Synod & Congregational Highlights | | Congratulations To The Rev. Dr. Chuck Witschorik & St. Mary & St. Martha SF | Congratulations to The Rev. Dr. Chuck Witschorik, who was Installed as The Associate Pastor of St. Mary & St. Martha Lutheran Church on August 15. May God bless your partnership! | Advent Lutheran Pilgrimage To Ghana and Awaso Academy International | |
Recently 5 youth and three adults from Advent Lutheran, Morgan Hill, spent 10 days on a Ghana pilgrimage. They spent most of the time connecting with students and leadership at Awaso Academy International (AAI) in Awaso, sharing leadership in Bible studies each morning and joining local activities in the afternoons: visiting the health clinic, local market, tribal elders and Queen Mother, dancers and drummers, and making fufu. Advent has had a 16-year-relationship with AAI, so it was joyful to be in-person together!
After leaving Awaso, they went to Kakum National Park, the Cape Coast and Elmina slave castles, and, in Accra, the Kwame Nkrumah Presidential Library, Independence Square, and the National Museum. They are grateful to God, their hosts and partners, and the generosity of their congregation.
Watch their reflection HERE!
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St. Mark’s Endowment Grant Applications
Due August 31
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Do you have an idea for growing a ministry or ministry partnership? The Endowment Committee of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in San Francisco is accepting applications for its 2026 grant application season until August 31.
Funding may be available for projects of organizations whose work expands and enhances the mission and ministries of St. Mark's and for projects of St. Mark's own ministries.
Please visit the Endowment Fund’s web page to learn more about the Fund, the application process, and its forms, or contact the Endowment Committee at endowment@stmarks-sf.org for more information.
| Christ Church Lutheran Endowment Grant Applications Due September 1 | |
Christ Church Lutheran Endowment is accepting grant applications for projects that connect and care for our communities in the spirit of Christ’s mission. Grants of $500–$3,000 are available, with innovative community engagement ideas especially encouraged.
Visit the Endowment webpage for full details and the application.
| | Upcoming ELCA/Synod Events | | August SAM/Lay Leader Community of Practice - August 26 | Synod Authorized Ministers and Lay Leaders are invited to join Megan Macpherson to discuss lay-led worship services on August 26 from 7-8 pm on Zoom. Register HERE! | Protect Voting Rights Zoom August 26 | Join the Synod Hunger Network to learn how to protect voting rights on August 26 at 7 pm on Zoom. Email Edit Lott at thelotts@gmail.com to register. | Online Lay Preaching Course Starts Sept 9 | |
Are you interested in preaching or want to grow more confident sharing the gospel? Join Pastor Ben Colahan and a cohort of lay preachers for an online course exploring what makes Lutheran preaching distinctly Lutheran.
Together, participants will explore Law and Gospel, grace, theology of the cross, connecting Scripture to context, sermon structure, and preaching for the ear—all while developing a sermon on Matthew 22:15–22 with support and feedback from facilitators and peers.
The group will meet on Wednesdays starting on September 9 from 7-8 pm on Zoom. Register HERE!
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SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat - Sept 11-13
- Registration Closes August 31!
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SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat will be held September 11–13, 2026 at the San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, CA.
Join Sierra Pacific Women of the ELCA for a special Taizé service and inspiring leadership from Rev. Sara Wilson, Rev. Sarah Street, Regina Banks, JD, and Rev. Katy Grindberg, Sunday worship presider.
The retreat is $185 and includes lodging (double occupancy), six meals, and all program events. Day-only registration options are also available.
Register HERE!
Registration closes August 31, 2026.
| Bishops' Convocation November 9-11 | All Rostered Leaders are invited to save the date for the 2026 Bishop's Convocation on November 9-11 at Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, CA. | | Upcoming Congregational Events | | |
See What Our Congregations Are Doing HERE
- SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat - September 11-13
- Anthony Suárez-Abraham’s Ordination & Installation - October 3
- Faith In Action at St. John's Sacramento - October 3
- How A Bible Mistranslation Shifted A Culture - October 10
| | Resources In & Outside The Synod | | |
Using Anti-Racist Devotionals In Congregations Webinar -
September 8 at 5 pm PT
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ELCA Racial Justice Ministries invites you to "Dismantle: Using the Devotional in Congregational Life" on September 8 at 5 pm PT. This series gives us the opportunity to explore existing resources for dismantling white supremacy and speak with community leaders who have used them!
Register today for this FREE web series HERE!
| Online Anti-Racism Training For Rostered and Lay Leaders Starts September 8 | Joe Davis and Dave Scherer (*AGAPE) are hosting an eight-week online experience that equips participants with practical tools to help catalyze racial justice in their congregations. Sessions will be held every Tuesday at 10 AM beginning September 8. To make the program accessible to everyone, a reduced registration rate of just $5 is available for those with limited financial resources. Learn more HERE! | |
Interrupting Harmful Patterns -
September 14 & 21 Online
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Join the Association of White Lutherans for Racial Justice and Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy on September 14 and 21 with Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy for the series, "Interrupting Harmful Patterns: White Supremacy Culture and Courageous Conversation in Congregational Life."
Register for September 14 HERE and September 21 HERE!
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Love Our Neighbors Cohort
Starts September 21
| How is God calling your congregation to connect more deeply with your neighbors? LEAD’s Love Our Neighbors Online Cohort equips congregational teams to practice holy listening, build meaningful neighborhood partnerships, and discover where the Holy Spirit may be leading next. The 4-week cohort begins September 21. Register HERE! | | |
Register for the Extravaganza
(Children/Youth Ministry Conference)
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Registration is now open for the 2027 Extravaganza! This four-day leadership training event brings together ELCA congregational leaders serving in children’s, youth, young adult, and outdoor ministries for learning, connection, inspiration, and renewal.
The Extravaganza will take place January 22–25, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Learn more and register HERE!
| Narrative Lectionary Online Study Group | | |
Do you use the Narrative Lectionary as your guide for weekly worship planning and preaching? A cadre of Mount Diablo Conference pastors (including some Narrative Lectionary ‘veterans’ and some ‘rookies’) are looking to develop an online “text study” to share questions, curiosities, and theological reflections on a weekly basis.
If you’re a preacher in the SPS and a user of the Narrative Lectionary (or if you’re just curious about the Narrative Lectionary), they would love to have you join them!
Contact Pastor Kelly Miller-Sanchez at pastorkelly@rldublin.org if you’d like more information or would like to join the conversation.
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Are you looking for something new? We have amazing congregations looking for someone like you! Check out our job posting page for open positions throughout our Synod.
If your congregation has a position posted that has been filled, please be sure to let our Synod Communications Coordinator know so we can keep the page updated.
| | Synod Staff & Conference Deans | | |
*** SPS STAFF ***
Bishop Jeff R. Johnson,
Sierra Pacific Synod
bishopjeff@spselca.org
Rev. Dr. Brandon Westengard
Assistant To The Bishop
For Administration
brandon@spselca.org
Megan Macpherson, M. Div., Assistant to the Bishop
megan@spselca.org
Rev. Dr. Charlane Lines,
Assistant to the Bishop
charlane@spselca.org
Rev. Amy Kienzle, Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM)
amy@spselca.org
Debbie Cook,
Finance Assistant Contractor
debbie@spselca.org
Logan Rimel,
Finance Assistant
logan@spselca.org
Rev. Courtney Geibert, Communications Coordinator
communications@spselca.org
Dr. Robert Pitts,
Disaster Preparedness & Response Community Organizer
robert@spselca.org
Jamie Stark,
Disaster Preparedness & Response Community Organizer
jamie@spselca.org
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*** CONFERENCE DEANS ***
Rev. Dr. Janet Blair, Redwood Mountain Conference 1
conference1@spselca.org
Rev. Jill Ross,
Bridges Conference 2
conference2@spselca.org
Rev. Christian Holleck
Capitol Valley Conference 3
conference3@spselca.org
Rev. Christian Schweter, Sierra Nevada Foothills Conference 4
conference4@spselca.org
Rev. Courtney Geibert,
S.F. Peninsula Conference 5
conference5@spselca.org
Rev. Cristina Beauchemin,
El Camino Real Conference 6
conference6@spselca.org
Rev. Jeremy Serrano,
Mt. Diablo Conference 7
conference7@spselca.org
Rev. Karen Johnson,
Sierra Central Valley Conference 8
conference8@spselca.org
Rev. Jodi Golden-Lund,
Central San Joaquin Conference 9
conference9@spselca.org
Rev. Anne Carlson
Retired Rostered Leaders
retired@spselca.org
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