CNH DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Mar 18, 2025

Third Week of Lent Reflection

As we journey through Lent, the Gospel reading from John 2:13-22 recounts Jesus cleansing the temple, declaring, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” His words pointed to His death and resurrection, reminding us that true worship is not about a building but about a restored relationship with God through Christ.

Yesterday (March 17) was a day set aside to remember St. Patrick’s Day, a reminder of faithful mission work and the call to share Christ’s light in a world of darkness. Just as Patrick brought the Gospel to Ireland, we are called to proclaim God’s love in our words and actions.

March is often a time of decluttering and renewal—spring cleaning for our homes and our hearts. What needs cleansing in our lives? Are there distractions or habits that pull us away from Christ?

Lent is a time to recenter our focus on Jesus, allowing Him to remove anything that hinders our faith.

This week, invite the Lord to purify our hearts, renew our devotion, and lead us deeper into His grace. As we look toward the cross, may we trust in the power of His resurrection.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spring In-Service This Friday

At the 2025 CNH Spring In-Service, we’ll dive into "Leading an Anxious Generation," exploring practical ways to support students' emotional and spiritual well-being.

What: Spring In-Service

When: Friday, March 21

Where: Our Savior, Livermore, CA

Registration: $55 per person

Marriage Renewal with Marriage Encounter

Enjoy a renewal weekend to refresh your marriage relationship and enjoy wine country. This is not a traditional Marriage Encounter Weekend!

What: “Spring in Sonoma”

When: Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23

Where: Oxford Suites, 67 Golf Course Dr W, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

More Info & Registration: Click here

Women's Retreat This Weekend

Ladies, mark your calendars and prepare your hearts to join as Sisters in Christ for an inspiring and uplifting weekend at the Prince of Peace 2025 Women's Retreat!

What: Prince of Peace Women's Retreat

When: Friday, March 21- Saturday, March 22

Where: Mission Hills Campus, 858 Washington Blvd., Fremont, CA

Registration: $50 per person

Pre-Event NYG Cancelled

The CNH District Youth Pre-Event NYG has been cancelled. The National Youth Gathering is still occurring this summer (July 19-23) in New Orleans. Stay tuned for more details and reminders to join the NYG!

LCMS 2024 Congregation Statistics and Lay Leader Updates – Deadline Extended

The deadline to submit your 2024 year-end congregation statistics and lay leader updates is extended to Monday, March 31, 2025.

Congregations who have not yet submitted their updates should have received an email recently from rosters.stats@lcms.org. The updates can be submitted through LISN which is found here: https://lc.lcms.org/. (FYI: Internet Explorer does not work with the website. It is suggested that you use Google Chrome for the forms.)

If you cannot remember the username and/or password you created for your congregation, follow the on-screen helps on the login page to recover your login credentials.

If the online guides do not help you to reset your password, contact Rosters at r osters.stats@lcms.org or call 314-996-1366.

If you would like a blank form emailed to you, contact Glenna Sanlis, glenna@cnh-lcms.org.

LuTMA Discernment Event - Register Now

Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA) is offering a "discernment events" for pastors interested in learning more about LuTMA and the training process.

What: LuTMA Discernment Event

When: April 3

Cost: $25 per person.

Click here for the press release.

More information and registration for the Conference is available at www.lutma.org.

73rd CNH District Convention Info

The Convention theme is “Fruitful Branches (Pruned for Growth),” based on John 15:1-3. The keynote speaker will be Rev. Jeff Cloeter, the Senior Pastor of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

The registration deadline is Friday, April 25.

To register for the Convention and to get Convention details, click here.

Contact Glenna Sanlis, glenna@cnh-lcms.org, if you have questions.

2025 Call Day Information, CTSFW

What: Vicarage and Deaconess Internship Assignment Service

When: 7 p.m. (CDT), April 28, 2025

What: Candidate Call Service

When: 7 p.m. (CDT), April 29, 2025

Both services will be available via livestream from Kramer Chapel. Click here to visit the CTSFW Call Day 2025 event page for livestream access, placement lists, and photos as they become available.

2025 Call Day Information, CTSSL

What: Assignment of Vicarages Service

When: 3 p.m. (EDT), April 30, 2025

What: Assignment of Calls Service

When: 7 p.m. (EDT), April 30, 2025

Both services will be available via livestream from Chapel of St. Timothy & St. Titus. Click here to visit the CTSSL Call Day 2025 event page for livestream access and more details.

Featured News

Invitation to Join BALYA

Are you 18 to 40"ish" years old and would enjoy the company of other area Lutheran (LCMS) young adults? Join us, as Bay Area Lutheran Young Adults (BALYA) meets regularly for camaraderie in fun, worship, service projects, and study. Bay Area Lutheran Young Adults is an endeavor of Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Cupertino, CA.

Next Event: Game Night - March 29 (5:00 p.m.)

Where: 5825 Bollinger Road, Cupertino, CA

Info/RSVP: Contact mmcthrow@gmail.com or nonso12@gmail.com

Private School Leaders Meet with California Legislators

This past week representatives from CAPSO met with legislators in Sacramento to advocate for private schools in California. The group from CAPSO met with various California legislators to share information about CAPSO, develop or strengthen relationships, and stress the important place that private schools play in the lives of the 370,000 students in those California schools.

Click here to learn more about CAPSO and the meeting.

Thank You Letter from PSD

From Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson, President of the Pacific Southwest District: It is with a grateful heart that I write to thank you for your prayers and for the generous financial gift of $25,000 in support of the Pacific Southwest District's Fire Storm response. I know that your district understands the issues in responding to such a crisis and we are humbled that you have chosen to stand alongside us at this time.

Click here to read the entire letter.

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.

Rev. Theodore (Ted) Iverson was called to glory on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Rev. Iverson served CNH District congregations (Redeemer, Fresno, CA and Bethlehem, Monterey, CA). In addition, he served the CNH District office from 1978 – 2009 in various capacities: Business Manager; Administrative Services Director for Missions; Interim Services Director for Evangelism and Stewardship; and President of the CNH District Church Extension Fund. Service details are pending. Please keep the Iverson family in your prayers.

Rev. Dr. Paul L. Maier (Emeritus) was called to his heavenly home on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Dr. Maier served as campus pastor and professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. from 1958 until his retirement in 1999. Throughout his career he also served the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as chairman of the Commission on Church Literature and member of the LCMS Board for Higher Education. Dr. Maier also served 12 years as an LCMS officer and member of the Praesidium: as third vide-president (2010-13), second vice- president (2004-10), and fourth vice-president (2001-04). You can read his obituary here.