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Christ - Community - Connect
November 5, 2020
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Transforming lives and making the Great Commission REAL!
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The Weekly Newsletter and the Prayer & Praise are created with postings submitted by congregations. Please share with us so we can share with the entire Pacific Southwest District.
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MISSION ESSENTIAL
You may have missed the live Mission West event on October 17 but know that you and your ministry leaders can access all the video recordings free on our website! Mission West is a partnership between our District and the California-Nevada-Hawaii and Northwest Districts of the LCMS. Together we spent the day in conversation with Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience. We were also blessed to hear from community leaders who focused on issues of public health, community engagement, and government interaction. Each brought their views on adaptive leadership through a mission lens. Don't let this one pass you by - share the videos with your leaders and build it into your leadership discussions!
We want to thank the LCEF for their sponsorship of this event. LCEF graciously donated 100 copies of Tod Bolsinger's book, and there are still 28 copies left! Be the first to send your name, address, phone number (for shipping purposes) and ministry affiliation to Juanita.Niebla@lcef.org. Thanks again to LCEF for being such a great mission partner!
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ALL WORKERS CONFERENCE HUB
We are thrilled to be able to share with you that our conference hub is now available for you to view. Take a look at the welcome, exhibit hall, workshops (more have been added, so take a look!), presenters, schedule, and a big thank you to our tier sponsors.
Passwords for Monday's live-stream events and Tuesday's workshops will be sent out to all paid attendees after next week. If your church and/or school hasn't yet paid, please mail in your check, log in with your credit card, or be sure School Ministries is sent your USD purchase order confirming title fund payment.
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THE STATE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AFTER THE ELECTION
The results of the 2020 election and what is taking place in the courts will likely have a significant impact on the religious freedom of churches. On Thursday, November 12 at 10:00 am AZ Time, our partner, ADF Church Alliance, is hosting a free webinar to discuss the state of religious freedom in America, how the election may impact it, and what they see on the horizon for the next four years. They will also share current court cases that affect religious organizations and actionable steps you can take to protect your church. Space is limited - Register Today!
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ON THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER BIBLE STUDY
The next Breakfast Bible Study at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, CA will be Saturday, November 14. The topic will be "On the Spirit and the Letter" led by Rick Ritchie, a member of Redeemer and graduate of Christ College Irvine and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies with a concentration in Church History. What does St. Paul mean in 2 Corinthians 3 when he writes about the spirit and the letter? Are we to pay attention to the spirit of the law rather than the letter? Or does it mean we should read the Bible allegorically rather than literally? Great minds of the past have wrestled with such questions over the centuries. Come find out what St. Paul meant, and how Luther followed Augustine, but went beyond him in keeping the Gospel central in discussing such things. Join us for what we hope to be a spirited discussion! Breakfast starts at 8:30 am in the Fellowship Hall, followed by the presentation at 9:00 am. RSVP for breakfast to the Church office at 714-846-6330 or churchoffice@redeemer-lutheran.net. For those who cannot attend in person, the study will be live on Zoom. Please visit our website redeemer-lutheran.net and look under Events; Upcoming Events for information on how to participate.
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SEASON OF HOPE: LWR RESOURCES
You've been busy reinventing the way your congregation does ministry. Let Lutheran World Relief help you this Advent. Lift up the experience of our neighbors in each of the regions your love reaches: Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Lutheran World Relief will provide you with a full suite of resources that can be used digitally or in-person each week: sermon illustrations, powerful videos, candle lighting litany and at-home engagement. Visit lwr.org/congregations to download these free resources and make plans for your congregation to experience a Season of Hope.
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New Video Added! These short videos from Lutheran Church Extension Fund were designed to move your ministries forward according to God's will.
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INDIA IN CRISIS: EMERGENCY RELIEF
The Covid-19 pandemic has escalated into a humanitarian crisis in India impacting the poorest of the poor. Many of our ministry partners in India are already responding - and they are pleading for help. A gift of $40 will feed a family of 4 for 4 weeks. Will you help them? Donate Now
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PSD All Workers Conference
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PSD All Workers Conference
We excitedly invite you to join us for our first-ever Pacific Southwest District All Workers Conference! Registration is now open. Although our conference will be virtual, we encourage you to safely gather at host sites to view the conference in fellowship with other Lutheran church workers.
The conference will take place Monday and Tuesday, November 23 & 24. The cost is $50 per person. Our planning team is enthusiastically anticipating an excellent conference with first-rate keynote speakers and workshop presentations intended to equip and resource workers from all ministry areas.
AWC Registration
Just a friendly reminder that all staff members registering from the same congregation/school should be registered by one person. Please identify a single person to input all of the attending pastors, teachers, administrators, DCEs, DPMs, etc. from your staff. That single person's email address should be entered as the first email address for every registration on the staff. You will be able to input individual email addresses on the second email address field on each person's individual registration. This is a critical piece for keeping all staff together as one organization for processing of payment and other correspondence. Thank you so much for paying careful attention to this request! AWC Registration
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Host Sites
The 2020 All Workers Conference online format doesn't mean personal engagement isn't possible. We pray that groups of pastors, educators, DCEs, music directors, and more will safely gather at host sites, providing participants with the opportunity to engage around content, enjoy the fellowship of others and worship together. Larger church/school staffs may want to stay on campus and become their own host site, inviting others in their area to join them per their county's guidelines.
A listing of available host sites where you can join your colleagues is coming soon!
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BACH CANTATA VESPERS CONCERT
St. John's Lutheran Church, Orange, CA presents Bach Cantata Vespers
Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen! (BWV 51) performed by the Cathedral Singers, Soloist, String Quartet & Organ on Sunday, November 8 at 7:00 pm. Cantata 51, featuring a soprano soloist, was written around 1730 for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity. The Cathedral Singers will present two anthems as part of the service; Charles Raasch is the organist. This Concert will be presented online. Learn More
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF QUILTS & KITS COLLECTION
A collection of Lutheran World Relief Quilts and Kits will take place November 1-30, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center located at 7415 E. Elbow Bend, Carefree, AZ. For more information on quilts and kits please visit lwr.org/quilts and lwr.org/kits.
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BACKPACK BONANZA
Backpack Bonanza #2 is scheduled for February 14, 2021. This is a joint project of Orphan Grain Train CA-AZ-NV Collection Center and the PSD LWML. Information for this project can be found at psdlwml.org under Forms and Resources; Orphan Grain Train; September 14 for those groups or churches wanting to participate. As backpack and school supplies are readily available at this time we wanted to give you a heads up. Final collection information will be forthcoming.
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Elections - Father, we plead for your mercy and blessing for our nation in light of the elections. We pray for peace and wisdom, and for those newly elected or re-elected. Enable them to diligently seek Your will and lead with the righteousness that exalts a nation while shunning sin that is a reproach to any people. Help us in Your Church to always remember that as Your dear children our citizenship is in Your Kingdom, and grant us diligence, wisdom and grace to continually work to fulfill Your mission in our communities, our nation and our world.
Hate & Injustice - Our Gracious Heavenly Father, we cry out to you for mercy during these difficult days. Please, O God, heal our land, bring peace to our neighborhoods and cities, and tear down the walls of hate and injustice that divide us. Raise up your church to be a life-giving force - ambassadors of reconciliation. Empower us for action that we will do more than talk - for it is time to act. May we model for our world the oneness in Christ, who alone is the hope of the world. Give wisdom to our civil authorities and faith leaders to make decisions and lead in directions that will result in repentance, healing, forgiveness, new directions, and peace.
Coronavirus - Please be in prayer: for infection rates to slow and cease; that those who have been infected will heal quickly; that healthcare staff and first responders will be sustained as they carry this very heavy burden; that our churches, schools and preschools would be sustained and reliant on our loving God and His guidance; for courage and peace for our pastors, lay leaders, church and school administrators, faculties, and all church and school workers who are making difficult decisions, creating innovative solutions for continuing to reach people for the sake of the Gospel; for our federal, state and local leaders to seek God's will as they make important decisions and take actions against this disease; for God to bring many, many people to faith through this situation, and that His Church would be more effective than ever in sharing the Gospel with the lost and loving our neighbors.
First Responders - For protection, provision and encouragement for our first responders who serve our communities faithfully and sacrificially, facing risks every day on our behalf in order to preserve the peace, our lives and property.
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Recently during his Facebook Live broadcast, President Gibson invited all of us to join him each day at noon for a time of prayer on behalf of PSD Congregations and Schools. Simply set your phone alarm for noon and take a moment to unite your hearts with many others across our District.
Join us in praying: Pour out, O God, the power of your Spirit upon our congregations and schools as we proclaim together the message and hope of Christ.
This week, along with PSD School Ministries, we specifically pray for:
- St. James Lutheran Preschool & Kindergarten, Imperial Beach, CA
- St. John's Lutheran Preschool, Montebello, CA
- iRemnant Preschool, Fullerton, CA
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CONTINUED PRAYERS
Rev. Edward Ambrose - vascular/orthopedic issues
Jo Ambrose - fighting bone cancer
Owen Arizmendi - battling Krabbe Leukodystrophy
Rev. Charles Brady - recovering from two strokes and neurological issues
Dora Collins - chronic pain due to auto-immune issues
Rev. Alfonso Conrado - dementia, paralysis and diabetes
Rev. Scott Ganas - hospitalized with heart problems
Noah Gerdes - recovering from Valley Fever
Rev. Dave Gruenhagen - fighting cancer
Rev. Michael Harnack - suffering from CIDP
David Hendry - suffering from dementia
Kim Ingwersen - battling ALS
Rev. Ray Kibler - blood cancer, immunodeficiency, severe side-effects
Jenny Lawson - fighting cancer
Marla Lichtsinn - fighting cancer
Rev. Johnny Lopez - fighting cancer
Rev. Harry Matelski - recovering from heart surgery
Susan Matelski - inoperable deteriorating spine
Mark Nadeau - fighting cancer
Rev. David Peterson - renewed health
Christina Spallek - fighting cancer
Rev. Hal Teuscher - fighting cancer
Rev. Rex Umbenhaur - fighting cancer
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Is there something exciting happening in your congregation or school? Let us know so we can celebrate with you! Does your church or pastor have a blog, vlog, or do you live stream your services? Let us know so we can help drive engagement! Visit the Around the PSD page on our website to hear some great stories. You can submit your story from this page. Please Note: This is not an events page.
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Pacific Southwest District-LCMS
949-854-3232
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