Sierra Pacific Synod News & Events

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On the first Saturday of each month, Hope Lutheran Church in El Sobrante, CA serves meals at the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program. GRIP serves 15,000 individuals annually, and is supported by a "multi-cultural, multi-ethnic coalition of congregations" in the area.

On the first Saturday of each month, Grace Lutheran Church in Palo Alto, CA collects food and supplies to be donated to their local food pantry. Blessings on these local partnerships!

The Sierra Pacific Synod delegation in Egypt concludes their trip this week! Our synodical delegation met with and learned from the St. Andrew's Refugee Services this past week, a vibrant, refugee-led ministry of the ELCA Global Missions. If you're interested in the 2024 delegation to Egypt, contact Rev. Bekah Davis at rebekah.e.davis@gmail.com.

Last week, the Conference of Bishops gathered in Chicago, IL to discern, worship, collaborate and learn together. The Region 1 and 2 Bishops began the week together with a dinner! From left to right around the circle, we have Bishop Claire Burkat, Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar, Bishop Deborah Hutterer, Bishop Kristen Kuempel, Bishop Shelley Wickstrom, Bishop Jim Gonia, Bishop Richard Jaech, Bishop Laurie Jungling, Bishop Dave Nagler, Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee, and Bishop Brenda Bos.

Send your ministry pictures to catherine@spselca.org or (650) 302-0364 be featured in the Synod Newsletter!

Upcoming Synod-Wide Events

The Farm Bill: with with David Gist, Senior Regional Organizer of Bread for the World

TONIGHT at 7:30pm via Zoom

Join the Sierra Pacific Synod Hunger Network to explore the importance of "The Farm Bill" TONIGHT at 7:30pm via zoom. Senior Regional Organizer for Bread for the World David Gist will lead this discussion. This is the year we take significant strides toward ending hunger. How? By creating healthy food systems here in the United States.

This year we’re waging arguably our most important campaign in 15 years to improve all these areas through major reform to the Farm Bill. Can you lend your voice to the campaign? Email thelotts@gmail.com with your name, city and congregation to register and receive the zoom link.

Children, Youth and Family

Ministry Zoom Meeting

Tuesday, March 7th at 7:00pm via Zoom

Join us for the second gathering of people in our synod who are a part of their Children, Youth and Family ministry programs! This meeting will provide an opportunity for folks to introduce themselves, share ideas about children and youth ministry throughout the synod, ask questions about the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering, WSYG, and SPSYC Retreats, connect with leaders in your area, and so much more.

This meeting is open to any staff member, volunteer or individual who supports Children, Youth and Family Ministry in their congregation! Join us on zoom below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83128790883?pwd=V1JkMkFLMm05RTNGbm5OMzd1VUtpUT09

Meeting ID: 831 2879 0883

Passcode: 140668

The Rev. Kristofer Rhude

Installation Service

Sunday, March 19th at 2:00pm

at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in San Jose, CA

All are invited to join Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in San Jose for the Installation of their new Pastor, the Rev. Kristofer Rhude! The service will be held on Sunday, March 19th at 2:00pm, and all Rostered Ministers are invited to process - the color of the day is purple. Christ the Good Shepherd is located at 1550 Meridian Ave in San Jose. Blessings on a celebratory day ahead!

Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) Info Session

Sunday, March 19th at 7:00pm via Zoom

Do you have high school aged youth who are looking for leadership development opportunities in the coming year? The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) might be the place for you! SPSYC is a youth-led, adult-assisted ministry of the Synod where youth plan and lead retreats for Elementary, Middle, and fellow High School aged youth. SPSYCers learn valuable leadership skills, collaborate and connect with youth from across the synod, and develop their faith alongside their friends.

This spring, SPSYC will hold their once-a-year election, where youth in grades 9-11 are invited to run for a one-year position on the committee. To share more about the committee, current SPSYCers will be hosting an info session for interested high schoolers. They’ll share their experience serving, answer questions, and share more about how you can run for a position. You can learn more about SPSYC here.

Join us on March 19th here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89954802512?pwd=VS95T2h2dXB1RXc0bFZ6M3p3NnY0UT09

Meeting ID: 899 5480 2512

Passcode: 523108

Chrism Mass Services

March 2023 throughout the synod

Rostered and lay leaders are invited to join Bishop Claire Burkat and the Conference Deans for this year's Chrism Mass Services. There will be 5 services offered at various locations throughout the synod, all services will follow the same liturgy.

Tuesday, March 21 | 12:00pm Lunch, 1:00pm Service | at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Reno - 357 Clay St, Reno, NV.

Wednesday, March 22 | 12:00pm Lunch, 1:00pm Service | at Ascension Lutheran Church, Citrus Heights - 7607 Garden Gate Dr, Citrus Heights, CA.

Thursday, March 23 | 11:00am Service, 12:00pm Lunch | at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fresno - 3973 N Cedar Ave, Fresno, CA.

Wednesday, March 29 | 12:00pm Lunch, 1:00pm Service | at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, San Francisco - 1111 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA.

Thursday, March 30 | 9:30am Coffee Hour, 10:30am Service | at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont - 38801 Blacow Rd, Fremont, CA.

Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) High School Retreat: New Date!

April 21-23, 2023 at Mt. Cross Ministries

Due to extreme weather and power outages, the February SPSYC High School Retreat has been rescheduled to April 21-23, 2023. We’re excited to announce that registration for the High School Retreat has reopened!

This year’s SPSYC Retreat will gather around the theme “God’s Love: Inside Out”, with the centering scripture of 1 John 4:19. Guest Speaker Regina Banks, Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California, will be with us over the weekend.

Also at this retreat, eligible high school students will have the opportunity to join and serve on the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee! Learn more about serving on SPSYC here.

If you’d like to attend this year’s High School Retreat, you can register here.

Updates and Resources from ELCA Churchwide & Beyond

Memorial Service for Rev. Dr. Walter Stuhr

Saturday, March 11th at 3:00pm

at University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, CA and on Zoom

"A memorial service for the Rev. Dr. Walter Stuhr will be held on Saturday, March 11th at 3:00pm at the University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley, CA. A reception will follow in the parish hall afterward. The service will also be streamed online, see Zoom information below. You are invited to attend in whatever way is most accessible to you, and we hope that you will join us."

University Lutheran Chapel of Berkeley

2425 College Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704

Click here for the Zoom link

Meeting ID: 868 1944 9805

Passcode: 319759

PLTS 2023 Luther Lecture

Wednesday, March 22nd at 10:00am

In-Person & Online

This spring's Luther Lecture at PLTS will be delivered by St. Olaf's Dr. Anthony Bateza, titled, "The Precarious Power of a Strongly Worded Letter: Political Correspondence, Lutheran Theology, and Civic Participation."

"In the face of social challenges and mounting injustices, we are sometimes encouraged to write a letter. Whether this is an opinion piece for a local newspaper or a policy recommendation for our local representative, the assumption is that putting words on a page will contribute to making the world a better place. In this talk Dr. Bateza will examine some of the presumptions behind this advice and our practices, connecting contemporary challenges we face with Martin Luther's own use of political correspondence."

Learn more and register to attend in-person of online here.

Connect with Synod Staff & Your Conference Dean

Bishop Claire S. Burkat

Interim Bishop, Sierra Pacific Synod

bishop@spselca.org

Deacon JJ Godwin

Director of Operations

jj@spselca.org

Debbie Cook

Finance Assistant Contractor

debbie@spselca.org

Rev. Manda Truchinski