|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
SYNOD & ELCA NEWS & NOTES
|
|
We are pleased to share with you the following news, information and ministry opportunities taking place within our synod and throughout the ELCA.
Our e-newsletter is distributed semi-monthly in two separate issues. One issue includes Pacifica Synod and ELCA news items, along with prayer requests. The second issue contains ministry celebrations, events and opportunities, and positions within our synod and beyond.
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.
|
|
Pacifica Synod News & Resources
|
|
Synod Assembly Recap & Resources
|
We are pleased to share with you our Synod Assembly Final Review publication for you to share with your congregation. Please follow
this link that will take you to our Synod Assembly web page. Scroll down to the Post-Assembly Final Review section and click the 2019 Assembly Final Review link to download a PDF version of the publication (be patient, it's a fairly large file).
You will also find a link to our synod YouTube channel, which contains video recordings of most of the assembly business sessions and speakers. In addition, the ELCA videos and Dr. Collins' PowerPoint presentation may be found on this page.
|
|
Church Website Workshop - June 15
|
Pacifica Synod, in partnership with The Los Ranchos Presbytery - PC(USA), is pleased to host a hands-on church website workshop at the Lutheran Center for Mission and Learning in Santa Ana on Saturday, June 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
For just $25 per person, participants will receive hands-on instruction on how to craft an engaging church website. Topics include: prep, design, branding, homepage & page templates, events & sermon pages, integrations, links & launch - all taught in a step-by-step tutorial process.
A continental breakfast, refreshments throughout the day and lunch will be provided.
See the flyer below for more information. To download a printable copy of the flyer, click here.
Questions? Please contact Terri Robertson at 714.352.8732 or by email at
[email protected]
|
|
Stewardship Kaleidoscope - Real Tools for Real Ministry
|
|
Pacifica Synod pastors, lay leaders, judicatory staff and anyone who is looking to learn more about stewardship in today's church context are encouraged to attend this conference that will take place September 30 - October 2, 2019 in San Diego.
|
|
Mark your calendars now for the following upcoming events this fall:
October 21-24, 2019
Embassy Suites, La Quinta
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!
This year's theme:
"Unleashing the Saints"
Workshop for Congregational Treasurers & Administrators
Saturday, October 12, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lutheran Center for Mission & Learning
1801-C Parkcourt Place, Santa Ana
$10 per person, includes refreshments, lunch and all materials.
|
|
Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities
|
Upcoming AMMPARO Events:
June 5 (Wednesday):
Lutheran Border Concerns Ministry is a Lutheran organization that organizes building projects and support for Latinx families living near the US-MX border.
June 5th at
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in
San Diego,
6-8 PM will be a time to learn about LBCM and their partnerships with the ELCA and LCMS. Rostered ministers are encouraged to attend! See the LBCM for information on how to support and get involved.
http://lutheranborderconcernsministry.org/
June 7 (Friday): Our next
trip to Tijuana, MX! We will make a visit to Casa Migrante, Instituto Madre Asunta, and a mission of the Iglesia Luterana Mexicana, among other places where we will encounter the experience of those who serve, and those who have come to the border in search of safety. The evening meal will be provided at Casa Migrante
Please contact Pr. Nate Allen (
[email protected])
by June 5 if you are interested in attending. Please also indicate if you would be willing to
drive a group around for the day. Those considering
donations of school supplies, hygiene kits, or monies, please feel encouraged to contact Pr. Nate about getting those to the right places. We are always grateful for your participation! If you cannot make this one, there will be more opportunities in the future, but we'd love to have you.
June 21 (Friday):
Survivors of Torture International is an organization in San Diego that advocates for asylum seekers.
Tours begin at
5:30 PM, lasting about an hour. Parking is free and immediately near the office. If you are
interested in joining for a tour June 21,
please email
[email protected]
by June 7 to sign up. I will pass your email and name along, and you will be emailed by a member of SoT with information on address and parking.
July 31 - August 2 (Wednesday - Friday): AMMPARO encourages all
youth groups and youths to make an
mission trip/excursion to Tijuana this summer with AMMPARO. AMMPARO has planned an excursion to broaden awareness and experience of our young people in the church. The aim of this trip is to provide an opportunity to engage in ministry and learning with AMMPARO, as our work for our neighbors seeking refuge and asylum is work for many hands, hearts, and abilities. Overnights will be at Casa de Migrante. Pastors Nathan Allen and Karla Halvorson will chaperone, and other chaperones are welcome. Projects and other details are in the works. If your church has interest in taking part, please contact either Pastor Nate or Pastor Karla (
[email protected]) (
[email protected]), or simply reply to this email.
For more updates, visit the Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Network
web page.
|
 |
|
From the Presiding Bishop
|
"Gather, Word, Meal, Sending"
In her June column for Living Lutheran, ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
 reflects on why we worship: "[Liturgy is] a discipline Lutherans willingly undertake because it helps individuals and the entire community express our connection with other Christians throughout the world and across the ages."
Other statements/letters from the Presiding Bishop:
|
|
ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants
|
|
The application window for 2020 ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants is now open!
Visit
www.elca.org/domestichungergrants to learn more about the grants and how to apply. Organizations applying for an ELCA grant for the first time must set up an account in ELCA GrantMaker in advance in order to access the application form immediately once the window opens. If your organization has already registered in ELCA GrantMaker, now is a great time to log back in and confirm that the contact information in the account is up to date.
Application Timeline
- Registration open: April 1-May 31, 2019
- Application open: April 15-June 17, 2019
- Application review: July-September 2019
- Awards announced: November 2019
|
|
Resources for Migrant and Refugee Sunday
|
New resources from Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service for observing  Migrant and Refugee Sunday are now available at
www.lirs.org/migrant-refugee-sunday
. Consider how you might use some of these resources in the weeks of June:
- On Pentecost Sunday, June 9, we hear a story of how diverse peoples, from the far reaches of the earth, are gathered into one people and speak one language through the gift of God's Spirit.
- On World Refugee Day, June 20, celebrations throughout the United States and the world commemorate the strength, courage and resilience of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and persecution.
- June 9 is designated as Children's Day; June 16 is observed as Father's Day. Both days are times to consider families who are on the move, and to respond to Christ's call to care for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The all-new resources for Migrant and Refugee Sunday include commentaries written by former refugees for preaching on the lessons for Pentecost, a Pentecost/World Refugee Day Litany, Prayer Petitions for June, and other worship and education materials that will be updated each month. Check out the website www.lirs.org/migrant-refugee-sunday to find images, language, and stories to enrich and support your congregation's call to welcome the stranger and to celebrate our oneness in the body of Christ.
|
|
Prepare Now for "God's work. Our hands." Sunday
|
On Sunday, Sept. 8, congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will come together for "God's work. Our hands." Sunday. We hope you plan to join us!
As church, we are guided by our life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve our neighbors. On "God's work. Our hands." Sunday we join together as one church to help restore and reconcile communities in Jesus' name.
As you start to explore opportunities and begin making plans to participate in our dedicated day of service, please visit
ELCA.org/dayofservice for helpful planning resources:
* Planning toolkit
* Worship resource
* Posters, door hangers and postcards
If your congregation cannot participate on September 8, please consider another day for your service activities.
Don't forget to share your congregation's participation with us! Send your stories and photos to
[email protected] so that together we can celebrate what God accomplishes through you.
Old Lutheran will once again have T-shirts and other items available for purchase. The bright-yellow theme provides a wonderful visual impact across the ELCA. The deadline for ordering your congregation's personalized T-shirts from Old Lutheran is August 13.
Sharing the love of Christ through service to our neighbors is work you do every day. We look forward to "God's work. Our hands." Sunday and doing this work together again this year.
|
|
Global Mission Update - Pastor Hitoshi and Satoko Adachi
|
 Pastor Hitoshi Adachi (former Assistant to the Bishop in the Pacifica Synod) and his wife, Satoko, are currently serving as missionaries with the Japan Evangelicial Lutheran Church in Kumamoto, Japan. To learn more about what is taking place in their ministry, please click
here
for their May 2019 newsletter.
For more information and to learn how to help support their ministries in Japan, click here.
|
|
Lutheran Disaster Response - US Tornadoes & Storms
|
For more information, resources and ways to help, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
We ask that you hold the following people and congregations in prayer:
For all affected by the senseless tragedy in Virginia Beach. May your Spirit intercede for us when we don't have the words.
************************************************************************************
In our synod e-newsletter, prayer requests may be shared for our synod's rostered ministers, spouses, key lay leaders and congregations.
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:
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
