The Lutheran Center for Mission and Learning (the Synod Office) will be closed next Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. In addition, there will be no Wednesday Eucharist service on November 23. Worship will resume on Wednesday, November 30th.

We have just completed another election cycle, which was among the most divisive I have witnessed in 40 years of voting for a U.S. President. The people have spoken, but have delivered a divided decision. Donald Trump won the electoral vote and will become our next President, while Hillary Clinton will win the popular vote (at least it appears that way as of 9:15 am Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday morning) but will lose in the Electoral College. Clearly we are a divided country. This division is mirrored in our congregations. Some people in our congregations are jubilant, believing that change was necessary, while others are mournful, concerned about what will happen to immigrants, refugees, and Muslims, to name a few. Others are angry at a political system that delivered two candidates that were distasteful to many.

How are we as Lutheran Christians to respond to the results of such an election? We are called to remember we are simultaneously citizens of the United States and members of the Reign of God. We are to live as U.S. citizens by putting into action our faith in the God who made and redeemed people of every land. How do we do this? By loving God and loving our neighbor. Please note that when Jesus calls us to love, he is not speaking about emotions, but about actions. Love is a verb, not a noun. We are called to love people we may not like, whose politics we may not agree with and whose views of America's future may differ strongly from our own.

How are we to love our neighbor as Christ calls us to do? We are to listen calmly and try to understand our neighbor's point of view. We are particularly to care for those who would be forgotten or oppressed. We are called to love the immigrant, the refugee, the poor, and to work for their good. We are to stand against injustice of any sort. We are to seek not victory for ourselves, or vindication of our own points of view, but the common good. We are to keep in mind Christ Jesus who, as noted in Philippians 2, emptied himself and took the form of a servant in order to live a life of love.

Such a life of love does not mean a denial of differing political views. It does mean that we recognize that God may be speaking through one with whom we disagree, and we should listen for God's voice in these discussions. But we are also to speak in ways that do not insist on our own viewpoint, but instead insist on what is right, just, and good for our neighbor. Through such political speech, God will guide us forward.

So what do we do today? I'd encourage us all to pray for wisdom and guidance for President-elect Trump, for President Obama as he prepares to leave office, and for all who have been elected to positions of leadership yesterday. We are to grant respect to the office of those elected, especially when we respectfully and forcefully disagree on policy issues. And we are to pray for the good of our neighbor, our country, and our world. May God bless us at this time of change, and help us to love others as God loves us.

Pacifica Synod, ELCA

Rostered leaders, congregations, and candidates are reminded that from December 15 to January 17th, the ELCA will be shutting down the Candidacy Portal and Mobility System to implement updates related to the new Word and Service roster. No Candidacy forms (applications, decisions forms) can be completed or submitted during this time. No Mobility forms (RLP's, MSP's, references, etc.)  can be completed or submitted during this time.  No edits to submitted Rostered Leader Profiles will be able to be made during this time. The systems will be in a 'read-only' mode. 

In a message addressing the election, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton shares three things the church can do and reminds us: "No human candidate can guarantee our life or our future. That is work that God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus." Click below to view this message:

The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and leaders from The Episcopal Church, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada have prepared a series of Advent devotions for members of the four denominations. 

"Over fifteen years ago, our churches' respective full communion agreements inaugurated new relationships in which we fully recognized each other 'as churches in which the gospel is truly preached and the holy sacraments duly administered,'" the bishops wrote in a joint cover letter.

"May our prayers united be a modest but hopeful sign of what our churches can do together as we bear witness to the One who first reconciled himself to us."

In addition to Eaton, devotions were contributed by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church of Canada; and the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The Advent devotions are available by clicking here.

The 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held in Houston, Texas from June 27 to July 1, 2018. The theme of the Gathering is "This Changes Everything", based on Ephesians 2:8. 

The new website is live now at www.elca.org/youthgathering.  There you will find lots of information and resources to assist you in your planning and preparations. Check out the first Gathering video below:

Over 600 adults who work with children, youth and families (CYF) in congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will gather at The Galt House Hotel and Conference Center in Louisville, Kentucky for Extravaganza 2017. The "E" is the premier training event for adults who work in faith formation.

Held January 20-24, the Extravaganza will focus on the theme "500," with an emphasis on the ongoing re-forming work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the world and the church.

Dynamic spiritual renewal, transformational continuing education and supportive networking are critical elements of Extravaganza.  For more information on the Extravaganza, and to register, please visit www.ext17.org.

In June of 2017, Pastor Ron Baesler will be leading a group of 14 people to Malawi to take part in a Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity project to build a home for the most vulnerable people.

The dates are June 18-25, 2017 and the cost is $1,195 for members of Thrivent or $1,695 for non-members. This includes all in-country meals, travel, lodging and insurance. It does not include airfare.

For more information, please download the attached flyer. Pastor Ron may be reached at [email protected]

During the Bishop's Gatherings this past September and October, Bishop Andy Taylor shared personal stories of stewardship and generosity. We are pleased to share a couple of these stories with you and invite you to share them in your congregation.

On Sunday, December 4 at 4 p.m., award-winning singer/songwriter Deborah Liv Johnson will perform a variety of Christmas, original and favorite tunes at San Marcos Lutheran Church (3419 Grand Avenue, San Marcos).

Well-known for both her original music and her interpretation of classic Lutheran hymns and Christmas music, Johnson's voice has always been her most compelling draw. One fan wrote, "She could sing the phone book and I'd listen." Commenting on her recording of Georgia on my Mind, The Los Angeles Times wrote, "It is not surprising that Johnson's luxuriant alto is the album's most affecting instrument..." Johnson's rendition of "There is a Balm in Gilead" has had more than 300,000 hits on YouTube. Johnson particularly loves singing Christmas songs - "So many of them are really lullabies...so sweet and pure."

A free will offering will be received.

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival is one of the oldest musical celebrations of Christmas in the United States, featuring more than 500 student musicians who are members of five choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra. It is broadcast nationwide each year and is often featured in national media.

St. Olaf College has received a special donation to offer the live video stream of their concert for FREE to all ELCA congregations on Sunday, December 4 at 3:00 p.m. CST. This generous gift has been given to the ELCA in an effort to share the joy of the Christmas season together.

Held January 9-13, 2017 this workshop provides valuable and needed skills for pastors, leaders, administrators in congregational settings.  Led by California Lutheran School of Management Faculty.

For the third year, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona and California Lutheran University are teaming up for what has become a very powerful and popular workshop - a week of continuing education with faculty from the School of Management.

Held on the campus of California Lutheran University in Southern California

June 28 - July 2, 2017

For all high school youth in ELCA Regions 1 - 4

 

Western States Youth Gathering occurs every three years. There will be mass gatherings with great speakers and musicians; learning and small group experiences; a beach day; immersion experience in Los Angeles; worship that takes you in new directions; and much more!

 

Registration opens on Oct. 3. $425/person.  This price goes up to $460 on January 3, 2017. For more info, go to the website at www.wsyg.com.

 

Questions? Contact Linda LeBlanc, Assistant Director for Congregational Relations at [email protected] or 805.493.3936.

The dates and location of the 2017 Pacifica Synod Assembly have now been confirmed. We will gather for our 30th Annual Pacifica Synod Assembly from Thursday, May 11 to Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego.