Online Synod Assembly (A-Zoom-bly)

REGISTRATION CLOSES JUNE 10TH!

Voting members ONLY must register for the online Synod Assembly that will take place Saturday, June 20 from 12:00-3:00 PM (Pacific) / 9:00 AM-12:00 PM (Hawai'i). Prepayment of your congregational assembly registration fee invoice did NOT register your voting members. Registration of voting members for the online assembly closes on June 10 so register here.

The A-Zoom-bly is to be attended by voting members ONLY, each registered with their own unique email address. Registration for the online assembly is separate from the Regional Gatherings that were held earlier in April and May.

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If you have any questions about fee payment or registration, please contact Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.

Synod Budget Hearing

May 30

Assembly voting members and all interested in learning more about the synod budget and other financial matters are invited to be with us online on Saturday, May 30 from 11:00 AM to noon Pacific/8:00-9:00 AM Hawaii. We'll review the proposed budget for 2027-2028 that will be voted on during our upcoming Synod Assembly on June 20. It's a great time to ask questions and learn more about how the synod uses the gifts generously shared with us.

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If you are interested in attending this online event, please email Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org to receive the Zoom link. The proposed budget will be available along with other financial reports in the pre-Assembly notebook of reports that will be emailed to all registered voting members and posted on our Assembly web page on or around May 22.

Bishop Dave's Statement on

the Shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego

(Monday, May 18, 2026) The Muslim community of San Diego was attacked today. Here is what we know now. Two shooters killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego before killing themselves. The quick actions of the local police department helped ensure the safety of many people, including the children at the school located in the former Atonement Lutheran Church buildings.

The community of the Islamic Center has hosted interfaith events many times. They are always gracious hosts who demonstrate the best of our spiritual traditions. People from other faiths know their hospitality and recognize the loving spirit of this holy place.

We pray for the families of those killed today. We pray for the Muslim community of San Diego and their spiritual leader, Imam Taha Hassane. We pray for an end to gun violence, and we pray for a new day to dawn when we truly see one another as siblings of the Divine whose lives and practices are sacred.

Presiding Bishop Curry's Statement on

the Shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego

(Thursday, May 21, 2026) Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ. We grieve with heavy hearts following the deadly attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego earlier this week. In a place devoted to prayer and community, three lives were taken in an act of violence that authorities are investigating as a hate crime.

We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives, with the Muslim community in San Diego and with all who carry fear and sorrow in the wake of this tragedy. We give thanks for those whose courageous actions helped protect others — bearing witness, even in crisis, to the God-given dignity of every human life.

As the ELCA, we must speak plainly: violence rooted in hatred is sin. We condemn Islamophobia and acknowledge its rise in recent years. Our church affirms that “anti-Muslim hatred is antithetical to our Christian faith” (A Declaration of the ELCA to the Muslim Community), for we are called to love our neighbor in ways that cast out fear (1 John 4:18).

This violence does not stand alone. It grows in a climate where fear, dehumanization and anti-Muslim rhetoric take hold. As people of faith, we are called to interrupt that pattern — to speak, to show up and to stand with those who are targeted.

We must also name the ongoing crisis of gun violence in our nation. Our church has long taught that society shares responsibility for protecting life and promoting the common good (The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective, 1991). We have urged stronger measures to prevent gun-related violence and death (“Gun-related Violence and Trauma,” 2024). This tragedy is yet another reminder that we cannot look away.

Our calling as the church requires more than naming what is wrong — we must move forward. Our church has committed itself to relationship, solidarity and shared life with our neighbors. We are called:

• To stand in visible solidarity with our Muslim neighbors.

• To build real relationships that deepen understanding and trust.

• To speak out whenever hatred or fear is given voice.

• To examine our own words and actions and to seek reconciliation where harm has been done.

Our Lutheran faith teaches us not only to refrain from harming our neighbor but also to defend them — to speak well of them and to stand with them when they are under threat. This is that moment.

To our Muslim neighbors: we affirm our love and respect for you. We stand with you — not only in grief but also in the ongoing work of building communities where all people can live and worship in safety.

I ask the people of this church to respond with courage:

• Connect with neighbors in solidarity and presence.

• Speak out against anti-Muslim hatred.

• Build relationships that reflect the love of Christ.

• Advocate by calling on public officials to publicly condemn the attack and to support a thorough investigation.

In this moment, we return to a truth we have proclaimed before: Hate will not divide us. 

We are people of resurrection hope. Even now, God is calling us — beyond fear, beyond division — toward a future shaped by justice, compassion and peace.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he beckons us: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Hate will not have the final word, and we will not grow weary in speaking out against it.

In Christ,

The Rev. Yehiel Curry

Presiding Bishop

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Candidacy and Discernment Retreat

August 28-29

• Curious where God may be calling you?
• Feeling pulled towards Rostered Ministry?
• Want to learn more about become a Deacon or Pastor in the ELCA?
• Already in the Candidacy process and looking for dedicated time and conversation with other candidates?

Consider joining Pastor Cate Luehr, Candidacy Coordinator for the Pacifica Synod and other leaders for an overnight retreat at Luther Glen Retreat Center where we will explore some details about the Candidacy process as well as taking time to engage the Holy Spirit in discernment.

If this sounds like you, feel free to get more info and/or register right here.

Theoasis 2026: Save the Date(s)

October 13-15, 2026

What does it mean to take "Time to Breathe"? We'll dig into that concept and more at this year's Theoasis event, once more at the Embassy Suites in La Quinta. Block out October 13-15, 2026 and stay tuned as more about this refreshing annual event is revealed in the coming weeks.

Join Us at Border Church

Sundays at 1:30

We invite you to join us at Border Church for worship, learning, and a message of hope. Border Church is where faith inspires action—we are committed to serving our community on both sides of the border and advocating for justice.

All are welcome! Come as you are, and join us for a transformative experience. See you on Sundays at 1:30 PM at Whiskey 8! (Click here for the exact location.)

If you're a group that plans to attend, we have a few requests:

Communion Elements: Please bring wine or grape juice, and bread or wafers, from your congregation.

Offering: Your financial support helps cover the cost of the lunch we serve in Tijuana. An offering of $200 covers half the cost, and $400 covers the entire meal. This warm lunch is provided to 50–100 individuals and families, and for some, it is the only hot meal they will have all week.



Sign up in advance to confirm your attendance or text Pastor Manuel Retamoza at 619-916-9673 on the morning of the event or earlier.

AMMPARO:

Continuing to Support Immigrants in 2026

Many of you joined AMMPARO for the recent faith walk in Barrio Logan with the San Diego Organizing Project. Through this partnership, we also learn how to accompany immigrants and asylum seekers at court hearings, detention centers, and federal offices. We stand with our immigrant community!

If you’re curious about getting involved, join our monthly meeting on the 2nd Saturday at 10 am on Zoom. Our next meeting will be Saturday, June 13th. Use this link to join the meeting. Current opportunities include court accompaniment, helping families with basic needs, and attending Border Church—a weekly binational worship service at 1:30 pm on Sundays near the border.

Whether you want to donate supplies or show up in person, there’s a place for you. We’ll help you find your voice and live out the call of Jesus: “I was a foreigner and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25)

LRCC Now Hiring Summer Staff

It’s that time of year where Luther Glen Farm and El Camino Pines are looking for and calling out to the future counselors of Summer 2026! Right now we know they’re out there volunteering in their communities, studying for their tests, helping out a friend, or, like a true hero, doing the dishes. Working at camp gives young adults hands-on experience with developing their leadership skills, teaching children, and being stewards for God’s creation. 

Camp grows great leaders. Leaders that care, ask questions, and aren’t afraid to put themselves out there, even if it means being silly or making a mistake. When young adults work at camp, they gain the confidence to grow into a strong leader and more importantly, to see themselves as a strong leader. It could be anything from leading games, making friendship bracelets with campers, sharing their faith, singing silly songs and performing skits, or guiding campers through hikes and low ropes. Or of course, basking in the glorious chaos of the dish room. It's more fulfilling than you'd think.

Applications for Counseling Staff, Support Staff, Staff in Training, and internship positions are open! We are excited to provide a sanctuary in time and space for our counselors to be away from the noise, distractions, and screens that distance us from nature, God, and each other. If you know or are a young adult that is interested in working at camp, we encourage all to apply to see how our talents, gifts, and passions can become a superpower! Go here to see the available roles and to apply!

Global Refuge Seeks Ambassadors

Global Refuge invites laypeople and clergy in the Pacifica Synod to apply to be a Global Refuge Ambassador. The Global Refuge Ambassador Network is a nationwide community made up of passionate advocates, volunteers, and leaders from all walks of life. They are all united by their passion and commitment to stand in solidarity with Global Refuge and the newcomers we serve. Ambassadors are volunteers with Global Refuge who meet with our staff on a quarterly basis virtually, to talk with one another about their action items and give each other ideas. 

With active support and training from Global Refuge staff, Ambassadors carry out a wide variety of work on the ground in their communities. Interested? Get more information from this PDF or apply here by July 1st.

Living Lutheran Wants to Know:

How Are You Showing Hospitality During the World Cup?

Living Lutheran would like to hear from our members and congregations about their plans to show hospitality to visitors to their areas for the World Cup this summer. Is this you? Email Public Relations Manager Candice Hill Buchbinder at candice.buchbinder@elca.org and let her know what you're up to. Be sure to use the subject line "World Cup".

Indian Boarding Schools: ELCA Truth-Seeking and Truth-Telling Initiative Invites You to Join the Work

The Truth-Seeking and Truth-Telling Initiative is leading a coordinated effort to research Lutheran involvement in Indian boarding and day schools dating back to the 1820s. We are seeking both clergy and lay volunteers who want to be part of this initiative. All are welcome, including those with skills in research, data collection, organizing, education, and leadership. The goals are to find and gather information in order to share it with impacted Indigenous individuals, families, and communities; for our church members to know our history of church-sponsored Indian boarding schools and their devastating impacts on Native communities; all as part of an ongoing truth and healing process.

We started in 2022 with 15 synods across four states. In May 2023, we expanded to 27 synods across ten states. We are now expanding to all synods across all states. We welcome you!

To learn more and to get involved, visit this link.

Open House and Jazz Concert

Faith Lutheran (Anaheim, CA)

May 22

Faith Lutheran in Anaheim has undergone extensive renovations over the last few years, which are finally nearing completion. To celebrate, we are hosting a public Open House on Friday, May 22, at 6:00 PM, followed by a concert at 7:00 PM. The concert will feature the legendary jazz pianist George Gables performing a rare big band set with the Mina Choi Orchestra. For more information on the concert and for tickets, visit this link.

Free Webinar: How to Love Someone in Recovery

May 27

Join the Center of Addiction & Faith for a one-hour free webinar titled “How to Love Someone in Recovery” with Author Caroline Beidler hosted by the Center of Addiction & Faith. Caroline Beidler, MSW, will chair a discussion seeking to answer the question: "How do we practically love someone in or seeking addiction recovery?" Caroline is an author, speaker, and managing editor of Recovery.com where she combines research and expert insight on addiction and mental health. Caroline will also share her thoughts from her latest book, "When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide to Understanding Addiction." Register at this link.

"Up Close and Classical"

Danish Lutheran Church & Cultural Center (Yorba Linda)

May 31

The Danish Lutheran Church and Cultural Center in Yorba Linda will be hosting "Up Close and Classical" for a presentation of a string quartet performances, including the North American premiere of Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz's 1946 "Theme & Variations for String Quartet." The performance will be at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Admission is free though donations are appreciated. For more information, visit the Up Close and Classical website.

Western States Youth Gathering

June 28-July 1

Summer will be here before we know it, and registration is now open for this summer's Western States Youth Gathering, which will be held on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. This gathering, being held a year before 2027's ELCA Youth Gathering, provides a wonderful opportunity to prepare your young people for the overall Gathering experience, becoming one step on the movement of their faith formation. Get more info or register at westernstatesyg.org.

Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts

St. Olaf Collage (Northfield, MN)

July 20-22

The 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) is a high-quality, affordable conference, full of practical ideas that you can adapt to your own setting, along with meaningful worship experiences — for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners. It will be held July 20-22, 2026, on the campus of St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN.

CWTA attracts participants from many different roles, including experienced and first-call Pastors, Deacons, and other church professional leaders; Lay people including lay leaders; Church workers – volunteer and paid; Children youth and family ministers/leaders; Artists; Church musicians; Christian education professionals; Outdoor ministry professionals; Seminarians; Others interested in deepening theological understandings and spiritual practices; and Members of congregations that are reimagining their vocation. We’ll provide opportunities for you to find those people at the conference so you can connect and share experiences.

Interested? More information and registration are available at the conference website.

Office and Campus Administrator

Calvary Lutheran, Solana Beach

The Church Office and Campus Administrator is the voice and face of Calvary to our community, guests, volunteers, and members and presents a welcoming and friendly presence to all. The Administrator helps coordinate the use of campus resources for both the congregation and external organizations. The Administrator supports communication with the congregation through regular communications such as a weekly e-newsletter and the Sunday service bulletin. Communication with community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, neighbor churches and business are also regular activities that support our mission to be welcoming to all. A successful administrator has excellent administrative skills, is organized but flexible, is a capable receptionist and secretary, and supports the mission and ministry of our congregation. For a more detailed job description and application information, view this PDF.

Associate Director of Youth and Family Ministries

St. John's Lutheran, Sacramento

St. John's Lutheran in Sacramento seeks an Associate Director of Youth and Family Ministries. This role works with staff and leaders of the congregation to design, implement, and facilitate a comprehensive program of Christian faith formation from infancy into young adulthood. The program will integrate all related ministries currently undertaken at St. John’s and coordinate the work of leaders of those ministries. A more full job description can be found here. Interested candidates may send resumes and contact information to interim Senior Pastor Paul Baglyos at paul.baglyos@stjohnslc.org.

With One Voice Hymnals Available (Free!)

Hope Lutheran, Fresno

Hope Lutheran Church in Fresno has With One Voice (WOV) hymnals available for any congregation that could use them. They have approximately 130 pew editions, 2 large-print editions, and 1 leader edition looking for a new loving home. If your congregation is interested, please contact Jason Hoff at jason@hopelutheranfresno.org.

Free Choir Robes

St. Peter's By the Sea has found an additional stash of choir robes so they now have 24 robes that need a new home--so they're giving them away! The robes are in good condition and they are willing to ship them wherever they might need to go, so if you could put these robes to good use or you'd just like to know more about them or see photos of the complete set, please contact Betty Wells at bettysheawells@gmail.com or by phone at 619-347-1148.

Executive Director

Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Carefree, AZ

Spirit in the Desert (SITD) Retreat Center, located in the scenic Sonoran Desert at Carefree, Arizona, is a Lutheran-rooted ministry welcoming people of all backgrounds to a place of peace, renewal, healing, and spiritual growth. The Center is seeking a new Executive Director to lead its mission, staff, operations, financial health, donor relations, and community partnerships into a new era of expanded ministry. For complete position information and application instructions, view this PDF.