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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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Pacifica Synod News & Resources
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Bishop's Gatherings 2018
"Treasures New & Old: Sharing Ministry Ideas & Opportunities"
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This fall's 2018 Bishop's Gatherings are underway. Congregations are invited to send key lay leaders along with their pastors and deacons to a Bishop's Gathering. Other congregation members and friends are also welcome. You are welcome to attend the gathering on the date that works best for your schedule and location.
To assist our host congregations in planning, we strongly encourage congregations or individuals to register in advance by using this link for the gathering they plan to attend. Congregations are encouraged to collect names from their members and register the entire group at one time. Individuals may also register on their own. There is NO cost to attend.
Below are the dates, times & locations for the remaining Bishop's Gatherings that have been confirmed.
We are grateful to our deans and host congregations for their help in planning this time together. Please check our
event web page for information about how to prepare in advance for the time together.
Saturday, September 22
Saddleback Conference
9:30 am to 12 pm
(Rostered Ministers @ 9:30/All @ 10:30
Christ Lutheran Church
35522 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente
Sunday, September 23
East & West San Diego Conferences
2:15 to 4:45 pm
(Rostered Ministers @ 2:15/All @ 3:15
Calvary Lutheran Church
3060 54th Street, San Diego
Saturday, October 6
Hukilau Conference
9:00 am to 2:00 pm
(All will gather during this time)
Christ Lutheran Church
95-1361 Meheula Pkway, Mililani
Saturday, October 13
Harvest Conference
Location & Times to be Announced Soon
Saturday, October 20
Rejoice and Son & Surf Conferences
9:30 am to 12:00 pm
(Rostered Ministers @ 9:30/All @ 10:30)
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
7082 Crescent Avenue, Buena Park
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AMMPARO Workshops in Pacifica Synod
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Get Amp'ed for AMMPARO!
Workshops to be held in Pacifica Synod
Workshop leaders: Mary Campbell, AMMPARO Program Director
and Alaide Vilchis Ibarra, Director for Migration Policy, ELCA
The word "amparo" in Spanish means the protection of a living creature from suffering or damage. The ELCA's Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO) strategy was developed after witnessing the plight of children who are forced to flee their communities because of complex and interrelated reasons. This workshop will cover the root causes of the migration of youth and families from Central America, what happens to migrants in transit, and once they reach the U.S. It will also contain an interactive space for experiencing the journey.
Two identical workshops will be held in our synod, as listed below.
There is no cost to attend. All are welcome!
Saturday, September 29
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
First Lutheran Church
203 East G Street, Ontario
Sunday, September 30
2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
12301 Magnolia Street, Garden Grove
Learn about the many layers to migration and the U.S. immigration legal system as well as resources for how congregations can accompany migrants in their transition to life in a new community.
AMMPARO is a holistic, whole church commitment by the ELCA, as a church in the world, to accompany children today and in the future.
For more information about AMMPARO, click here.
Questions? Please call the Pacifica Synod office 714.692.2791.
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ELCA Women and Justice Draft Social Statement Hearing
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Pacifica Synod is hosting a hearing for ELCA members to comment on the text of the "Draft Social Statement on Women and Justice"
on Saturday, September 29 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Lutheran Center for Mission & Learning (Pacifica Synod Offices) at 1801 Park Court Place, Bldg. C in Santa Ana.
This hearing is a vital part in the development of the statement in which ELCA
 members share their thoughts on the draft.
Before attending the hearing, please read the draft social statement and come prepared with affirmations and suggestions related to specific line numbers. The draft can be found at
ELCA.org/womenandjustice electronically in English and Spanish. You can also order printed copies in English at
bit.ly/OrderWJDraft.
A representative of the ELCA Task Force on Women and Justice: One in Christ will be present at the hearing. An appointed recorder will keep track of everything said (without names) and submit a report to the task force. The task force is committed to reading all these reports as they consider how to revise the draft into a proposed social statement, which will be released in February 2019.
For additional information about the synodical hearing, please visit
ELCA.org/womenandjustice or call the synod office at 714.692.2791.
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Theoasis 2018 Registration Open Now!
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Theoasis 2018
Monday, October 22 - Thursday, October 25, 2018
Embassy Suites, Palm Desert
(please note change in location)
A joint church leaders' event (a theological oasis):
Rostered leaders, professional lay church staff, youth leaders, church administrators, office managers, outdoor ministry leaders, worship leaders... all are welcome!
For information about this event, including speakers, schedule, hotel information, program costs, golf tournament and the link to register, please visit our Theoasis web page.
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Safe Boundaries Workshop - October 22
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On Monday, October 22, a Safe Boundaries Workshop will be held from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert (45-900 Portola Avenue). The cost is $30 and includes lunch. To attend this workshop, please select the Safe Boundaries option found on the
Theoasis registration page. You do NOT have to attend Theoasis to attend Safe Boundaries.
*As a reminder - All rostered leaders in the Pacifica Synod are encouraged to keep their Safe Boundaries Training current. Please make sure to attend a training workshop every 3 years.
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Workshop for Congregational Treasurers & Administrators
Saturday, October 6
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Lutheran Center for Mission & Learning
1801-C Park Court Place, Santa Ana
$10 per person, includes refreshments, lunch and all materials.
For more information and the link to register,
click here.
Questions? Please contact Terri Robertson at 714.352.8732 or by email at ([email protected])
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Pacifica & Southwest CA Synod 2018 High School Gathering
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"Dream Team? Who, me? Discovering Your Place on God's Team" is the theme for the upcoming High School Gathering and is based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. This event, co-sponsored by the Pacifica Synod and the Southwest California Synod Youth Teams, will take place November 9-11, 2018 at
Luther Glen Camp in Oak Glen.
The gathering begins on Friday evening at 7 pm and will end on Sunday by noon. For an event brochure to download and share, click
here
.
Through workshops, music and worship, fellowship, prayer and interaction with other young leaders, it is our hope that youth and adult leaders will come away from camp feeling renewed, refreshed, and equipped with some new tools to use in their own ministry settings. We are excited about o
ur speaker for the weekend, the Rev. Kevin Strickland, Assistant to the ELCA Presiding Bishop, Executive for Worship of the ELCA. For Pastor Strickland's full bio, please visit our event page.
Online registration for this event may be found
here and is open through November 1. The cost for the weekend, which includes all programming and 4 meals, is $99 per person, adults and youth.
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"Tending the Longing: Discernment of Call" Retreat
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Retreat Times - 3:00 p.m. Thursday to 6:00 p.m. Friday
This retreat is designed to be a safe and guided space for discernment and vocation. Wherever you are in your ministry discernment (i.e. candidacy, exploring a new call within your context, exploring a change in call, retirement, struggling with burnout, considering a sabbatical), this retreat is a time set aside to ask honest, open questions and explore where God might be leading you next. There will be cohort break-out groups for mutual conversation.
Location:
St. John's Lutheran Church
42695 Washington Street
Palm Desert 92211
Includes Thursday dinner and Friday lunch.
For full event details and the link to register,
click here. Please note: if you are also attending the Theoasis Conference, this retreat is a separate registration and you must register for both events.
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32nd A
nnual Pacifica Synod Assembly
Friday, May 10 to Saturday, May 11, 2019
Hope Lutheran Church
Palm Desert
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Save the Date - 2019 Deacon Summit
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"Fear Not" - Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
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For Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Isaiah 43:1-7 is one of the most hopeful and  lovely passages in all of Scripture. Find out why in her September column for Living Lutheran, where she says it is possible for us to fear and fear not.
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Situation Update - Hurricane Florence
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Portico Benefits Services News
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Complete your Live Well Challenge
Don't leave money on the table - Portico plan members and spouses with ELCA-  Primary health benefits have until Nov. 30 to complete Portico's 2018 Live Well Challenge and earn up to $400 wellness dollars. These wellness dollars help you pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, mental health, and dental costs. Learn more at PorticoBenefits.org/LiveWell.
Resourceful Stewards Initiative - Savings Matching Programs
Financial wellness is a vital part of a healthy life. Ministers who are in a financially sound position experience greater satisfaction in their work and their relationships, and are more able to freely serve the church and its mission without being encumbered by financial anxiety.
The church is an active partner in addressing specific needs raised by rostered ministers, helping rostered ministers develop their personal financial and stewardship health. Two Savings Matching programs share financial resources with rostered ministers.
These programs match rostered ministers' contributions to a dedicated emergency savings account and/or increased contributions to their ELCA retirement plan accounts. More information about these programs may be found
here
.
Click here to learn about all of the programs, services and resources available to you as a minister or lay person!
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Celebrating Ministry Together!
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God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday
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Here are a few of the ways our Pacifica Synod congregations served their communities over God's Work. Our Hands. weekend.
Thanks to those who sent us their photos!
Below: Bethlehem Lutheran and Imanuel Indonesian in Los Alamitos participated in a joint project which served the
Orange County Food Bank and Precious Life Shelter.
Below: The worshiping community at Atonement Lutheran in San Diego filled over 50 manna bags to distribute to the homeless in San Diego.
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Concert Across America to End Gun Violence - Riverside - Sept 23
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Taize Prayer Service - Brea - October 3
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Safe & Healthy Churches Ending Family Violence Training
San Diego - September 28-29
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Safe & Healthy Churches: Ending Family Violence Training
September 28-29, 2018
First United Methodist Church, San Diego
A two-day training for church teams to prevent sexual and domestic violence and child abuse. Over the past decade, this regional training has been offered across the US, thanks to the sponsorship of InFaith Community Foundation. This year, they offer this groundbreaking, two-day training to churches in San Diego to infuse faith communities with the tools and knowledge they need to address domestic violence, child abuse and other forms of relationship violence. The training is free; advanced registration is required.
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Cal Lutheran's Center for Equality and Justice - Fall 2018 Programs
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The Sarah W. Heath Center for Equality and Justice (CEJ) at California Lutheran  University in Thousand Oaks brings together organizations and individuals to collaborate for equitable social change. Our goals are to support faculty and student research, build partnerships in the community, and inspire dialogue and action.
For a full listing of film series screening, lectures and other events offered this fall, please click here. Admission for most events is free and open to the public.
The
Sarah W. Heath Center for Equality and Justice
(CEJ) supports Cal Lutheran's mission
to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice.
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Pacifica Women of the ELCA Annual Convention
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Our invitation to join us November 2-3 for our annual Pacifica Women of the ELCA convention is open to all women! You can find information about the program, the business, the costs, Love Gifts to share, and more on our website -
www.pacificawomen.org. There are several tabs but to print the registration form and other information, go to the downloads tab where you will find everything in PDF form for printing. Our newsletters are there as well. At our business sessions we will be electing a secretary and board members. We are looking for at least three new board members plus a secretary. If you are willing to serve, go to the nomination form and contact our nomination chair, Jeanne Sandvig. We are ready to welcome YOU!!
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Lutheran Middle School Youth Gathering!
November 16-18, 2018
at the Hilton Hotel, Woodland Hills
This event is sponsored by Lutheran Retreats, Camps and Conferences and
 members of the Pacifica and Southwest California Synods of the ELCA. An exciting weekend has been planned especially for your group!
Theme Verse: 1 John 3:18 "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
The weekend program offers large group sessions with speakers and praise music. Friday night activities include extreme sports, games and much more! Saturday morning workshops will focus on teen faith topics and the afternoon will be spent at Universal Studios. Sunday concludes with morning worship. Join Christian youth as we learn to laugh out loud, love out loud and live out loud through Jesus Christ.
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Below, please find prayer requests for our synod's rostered ministers, spouses, key lay leaders and congregations here in our synod e-newsletter.
We ask that you hold the following people and congregations in prayer:
All those affected by Hurricane Florence & Tropical Storm Olivia
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Prayer requests included are subject to the following guidelines:
- Only the names of those to be prayed for will be included in our communications. Additional information (with permission) may be shared with the bishop or synod staff, but will not be publicized.
- Those being prayed for must have provided the requester with explicit permission for their names to be shared with the synod.
- Names will remain in the synod communications for one month, unless we are notified by the Conference Prayer Coordinator to extend the request.
- Prayers MUST be added through your Conference Prayer Coordinator, who will submit the prayers to the synod office for distribution.
The following people are serving as your Conference Prayer Coordinators:
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