SYNOD NEWS & NOTES
May 25, 2017
Pacifica Synod e-News
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  terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org. If you know of others who aren't receiving our emails, please share this with them and encourage them to sign up here.
Please note: The Pacifica Synod Office will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.
Pacifica Synod Assembly 2017 - ReFORM, TransFORM, InFORM
We give thanks to all who attended our 30th annual Pacifica Synod Assembly in San Diego earlier this month. Your participation and dedication to the ministries of and through this synod are a gift to this synod and the wider church. We especially give thanks for the village it takes to hold a synod assembly - our Assembly Planning Team, Synod Council, staff members and the MANY on-site volunteers. Without you, our assembly wouldn't be possible.

All registrants of the assembly have been emailed a link to an online evaluation. We ask that you take the 5-10 minutes needed to complete the evaluation so that we can use the valuable information you provide to improve our future synod assemblies.

We are pleased to share with you our Synod Assembly video montage of the photographs taken over the course of our three days in San Diego. Our thanks to our photographers Paul Coulter (Resurrection, Huntington Beach) and Emily Erisman (Bethlehem, Encinitas). Click the following link to view the video on YouTube -  2017 Pacifica Synod Assembly Photo Montage Video.

You also may find recorded videos of each of the business sessions, Friday evening banquet and Saturday morning closing worship on our YouTube channel here.

If you missed any of the print recap publications that were emailed during and after the assembly, they may be found by following this link to our Synod Assembly page on our website, where you will find links to each publication under the Synod Assembly Daily Recap Publications heading.

Just in case you missed them, below are links to partners and resources shared during the assembly:

Bishop Eaton's Assembly Video - http://bit.ly/Called2017
Young Adults in Global Mission - Carlee Wood - http://support.elca.org/goto/YAGMcarlee
Central City Lutheran Mission (CCLM) - www.cclm.org
Lutheran Retreats, Camps & Conferences (LRCC) - www.lrcchome.com
Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSS) - www.lsssc.org/

"Loosening Lutheran Lips" - Sharing Our Stories
During Bishop Taylor's Synod Assembly report, he shared about a project led by Ellen Ray, a member of Spirit of Joy Lutheran in Ramona, who will be compiling tithing stories from those within our synod. Please see below for more information about how you can share your story.

Do you have stories about God's work in your life, specifically related to tithing and finances? Would you be willing to participate in a synod-wide project of sharing tithing testimonies?

The goal is to create a collection of stories of people's positive experiences of tithing and publish them as a devotional/inspirational book. A story of inspiration from you may encourage others to seek God's principles with their finances and resources, too.

An example: You tithe regularly, as part of your response to God's love in your life and your commitment to Him. You're out of work and out of disposable cash. A major appliance breaks down and you don't know how you're going to deal with it. Two days later, you receive the money in some unexpected form that enables you to replace/repair the appliance. God is good!

If you have a story you'd be willing to share, please let us know. Contact Ellen Ray (Spirit of Joy, Ramona) at 858.525.2334 or by email ( ziggy.smiles@cox.net). Thank you!

ELCA News & Resources
Just Wondering...

In her May column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton says she has been thinking a lot about the fiery serpents sent among the Israelites in the wilderness. For us today, is there more to these serpents? Are they reminders to look to "the cross, the death of our death?" 

Read her column in English at livinglutheran.org/2017/04/i-wonder/ or in Spanish at livinglutheran.org/2017/04/me-pregunto/.

Last Chance to File Your 2016 Parochial/Congregation Reports
If congregations want to be included in the summary of the 2016 data, they must file by June 15. The ELCA's online system will be shutting down on that day for approximately two months while our ELCA Churchwide Offices prepare the data. If you have any paper reports that you haven't submitted, please send them to terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org prior to this date.

To file your reports online, click here. You will need your congregation ID number and the password sent to you last December. If you can't find this information, please contact the synod office at 714.692.2791.
ELCA and Episcopal Church Issue Call for Prayer, Fasting and Advocacy
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, have issued a joint statement calling for prayer, fasting and advocacy addressing cuts to public programs that are vital to hungry people who are living in poverty.

The statement " For Such a Time As This" calls for fasting on the 21st of each month through December 2018, at which time the 115th Congress will conclude. The 21st of each month is targeted because by that day about 90 percent of Supplemental Nutrition Benefits Program (SNAP) benefits have been used.

Read the joint statement.
Watch a video by Presiding Bishop Eaton.
Watch a video by Presiding Bishop Curry.
ELCA Advocacy updates are available on Twitter and Facebook.

ELCA Youth Gathering Volunteers Needed
Would you like to volunteer at the Gathering and help our young people grow in faith and encounter Christ? Serving the youth of this church is a vocational calling that requires careful discernment. Every volunteer must agree to follow the terms of a volunteer code of conduct and submit to a background check by the ELCA. 

There are four volunteer categories: Local Volunteers, Community Life, Gathering Volunteer Corps, and Servant Companions. The responsibilities vary, and all volunteers (except Local Volunteers) must commit to being in Houston for one week. Volunteers arrive on Monday, June 25, and depart Sunday, July 1, 2018.

For more information and an online application, click here.
ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering

Early registration for the first ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering ends on May 31. After this date, the registration fee will increase to $295. Also, I want to remind you that the deadline for registration is July 23.

Join me for a wonderful time of worship, fellowship, learning and coming together under the theme "On the Way - Together," using the road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-25) to guide our time together.

Register for this gathering now.  I look forward to seeing you in Atlanta!




Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Helpful ELCA Resources
Faith Practices - www.elca.org/faithpractices
This link directs you to several Faith Practices resources that might be useful for your ministry setting as you strive to create followers of Christ who are committed to growing in faith, love and obedience to God's will.  The "Five Gifts of Discipleship" resources highlight the current Faith Practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and offer not only bible studies related to these faith practices, but also group activities corresponding to the various liturgical seasons. The resource, "Story Matters" is also posted and this resource provides ministry settings the opportunity to combine the Book of Faith Initiative, Discipleship Small Groups, and Mission Strategic Planning as they seek ways to create passion for bible study, discipleship and mission planning.  For more information contact Rev. Brenda K. Smith at  Brenda.Smith@elca.org.  

Administration Matters - May Issue 
A bimonthly e-newsletter for ELCA congregational and synodical leaders. It addresses common, practical issues including finance, governance, risk management, tax, legal concerns and topics of interest about day to day operations and management in church settings.

StewardNet Newsletter - Spring Issue

World Hunger - Go & Do News - May Issue
Celebrating Ministry Together!
You're Invited - Upcoming Installation
We are pleased to share the invitation to attend the following installation service
in our synod in the weeks ahead. 

The Rev. Timothy Eichler will be installed as pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside on Sunday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m. Rostered clergy and laity are invited to vest in green for the service. King of Kings is located at 2993 MacDonald Street, Oceanside.  Congratulations Pastor Eichler! 
Congratulations, Rev. Dr. Bishop Andrew Taylor!
We celebrate with our bishop as on Sunday, May 21, he graduated with his cohort at Luther Seminary, receiving a Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Mission and Leadership. Congratulations, Bishop Andy, on a job well done!

The Closet on 54th in San Diego
About the Closet
The Closet on 54th is a clothing ministry that provides up to ten items of clothing and two accessories per month free to the community in need. Originally founded as God's Closet in April 2015 at College Lutheran Church, we relocated in August 2016 to Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church on 54th Street to partner with The Cupboard, a food ministry already in operation at Calvary three times a week. The Closet is open 11am-2pm three times a month and is run by volunteers from Shepherd of the Valley, St. Mark's, and members of the community. Originally serving 15-20 people a month at College, we have grown since relocating, and we have just celebrated April as our busiest month ever, giving away 892 items to 102 people!

We are always looking for donations of gently-used clean clothing and accessories (shoes, belts, purses, hats, etc.) and more people interested in volunteering to help. We take men's, women's and children's clothing, but we especially need men's clothing and shoes. Donations can be dropped off during The Closet's or Cupboard's operating hours or when the Calvary church office is open 8am-noon every day. There is also a collection box in the narthex at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church

Ways You Can Help
1. Cleaning out your closet? Consider bringing your donations to The Closet on 54th.
2. Garage sale over? Consider bringing your leftover clothing to The Closet on 54th.
3. Church Rummage sale over? Consider allowing The Closet on 54th to share the leftover bounty with your other designated charities.
4. Consider setting up a collection point at your church.
5. Volunteer to help run The Closet when we are open or when donations need to be sorted. We need 3-4 people to help on open days.

We are located at Calvary Lutheran Church, 3060 54th Street, San Diego, (619) 582-5581. Contact Leslie Atkins at thecloseton54th@gmail.com for more info, if you have donations, or would like to volunteer. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheCloseton54th.


Events & Opportunities


 

 

Martin Luther Movie Event
Martin Luther: The Idea that Changed the World

Tuesday, July 11 at 1:30 p.m. AND  Thursday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m.

Edwards Brea Stadium East 12  (Reclining Seats)
155 West Birch Street, Brea

IMPORTANT: All tickets ($12) must be purchased in advance. 
Tickets can be purchased at a special website set up for the screening:

JULY 11, 1:30 p.m.     http://luthermovie.link/brea1

JULY 13, 6:30 p.m.     http://luthermovie.link/brea

If you would rather not purchase tickets online, you can purchase tickets by contacting: Pr. Ashley Nicolls, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Whittier at
714-681-2924 or by email at  PrAshley1010@gmail.com
Lutheran Night - Dodgers vs. Padres - August 12
Join family & friends for a fundraising event at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, August 12 for a 6:10 p.m. game to benefit Lutheran Social Services (LSS) of Southern California! A donation to LSS is included in the price of each ticket.

The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive a Great Dodger Moments Coin #6 Sandy Koufax Perfect Game presented by 76. To order tickets online, click here

Groups of 20 or more enjoy special benefits including a welcome greeting on the message board and preferred seating options. To purchase group tickets, please contact Britni Howze at 323.224.1304 or BritniH@ladodgers.com .




Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic Prayer Service Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
You are invited to a joint-sponsored Lutheran, Anglican, and Roman Catholic Service of Common Prayer on Sunday, October 29, 2017, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. It will take place in the beautiful church of The Immaculata on the campus of the University of San Diego at 3:00 p.m. There is designated parking and a light reception will follow. 

The event is sponsored by the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Bishops from all three traditions will be participating. The service both commemorates an historic movement as well as celebrates the gift of strong ecumenical relationships that shape Christianity today, and in particular, the San Diego area. People from all denominations and faiths are welcome.