Marin Lutheran Church in Corte Madera, CA celebrated 75 years of ministry this past Sunday! Pastors from around the synod who have served the congregation gathered for a celebratory worship service and reception. Blessings on the next 75 years, Marin Lutheran! | |
All Saints Lutheran Church in Novato, CA celebrated Earth Day last Sunday with these fabulous matching shirts! How is your congregation caring for creation this spring? | |
Last Sunday, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Reno, NV held a "Raise the Flag" ceremony! "Good Shepherd friends gathered on Sunday, April 23 to raise the Pride flag again after it had been torn down and an ugly, hateful message was left back in January. We raise and fly the Pride flag because we understand it to be a declaration of the breadth and depth of the love of God which we know in Jesus. We’re flying it because LGBTQ+ people have been made to feel unwelcome or unloved in our society and in the Church. Because of that, we need to particularly declare that the love of God is extended to LGBTQ+ folks and that Good Shepherd intends to be a welcome place." | |
We join the Northwest Intermountain Synod in celebrating the election of the Rev. Dr. Meggan Manlove as Bishop! Rev. Dr. Manlove will officially assume the duties of Bishop in July 2023. Blessings to the Northwest Intermountain Synod in this new season of ministry, and a special thank you to Bishop Kuempel for her faithful years of service. | |
Send your ministry pictures to [email protected] or (650) 302-0364 be featured in the Synod Newsletter! | |
April Synod Council Meeting Recap | |
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On April 15, 2023, the Sierra Pacific Synod Council gathered on zoom for a meeting. At this meeting, the Synod Council:
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Passed a Continuing Resolution to the Synod Constitution - read more here
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Crafted and approved an apology letter to be given to the Rev. Nelson Rabell-Gonzalez. On Saturday, April 22, Vice President Simon hand-delivered the apology letter to Rev. Nelson and his family. We ask that you please hold Rev. Nelson, his family, and the Synod Council in your prayers. The apology letter can be read in English here and in Spanish here.
The Synod Council will continue to act on the recommendations given by the Investigation Team at the March Council meeting in the following months.
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2023 Rostered Ministers Retreat: Registration OPEN! | |
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Let the Healing Begin:
Reconnecting & Recreating
Sierra Pacific Synod
Rostered Ministers Retreat
All Rostered Ministers of the Sierra Pacific Synod are invited to the 2023 Rostered Ministers Retreat - Let the Healing Begin: Reconnecting & Recreating. This year’s Retreat will take place Tuesday, May 30 - Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Sacramento, CA.
With over 35 Rostered Ministers already registered to attend, we hope to see you there!
Registration for this year’s Rostered Ministers Retreat is open! Click here for more details and to register. Registration will close on Friday, May 12th.
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Spring Conference Gatherings: May & June | |
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Spring Conference Gatherings
May and June throughout the Synod
Spring Conference Gatherings begin this weekend! The Bishop’s Election Committee and Conference Deans will host our Spring Conference Gatherings at various locations throughout the synod this May and June. These Conference Gatherings will have two key focuses: discernment of our upcoming Bishop’s Election, and a Conference Assembly for business items. ALL are invited to attend and participate in these gatherings!
Learn more about when your Conference Gathering will be held here.
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Bishop Reports: Still Time to Submit! | |
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Each year, all Rostered Ministers in our synod submit a Report to the Bishop that provides updated contact information, reflections on your ministry in the previous year, and space to voice concerns, questions, or wonders confidentially with your Bishop. All Rostered Ministers serving under call, retired, on disability, and on leave from call must submit a report.
If you have not submitted your Report to the Bishop, we ask that you please do so ASAP! As Bishop Claire is new to our synod, we encourage you to provide robust details in your report this year. These reports will also serve as a vital way to introduce yourself to the next Bishop elected in September of 2023.
Additional information, a copy of all forms, and instructions for submission can be found here.
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Upcoming Synod-Wide Events | |
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ELCA Youth Gathering Zoom Info Session
Thursday, May 4th at 12:00pm & Monday, May 8th at 7:00pm via Zoom
Are you planning to bring a group to the ELCA Youth Gathering next summer in New Orleans? Our Synod Gathering Champion, Lisa Herlocker, is hosting two zoom info sessions this May to share information and updates about the 2024 Gathering!
Zoom info sessions will be held on Thursday, May 4th at 12:00pm and Monday, May 8th at 7:00pm via zoom. RSVP to Lisa Herlocker at [email protected] for the zoom link!
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Ordination and Installation Service of Charbel Zgheib
Saturday, May 6th at 4:00pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Sacramento, CA
All are invited to the Ordination and Installation Service of Charbel Zgheib on Saturday, May 6th at 4:00pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Sacramento, CA. All Pastors and Deacons are invited to process - the color of the day is red! A reception to celebrate Charbel will follow the service.
You can get to know Charbel Zgheib in this recent Living Lutheran article, found here.
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Ordination of Clare McElaney
Sunday, May 7th at 3:00pm at University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, CA
All are invited to the Ordination Service of Clare McElaney on Sunday, May 7th at 3:00pm. The service will be held at University Lutheran Chapel, 2425 College Ave, Berkeley, CA, and available online via zoom. All Pastors and Deacons are invited to process - the color of the day is red or rainbow! A reception to celebrate Clare will follow the service. Please RSVP for either in-person or online attendance by May 1st to [email protected].
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Installation of Rev. Jose Luis La Torre Cuadros
Sunday, May 7th at 4:30pm at First Lutheran Church in Orland, CA
The Rev. Jose Luis La Torre Cuadros will be Installed as Pastor of First Lutheran Church in Orland, CA this coming Sunday, May 7th at 4:30pm. All are invited to attend the service as First Lutheran officially welcomes Rev. Jose as their Pastor! A reception will follow the service.
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Children, Youth and Family Ministry Zoom Meeting
Tuesday, May 9th at 7:00pm via Zoom
Save-the-date for our upcoming spring Children, Youth and Family Ministry meeting! This meeting will provide an opportunity for folks to connect with others who work with young people in their church, share ideas about children and youth ministry throughout the synod, ask questions about the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering, WSYG, SPSYC Retreats 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 via zoom, through the link below.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84143507794?pwd=WGJjbmlJNHorS2pGRURHNGhtVUE3dz09
Meeting ID: 841 4350 7794
Passcode: 600995
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Three Ways a Small Church can be an Effective Church Webinar
Saturday, May 13th from 9:00-11:00am
via Zoom
The Sierra Nevada Foothill Conference 4 is hosting a free webinar, led by Karl Vaters, titled "Three Ways a Small Church can be an Effective Church". The webinar will be held on Saturday, May 13th from 9:00-11:00am and all who are interested in enhancing and celebrating small church ministries is invited to attend.
To RSVP, please email Conference 4 Dean Charlane Lines at [email protected].
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Lutheran Lobby Day
Wednesday, May 17th at 8:30am
St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA
Lutheran Lobby Day is just around the corner, are you registered to attend? Happening on Wednesday, May 17th from 8:30am - 3:30pm at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento, Lutheran Lobby Day is an opportunity to learn about important legislature and meet with district legislators. There will be workshops, guest speakers, and so much more!
Be sure to register to attend by Tuesday, May 9th here.
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Sierra Pacific WELCA Trip to El Salvador
Members from the Sierra Pacific Women of the ELCA (WELCA) group will be traveling to El Salvador this May to visit the Salvadoran Lutheran Church - and they'd love for you to join! The trip will take place May 13-20, 2023 and cost $1,750/person - which includes airfare, lodging, meals, ground transportation, and translators. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with our Sister Synod of El Salvador!
Check out the full informational flyer here.
If you're interested, please fill out this form.
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Updates and Resources from ELCA Churchwide & Beyond | |
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LSS of Nor Cal Grand Opening & Art Show
Thursday, May 4th from 12:00-6:00pm
at 2450 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA
Lutheran Social Services of Northern California is hosting an Art Show and Grand Opening of their new Sacramento regional office this Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 12:00 - 6:00pm, and you're invited to attend! Held in conjunction with Big Day of Giving, the event features the artistic talent of formerly homeless persons who, with LSS programming, have the opportunity to express themselves, their experiences, hopes and dreams through artistic mediums. The exhibit includes oil paintings, watercolors, sculptures, mixed media, photography and more. All art is for sale.
This Big Day of Giving celebration will also feature Sacramento comedians, refreshments and a raffle. Raffle prizes include a Vivitar telescope and wine basket. The event is free! You are welcome to drop in any time.
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2023 ReconcilingWorks Pride
Worship & Resources
Our partners in ministry at ReconcilingWorks invite your congregation to prepare for Pride month this June! ReconcilingWorks offers worship service resources, trainings and call to action items, shirts, prayers, and so much more.
You can find all of these resources here.
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Connect with Synod Staff & Your Conference Dean | |
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Rev. Ben Colahan
Dean, Redwood Mountain Conference 1
[email protected]
Rev. Dave Miller
Dean, Bridges Conference 2
[email protected]
Rev. Dr. Gabriele Schroeder
Dean, Capitol Valley Conference 3
[email protected]
Rev. Charlane Lines
Dean, Sierra Nevada Foothills
Conference 4
[email protected]
Rev. John Kuehner
Dean, San Francisco Peninsula Conference 5
[email protected]
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Rev. Cristina Beauchemin
Dean, El Camino Real Conference 6
[email protected]
Rev. Dr. John Valentine
Dean, Mt. Diablo Conference 7
[email protected]
Rev. Mark Price
Dean, Sierra Central Valley Conference 8
[email protected]
Rev. Jodi Golden-Lund
Dean, Central San Joaquin Conference 9
[email protected]
Rev. Cindy Beck
Dean, Interim Ministry
[email protected]
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The Sierra Pacific Synod Office resides on the unceded land of the Ramaytush Ohlone People.
To learn more about their tribal history, we encourage you to click here.
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