Featured in the
November 23, 2016 issue:
|
Are you connected with us on Facebook?
|
November 24
Thanksgiving Day
Synod Office Closed
November 25
Synod Office Closed
November 27
First Sunday in Advent
November 29
Giving Tuesday
November 30, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
December 7, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
December 8, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Advent Quiet Day Retreat
Lutheran Center, Glendale
December 14 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
December 18,
8 & 9:30 a.m.
Christmas Cantata
Ascension, Thousand Oaks
December 21, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
December 28, 11:30 a.m.
No Midweek Eucharist
January 9 - 13, 2017
Carefree, AZ
January 21, 2017
Hill Avenue Grace, Pasadena
March 25, 2017
Emmanuel, North Hollywood
May 13, 2017
Ascension, Thousand Oaks
June 19 - 30, 2017
June 28 - July 2, 2017
CLU, Thousand Oaks
July 15, 2017
Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo
|
An Advent Resource from the ELCA
|
Grace, Santa Barbara, which is the process of transitioning to Affordable Senior Housing, has a wooden altar, pulpit, lectern, and kneeling communion rail available. Please email
|
Postils for Preaching
Now Available
Retired SWCA Synod pastor John Rollefson (Church of the Master, LA, 1994-1999), now living in San Luis Obispo, delights to report the publication of his new book,
Postils for Preaching: Commentaries on the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A.
Copies are available from wipfandstock.com
.
The Rev. Barbara Lundblad, Professor Emeritus of Preaching at Union Seminary in NYC says, "If you can read only one book for this lectionary cycle,
Postils for Preaching will not disappoint you."
The book consists of essays of a thousand or so words on the texts for each Sunday and special occasion of the church year, and would make an excellent Christmas present for your pastor, rostered or lay leader.
|
Please pray for the following:
- The family of Pastor Carlos Paiva upon his passing.
- Pastor Nimrod Flores, who has pulmonary fibrosis.
- The family and friends of Ten Jensen, on his passing.
- Pastor Ray Kibler's Cancer is now in remission! Please pray that ongoing chemotherapy will keep this so.
- 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.
- Catherine, Jaffa Carrera's grandmother
- Mark Abad
- 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
- 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
.
|
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. 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.
|
To the Pastors, Deacons and People of the SWCA Synod
Thanksgiving 2016
Grace and peace in Christ!
For many, many years people of the United States have observed an annual day of Thanksgiving every fall, on which they gather together to remember and give thanks for the many blessings of God we enjoy. Most of us will be doing this too, this year: together with friends and families we eat and drink and enjoy each other's company. I wish you every joy in this rich and traditional holiday.
In our greater Los Angeles area, homelessness remains a very great problem. Many of our congregations are regularly engaged in providing food to those who lack it; Thanksgiving often inspires us to even greater generosity toward neighbors in need. Thank you for all you do. I am grateful to God for the open-handedness of our Lutheran congregations in the face of this great need, and I encourage you to further generosity both today and in the days ahead.
|
I
n Christ, all the fullness of God chose to dwell...
-Colossians 1
Advent Quiet Day Retreat for Pastors and Rostered Leaders
Thursday, December 8 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Bishop Guy Erwin invites pastors and rostered leaders to join him this Advent at the Lutheran Center in Glendale for time apart in prayer reflection, an oasis in our busy lives and turbulent times. Our time together will be grounded in silence and prayer and nourished by community and Communion.
Co-led by Bishop Erwin and The Rev. Elizabeth Rechter, Executive Director of Stillpoint CA, guided meditations will help us listen for the body's role in spiritual transformation within the biblical story of Advent.
A simple lunch will be provided, and a $10 donation to defray costs is requested of those who can afford it.
|
|
|
|
The Good Gift of a Water Well |
ELCA Good Gifts
ELCA Good Gifts are a creative, meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA that mean the most to you and your loved ones. The items in the catalog lift up examples of work being done in different projects and programs supported by funds from the ELCA: the ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, ELCA New Congregations, ELCA Vision for Mission, ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. Each of these programs is a long-term, partnership-based ministry that focus on the needs identified by local congregations and global companion churches and their communities.
When you give an ELCA Good Gift you are supporting work within a specific category of ministry. For example, when you give a gift to "stock a health clinic," your donation goes on to support the health care ministries of ELCA World Hunger where needed most. This allows our global companions to determine how these funds can make the biggest impact in their local contexts, and ensure that our work is sustainable.
|
COME SEE, HEAR, FEEL
Con Te Partito (Time to Say Goodbye)
A Tragicomedy in Three Acts
about Grief, Comedy, Romance and Healing
by Richard Buckner
You are invited to a Table Reading (No Charge, Free Parking)
Presented by Elks Member Elizabeth Buckner
2:30 - 5:30 p.m, Saturday, December 10
West Hollywood Community Center, Rooms 5 & 6
7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069
2:00 - 5:00 p.m, Sunday, December 11, Oaks Elks Lodge,
158 N. Conejo School Rd, Thousand Oaks, 91362
Script Projected for the Hearing Impaired
This presentation, for Elks, theatre, church, academic, potential donors and the general public, is to garner support for a full performance by December, 2017 as a benefit for the San
Bernardino Community.
|
Celebrate the season with
Ascension Lutheran
1600 Hillcrest Drive
Annual Christmas Cantata
50-voice Choir with Orchestra and Narration
Sunday, December 18
8:00 and 9:30 a.m.
|
California Lutheran Executive Skills Workshop
for Clergy/Church Workers
January 9 - 13, 2017
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
Carefree, Aizona
Gain valuable and needed skills for pastors, leaders, administrators in congregational settings!
Led by California Lutheran School of Management Faculty.
|
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].
Ascension Lutheran Church is seeking a Church Finance Analyst. This is a part-time (15-20 hours per week) regular non-exempt position. This position will work closely with the Director of Administrative Ministries and Church Accountant on the accounting operations and reporting for the Church and Foundation. Duties and Responsibilities include preparing contribution statements, maintaining and fostering all banking and brokerage relationships, coordinating with the accountant for timely processing of church related invoices, preparing monthly budget variance and analysis to the Director of Administration and Finance Committee, and leading and coordinating the annual budgeting process for the church and the foundation.
Qualifications include two years of general accounting experience, basic understanding of accounting practices and internal controls, and a good working knowledge of Excel. Experience with Shelby Systems church management software is a plus.
A resume with a cover letter can be sent to Kaylee Searway at [email protected] or mailed to her attention at 1600 E Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.For more information and a full description of the position, click
here.
Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo is seeking a Director of Children and Teen Ministries. This position has the primary responsibility for continuing and expanding programs for children and teens from birth through 18 years of age (nursery through high school) with the assistance of the CAT Ministry Team and lay leaders. This is a salaried, full-time position of 40 hours/week.
Applicants must have experience with children and teens in an area related to theology or education. Three years of experience in coordinating children and teen programs and/or possession of an educational background with an emphasis on working with children and teens is preferred. A college degree with an emphasis in elementary or secondary education is desirable. Applicants must possess a current, valid California driver's license.
|
Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale,
California
91205
(818) 507-9591
|
|