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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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Thanksgiving Week Synod Office Schedule
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On behalf of the Pacifica Synod staff, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving! On Wednesday, November 21, we will hold a Service of Thanksgiving and Gratitude at 11:30 a.m. All are invited!
The Synod Office will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23. We will return on Monday, November 26.
Should an emergency arise during this time, please call 619.333.0828 and a staff member will assist you.
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Pacifica Synod Funds for Mission - Grant Opportunities
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Stephen Ministry Training Scholarships
Pacifica Synod is pleased to announce available scholarships for the Stephen Ministry Leader's Training Course to be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Anaheim, February 3-9, 2019.
The synod scholarship program will provide the following:
- $800 scholarship per lay leader, available for up to three lay leaders per congregation. Additional $285 scholarship per lay leader for non-commuters will be added.
- $1,000 per congregation toward your congregation's enrollment in the Stephen Series, if not currently enrolled. The Leader's Training Course is designed for congregations enrolled in the Stephen Series.
- $400 travel assistance per lay person for up to three people for Hawaii congregations.
Latino Ministry Endowment Fund Partnership Support Grants
The Pacifica Synod Latino Ministry Endowment Fund, formed from a merger of the St. Mary's and Santa Ana Accounts by action of the Synod Council on March 12, 2005, provides assistance and support to congregations with existing Latino ministries and/or congregations intending to develop new Latino ministries.
New for 2019, we will also encourage individual grants for Latino members of the Pacifica Synod using the funds for seminary and the TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries) program.
Congregations grants must have a defined plan for an outreach, worship or other specific ministry. For more information or to apply,
click here.
Warner Trust Fund Grants
Applications are now being received for the Charles and Mable Warner Trust fund proceeds being administered by the Pacifica Synod. The application deadline is January 15, 2019.
Charles and Mable Warner were members of First Lutheran Church, Los Angeles. They had no children and loved their church as evidenced by the following quote from their will:
"...The entire remainder of the trust estate shall go and be distributed to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the Southwest, Los Angeles, California, with the request that such estate be used in the construction of Sunday School facilities and to further youth Christian education."
As legal successors to the Southwest Synod, the principal was divided among the five ELCA synods in Region 2. The principal from the fund has been placed in the ELCA Mission Investment Fund and the interest is made available annually in March, as grants. Depending on interest rates we anticipate receiving about $9,000 on our investment this year that will then be distributed as grants. For more information or to apply,
click here.
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Ministry with Immigrants and Refugees - Your Input is Requested
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What can we together do to assist immigrants and refugees?
We can begin by networking, discovering what other congregations and organizations are already doing, and coming along beside them to help.
The AMMPARO Network of Pacifica Synod invites you to share how you or your congregation are already involved and what you would like to see happen in ministry with immigrants and refugees. Please complete this short survey. We will share the results with everyone who completes it. Welcome to the Network!
Questions regarding survey can be directed by email to Pastor Karla Halvorson at [email protected].
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Word and Service Summit 2019
When: January 29-31, 2019
Where: Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA
Who: Deacons, Synod Staff, Bishops, Seminary Faculty, and Churchwide Colleagues
In 2016 a unified Word and Service Roster (Deacon) was created through a vote of
 the Churchwide Assembly. This recent change is an opportunity for ministry leaders to come together for the sake of our public witness to ask, what does this mean?
We believe a ministry of Word & Service is a vital part of our Church's call and witness in the world. How will we work together to ensure this new roster thrives for the sake of the world?
This will be a time of intentional conversation, in which together, we prayerfully find our common ground in ministry. We'll acknowledge where we've been, where we are, where we are being led, and how to move forward into action to the glory of God for the sake of the world. Join us in worship, prayer and conversations.
For event information and to register online,
click here.
Paul and Norine Nelson Memorial Campus Ministry Grant
The application period is open for the Paul and Norine R. Nelson Memorial Endowment Fund Grant for campus ministries in California, Northern Nevada and Hawaii. Grants are provided to assist ministry site to engage in creative and intentional outreach with young adults in a college or university community.
The applicant must be an ELCA ministry site in California, North Nevada or Hawaii. The application deadline is January 15, 2019. The maximum amount to be granted to any one ministry will be $5,000. The actual award amounts will depend on the number of qualified applications received. To download an application and instructions, please
click here.
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Day of Theological Reflection & Dialogue
Thursday, February 7, 2019
9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Hope Lutheran Church, Temecula
32nd Annual Pacifica Synod Assembly
Friday, May 10 to Saturday, May 11, 2019
Palm Desert
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"In the Wilderness" - Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
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In her November column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on Numbers 11, the Israelites' journey to the land the Lord  had promised them. Today, we are "becoming a generation not quite arrived at the promised land, but seeing God declaring: 'Now you will see if my word will come true for you or not.' "
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Lutheran Disaster Response Update - Fires in California
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To view this report in your web browser, click here.
For wildfire preparation info and resources from Cal Fire, click here.
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Lutheran World Relief - Lenten Resources
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Journey through the season of Lent with Lutheran World Relief and proclaim to the
 world that the hope of Christ makes a new season possible: a Season of Hope. Lutheran World Relief has a collection of resources to invigorate congregations for global good, including:
- Weekly devotionals by Lutherans in the U.S. and LWR staff
- Palm Sunday bulletin insert and children's activity sheet
- Season of Hope Homily Series centered on Matthew 25:34-46
Visit lwr.org/lent for these resources and more to make a positive impact on families living in poverty around the world.
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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.
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Celebrating Ministry Together!
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Installation Service - Pastor Tim Mason, Incarnation, Poway
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All are invited to celebrate with the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Poway (16889 Espola Road, Poway) and Pastor Tim Mason, as he is installed as Associate Pastor on Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 p.m. Clergy are invited to vest and the color of the day is blue.
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Global Mission Update - Pastor Hitoshi and Satoko Adachi
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Pastor Hitoshi Adachi 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 November
newsletter.
We encourage you to consider becoming a longer-term sponsoring congregation/individual to support Pastor Hitoshi and Satoko in their ministries, which will continue for the next four to eight years. As it is written in the attached profile, if you wish to support the Adachi's with an automatic monthly bank withdrawal or to establish a covenant of prayer, communication and support, please contact 800.638.3522, ext. 2657, or at [email protected].
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Agape House Giving Tuesday Event
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To celebrate 56 years of ministry in our current building we are looking for 56
 people who will commit to being a part of our #GivingTuesday campaign. Do you #GiveAgape? Will you commit to posting a #GiveAgape selfie and/or sharing our #GivingTuesday fundraiser on November 27th!
All participants will get hooked up with some Agape Bling and the knowledge that you are making a huge difference in the life of SDSU students!
What to do:
- Take a selfie with the #GiveAgape sign telling us how or why you #GiveAgape
- Post the selfie (either on the Agape page or tagging Agape House SDSU) on Instagram or Facebook on or after November 27th
- Tell others about #GiveAgape by tagging or inviting them to post and/or forwarding our #GivingTuesday online fundraiser.
We are so grateful to everyone who has participated in our #GiveAgape event so far! If you haven't yet participated, you still can! Go to our Facebook or Instagram feed and post a selfie with a sign that says why you #GiveAgape through financial means or how you #GiveAgape with your time or talents either to the Agape House or wherever you #GiveAgape. You can also #GiveAgape through our new text-to-give option by texting GIVEAGAPE to 44-321 or going to
www.agapehousesdsu.org/give
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Mission Trip to Haiti - January 2019
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On January 3-9, 2019, Pastor Nate Allen (Clairemont, San Diego) will be leading a trip to Haiti along with his father, Phil Allen.
They will be meeting with leadership of the Lutheran Church of Haiti as well as local churches, and will be meeting with staff from the Lutheran World Federation in Haiti to see what work they are currently doing in the country. This will be Pastor Nate's third time going/leading trips to Haiti.
Their goal is to go into the trip with open minds and hearts to build relationships with the people there, learn from them about being church in a changing context, and also to ask them directly how to best help them when they return to the United States.
This opportunity is a a wonderful experience that can change those attending as individuals to see the wider world context and to learn from our neighbors what it means to be Christian and Lutheran today. They will grow in compassion and love as a result.
Pastor Nate would like to open up this chance to anyone in the Synod who may be interested in going along. They have also applied for a GEM grant to help cover some of the cost of the the trip. Total cost for the trip is estimated to be about $1,200 BEFORE
any scholarships.
If you are interested or need more information, please contact Pastor Nate by email at [email protected] or by phone at 626.627.5802.
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Latino Young Adult Holy Land Pilgrimage 2019
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Brew Boldly at Luther Glen - November 30 to December 2
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Join Luther Glen for a weekend to Brew Boldly.
This will be a fantastic opportunity to gather, brew, worship, wonder and relax!
The event begins
on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and will end on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Meals will be provided.
Featured Activities:
- Beer and Food pairing
- Brewing
- Brewery Tour
- Worship
Cost is $189 per person (21 and older only). Space is limited. Register online
here.
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LRCC 2019 Winter Retreats
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Come to El Camino Pines & Luther Glen where we will be given a deeper understanding of the God that has already named and claimed each one of us, with a love too abundant to comprehend.
Our Winter Retreats at both sites feature special programming designed by our year-round staff.
Friday to Sunday retreats run from 7 p.m. on Friday evening through lunch on Sunday.
Saturday to Monday retreats run from 4 p.m. on Saturday through brunch on Monday.
Come with your youth group, come by yourself or invite a friend and be ready for a weekend you won't forget. More information and registration can be found online at www.lrcchome.com/winterretreats
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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 Borderline Bar & Grill shooting and the California wildfires.
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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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