Synod & Congregational Highlights | | |
Hope and Love in South Stockton -
Mt. Cross Day Camp at Iglesia Luterana
Santa María Peregrina
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Grace and peace be upon you all. At the new home of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in South Stockton (306 E. Clay Street Stockton, CA 95206), the staff of Mt. Cross, led by Seminarian Christa Wyneken García, brought hope and love to the children who attended the summer camp the week of July 6-10. Among these young campers, there were migrant children whose parents were taken into custody by ICE agents in a traffic stop.
The title of the Summer Camp was “Wear Love.” Christa, Jess, Tyler and Sofía, the Mt Cross staff, showed the participants the meaning of God’s love through games, Bible Studies, songs, prayers, arts and crafts and their kindness. We did not have many kids given the fact that many families are afraid of going out, because of the increase of ICE activity in the Lodi-Stockton area, but also because many are working hours that do not allow them to send their kids and be able to pick them up. Other families leave to other states looking for work and return in late August. Nevertheless, the collaboration between the Sierra Pacific Synod, Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina, Mt. Cross Outdoors Ministries and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church planted a seed of hope and love in one of the poorest ZIP codes in the state of California: 95206.
It is there in the margins that God awaits us all. Just like Christ was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem as a marginalized peasant Jew by the Roman Empire, we are called to meet Christ at the foot of the crosses experienced by other marginalized communities. We find Christ in the means of grace, but we also find him among his little ones, in the margins. The Love and Hope of God were experienced in one of the marginalized communities of the wealthiest state in the nation. The seed has been planted. Next year, I know more children will attend because the Word has been planted. Amen.
-The Rev. Nelson H. Rabell-González, M. Div., STM, and BSME
Pastor at Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina (Stockton,CA)
and Saron Lutheran Church (Escalon, CA)
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SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat
- Register NOW!
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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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Retired Rostered Leaders Gathering
- August 19
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All retired rostered leaders are invited to join Bishop Jeff for a gathering on Tuesday, August 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (1025 The Dalles Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087).
Please RSVP to Rev. Anne Carlson at pastor-anne@comcast.net if you plan to attend, and include any dietary accommodations you may need.
If you’re unable to attend but would be interested in gathering with retired colleagues closer to home, consider hosting a local gathering. Contact Pr. Anne for more information.
Also, be sure to save the date for the Bishop’s Convocation, November 9–11 at Bishop’s Ranch, where there will be a special gathering for retired rostered leaders.
| | Upcoming ELCA/Synod Events | | Info Session About Palestine 2027 Solidarity Trip - August 3 at 7 pm on Zoom | | |
Was your interest piqued when you heard about the Synod’s Holy Land Solidarity Trip in January 2027? Does the trip sound meaningful, but you’re wondering about safety? Have you always wanted to travel to the Holy Land, but worry about investing in a trip that might be canceled?
Join us for a conversation with Tony Abuaita, owner of Good Shepherd Travel, on Monday, August 3, at 7 pm, as he addresses these concerns and answers your questions as you consider signing up to join this tour.
The Zoom link is HERE!
| Rev. Dr. Chuck Witschorik's Installation as Associate Pastor at St. Mary & St. Martha - August 15 | |
You are warmly invited to the Installation of The Rev. Dr. Chuck Witschorik as Associate Pastor of St. Mary & St. Martha Lutheran Church.
The service will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at noon at St. Mary & St. Martha Lutheran Church, 1050 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Rostered leaders are invited to vest and process. The color of the day is red.
| 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. | 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
- Countering Christian Nationalism - July 26
- The Rev. Dr. Chuck Witschorik's Installation As Associate Pastor - August 15
- Retired Rostered Leaders Gathering - August 19
- SPS Women of the ELCA Retreat - September 11-13
- Anthony Suárez-Abraham’s Ordination & Installation - October 3
| | Resources In & Outside The Synod | | |
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.
| 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! | Church Community Space Available For Rent | | |
Now available for lease, the iconic Herzfeld Child Care Center in West Oakland offers a unique opportunity for organizations seeking a spacious and versatile facility. Constructed in the 1960s as a standalone building adjacent to the historic Bethlehem Lutheran Church, this well-established center features 4,959 square feet of available space. The property includes a garden, patio, large kitchen, three offices, two bathrooms, central heating, generous classroom and activity areas, and many additional amenities.
Whether you’re looking to open or expand a child care center, educational program, nonprofit, or community-serving organization, the Herzfeld Child Care Center offers a flexible space that meets your needs. To learn more or schedule a tour, please contact Bethlehem Lutheran Church at (510) 452-2245.
| | Fall Online Seminar with Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda: Building A Moral Economy | | Interested in exploring the intersection of faith, justice, and economics? Join Building Moral Economies with Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, an online audit-style seminar this fall that invites lay leaders, Synodically Authorized Ministers, and all who seek to build communities where all creation can flourish within moral economics. Learn more HERE! | | Fall Online Seminar with Dr. Adam Braun: Revelation in Critical Perspectives | | |
Want to learn more about Revelation (also known as John's Apocalypse)?Join Revelation in Critical Perspective with Dr. Adam Braun, an online audit-style seminar this fall that invites lay leaders, Synodically Authorized Ministers, and rostered leaders to explore the book of Revelation through historical, theological, and diverse contemporary perspectives.
Learn more HERE!
| | Reclaiming Jesus from Christian Nationalists Exploration Begins August 9 | | Saving Jesus is a 12-week Zoom series exploring who Jesus is for the 21st century. Sessions begin Sunday, August 9, at 4:00 pm. To register, email smstrouse@hey.com. | | |
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 Response Community Organizer
robert@spselca.org
Jamie Stark,
Disaster 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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