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HAPPY 2017!
May this new year of grace be a blessing to us all, in ways unexpected.
May our hearts be prepared to receive the gifts of Light our Lord has for each of us,
and may we graciously shine that Light everywhere we go!
In the name of the Jesus, the Christ Child who loves us dearly, Amen.
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Hear ye, Hear ye!!!!!!
A
VERY new and
VERY exciting opportunity for you and your congregations:
What Would Luther Do Today?
Join Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton in a FREE
"Big Class"
offered by ChurchNext
Have you ever wondered what Martin Luther would do if he were here today? Join Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton and thousands of learners around the world in a free course where you will learn how to apply Luther's thoughts and writings to contemporary issues.
The course opens January 16 and is free through January 30. Because you can watch the course anytime, it's perfect for individuals, as well as small and large groups.
(Group resources are available
here
.)
Secure your spot and learn in community with those around the world and with Presiding Bishop Eaton how Martin Luther might deal with the pressing issues of today.
News from the Resource Center:
Your Synod Resource Center will be closed January 7th through January 16th.
All emails and requests will be processed on January 17th.
+++Please note, we are in the process of upgrading our website+++
If you go to our webpage and get an error note, we are on it. It won't be long....
As expected, this venture is taking a little longer than anticipated.
We hope you will find it worth the wait.
Thank you for your patience!
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New at the Resource Center
Preaching Stewardship
In addition to carrying the wonderful book,
Preaching Stewardship, by Bishop Craig Satterlee, we also have the companion DVD video presentation along with notes and copies of powerpoint slides as handouts. This resource is great for individual study, for group study with other pastors or with lay leaders, such as your Congregations Stewardship Team, or a wonderful resource for workshops.
Let me know if you are interested in looking these excellent materials over. Stewardship education is always best when it is a continual focus, and not a once a year event. One thing Bishop Satterlee stresses, is that money should be talked about every time Jesus talks about money in our Gospel reading. His insights and ideas are remarkable and are highly recommended for any congregation wanting to try something a little different. Change is good, right?
AND we still have some copies of this available for check out:
Imagine a New Economy
, by John D. Herman, is a study guide intended for use by small groups and individuals who want to wrestle with the struggle between heart and treasure. The series is designed to immerse participants in the biblical readings which deal with our relationship to and use of our money and possessions. The daily readings, questions, and prayers provide the opportunity for a continued interplay between the participant, the Word, and the Spirit. The reflective questions at the end of each of the 13 chapters invited discussion and interaction within a small group. Along with small groups, this study can be used in several creative ways; a year-long stewardship study for your Stewardship Team; a worship or educational series about stewardship, generosity, simplicity, money or materialism; a senior HS ministry focus on life goals and pursuits; and more!
"This is an intriguing invitation to engage a new economy as described by God through Scripture
and based on the core beliefs that everything belongs to God and all is a gift from God.
As followers of God's word, we are entrusted with living into this new economy through our daily decisions and the conversations we have in community with others."
-Keith A. Mundy, Program Director, Stewardship (ELCA)
Send an email to me at the
Resource Center, asking for
Imagine a New Economy to get your hands on this new and thought provoking book, published in 2016! Each day I come in to the Resource Center I read another of the entries, I have yet to be disappointed!
Send me an email if you would like to check any of these out, for personal, group, or congregational use:
rspselca@pacbell.net
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Luther's Small Catechism pamphlets are still available for you.
We purchase these for y
ou and your congregations.
With the year of Reformation 500 just around the corner,
this is a great time to have a class on
Luther's Small Catechism.
We'll supply you
with Luther's words!
To date we have sent out over 2,000 Small Catechism pamphlets.
Join the excitement, as our Presiding, Elizabeth Eaton, suggested
by
"dusting off the catechism and taking another look at the basics of our faith."
Many of our Sierra Pacific Synod congregations will be using the Small Catechism for a Lenten study. Be a part of 'taking another look at the basics of our faith!"
And, if you want to go beyond our free offering,
Augsburg Fortresss now offers Luther's Small Catechsim, Study Edition.
 A translaton of Luther's explanation along with other study helps such as prayers, worship rites and Luther's introduction. This edition uses the NRSV and the
Evangelical Lutheran Worship texts for the wording of the Ten Commandments, Apostles' Creed, Lord's Prayer, and the included worship rItes. This anniversary study edition includes a letter from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. a revised introduction by Timothy Wengert and features new illustrations by artist Gerturd Meuller Nelson.
***And don't forget***
You can download the FREE "Luther's Small Catechism" App on your iphone and android devices.
It comes in BOTH English and Spanish! Get this on your smart phone!
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We appreciate your calls and e-mails about resources!
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Please note that the
Synod Resour
ce Center of the Sierra Pacific Synod
is eligible to receive
your Choice Dollars
from
Thrivent Financial.
We are sincerely grateful to Thrivent Financial and those individuals who designate their Choice Dollars to us for the support of the Synod Resource Center. THANK YOU!
For more information
email Janet
or contact your Thrivent Representative.
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