Synod & Congregational Highlights | | |
Synod Budget Hearings -
September 16/17 on Zoom
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Join the synod on Zoom for one of the upcoming budget hearings.
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Wednesday, September 16 at 2 pm OR
- Thursday, September 17 at 7 pm
These hearings are open to all. You do not need to register for them. You’ll have the opportunity to hear directly from the Synod Treasurer, ask questions, and engage in conversation about the proposed 2027–28 budget.
| | Anthony Suárez-Abraham's Ordination/Installation at Advent Lutheran Morgan Hill on October 3 | |
With praise and thanksgiving to God, the people of the Sierra Pacific Synod are invited to the ordination of Anthony Suárez-Abraham to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and his installation as Associate Pastor of Advent Lutheran Church.
The service will take place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2 pm, at Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Avenue, Morgan Hill. A musical prelude will begin at 1:30 p.m. The celebration coincides with the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi's Transitus.
Rostered ministers and ecumenical clergy are invited to vest and process; the color of the day is red. A reception will follow the service. Kindly RSVP HERE by August 31.
| | Sierra Pacific Synod Delegation to Rwanda | | |
Bishop Jeff Johnson, Pastor Sara Wilson, Pastor Gabriele Schroeder, and Sue Hertless will be traveling to Rwanda to attend the consecration and installation of the Rev. Prince Atupenda Kalisa as Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Rwanda.
They will bring quilts lovingly made by Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pleasant Hill, as well as a crosier made especially for the new bishop by Pastor Christian from El Salvador.
Please hold Bishop Kalisa in prayer as he begins this new chapter of ministry and leadership and pray for our Accompaniment Delegation as they travel, build relationships, and accompany our siblings in Christ in Rwanda.
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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 | | 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.
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InGathering in October -
Drop off LWR Quilts/Kits
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Attention all quilters and kit-makers! It’s time for our annual Ingathering, where you can drop off your amazing creations to help those in need.
Bethel Lutheran Church
10181 Finch Ave, Cupertino, CA
October 8-10
10 AM - 2 PM
Contact: Joann Weberg, 408-348-4168
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church (LCMS)
3785 Placer Corporate Dr., Rocklin, CA 95765
October 16-17
10 AM - 2 PM
Contact: Sharon Junge 530-613-4178
Don’t miss this chance to make a difference! To learn more about Lutheran World Relief and getting started on assembling your kits, visit here.
| 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. Registration will open September 3. We will email rostered leaders next week. | | 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
- InGathering - October 10-12 in Cupertino & October 16-17 in Rocklin
| | 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.
| Apply For An ELCA Digital Ministry Grant! | ELCA's Digital Ministry Grant is open to any ELCA congregation, synod, or related organization (campus/outdoor ministry) with an idea for a project related to digital ministry. A Digital Ministry Grant is a one-time award ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. Learn more HERE! | Executive Skills For Church Leaders Jaunary 2027 - Registration Opens Soon! | |
Join Thriving Leadership Formation, January 4 to 8, 2027, in Carefree, Arizona, for a transformative, week-long continuing education event designed for pastors, deacons, and church leaders. Registration will open soon.
Learn more HERE!
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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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