Thank you to all who have returned your Convention delegate forms to the District office!

For those who have not yet had the opportunity to send them in, the deadline has been

extended to Friday, February 28. Each of the congregations of the CNH District (a multi-congregation parish being considered as a congregational unit) shall be represented by one (1) pastor and one (1) lay delegate at the 73rd CNH District Convention, duly elected by the congregation. This form should be signed by the congregational representatives and emailed to Glenna Sanlis (glenna@cnh-lcms.org). Forms can be found at the CNH District website.

The Convention will be held May 15 -17, 2025, at Hilton Sacramento Arden West, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento, CA. The event will begin with dinner and opening worship at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 3785 Placer Corporate Drive, Rocklin, CA, on Thursday evening, May 15. The theme for the Convention is “Fruitful Branches” (Pruned for Growth), based on John 15:1-3. Please note that the delegate reporting forms do not register you for the Convention. Watch for Convention registration to open soon!

Reminder: LCMS 2024 Congregation Statistics and Lay Leader Updates

All congregations should have received an email recently regarding the LCMS 2024 Statistics and Lay Leader Updates. The information is submitted through LISN which is found here: https://lc.lcms.org/. 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 you would like a blank form emailed to you, contact Glenna Sanlis, glenna@cnh-lcms.org. This information is to be submitted to Synod by Friday, February 28, 2025.

Reminder: Deadlines for Vicar Applications or Pastoral Candidate (Call) Placements from the Seminaries

Just a quick reminder that the paperwork deadline for candidate and vicarage placement from the Seminaries for Spring 2025 to be received at the CNH District office is Friday, February 28, 2025 . Please contact the district office (925-245-4000) for call document information for candidates from the seminary and/or information regarding vicarage application and minimum salary. (Ask for Glenna, assistant to President Lange.) Before mailing your final call document or vicarage paperwork,you may send a scanned copy to prescnh@cnh-lcms.org.

Best Practices in Ministry Draws 2500

Best Practices in Ministry (BPM) was held on February 13-15. BPM is a unique conference that is annually hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix and is free to all who register to attend. 2500 church worker professionals and lay people from across the United States came to hear a number of Plenary Speakers and had the choice of almost 300 workshop sessions. The theme of BPM was "You are not alone", with the purpose of encouraging those who are leaders in LCMS churches. A number of participants from the CNH District attended the conference and also led some of the workshop sessions.

Lent Resources for Worship Planning with Spark Creative

There are three Lent resource packs complete with sermon starters, liturgy suggestions, graphics, and devotion books available from Spark Creative. Spark is a collaborative effort from peers in the CNH District. Click here to find Lent resources and more.

National Youth Gathering Scholarship Available

Lutheran Women’s Missionary League California Nevada Hawaii District is offering a one-time scholarship to youth attending the LCMS National Youth Gathering July 19-23, 2025 in New Orleans. Any youth attending may be reimbursed $425 towards the registration cost.

The scholarship request should include the following:

Name I Church I Age I Why you want to attend the gathering I Proof of registration

Send an email to: Roxan Schwab, LWML CNH President, with the above information.

Funds are limited, so the reimbursement is on a first-come first-served basis.  Please send your request quickly.

New Financial Scholarship from Concordia Chicago

Concordia Chicago has instituted a new policy, the Prepared to Serve Church Professional Scholarship. What this new policy means is that all students enrolled in church-work programs will be able to study for no more than $5,000 / year, not even factoring in district scholarships or other outside scholarships. This will significantly lift financial burdens for students, and make it much more feasible to enter church-work programs at CUC.

Click here for a flyer with more information.

Pastors' Wives Retreat Recap

The Pastors' Wives Retreat was a wonderful weekend full of fun, frivolity, and connecting with new and old friends. The speaker, Cindy Steinbeck, shared a wonderful study on Finding Sabbath Rest. Save the date for next year: January 30 - Feb 1, 2026!

TIM Retreat Recap

Twenty-six pastors (and a few wives) recently gathered for three blessed days of retreat At St. Anthony’s in Three Rivers, CA. Click here for a blog post with more details and pictures.

Human Care Understanding Trauma Event This Weekend

The National Institute of Health estimates that 70% of people experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. These experiences can profoundly shape how individuals engage with the world, often in ways we may not immediately recognize.

This Saturday join A Conversation with Kate Hutchinson, M.S., where we’ll explore how trauma influences behaviors and responses—both in those we help and within ourselves. This engaging and insightful discussion will equip you with a deeper understanding of trauma and offer practical ways to interact with greater compassion and effectiveness.

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your ability to support others while gaining new insights for your own personal and professional growth.

Register today - we hope to see you there!

Click here to register.

This Weekend: CUI Choir Performing at Bay Area Congregations

The Concordia Choir is the flagship choral ensemble at Concordia University Irvine. The talented ensemble of over fifty voices is known for its expressive singing and innovative programming. They will be performing in concert at Our Savior Lutheran Ministries in Livermore on Saturday, February 22 and during services at Prince of Peace in Fremont on Sunday, February 23. Everyone is welcome!

Under the direction of Dr. Michael Busch, this outstanding choir will present a unique blend of music inspired by classical traditions and contemporary works. Much of their concert features compelling music composed within the last five years. Featured composers for their 2025 program include Bach, Beethoven, and Byrd, with Daugirdas, Hazzards, Kirchner, Forrest, and Bob Dylan.