Featured in the
July 21, 2016 issue:
|
Are you connected with us on Facebook?
|
July 24, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Family Reunion Sunday Carnival
Community, Los Angeles
July 27, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist,
Glendale
July 31, 7:30 p.m.
Youth Lounge
Hill Ave. Grace, Pasadena
August 3, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
August 4 - 6
CLU
August 5, 6:00 p.m.
Tchaikovsky Spectacular Picnic and Concert
Hollywood Bowl
August 10, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
August 17, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
August 24, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
August 31, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
October 14 - 16
SWCA WELCA Convention
Simi Valley
October 14 - 16
El Camino Pines
October 15, 7:00 p.m.
South Bay Salties Benefit Concert
First, Torrence
October 24 - 27
La Quinta, AC
|
Pastor Reggie Hansome, Pastor of American Lutheran, Burbank and Coordinator of African Descent Ministries at the SWCA Synod, gave the Invocation this past Tuesday at the joint meeting of the Burbank City Council and the Police Commission.
|
Vacation Bible School leaders! We want to feature your congregation's VBS in the Synews. Send your VBS pictures to Samantha at [email protected].
|
 Kudos to Cal Lutheran for becoming a Fair Trade
University!
Click here or information on becoming a Fair Trade
Congregation, School, or University.
|
|
| CLU President Kimball signing the Fair Trade Resolution. |
|
An event for church professionals
October 24 - 27 at Embassy Suites, La Quinta
50777 Santa Rosa Plaza
This year's speakers will be:
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Lundblad of the Union Theological Seminary, New York
The Rev. James Hazelwood, New England Synod Bishop
Costs (Program, two dinners, and one lunch, excluding hotel):
$210 (rostered and lay staff)
$145 (retired rostered leaders, interns, candidates
and non-rostered spouses)
Online registration will open August 15. Receive a $25 discount when you register
by September 15. Watch for more information to come!
Theoasis is a joint partnership of the Pacifica and
Southwest California Synods.
|
YOUTH LOUNGE, a youth-led worship and music event, returns to Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran! Lutheran teens and youth sing, perform and speak as part of this casual worship experience. The event is open to ALL ages, youth and adults! Join us on Sunday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Christ Chapel at Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church, 73 N. Hill Avenue, Pasadena 91106. Teens and youth interested in performing and/or speaking can email Matt at: [email protected]
|
Southwest California Chapter of WELCA
The 19th Annual Convention
October 14 - 16, 2016
Simi Valley.
|
|
Please pray for the following:
- 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 chemotherapy 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
- Pastor Carlos Paiva
- 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
.
|
|
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
|
|
|
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.
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.
|
|
What to do when the Pokémon come to your church?
|
|
| Faith, San Dimas welcomes players |
Unless you've been on a deserted island all of July, you're probably aware of Pokémon GO, an Augmented Reality game application that allows players to use their smartphones to hunt, capture, and train virtual versions of the fantastical "pocket monsters" that became popular as trading cards in the 1990s.
If you've seen increased foot traffic around your church, it's likely that you've been designated either a Pokéstop, where players can gather Pokéballs, eggs, and other equipment, or a Pokégym, where players can train their Pokémon and battle other players. Many churches are seeing this phenomenon as a remarkable opportunity to welcome players, often millennials who tend to have a negative view towards organized religion.
When Pastors Liz and Ryan Radtke of Hope, Atascadero (above right) found out their church was a Pokéstop, they welcomed players with water, Gatorade, snacks and sunscreen. "It introduces people of the community to one another that may not otherwise have ever met," says Pastor Liz. "It brings people to our church, and if they want to talk about God and theology, we're more than happy to talk about that, too!" Hope's welcoming of Pokémon-playing visitors was featured in the Paso Robles Daily News.
Meredith Gardner's Middle School group from Mt. Cross, Camarillo planned to go geocaching at California Lutheran University (above), but when they found how many wild Pokémon were there they ended up having a bonding session of Pokémon GO instead.
 |
|
|
Bishop Guy found a Pidgey! |
"It might not be Gutenberg's printing press, but Pokémon Go is the latest technological advance to have a significant impact on church," says Aaron Earls in The Washington Post's religion section. Many churches are finding creative ways to connect with those who might otherwise never consider stepping foot on church grounds, or including the game in their youth programs. Only time can tell if Pokémon GO is a fun fad or will have staying power. But for now it is not only game that is taking over the imaginations of people you want in your church, it's an opportunity to welcome them inside. Don't miss out on the chance!
|
Where are you on your journey? The masculine journey always begins in the wilderness, in a place that is dangerous, in a place that demands endurance, in a place that puts us to the test. For centuries and across cultures this has always been the true male story however in recent times men have exchanged this risky adventure for a safer route, confusing masculinity for the convention of patriarchy, confusing identity and purpose with roles of esteem and status.
This year's Men's Advance is designed to provide you a unique opportunity to respond to the call of the Spirit to enter into the wilderness and experience the masculine journey. Together we will explore the practices where our Biblical traditions and the ancient practices of male initiation intersect, providing us with a rich masculine experience that will transform our understanding of what it means to be a man of faith.
Is the Spirit of God calling you into the wilderness? We hope you will join us!
For further information contact: Bob Huhn, Trinity, Santa Barbara at
[email protected]
or (805) 886-4457.
|
The First Annual
South Bay Salties Fall Benefit Concert
In remembrance of Mike Gibson and the support of addiction and recovery awareness.
October 15, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Faith Hall, First Lutheran Church & School
2900 W Carson St. | Torrance, CA 90503-6005
Suggested donation: $20
Net proceeds benefit the
Thelma McMillen Center
for Chemical Dependency Treatment, Torrance, CA
Co-sponsored by the Southwest California Synod
Recovery and Spirituality Task Force
Contact: Pastor Dan Gibson
|
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].
|
Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale,
California
91205
(818) 507-9591
|
|
