Featured in the
August 16, 2017 issue:
Bishop Eaton's Column
Prayer Requests
Guardian Angels
Children's Theater in Burbank
Constitution Updates
Jobs in the Synod


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August 16, 11:30 p.m.
Synod Eucharist 
Lutheran Center, Glendale 

August 16, 6:30 p.m.
Valencia 

August 23, 11:30 p.m.
Synod Eucharist 
Lutheran Center, Glendale 

August 26, Noon - 3:00 p.m.
St. Andrew's, Van Nuys
#Reformation500

August 30, 11:30 p.m.
Synod Eucharist 
Lutheran Center, Glendale 

September 10

October 20 - 22
Cal Lutheran, Thousand Oaks 

October 24, 6:30 p.m.
Rick Steves' Luther and the Reformation
Claremont School of Theology
#Reformation500

November 11 - 17
St. Luke's, Woodland Hills
________________________
Bishop Eaton's Column

Not Fair!

In her  August  column for Living Lutheran , Presiding Bishop Elizabeth  Eaton  reflects on Jesus' parable about the laborers in the vineyard. While the story raises questions of fairness, she reminds us that "grace is not something we deserve or earn or can work for." 

Read Bishop Eaton's column
 
Invite Martin and Katie to your event! 

Attendees at this year's Synod Assembly got the chance to get their pictures taken with our Martin and Katie Luther standees! Martin and Katie are available for loan at your Reformation 500 events - just call Robin at the synod office to make your reservation.

There is no charge, but a $100 returnable deposit is required in case of damage. Sorry, the Luthers are already booked for Reformation Sunday. They are a popular couple, so make your reservations ASAP! 

Musician Needed 
Are you Glendale local or adjacent, and free midday on Wednesdays? We are in need of a musician for the mid-week Eucharist, held at 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Lutheran Center. This is a volunteer position, although a small honorarium is available. If you are available and interested, please contact Samantha Henderson at shenderson@socalsynod.org. 
Reformation 500 Events and Resources are listed on the synod webpage. Is your congregation having an event for #Reformation500? Let us know! 
 
Please pray for the following: 
  • Pastor Erin Martinson of Trinity, Ventura, recovering from brain surgery. 
  • Dick Buma, husband of Pastor Christine Buma, who is being treated with immunotherapy for rare form of lung cancer.  
  • The family of Rose Norris on her passing. 
  • Pastor Ray Kibler,
    battling immuno-deficiency disease and cancer
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 Robin at rlujan@socalsynod.org .  
   
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 Evangelical Mission

The Rev. Reginald Hansome
African Descent Ministries

Maria Paiva 
Latino Ministries

Janet Renick 
Children, Youth and Faith Formation

Andreas Hirsch   
Finance and Administration

Sheri Dillon
Assistant to the Bishop 
Office Manager 

Sherri Miller
Bookkeeper  

Robin Lujan 
Administrative Assistant
Receptionist

Nicole Miller 
Administrative Assistant 

Samantha Henderson
Communications 

1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591 Phone
(818) 507-9627 Fax

Quick Links









  

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. 
 
    
Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium 

Baseball-loving Lutherans from throughout the Southland came together for Lutheran Night at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, August 12, raising over $3,800 to benefit Lutheran Social Services of Southern California

A pre-game ceremony recognized Randall Foster, Vice President of the Southwest California Synod; Pastor Tom Goellrich, Director for Evangelical Mission for Pacifica Synod; Ron Drews, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services; and Bishop Guy Erwin. Five young Lutherans from congregations across the synod also took the field with the Dodgers: Gabriel Luna from St. Mark's, Los Angeles; Alex Guzman from Faith, Canoga Park; Yashab Azariah from Christ, West Covina; Vinny Mohr from Shepherd of the Valley, Simi Valley; and Zachary Smuck from Ascension, Thousand Oaks.

Angel Volunteers


Student volunteers for the Guardian Angels ministries met at the SWCA Synod offices with Latino Ministries Coordinator Maria Paiva earlier this month. These college students - team leader Valeria Avalos, a senior at UCLA; Shannon Burghardt, a junior at CSULA; Sarahi Cano, a sophomore at CSULB; Aaliyah Hayes, a junior at CSULB; and Glafira Lopez, a junior at UCLA - have been spending their summer in Los Angeles courts, accompanying child refugees fleeing El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The SWCA  Guardian Angels volunteers monitor these children's legal cases and advocate for their rights, connecting them with legal resources and providing emotional and spiritual support. 

SWCA Synod Pastor Alexia Salvatierra spoke at the Women of the ELCA's 10th Triennial Gathering this July about the work of Guardian Angels and ELCA AMMPAROa holistic, whole church commitment by to accompany children today and in the future. 


For more information about the Guardian Angel program, contact Pastor Alexia at  alexia@alexiasalvatierra.com. 

Children's Theater at American Lutheran Church, Burbank

August 19, 20, 26, & 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $5 at the door 
747 North Whitnall Hwy, Burbank

The King and Queen discover that their son, the Prince, doesn't talk. What they haven't realized is that neither of them will give him the chance to talk. Hilarity ensues as the King and Queen try everything they can think of to get him to talk, including hiring three very silly wizards!

Pastors and Congregational Councils - have you sent in your congregation's revised constitution with the 2016 mandated changes from Churchwide? If not, please email it or send a hard copy to the synod office as as soon as possible! If you have any questions, please contact the synod office, Vice-President Randall Foster, or Treasurer Michael Metzger. 



Is a building project on your horizon?

Is your congregation considering a building project?  Consider working with the Mission Investment Fund (MIF), the ELCA's lending ministry.   

MIF loans finance a variety of capital projects-from new construction to additions and renovations, as well as land and building purchases and refinancing existing debt.  And the Mission Investment Fund offers expertise in church building and capital campaign consulting. 

For information on MIF ministry loans and investment opportunities, c ontact Joel Wudel, your MIF Regional Manager, at (773) 682-1765, or email him at joel.wudel@elca.org.

Resouces 

Pastors, Christian Education Directors, Church Musicians: opt in to the following email addressed to receive emails about new and forthcoming resources, discount offers, and free shipping specials:
Positions Open In and Around our Synod Territory
 
Congregations and other organizations in our synod are seeking people to partner in ministry. Check out the opportunities  posted on our website.  To share a job posting in the synod newsletter, website, and Facebook page, email the details to shenderson@socalsynod.org. 


Lutheran Church in the Foothills seeks to hire a permanent Director of Youth and Family Ministries, in a 30-hour per week position, beginning immediately. The Director of Youth and Family Ministries, under the supervision of the pastor and a ministry committee, will be responsible for programming and activities for a youth group consisting of high school and junior high school age youth; programming for inter-generational Christian education, from Sunday school to adult education; and developing ministries and activities for college-age members, single adults, young married couples, families with children, mature couples, and older adults.

 

 

Southwest California Synod, ELCA 
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California
91205
(818) 507-9591
 
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