Featured in the
September 29, 2016 issue:
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Coffee House Jazz
Salem, Glendale
October 5, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
Asher O'Callahan, Guest Preacher
October 8, 9:00 a.m.
Catechism Revisted
Yorba Linda
October 9, 4:00 p.m.
The Music of Broadway
Emmanuel, North Hollywood
October 12, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
October 14, 8:00 p.m.
Bruin Shelter Benefit Concert
Mt. Olive, Santa Monica
October 14 - 16
Shine: High School Youth Leadership Training Event
Camp Luther Glen
October 14 - 16
SWCA WELCA Convention
Simi Valley
October 14 - 16
El Camino Pines
October 16, 4:00 p.m.
Interfaith Walk for Peace
Pomona & Claremont
October 16, 4:30 p.m.
Interfaith Housing Forum
St. James'-in-the-City,
Los Angeles
October 19, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
October 21 - 23
Luther Glen
October 24 - 27
La Quinta, CA
October 26, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
Kristian Kohler, Guest Preacher
October 29, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
New City Parish Fall Event
First, Torrance
October 29, 5:30 - 11:00 p.m.
Resurrection, Redondo Beach Reformation Celebration
Torrance Marriott
November 5, 9:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Human Resources Workshop
Lutheran Center, Glendale
November 19, 10:00 a.m.
First, Torrance
November 27
First Sunday in Advent
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Catechism Revisited:
The Reformation
Rejoice Conference Day of Theological Education
Saturday October 8
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Danish Lutheran Church,
16881 Bastanchury Road
Yorba Linda
This year's presentation will look at the key historical and theological points of the Reformation as well and examining how it is in force today. Bishop Erwin and Pacifica Bishop Andy Tayor will provide us will a morning full of insight. The c
ost is $15. RSVP by October 3 to Pastor Anne-Grethe Nielsen at [email protected] or (714) 993-6362.
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Southwest California Chapter of WELCA
The 19th Annual Convention
October 14 - 16, 2016
Simi Valley.
Registration deadline is tomorrow, September 30!
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Holy Cross, Ojai has 80 copies of the Lutheran Book of Worship, 50 copies of Gather hymnal, and 8 boxes of choral music to be donated to anyone who would like to come and pick it up.
Please contact Cheryl at (805)798-2380 if interested.
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Join Luther Glen October 21 - 23 for the weekend to Brew Boldly! G
ather and brew together, learn and taste, study and explore, worship, wonder and relax!
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Save the Date -
Western States Youth Gathering
June 28 - July 2, 2017
California Lutheran University
Registration opens October 3!
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Please pray for the following:
- Pastor Sam and Ellen Platts. Pastor Platts has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
- Kikuno Nakamura, wife of Pastor Paul Nakamura, recovering from a stroke.
- Pastor Carlos Pavia, receiving treatment for a knee injury
- Catherine, Jaffa Carrera's grandmother
- Mark Abad
- Pastor Ray Kibler III, discharged as hospital inpatient, but continues the bone marrow transplant as outpatient. Pray for the success of this long-term procedure, and for strength for his wife Victoria as for himself.
- Dick Buma, husband of Pastor Christine Buma, undergoing clinical trial for aggressive Stage 4 lung cancer.
- The family of Pastor Norma Castillo
- Keny and Anthony Callahan; Anthony has stage 3 lymphoma
- The family of Rev. Gerry Swanson
- Pastor Nimrod Flores
- Cowan Family
- Pastor Charlie Kurtz
- Clemontene Richmond
- AIM Karen Wilson
Your prayer requests are important to us and will continue for two months in Synews.
If you would like to be added to the prayer list or if we should continue your request, please
contact us
.
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Southwest California
Synod Staff
The Rev. R. Guy Erwin, Ph.D.
Bishop
The Rev. Reg Schultz-Akerson
Rostered Leadership
The Rev. Marj Funk-Pihl
Congregational Mission
/ Director for Evangelical Mission
The Rev. Reginald Hansome
Coordinator of African Descent Ministries
Andreas Hirsch
Finance & Administration
Maria Paiva
Latino Ministries
Janet Renick
Children, Youth and Faith Formation
Sherri Miller
Bookkeeper
Administrative Assistant
Robin Lujan
Administrative Assistant
Samantha Henderson
Communications
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591 Phone
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Synews, the weekly email newsletter of the Southwest California Synod, ELCA, brings you news and information from the synod office in an environmentally friendly format. Please share this information as you are able. You can sign up to receive the Synews and special emails from the synod office here.
News and information for
Synews should be emailed to
Samantha Henderson
(shenderson@socalsynod.org). To follow Bishop Guy Erwin's daily schedule, search #thebishopsday on Facebook.
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The Los Angeles Council of Religious Leaders is inviting communities of faith across our region into a Weekend of Prayer and Action to End Homelessness from October 14 - 16. I encourage all congregations in our Southwest California Synod, and particularly those within the city and county of Los Angeles, to pray, raise funds, and get involved in initiatives to help bring much needed permanent housing solutions to those most in need.
I recently participated in a "God's Work. Our Hands" Sunday service project, giving out hygiene kits to the homeless on LA's Skid Row, together with members of several of our congregations. One member of one of our congregations told me that this year she spotted a former member of her congregation who had now ended up on Skid Row. Those suffering homelessness are not strangers, but our neighbors.
St. James'-in-the-City, an Episcopal church, will be the site of a citywide interfaith forum set for 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, to highlight solutions and strategies for permanent supportive housing. Panelists will include Alisa Orduna, Mayor Eric Garcetti's homelessness policy officer in the city of Los Angeles. Please consider attending this important gathering at St. James', 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.
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SHINE - Youth Leadership Event
October 14 - 16 at Camp Luther Glen
Register by October 1 for your free T-shirt!
"SHINE" is the theme for the upcoming High School Leadership Training Event at
Luther Glen Camp in Oak Glen, and is based on Daniel 12:3. This event, co-sponsored by the Southwest California Synod and Pacifica Synod Youth Teams, will take place October 14 - 16, 2016.
This will be a fantastic opportunity to gather and grow together, learn and lead, play and pray, serve, worship and wonder! The event begins on Friday night at 7:00 p.m, and will end on Sunday by noon. Please consider bringing high school youth who are (or have the potential to be) your best leaders, as well as some key adult leaders who share a passion for walking alongside our youth in their faith journeys. There will be elections to op
en positions on both Synod Youth Teams, and o
ur keynote speaker will be Michael Bridges, of the band Lost and Found.
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ELCA World Hunger Avent Calendar - a Free Resource
 The first Sunday in Advent is November 27 -
in the life of the church, just a blink away. ELCA World Hunger is offering a beautiful and FREE resource - their 2016 Advent Calendar ELCA World Hunger has a new Advent Calendar. This calendar will remind you each day of the reason for the season with hymns, prayers, Bible verses and stories of how ELCA Good Gifts animals make a difference in the world. Celebrate the excitement, anticipation and wonder of the birth of Christ with this Advent calendar. The calendars come in packages of 10 (so order 10 if you need 100). Order your calendars here, and do it soon so you can
share them with your congregation on November 27, the first Sunday in Advent.
With blessings from the Synod Hunger Team,
Sheri Groenveld
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How to Talk Politics in a Parish Setting
As we head into another hotly-contested election season, we tend to see a rise in questions about permissible versus impermissible political activities. Tom Cunniff, Associate General Council for the ELCA offers resources to help guide conversation and answer questions:
November ballot proposition recommendations from the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California are available
here
. More information, such as Support and Opposition lists and Advocacy Sunday resources, will be available at
www.loppca.org
.
Congregations, pastors, and members are encouraged to schedule an Advocacy Sunday on October 16 or another Sunday prior to the election, and are encouraged to utilize the ELCAvotes! resources found
here as the countdown to Election Day continues.
Please let the Lutheran Office of Public Policy know what events you have scheduled, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter (
ELCA Advocacy, @loppcalifornia). Questions or concerns? Contact Mark Carlson, Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California, (916) 447-6666 or [email protected].
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Is your church ready for changes in the Fair Labor Standards Acts in regards to overtime? Which churches are exempt from the new rules, and which must comply?
Make sure your church is in
compliance
at a free human resources workshop, held at the Lutheran Center in Glendale on Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. There is no charge, and lunch is included. Experts in both human resources and employment law and practices will be present, and your detailed questions will be answered. The SWCA Synod strongly recommends this workshop for congregation treasurers, administrators, an anyone responsible for human resources or payroll in your church office.
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On "God's Work. Our Hands" Sunday, St. Andrew's, West Los Angeles
visited Meridian Senior Center and brought bingo, games, and singing. It was a blessed experience for all!
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The 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopted a number of changes to the Model Constitution for Congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
As a result, EVERY congregation's constitution now needs an update, because the language has been revised to reflect the two new rosters of WORD AND SACRAMENT (pastors) and WORD AND SERVICE (associate in ministry, diaconal ministers, and deacons). All the information you need about making these required changes can be found here, and are being mailed to pastors and congregational presidents synod-wide.
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Join Bishop Guy Erwin for a 12-Day tour exploring Germany and the sites associated with Martin Luther in this 500th Anniversary year of the beginning of the Reformation. Visit Wittenberg, Erfurt, Wartburg Castle, Leipzig, Berlin, and much more. We will also see Weimar and Buchenwald, where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was held prisoner.
Bishop Erwin will be leading the tours, answering questions, and providing historical context throughout the trip. An optional 5-Day Post-Tour of Bavaria is also offered. Register now and receive an early bird discount!
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Positions Open in our Synod Territory
Congregations and other organizations in our synod are seeking people to partner in ministry. Check out these opportunities posted on our website. To share a job posting in the synod newsletter, website, and Facebook page, email the details to [email protected].
St. Luke Lutheran Church of Woodland Hills invites applications for a half-time (20 hrs./week) Church Office Administrator position. The ideal applicant will have strong organizational skills, the ability to manage a wide variety of tasks, an excellent ability to relate to others and be committed to maintaining appropriate confidentiality. Proficiency with social media, website management and Office Suite is a must, desktop publishing a plus. Familiarity with Lutheran or other mainline church cultures would be helpful, but not required. We are looking for a team player who will play a key role in enhancing the life and ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church. The application period will close when the position is filled. If interested, please send resume to:
[email protected]
Faith Lutheran Church/Iglesia Luterana Fe,
Canoga Park is seeking a bilingual (English/Spanish) Director of Children and Teen Ministries.
Faith Lutheran Church is a growing bilingual congregation in the west San Fernando Valley.
We have identified children and teen ministries as critical to the life and future of our congregation. We seek someone who can help build a sustainable children and teen ministry.
The Director of Children and Teen Ministries will have primary responsibility for continuing and expanding programs for children and teens from birth through 18 years of age (nursery through high school). For more information and desired qualifications, click here.
Christ Lutheran Church in West Covina is seeking a Director of Music Ministries/Contemporary Worship Team Leader
to provide Christ's music and worship programs with creative, effective and
inspirational leadership that glorifies God. A passion for leading and sharing your musical talents, inspiring, dynamic and meaningful worship, and demonstrating a strong Christian faith are a must. The ideal candidate will bring an appreciation and understanding of both traditional and contemporary
Lutheran worship. Please send a letter of application, resume, and names and contact information for two references to Pastor Robert Hamel at [email protected] to apply. For requirements and qualifications for the position, click here.
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale,
California
91205
(818) 507-9591
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