Synod & Congregational Highlights | | |
Have a Blessed and Happy Retirement,
The Rev. Evered Cohen!
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Congratulations to The Rev. Evered Cohen on his retirement from Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Francisco!
We give thanks for your faithful ministry and celebrate all the ways you have shared Christ’s love with your community. Well done, Pr. Evered! May God bless you abundantly as you rest, reflect, and discern what new callings and adventures the Spirit has in store for you next.
| The Rev. Kwame Pitts is Installed at the University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley! | |
We joyfully celebrate the installation of The Rev. Kwame Pitts as the new pastor of University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley!
May God bless Pastor Kwame and the people of University Lutheran Chapel as they begin this new chapter together!
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It’s Not Too Late to
Become a Monthly Mustard Seed Giver!
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Giving Tuesday was December 2 — but good news: it’s never too late to plant a seed that grows. Become a monthly Mustard Seed Giver with the Sierra Pacific Synod today! 🌱
Read Bishop Jeff's letter HERE!
| | Save The Date For Congregational Vitality Workshop - January 22-24 | | |
Join lay leaders, rostered ministers, and everyone in between for the ELCA Evangelism and Congregational Vitality Workshop, January 22–24, 2026, at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA!
Grow your skills, deepen your ministry toolbox, and equip yourself to ignite Christ’s light in others.
Registration will open soon!
For more information, email Anna-Kari.Johnson@elca.org.
| | Upcoming Congegational Events | | |
See What Our Congregations Are Doing HERE
This week’s highlights include:
- Christmas Benefit Concert in El Sobrante - December 5
- Grace Palo Alto Singalong - December 6
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - December 12
- Oakland Holiday Benefit Concert - December 12
- Sam R. LaDue's Ordination - December 13
- Blue Christmas Service in Napa - December 14
- Blue Christmas Service in Yreka/Online - December 20
- Christmas Carols in Alameda - December 22
| | Resources In & Outside The Synod | | Apply for Prince of Peace's Mission Endowment Fund by December 31 | |
The Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Mission Endowment Fund provides financial awards to individuals and organizations that have emphasis on extending the life and mission of the church, which would include but be not limited to:
- Mission outreach - local/national/international faith-based organizations that are meeting basic human needs
- Innovative new programs or ministries
All people are welcome to apply on behalf of an organization, endeavor, or project that furthers the mission and outreach goals of the congregation. Grants typically range from $1000-$5000.
For more details and to apply, please visit: https://www.propeace.org/endowment.html
Hurry! Applications close December 31, 2025
| Invite Global Refuge’s Pastor-in-Residence for Winter–Spring 2026 | |
The Rev. Eric C. Shafer serves as the volunteer Pastor in Residence for Global Refuge. As part of this ministry, he visits ELCA congregations in the Sierra Pacific Synod to share about the work of Global Refuge—ideally preaching in worship and leading an adult forum before or after the service.
Pr. Eric is now scheduling Sunday morning visits for 2026. If your congregation is interested in hosting him on any of the following Sundays — December 28; January 4, 11, 18, 25; February 1 & 8; or any Sunday in March — please contact him at ericcshafer@hotmail.com. He is able to visit congregations anywhere in the synod, though he does ask for some financial support to help cover travel expenses.
Global Refuge partners with congregations across the country to support refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers through welcome, resettlement, and long-term integration. Learn more at globalrefuge.org.
| | FREE Advent Series from The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land | |
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) has a new Advent series designed for churches or personal reflection. The series includes four devotionals written by clergy, lay leaders, and youth, a resource about Palestinian “biblical botany,” and a children’s Christmas book about Christmas in Palestine.
Download the FREE resource HERE!
| Sharing Advent With Those Outside Your Church with Fresh Expressions | | |
Looking for ways to share Advent with folks who may never step inside your church? Fresh Expressions has created helpful videos full of creative, accessible ideas. Take a look and get inspired!
Advent Video & Inviting New People This Season
| | Become A Welcoming Congregation with AMMPARO | |
We invite congregations to join the AMMPARO network by becoming a Welcoming Congregation—a ministry committed to accompanying, supporting, praying for, and standing alongside migrant children and families in our communities. Welcoming Congregations are also eligible for grants to help strengthen this important work.
More information is available in English HERE and Spanish HERE.
| | Check Out the ELCA's Church Property Resource Hub & Register for Emergency Property Resources Zoom Webinar | |
The Church Property Resource Hub is being developed in response to requests from synod and local church leaders for tools and guidance to navigate the challenges and opportunities that buildings and land present—for both congregational vitality and the wider mission of the Church.
When congregations face unexpected emergencies, the Intervention Fund is here to help. This fund provides support for unanticipated, urgent expenses that arise from circumstances beyond a congregation’s control.
Join the ELCA for a Zoom Webinar on Tuesday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m. PT to learn more about the Hub and how the Intervention Fund can assist your ministry.
Visit the Church Property Resource Hub HERE
& Register for the Zoom Meeting HERE
| | Lutheran Summer Music Advent Musical Meditations | | |
Experience the fifth annual Musical Advent Calendar from Lutheran Summer Music, November 30–December 24—daily musical meditations to inspire reflection throughout the Advent season. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, with all videos archived at LSMacademy.org/acal.
Sign up to receive each day’s video directly to your inbox by completing this form 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. Brandon Peck,
Administrative Director
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
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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. Dr. Gabriele Schroeder,
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
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