Featured in the
October 6, 2016 issue:
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Are you connected with us on Facebook?
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October 8, 9:00 a.m.
Catechism Revisted
Danish Lutheran Church, Yorba Linda
October 9, 4:00 p.m.
The Music of Broadway
Emmanuel, North Hollywood
October 12, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
October 14, 8:00 p.m.
Bruin Shelter Benefit Concert
Mt. Olive, Santa Monica
October 14 - 16
Camp Luther Glen
October 14 - 16
SWCA WELCA Convention
Simi Valley
October 14 - 16
El Camino Pines
October 16, 4:00 p.m.
Interfaith Walk for Peace
Pomona & Claremont
October 16, 4:30 p.m.
Interfaith Housing Forum
St. James'-in-the-City,
Los Angeles
October 19, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
October 21 - 23
Luther Glen
October 24 - 27
La Quinta, CA
October 26, 11:30 a.m.
Synod Eucharist, Glendale
Kristian Kohler, Guest Preacher
October 29, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
New City Parish Fall Event
First, Torrance
October 29, 5:30 - 11:00 p.m.
Resurrection, Redondo Beach Reformation Celebration
Torrance Marriott
November 5, 9:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Lutheran Center, Glendale
November 19, 10:00 a.m.
First, Torrance
November 27
First Sunday in Advent
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Bishop Eaton's Column
A big look at the Small Catechism.
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n October, Living Lutheran shares a reprint of ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's column from July 2014. Just as she did at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, Eaton encourages people to "dust off" their Small Catechism and take another look at the basics of our faith as we near the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
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As a result of changes adopted to the Model Constitution for Congregations at the 2016 Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA, EVERY congregation's constitution now needs an update. All the information you need about making these required changes can be found
here, and have been mailed to pastors and congregational presidents synod-wide.
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Western States Youth Gathering Registration is Open!
June 28 - July 2, 2017
California Lutheran University
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Please pray for the following:
- Pastor Ray Kibler's Cancer is now in remission! Please pray that ongoing chemotherapy will keep this so.
- Pastor Sam and Ellen Platts. Pastor Platts has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
- Kikuno Nakamura, wife of Pastor Paul Nakamura, recovering from a stroke.
- Pastor Carlos Pavia, receiving treatment for a knee injury
- Catherine, Jaffa Carrera's grandmother
- Mark Abad
- Dick Buma, husband of Pastor Christine Buma, undergoing clinical trial for aggressive Stage 4 lung cancer.
- The family of Pastor Norma Castillo
- Keny and Anthony Callahan; Anthony has stage 3 lymphoma
- The family of Rev. Gerry Swanson
- Pastor Nimrod Flores
- Cowan Family
- Pastor Charlie Kurtz
- Clemontene Richmond
- AIM Karen Wilson
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 us
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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
/ Director for Evangelical Mission
The Rev. Reginald Hansome
Coordinator of African Descent Ministries
Andreas Hirsch
Finance & Administration
Maria Paiva
Latino Ministries
Janet Renick
Children, Youth and Faith Formation
Sherri Miller
Bookkeeper
Administrative Assistant
Robin Lujan
Administrative Assistant
Samantha Henderson
Communications
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 507-9591 Phone
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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.
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Action Food Pantry Raises Scholarship Funds
with "Beers and Brats" Octoberfest
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Clockwise from the top: scholarship recipients and their sponsors; enjoying brats and beer; Bill Cortus with Thrivent Financial; Steven De Muth (Holy Trinity Episcopal, Covina), Robert Hamel (Christ, West Covina), Mark Marius (St. Mark's, Hacienda Heights), Jim Brooking (United Methodist, West Covina), Thom Johnson (Prince of Peace, Covina), and Bill Cortus (Thrivent); students with their certificates.
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A generous crowd gathered at Prince of Peace, Covina on Sunday, October 3 for the
Action Food Pantry's annual Octoberfest "Beer and Brats" Scholarship Fundraiser. "Action" stands for "Action Together In One Name," which reflects the interdenominational nature of this ministry.
Supporting congregations include local Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist churches, as well as a synagogue and a mosque.
The pantry serves an average of 100 families a week, including single parents, the working poor, senior citizens, disabled, unemployed persons and the homeless. Supporting congregations also organize an annual food drive to put together complete Thanksgiving baskets for their clients.
For the past ten years, the ACTION team has also held the "Beer and Brats" fundraiser for the benefit of nominated students within their congregations. The event is sponsored by the local
Thrivent Action Team, which provides the brats and beer as well as contributing scholarship money. The remaining funds are donated by those attending. This year, over $3000 was raised to assist scholarship recipients!
You can find information about how to donate to the Action Food Pantry, along with their current needs,
here.
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SHINE - Youth Leadership Event
October 14 - 16 at Camp Luther Glen
Register by Monday!
"SHINE" is the theme for the upcoming High School Leadership Training Event at
Luther Glen Camp in Oak Glen, and is based on Daniel 12:3. This event, co-sponsored by the Southwest California Synod and Pacifica Synod Youth Teams, will take place October 14 - 16, 2016.
This will be a fantastic opportunity to gather and grow together, learn and lead, play and pray, serve, worship and wonder! The event begins on Friday night at 7:00 p.m, and will end on Sunday by noon. Please consider bringing high school youth who are (or have the potential to be) your best leaders, as well as some key adult leaders who share a passion for walking alongside our youth in their faith journeys. There will be elections to op
en positions on both Synod Youth Teams, and o
ur keynote speaker will be Michael Bridges, of the band Lost and Found.
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In October and early November, many churches celebrate the feast of St. Francis, who reminds us that God's Creation includes more than human kind, with a blessing of our companion animals. If your congregation had a blessing or celebration of pets, please send photos to Samantha at s
[email protected]!
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All are invited to the Ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and the Installation of Pastor Steve Otte.
Ordination
Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m.
King of Glory Lutheran Church
10280 Slater Ave, Fountain Valley
Installation
Sunday, October 30 at 1:00 p.m.
Grace Lutheran Church
17880 East Covina Blvd, Covina
A light luncheon will follow
Rostered Leaders are invited to vest according to their congregational and cultural practices at both the ordination and the installation. The color of the day is green.
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Is your church ready for changes in the Fair Labor Standards Acts in regards to overtime? Which churches are exempt from the new rules, and which must comply?
Make sure your church is in
compliance
at a free human resources workshop, held at the Lutheran Center in Glendale on Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. There is no charge, and lunch is included. Experts in both human resources and employment law and practices will be present, and your detailed questions will be answered. The SWCA Synod strongly recommends this workshop for congregation treasurers, administrators, an anyone responsible for human resources or payroll in your church office.
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For each session, the first lecture will be a "Getting on the Road" introduction to the day's topic. Lunch will be served, followed by a "Zero to Sixty" in-depth lecture about Luther's teachings. Come hear one, or come hear all: the topic is different every time! You'll also be able to visit the Reformation Bookstore, Augsburg Fortress's selection of Reformation 500 publications featuring discounted prices and free shipping.
The second stop of the Roadtrip is at First, Torrance on November 19, 2016! Join us at 2900 West Carson Street in Torrance for "Luther as a Reformer of Christian Life." The in-depth text is "The Large Catechism of Dr. Martin Luther, 1529."
Each Reformation Roadtrip event will be held from 10:00 a.m to 2:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per event. Please bring payment in cash or check the day of the event. Checks should be made out to the Southwest California Synod.
To make your reservations for one or more Reformation Roadtrip events, please contact Jason Ramirez at [email protected].
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As we head into another hotly-contested election season, we tend to see a rise in questions about permissible versus impermissible political activities. Tom Cunniff, Associate General Council for the ELCA offers resources to help guide conversation and answer questions:
November ballot proposition recommendations from the Policy Council of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California are available
here
. More information, such as Support and Opposition lists and Advocacy Sunday resources, are available at
www.loppca.org
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Join Bishop Guy Erwin for a 12-Day tour exploring Germany and the sites associated with Martin Luther in this 500th Anniversary year of the beginning of the Reformation. Visit Wittenberg, Erfurt, Wartburg Castle, Leipzig, Berlin, and much more. We will also see Weimar and Buchenwald, where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was held prisoner.
Bishop Erwin will be leading the tours, answering questions, and providing historical context throughout the trip. An optional 5-Day Post-Tour of Bavaria is also offered. Register now and receive an early bird discount!
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Positions Open in our Synod Territory
Congregations and other organizations in our synod are seeking people to partner in ministry. Check out these opportunities posted on our website. To share a job posting in the synod newsletter, website, and Facebook page, email the details to [email protected].
Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo is seeking to fill the full-time position of Director of Children and Teen Ministries. This position has the primary responsibility for continuing and expanding programs for children and teens from birth through 18 years of age with the assistance of the CA Ministry Team and lay members of the congregation.
Candidates should demonstrate a strong desire and ability to work with children and teens, relate well with all age groups, possess a good knowledge of the Bible and the teachings and doctrine of the Lutheran Church, exhibit personal faith through regular worship and participation in a church community, be able to work well with adult volunteers and to delegate tasks and projects effectively, and demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm and energy. Detailed information is available
here. Contact Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church at (805) 544-2133 with any questions. Resumes should be emailed to [email protected].
St. Luke Lutheran Church of Woodland Hills invites applications for a half-time (20 hrs./week) Church Office Administrator position. The ideal applicant will have strong organizational skills, the ability to manage a wide variety of tasks, an excellent ability to relate to others and be committed to maintaining appropriate confidentiality. Proficiency with social media, website management and Office Suite is a must, desktop publishing a plus. Familiarity with Lutheran or other mainline church cultures would be helpful, but not required. We are looking for a team player who will play a key role in enhancing the life and ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church. The application period will close when the position is filled. If interested, please send resume to:
[email protected]
Faith Lutheran Church/Iglesia Luterana Fe,
Canoga Park is seeking a bilingual (English/Spanish) Director of Children and Teen Ministries.
Faith Lutheran Church is a growing bilingual congregation in the west San Fernando Valley.
We have identified children and teen ministries as critical to the life and future of our congregation. We seek someone who can help build a sustainable children and teen ministry.
The Director of Children and Teen Ministries will have primary responsibility for continuing and expanding programs for children and teens from birth through 18 years of age (nursery through high school). For more information and desired qualifications, click here.
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale,
California
91205
(818) 507-9591
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