Synod & Congregational Highlights | | Thank You, The Rev. Amy Kienzle! | | |
We give thanks for the Rev. Amy Kienzle and her faithful service as our Director for Evangelical Mission! We celebrate with Pastor Amy as she begins a new call as senior pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sacramento.
Pastor Amy, thank you for your compassion, your commitment to people on the margins, your servant’s heart, and the humor and joy you bring to ministry. We are deeply grateful for the many ways you have served our synod.
Please join us in praying for her as she begins this new chapter.
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Welcome, The Rev. Janet Katari,
Our Synod's Assistant To The Bishop for Evangelical Mission!
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Pastor Janet (she/her) was born and raised in Southern California, and has called the Bay Area home since 1991. Her call to ministry was inspired by her work in youth and family ministry and nurtured by her curiosity about God’s role in the world, a commitment to developing ways to help people find connections to God in community, and a yearning for God’s justice broadly applied.
Pastor Janet previously served at Christ Church Lutheran in San Francisco where she particularly focused on deepening community connections and joining in actions for justice. She is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and holds a doctoral degree in physical chemistry from U.C. Berkeley. She moved to the Bay Area in 1991 and lives with her partner, Carrie, in Berkeley. Between them, they have four adult children. In her downtime, she enjoys learning to play guitar, reading a lot (theology, comic books, novels, and more!), playing board games with family and friends, and taking her dog on adventures.
She is honored to serve as Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelical Mission and explore new ways of doing ministry together.
| | 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. RSVP HERE.
| Alan W. Gaston Jr.'s Ordination at Emanuel Modesto - October 17 | | |
Join the Sierra Pacific Synod in celebrating AJ Gaston’s ordination at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Modesto, CA, on October 17 at 2 pm.
Rostered leaders are invited to process and the color of the day is red.
| | Upcoming ELCA/Synod Events | | Hunger Justice Zoom - September 29 | | Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona (LAMA) and the Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy Network (LEAN) invite hunger leaders and advocates to explore “Mercy and Compassion Merging for Hunger Justice.” The gathering will feature synod bishops, churchwide leaders, food-bank partners, pastors, and public-policy advocates. Join them on Zoom on September 29 at 6 pm HERE! | |
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.
| Retired Rostered Leaders Gathering - Oct 13 |
All retired rostered leaders are invited to gather on Tuesday, October 13 at 10:30 am at Calvary Lutheran Church (515 L St. Rio Linda, CA 95673).
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.
| Youth Ministry Huddle - October 15 | Join synod youth ministry leaders for a monthly meeting on October 15 at 10 am. The Zoom link is HERE! | Vote Your Conscience Zoom - October 15 | |
All California voters are invited to join Regina Q. Banks, the Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - CA, to explore California ballot propositions from a Lutheran perspective on October 15 at 7 pm on Zoom.
Email thelotts@gmail.com to register.
| SAM/Lay Leaders Community Practice - October 29 | All SAMs/Lay leaders are invited to join the synod on October 29 from 7-8:30 pm for a conversation about ecumenical partnerships. Pastor Janet Blair will share the experience of her congregation, United by Grace Community Church in Santa Rosa. Register HERE! | |
Elementary/Middle School Retreat -
November 6-8 at Mt. Cross
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All elementary and middle schoolers are invited to join SPSYC on November 6-8 for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and fun at Mt. Cross Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains! The retreat begins Friday at 7:00 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Early-bird registration is $225 through October 16 at 11:59 p.m. Regular registration is $275 through October 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Registration closes October 30.
New this year: registration is available to congregation groups only. Please use the group-planning form on the website to organize your congregation’s participants before paying for the retreat.
Learn more HERE!
| Register For 2026 Bishops' Convocation | |
All rostered leaders, candidates for ministry, interns, and retired rostered leaders, are invited to join Bishop Jeff Johnson and the Bishop’s Team for Bishop's Convocation on November 9-11 at Bishop's Ranch in Healdsburg, CA. We’re excited to welcome our speaker, The Rev. Dr Karoline M. Lewis, as we focus on Hebrews 10:23-25. Registration closes October 9.
Register HERE!
| Lay Preaching Workshop With Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis - November 12 in Berkeley | | |
Are you a lay preacher who wants to become more confident in the pulpit?
Join Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis for a preaching workshop at the Synod Office in Berkeley on November 12 from 9:00 AM–2:00 PM!
Learn the fundamentals of faithful preaching through hands-on exercises that will help you prepare meaningful sermons and proclaim God’s Word with greater confidence.
Register HERE!
| | Upcoming Congregational Events | | |
See What Our Congregations Are Doing HERE
- St. Mark's SF Circus - September 26
- St Mark's Sugarcane Viewing & Discussion - September 27
- Hunger Justice Webinar - September 29
- Disarming Scripture Discussion at St. Matthew's Walnut Creek - October 1
- Hand Drumming Workshop at University Lutheran Chapel Berkeley - October 2
- Anthony Suárez-Abraham’s Ordination & Installation - October 3
- Faith In Action at St. John's Sacramento - October 3
- Yoga Workshop at University Lutheran Chapel Berkeley - October 3
- Moral Economy Discussion with Dr. Rev. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda - October 4
- How A Bible Mistranslation Shifted A Culture - October 10
- InGathering - October 10-12 in Cupertino & October 16-17 in Rocklin
- Vote Your Conscience Zoom - October 15
- Alan W. Gaston Jr.'s Ordination at Emanuel Modesto - October 17
| | Resources In & Outside The Synod | | |
Pilgrimage To 4 ICE Detention Centers
October 22-25
| Join the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity for Pilgrimage/Encuentro 2026: Becoming Beloved Community, October 22–25 in Kern County. Stand alongside people affected by immigration detention through learning, service, public witness, and community-building; learn more and register by September 25. | PLTS Seminary Visit - October 30 - November 1 | |
Are you wondering if seminary might be right for you?
Consider joining PLTS visit and discernment weekend, Signs Along the Way, October 30th — November 1st in Berkeley, California. This weekend is a great opportunity to connect with others in discernment, get to know PLTS faculty, and explore what it’s like to be an online student in the Master of Divinity, MA in Spirituality and Social Change, or Lutheran Year programs. PLTS covers lodging and meals during the event and can offer travel assistance for those who need it.
Visit plts.edu/signs to learn more and sign up.
| This year, The Nourishing Vocation Project offers Preparing the Way: A Herstory of Hope, a comprehensive Advent resource focusing on the five women in Jesus’ family tree mentioned in Matthew 1. Learn more HERE! | Register For Executive Skills For Church Leaders January 2027 | |
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.
Register 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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