand several existing programs thanks to special funding opportunities, long-time...
I’m listening to the inauguration. The day before, I received a Covid-19 vaccine. A bathroom in our home is being remodeled. Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, where I serve as the intentional interim pastor,...
Part of my ongoing guidance to congregations seeking new pastoral leadership and to pastors thinking about a new call is to frame our thinking as not a hiring process, not a job interview, but as...
On that memorable day of Epiphany, January 6th, I was preparing for a presentation to the Evangelism and Justice class at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, taught by Pr Ruben Duran, the ELCA Program Director of...
As the new chair of the Global Missions Advocacy Team, I would like to thank the Synod Council for honoring our request for a $5,000 line item in the Synod Budget for 2021. This will...
Many Blessings for the New Year Your Synod Staff Mark W. Holmerud Tita Valeriano Margy Schmitt-Ajer Bill Wong Diana Barrios Debbie Cook Kathye Hamm Rachel Line Laurie Gaumer Katrina Finley