Featured in the
November 3, 2016 issue:
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Are you connected with us on Facebook?
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November 5, 9:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Lutheran Center, Glendale
November 6, 10:30 a.m.
74th Anniversary Celebration and Lunch
Hope, Hollywood
November 6, 4:00 p.m.
Rachel Kurtz in Concert
Salem, Glendale
November 6, 5:00 p.m.
"Bag It" Movie, Discussion and Dinner
First, Torrance
November 9, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
November 16, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale
November 18 -19
Middle School Youth Gathering
Anaheim
November 19, 10:00 a.m.
First, Torrance
November 24
Giving Tuesday
November 27
First Sunday in Advent
January 21, 2017
Hill Avenue Grace, Pasadena
March 25, 2017
Emmanuel, North Hollywood
May 13, 2017
Ascension, Thousand Oaks
June 19 - 30, 2017
June 28 - July 2, 2017
CLU, Thousand Oaks
July 15, 2017
Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo
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Fall Back One Hour Sunday November 6 at 2:00 a.m!
Set your clocks back before you go to bed on Saturday night, and enjoy your extra hour of sleep!
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Bishop Eaton's Column
I was a stranger.
In her November column in Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop
Elizabeth
Eaton
reminds us that migration has been part of the story of God's people from the beginning. She urges us to "welcome the stranger, seeing him of her as a fellow traveler, a companion on the way."
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Election Day is Tuesday, November 8!
Lutheran Office of Public Policy - CA
ballot recommendations for the November 8, 2016 general election are available on the synod website.
Scripture reveals God's presence in all realms of life, including political life. This church understands government as a means through which God works to preserve creation and build a more peaceful and just social order in a sinful world. The electoral process is one way in which we live out our affirmation of baptism to "serve all people, following the example of our Lord Jesus," and "to strive for justice and peace in all the earth."
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Western States Youth Gathering
June 28 - July 2, 2017
Thousand Oaks, CA
What is it that you dream about? What is it that you hope for yourself? What is God calling you into and what dream has God placed in your head.
Time to stop allowing the voices of others to dictate the dreams you have.
Time to start relying more on the influence, grace, and power of God to help your dreams into reality.
After all...God planted those big dreams there to begin with.
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Please pray for the following:
- The family and friends of Ten Jensen, on his passing.
- 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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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!
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.
Afterwards stay for a concert featuring the Los Angeles-based Mühlfeld Trio! This group is quickly establishing itself on the forefront of new chamber music ensembles. This concert is part of the "Interludes" concert series, graciously hosted as a gift to the community by FirstServe Community Services, the nonprofit community service partner organization of First, Torrance. Admission to the concert is free, and donations are appreciated.
To make your reservations for one or more Reformation Roadtrip events, please contact Sherri Miller at [email protected].
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Synod Hunger Team
The first Sunday in Advent is November 27 -
just a blink away! ELCA World Hunger is offering a beautiful and FREE resource - their 2016 Advent Calendar ELCA World Hunger has a new Advent Calendar. This calendar will remind you each day of the reason for the season with hymns, prayers, Bible verses and stories of how ELCA Good Gifts animals make a difference in the world. Celebrate the excitement, anticipation and wonder of the birth of Christ with this Advent calendar. The calendars come in packages of 10 (so order 10 if you need 100). Order your calendars here , and do it soon so you can
share them with your congregation on November 27, the first Sunday in Advent.
#GivingTuesday
On Thursday, November 24 we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States. It is a day to think with gratitude about the blessings we have received. After Thanksgiving, the commercial holidays of Black Friday and Cyber Monday are upon us, but so is #GivingTuesday! The ELCA has been observing this global day of giving for several years, and this year keep an eye on social media and get ready to encourage friends, family and congregation members to give toward a just world where all are fed.
With blessings from the Synod Hunger Team,
Sheri Groenveld
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First Lutheran Church and School
Justice Team &
SWCA Synod Green Faith Team
present
Movie, Dinner and Discussion
Sunday, November 6 at 5:00 p.m.
First Lutheran Church and School
2900 Carson St.
Torrance, CA 90503
In this touching and often flat-out-funny film, we follow "everyman" Jeb Berrier, who is admittedly not a tree hugger, as he embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic and its effect on our waterways, oceans, and even our own bodies.
For more information, contact Vicar Larsen
at (
310) 320-9920, ext. 156
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Join Ascension, Thousand Oaks for Gifts of Hope
November 12 and 13 and November 19 and 20
Saturdays 6:00 - 7:30 p.m, Sundays 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Ascension Lutheran Church
1600 E. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
www.alcto.org
Ascension, Thousand Oaks's Gifts of Hope is a shining light for our neighbors at home and abroad. This year, we're focusing on ELCA Disaster Relief and its activities aiding victims of the drought in Southern Africa, as well as those suffering in the wake of domestic disasters, including California wildfires and Hurricane Matthew. Our local focus is Lutheran Social Services. We're also supporting God's Global Barnyard in its efforts against world hunger.
In addition to the Alternative Gifts, Gifts of Hope includes a Gift Fair featuring edible and artisan products from around the world. From spice mixes, coffee, tea, chocolates and other edible delights to jewelry, baskets, cards, textiles, a wide array of Christmas ornaments and nativities, and a host of other beautiful treasures, this year's Gifts of Hope Gift Fair has products celebrating cultures, artisans and creative skills from nearly every continent on the globe.
The Gifts of Hope Gift Fair is not just a fun opportunity to shop for unique gifts to enjoy and to share with family and friends. Gift Fair merchandise comes to us from organizations focused on providing opportunities to uplift the lives of the artisans and farmers who make these wonderful things. Our talented teams at Ascension carry forward these important principles, using proceeds from the sale of quilts and soup and cookie bags to support ongoing ministries such as Lutheran World Relief and our Ascension Youth Ministry.
This year's Gift Fair celebrates exciting discoveries from our Synod Assembly in June. From our friends who champion ministries in the Middle East, we learned about Diyar/The Cave and their artisan glass ornaments made from rubble after street violence in Bethlehem and neighboring communities. From our friends working with ministries in Central America, including our Global Partners in El Salvador, we learned about The Tree of Life Imports and the colorful hand-painted plaques, crosses and nativities from El Salvador as well as hand-woven textiles from Guatemala. Other new vendors include Because of Hope and Inspired Peru. Returning vendors are excited to share new items. From all around the world, the Gift Fair provides opportunities to support vendors and artisans promoting Fair Trade principles and fairness standards.
Everyone is invited to Ascension's Founder's Hall to join in the Gift Fair and other festivities. The Angel Tree, Hospitality Coffee and Donuts will all be in Founder's Hall during the Gifts of Hope celebration weekends. Ascension's Youth Ministry will be there with delicious soup and cookie mix bags. Ascension's quilters will be there selling some of their beautiful quilts (proceeds given to LWR to help pay for shipping of quilts around the world). And Ascension's Global Ministries Team will have tables filled with your favorite LWR/EE coffees, teas, and chocolates.
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2016 Lutheran Middle School Youth Gathering!
November 18 - 20 at the Sheraton Park Hotel, Anaheim
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: Isaiah 41:10
"Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
Registration includes: 3 large group sessions with our speakers and praise band. Friday night activities - extreme sports, games and much more!
Saturday workshops will focus on teen faith topics and an afternoon spent at Disneyland.
We will close Sunday morning with worship. Join over 300 Christian youth as we fearlessly explore and grow in relationship with our Lord and one another! Registration information here!
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COME SEE, HEAR, FEEL
Con Te Partito (Time to Say Goodbye)
A Tragicomedy in Three Acts
about Grief, Comedy, Romance and Healing
by Richard Buckner
You are invited to a Table Reading (No Charge, Free Parking)
Presented by Elks Member Elizabeth Buckner
2:30 - 5:30 p.m, Saturday, December 10
West Hollywood Community Center, Rooms 5 & 6
7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069
2:00 - 5:00 p.m, Sunday, December 11, Oaks Elks Lodge,
158 N. Conejo School Rd, Thousand Oaks, 91362
Script Projected for the Hearing Impaired
This presentation, for Elks, theatre, church, academic, potential donors and the general public, is to garner support for a full performance by December, 2017 as a benefit for the San
Bernardino Community.
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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 a 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 (nursery through high school) with the assistance of the CAT Ministry Team and lay leaders. This is a salaried, full-time position of 40 hours/week.
Applicants must have experience with children and teens in an area related to theology or education. Three years of experience in coordinating children and teen programs and/or possession of an educational background with an emphasis on working with children and teens is preferred. A college degree with an emphasis in elementary or secondary education is desirable. Applicants must possess a current, valid California driver's license.
"This small Highland Park congregation with a great elementary school is hard at prayer for you. You? You're a keyboard, piano, organ artist comfortable with Bach, Blues, Latin jazz, and Sunday liturgy. Pastor Ernest King is eager to hear from you - please text or call him at: (323) 222-1508." Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd,
6338 N. Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
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Southwest California Synod, ELCA
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale,
California
91205
(818) 507-9591
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