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We are pleased to share with you the following news, information and ministry opportunities taking place within our synod. If you have items to share about the ministries happening through your congregation, please email Terri Robertson at
[email protected]. If you know of others who aren't receiving our emails, please share this with them and encourage them to sign up
here.
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All are invited to be with us at the Lutheran Center for Mission and Learning (Pacifica Synod Office) as we gather next Wednesday, March 1 at 11:00 a.m. for Ash Wednesday worship and the imposition of ashes.
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Bishop Emeritus Robert L. Miller Memorial Service
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A memorial service celebrating the life of The Rev. Robert L. Miller, Bishop Emeritus of the Pacifica Synod, will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church (4861 Liverpool Street, Yorba Linda).
A reception will immediately follow the service.
To assist in planning for the meal, we encourage you to RSVP by following this link.You may RSVP individually or as a congregational group.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the following funds or organizations:
Cards and notes of condolences may be sent to:
Doris Miller & Family
1231 Mt. Simon Drive
Livermore, CO 80536
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Pacifica Synod Assembly 2017 - ReFORM, TransFORM, InFORM
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We will gather for our 30th Annual Pacifica Synod Assembly from Thursday, May 11 to Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego. Our theme is "ReForm - InForm - TransForm".
Registration Information
Your congregation's early bird registration invoice has been mailed to the attention of your Congregation Treasurer. You have until February 28, 2017 to take advantage of the discounted congregational registration fee. The invoice also contains the number of voting members your congregation is assigned, along with a cover letter with further information. If you have any questions about your invoice, please contact Terri Robertson at [email protected] or by phone at 714.692.2791, ext. 732.
Fee reductions for smaller congregations may be requested. To do so, please contact Rachel Line at [email protected] by March 15, 2017.
Please keep in mind that payment of this invoice
does not register individuals from your congregation
. Online
registration for voting members and guests will open on March 1 and information will be sent out on Monday, February 27 to walk you through the process.
Hotel Information
To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate at the Town & Country Resort of $139 per night, please book your stay
directly
with the hotel by April 19, 2017. The link to reserve a room at this rate may be found here. You may also call the hotel reservation line at 800.772.8527. Be sure to reference Pacifica Synod when you call by phone in order to receive the discounted rate. This rate is available during the dates of May 8-13, 2017. Information about the Town & Country Resort may be found on their website at:
Information about the synod assembly continues to be added to our website (
www.pacificasynod.org
) as it becomes available.
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Synod Council Nominations Requested
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The Nominating Committee for the 2017 Pacifica Synod Assembly needs your help in surfacing names of persons able to serve our synod in an elected capacity. If you provide their contact information, the committee will make contact with the nominee to determine a willingness to serve. To meet the inclusivity requirement of our Synod Constitution (S6.04), we will accept nominees to fill the following council positions as shown below. We are seeking two nominees for each position. Designations male/female are made in an effort to provide 50/50 balance. Please contact Rachel Line by email at
[email protected] for more information.
2017 Synod Council Positions To Be Filled:
Four-year term:
Treasurer (lay or clergy)
Three-year terms:
Hukilau Conference Lay (male)
Lay at Large (female, ethnic or English as a second language)
Big Bear Conference Clergy (female)
Saddleback Conference Lay (female)
Two-year term:
Youth Representative (age 20 or younger at time of election)
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Congregational Report (Parochial Reports) DUE NOW!
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If you missed the February 15 filing deadline for your 2016 Congregational (Parochial) Report, don't panic. You may still submit your reports, as the ELCA continues to compile your information. To file your report online, please follow this link. If you can't find your login information, please contact Terri Robertson at 714.352.8732 or by email at
[email protected]
.
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Pacifica Women of the ELCA News
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The Pacifica Women of the ELCA, is a women's organization of the Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Together, this network of women makes a difference in the world because God has made a difference in our lives.
The Pacifica Women of the ELCA will hold our annual Spring Event on Saturday, March 4 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Bernardino. We are excited about the event and all women are invited to attend. Information may be found in the February issue of our
Pacifica Partners newsletter, including a registration form, tentative schedule, Love Gift list, as well as our president's article, which provides many details.
You are invited! Come!
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Changes in the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations
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In September 2016, Pacifica Bishop Andy Taylor shared with our congregations information about the 2016 Churchwide Assembly's adoption of changes to the Model Constitution for Congregations of the ELCA. A copy of his communication may be found here. All congregations were requested to make these changes.
As a reminder, if you have made these changes - and these changes only - to your constitution, you do not need approval by the Synod Constitution Committee. But we do ask that you send a copy of your updated constitution to our office, along with the date it was adopted by your congregation, so that we can add it to your congregational records.
If you are making any other updates or changes in addition to these adopted by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, approval by the Synod Constitution Committee IS required. Please contact Rachel Line at [email protected] for more information on this process.
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ELCA Presiding Bishop Responds to Attacks on Jewish Community
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On Wednesday, February 22, the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), issued a letter in response to recent attacks and threats on the Jewish Community. For the full text of her letter, please
click here
.
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stewardCast - Live Webcast on Stewardship - Saturday, March 4
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Where are the "bright spots" for stewardship ministry in your church?
 Recognizing the bright spots reminds us where God's abundance is present. Across the ELCA there are many bright spots, and we want to share some of them with you through stewardCast 2017.
You are invited to join us for this special online event on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. (PST) broadcasting live from the Lutheran Center in Chicago. Join the webcast at:
www.elca.org/stewardship.
Pacifica's own Bishop Andy Taylor will be one of the presenters. Featured presentation and presenters include:
- Stewards of God's Varied Grace - Bishop Andy Taylor, ELCA Pacifica Synod
- Live and Give Generously - Rev. Taryn Montgomery, Minot, ND
- If Stewardship is Boring, Something's Missing - Rev. Greg Meyer, Minneapolis, MN
- Growing Giving Online - Richard Bauer, Minneapolis, MN.
- Rev. Melinda Wagner, Portland, OR
- Nurturing Generosity in the Home - Ms. Linda Staats, Phoenix, AZ
For more information, please contact 800.638.3522, ext. 2884
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ELCA Youth Gathering Theme Song Contest!
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The ELCA Youth Gathering is offering people from across the church the opportunity to submit their original music composition to be selected for the theme song of the 2018 Gathering in Houston, Texas. Entries will be screened by a listening committee. One song may be selected for the grand prize.
The winning entrant will receive:
* Opportunity to perform live at the Gathering
* Complimentary registration
* Free lodging
* Roundtrip airfare
The contest will run from February 15 to April 15, 2017. A winner will be announced June 1, 2017. Songs can be submitted digitally by emailing
[email protected] or by mail: ELCA Youth Gathering, c/o Theme Song Contest, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631.
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ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering
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This summer we will have a unique opportunity to gather for the first ever ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering. We will come together under the theme of "On the Way...Together," using the Road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-25) to guide our time together.
This gathering provides a wonderful opportunity for rostered ministers to be nourished in worship, song, Bible study, a wide variety of topical workshops, service learning opportunities and keynote speakers. This gathering also provides an opportunity to meet your colleagues for fellowship and idea-sharing. It is a time to be refreshed and renewed, as you serve in this church.
Join us August 7-10, 2017 in Atlanta, where we will gather with hearts burning within us in the name of Jesus, the crucified and risen Christ. I look forward to meeting you there.
Registration will open March 1 at
elca.org/RMG. Early registration with a reduced fee is available until May 31, 2017.
The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland
Assistant to the Presiding Bishop/Executive for Worship
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For Rostered Ministers & Spouses - Reflect, Renew and Recommit
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WHAT is Reflect, Renew and Recommit? A four and a half day process that utilizes personal reflection, small group process and well-researched tools and exercises to enhance self-understanding, identify core strengths and gifts for ministry, identify values, interests, and personality characteristics and dynamics in conversation within a context of Christian faith and spiritual traditions.
WHO should attend? ELCA rostered ministers and spouses who are facing a critical discernment in their ministry:
- such as a current call which does not seem to be a good fit for their gifts
- a need to discern whether or not they are serving in a vocation that fits their strengths and gifts
- need to discern if they might be better suited for a different form of ministry within the ELCA
WHEN: May 1-5, 2017
WHERE: Christ Our Hope Lutheran Church, Riverdale, GA
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"God's work. Our hands." Sunday 2017
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Celebrating Ministry Together!
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We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Rick Fry to the Pacifica Synod! Pastor Rick
 was installed as pastor of Ascension Lutheran, San Diego on January 29, 2017. We asked Pastor Rick to share a little about himself here.
Hello! My name is Rick Fry, and I'm the pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church. Previously, I was the pastor of two small congregations in rural Wisconsin.
I was born and raised in the heartland of Ohio. I grew up on a farm with a love for the outdoors and nature. My wife and I are the parents of two marvelous girls, Fiona and Adeleen.
I enjoy writing. I wrote an unpublished novel a few years back. I also have a blog where I occasionally post creative writing and devotions. You can find it at
rickfry130.wordpress.com.
I love travel and music. I like exploring new places, and I even hitchhiked across the country a few times. I once made a pilgrimage of sorts to a bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey called the Stone Pony, where a young Bruce Springsteen got his start.
I 'm excited to do new ministry here in San Diego, and to be a part of such a faithful and vibrant synod. I look forward to many good years together.
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Water Justice Conference Webcast - March 22-24, 2017
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For a downloadable version of this flyer, please click here.
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Southwest California Synod Boundaries Training - March 21
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As people who work with people, we know the importance of relationships. We also know that healthy relationships depend upon clear and respectful boundaries. Rostered Ministers especially need thoughtful and consistent training around boundaries because of the variety of their relationships and in the Pacifica Synod are expected to attend a Boundary Training Workshop every five years. This training is also recommended for church staff, council members, and other lay leaders.
The Southwest California Synod will be holding their next Boundary Training Workshop at the Lutheran Center in Glendale on Tuesday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost of attending the workshop is $20, and lunch will be provided. A certificate of completion will be mailed to those attending the entire training.
To register for the March 21 Boundary Training Workshop, please contact Robin Lujan in the synod office at (818) 507-9591, extension 100, or via email at [email protected]. The registration deadline is Monday, March 6.
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Scandinavian Festival - CLU - April 1-2
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 Come and join us at the 42nd annual Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks on April 1 and 2, 2017. The Festival hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is sponsored by the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation. For a downloadable flyer,
click here.
The annual festival of Nordic cultures features music, dancing, cooking and craft demonstrations, lectures, vendors and affordable activities for families of all ages!
Both days of the Festival are filled with music, dancing, food, lectures, demonstration, vendors and activities for young and old alike.
For more information, visit
http://www.scandinavianfest.org/
.
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6th Annual Bonhoeffer Festival - Thursday, April 6
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The Center for Lutheran Studies at the Claremont School of Theology will  sponsor the 6th Annual Bonhoeffer Festival on Thursday, April 6, 2017. The festival will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m., followed by a program in Mudd Theater from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A special table talk reception will follow the program.
This year's theme is "Bonhoeffer and Exploring Interfaith Connections: Promise and Problems". For more information, please contact the Rev. Dr. Thomas Johnson, Director, Center for Lutheran Studies at CST at
[email protected]
.
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Elementary Youth Event - Saturday, April 29
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For a PDF flyer to distribute, click
here.
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Art Devotional Women's Retreat - Luther Glen - May 26-28
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