CNH DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

February 10, 2026

Glory Revealed,
Then We Go Down the Mountain

In Matthew 17:1–9, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where His appearance is transformed before them. Moses and Elijah appear, the Father’s voice speaks from the cloud, and for a brief moment the disciples glimpse Christ’s true glory. It is a dazzling, holy interruption, and just as quickly, Jesus leads them back down the mountain toward the road that ends at the cross.

This reading meets us during a week filled with familiar rhythms and reminders. February 14 (Valentine’s Day) highlights love and commitment while February 16 (Presidents Day) reflects on the weight of responsibility, leadership and authority.

Against all of this, the Transfiguration reminds us where true glory and authority are found. God does not reveal His Son to impress or entertain, but to anchor faith. The voice from heaven does not say, “Build something here,” but simply, “Listen to Him.” And when the vision fades, Jesus remains - walking with His disciples into suffering, sacrifice, and redemption.

As Lent approaches, this week invites us to hold onto what the disciples were given on the mountain: not a permanent escape, but a clear vision of who Jesus is. Strengthened by His glory, we follow Him faithfully into everyday life, trusting that the One who shines in glory also walks with us in the valley.

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Doris Angel named as finalist for National ECE Director

This past November, we honored Doris Angel as our CNH District Early Childhood Director of the Year. Doris was also nominated and considered as a finalist for LEA's National ECE Director of the Year. While she did not receive the top award, being a national finalist is a great honor and one to be celebrated!

Doris, known affectionately as "Angel", is a tremendous leader with a very special heart and love for the students in her care. Doris is a strong Christian witness as she shares the love of Jesus with those around her.

Doris is the director at Peace Lutheran Preschool in Arroyo Grande, California.

Upcoming Events

2 Kingdoms Citizenship in Today's Secular Lion's Den

Join Grace Lutheran, Modesto for a powerful seminar with Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz on 2 Kingdoms Citizenship in Today's Secular Lion's Den. The "Two Kingdoms" doctrine offers a framework for Christians living in a secular, sometimes hostile ("lion's den") culture, with the spiritual kingdom, ruled by grace and the gospel, and the earthly kingdom, ruled by law and civil authority.

What: 2 Kingdoms Citizenship in Today's Secular Lion's Den

When: February 28, 2026, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Lunch provided)

Where: Grace Lutheran Church
617 W. Orangeburg Ave Modesto CA, 95350

To register: Call 209-529-7721

We're hosting a Reimagine Your Future Summit to create opportunities for our churches to collaborate and thrive! At this FREE event, you'll receive...

- Eye-opening insights into your congregation’s current lifecycle stage - and what it means for your future.

- 3 cultural trends demanding your church’s attention - and how to navigate them.

- Opportunities for collaboration or partnerships with sister churches

- Growth models that really work - no matter your church’s age or stage.

What: Reimagine Your Future Summit

Where: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1635 Chester Dr, Tracy, CA

When: February 28, 2026

To Register: Click Here

Save the Date - CNH Spring In-Service 2026

You spend your days pouring into students — shaping hearts, minds, and futures. This day is for you! We’re excited to welcome Andrew McPeak from Growing Leaders and the Maxwell Leadership Foundation as our keynote speaker. Andrew will lead a powerful, practical conversation called: “The Five Essential Soft Skills Students Need to Succeed in the 21st Century”.

This isn’t about another program or checklist. It’s about the real skills our students need — confidence, character, communication, and leadership — and how Christian educators can help form those in the classroom and beyond.

What: CNH Spring In-Service 2026

When: March 27, 2026

Where: Bella Vista Academy, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Tracy, CA

Featured News

2026 CNH District Administrators Conference Recap

On February 3-5, the CNH District held a School Administrators Conference. School leaders came to the CNH Ministry Center for three days of spiritual growth, learning, and fellowship. Dr. Eugene Kim, Concordia Irvine, spoke on “Faithfulness in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”; Dr. Tara Rolle, California Association of Private School Organizations, spoke on the challenges we face as private schools at the state and local level; Dr. Drew Gerdes, Concordia Nebraska, spoke on “What Fred Said: The Power of Mister Rogers Neighborhood”. Resources were shared with and among those who attended, reinforcing the importance of our district leaders having an opportunity to collaborate onsite and in person. We thank Lutheran Church Extension Fund for their sponsorship and support of this conference.

2026 CNH Early Childhood Directors Conference

On February 5-6, the CNH District held its annual CNH District ECE Directors Conference. Hosted at the CNH Ministry Center, directors from around the district participated in two days of spiritual growth, learning, and fellowship. Primary speaker and presenter, Dr. Drew Gerdes, oversees the early childhood education department at Concordia, Nebraska. He led keynotes on “Children of Today and Tomorrow”, “Effective Parent Communication”, and “The Power of Mr. Rogers”. This was a wonderful chance for CNH District directors to come together in person and not only learn but also share with and connect with one another. We thank Lutheran Church Extension Fund for their sponsorship and support of this conference.

School Spotlight: Trinity Lutheran Preschool, Burlingame

Trinity Lutheran Preschool is a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church in Burlingame, CA. The original church was established in 1922, and the preschool was started in 2012. The preschool has an enrollment of 54 students, ages 2-5, and this year, they began an after school program, with a current enrollment of 12 students. Jam Eyvazov, who has been at Trinity since 2017, became the Director in 2020. The school is served by 12 staff members and has developed a Mandarin and Spanish immersion program to serve their diverse student population. Pastor Jeffrey Schufreider, pastor at Trinity for the past 20 years, is heavily involved in the school ministry, leading chapel services and organizing family nights once a month for school families. The Burlingame community and the CNH District are blessed by the ministry of Trinity Lutheran Preschool.

Get to Know Your Community with the Mission Insite Demographics Tools

The more we understand those who live in our neighborhoods and communities, the more we increase our likelihood of succeeding with our invitation, both personally and collectively as a congregation or school. As we understand who we serve, we can tailor a ministry plan around their needs.

The ACS Technologies Mission Insite tool can help with this and is made available to all CNH District congregations and schools thanks to a partnership with LCEF.

Click here to learn more.

Mission Table Podcast - Episode 15: Transitional Interim Ministry

Pull up a chair and join the conversation. The Mission Table is the official podcast of the California-Nevada-Hawaii (CNH) District of the LCMS, where leaders, pastors, and everyday disciples gather to share stories, explore ministry challenges, and celebrate how God is at work across our communities.

In this episode of the Mission Table Podcast Paul sits down with Rev. Peter Alexander who has served as an Interim Pastor in the LCMS since 1999, serving 10 congregations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Virginia, and New Jersey. Click here for the podcast.

Called to Glory...

As pillars of the faith get called back to their heavenly home, we want to honor and acknowledge the legacy they leave behind and the impact they had within our congregations. If you would like to include any upcoming memorials, please click here to send the name, date of death, and date of service so that we may include them in an upcoming issue of the InTouch.

The CNH District office recently received word that Deaconess Emeritus Irene Campbell of Calvary Lutheran Church, Oroville, CA, was called to glory on January 27, 2026. (Irene was in the pilot deaconess program at Concordia, River Forest, IL.) Please keep the Campbell family in your prayers.