Featured in the
December 15, 2016 issue:
Reformation 500
Executive Skills Workshop
Celebrating MLK
Jobs in the Synod


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December 18,  8 & 9:30 a.m.
Christmas Cantata
Ascension, Thousand Oaks 

December 21, 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale

December 26 - January 1
Synod Office Closed

December 28, 11:30 a.m.
No Midweek Eucharist

January 9 - 13, 2017
Carefree, AZ

January 15, 2017
Joint Worship Service Celebrating the Life and Legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Westchester Lutheran Church

January 21, 2017
Hill Avenue Grace, Pasadena 

February 24 - 26, 2017
Farstrup-Mortensen Lecture Series
Bethania, Solvang

March 25, 2017
Emmanuel, North Hollywood

May 13, 2017
Ascension, Thousand Oaks 

June 2 - 3, 2017  
Southwest California Synod Assembly
CLU, 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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Reformation 500

Visit the SWCA Synod's " Reformation 500" page for  resources and notifications about events and news stories throughout the Southwest California Synod!

Synod Office Closed
The synod office will be closed the week of December 26 in observance of the Christmas Holidays. 

Mission Support Deadline 
The deadline for the synod to receive 2016 Mission Support from congregations is Tuesday, January 17 . All Mission Support received after this date will be recorded as 2017 giving.


Messiah Lutheran Church  in Vancouver, Washington is offering two internships for full-time college students this summer. These will be 10 - 12 week full-immersion experiences into the life of a healthy and growing congregation, and are part of Messiah's ministry as a teaching congregation of the Church. This is the 7th year of this internship program, and those selected will be Messiah's 13th and 14th summer interns. Housing is provided along with a $4,000-$4,800 summer stipend.


 
Please pray for the following: 
  • Pastor Craig Beeker, on the passing of his mother 
  • Pastor Ed McGee, deliberating heart transplant protocol 
  • Joyce Brown, wife of Pastor Wendell Brown, as she enters hospice care for stage 4 cancer. 
  • The family of Pastor Carlos Paiva upon his passing. 
  • Pastor Nimrod Flores, who has pulmonary fibrosis. 
  • 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. 
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 .  
   
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

(818) 507-9627 Fax

 

Quick Links










  

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. 
 
    
Presiding Bishop Eaton's Christmas Message
Home for Christmas
Home for Christmas

The New City Parish Urban Training Center is once again delighted to collaborate with CETLALIC Language School, Cuernavaca, Mexico, in offering Spanish language classes in the Los Angeles area. This is a great opportunity to either begin or to review and add to your Spanish fluency - with language teachers who focus on teaching you to speak and understand Spanish!
  • 2 weeks of study, 3 hours per day, Tuesday through Saturday
  • Three 1½ half hour afternoon "practice" sessions per week included
  • Excellent Spanish-speaking teachers utilizing Freirean methodology
  • Small classes (5-10 persons) at your level
  • $120 per student per week
  • For those participating for the first time, there is a one-time enrollment fee of $80 and a book fee of $53 for the two study books
January 10-14: Beginner or intermediate class, 9 am - 12 pm
Optional 2pm - 3:30 Practice Session, M, W, F
January 17-21: beginner or intermediate class, 9 am - 12 pm
Optional 2pm - 3:30 Practice Session, M, W, F

A $50 deposit due by December 20th will hold your spot!

Contact Pr. Brian Eklund, brianeklund@sbcglobal.net or (323) 459-7126 for more information Spaces are limited!



  California Lutheran Executive Skills Workshop 
 for Clergy/Church Workers
January 9 - 13, 2017
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center
Carefree, Arizona
  
Gain valuable and needed skills for pastors, leaders, administrators in congregational settings!  Led by California Lutheran School of Management Faculty.

For the third  year, Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center and California Lutheran University are teaming up for what has become a very powerful and popular workshop - a week of continuing education with faculty from the School of Management. This workshop is geared to all clergy/staff administration of any denomination. Workshop and registration information is available on the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center website
Celebrating the Life and Legacy 
of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA will preside and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Michael B. Curry will be keynote speaker when members of the Southwest California Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles come together on Sunday, January 15 at 3:00 p.m. for a joint worship service celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

The service will be held at  Westchester Lutheran Church, located at 7831 South Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles.  The theme for the gathering is "Living the Dream of God Now." All are welcome, and clergy are invited to vest (white albs and red stoles) and process.  For further information, contact Carolyn Foster at  ccfrsf@sbcglobal.net.

Please spread the news and download the flyer for this event!


 February 24 - 26, 2017
Bethania Lutheran Church, Solvang
The Reformation and its Consequences

The focus of the 32nd Annual Farstrup-Mortensen Lecture Series will be  the Reformation itself and its impact, not only on Christianity, but on society at large, with  Bishop Dr. Guy Erwin  and  Professor Kirsi Stjerna  (California Lutheran University).  

The authority of the church was challenged by Martin Luther 500 years ago with the publication of his 95 theses on October 31, 1517. This radical act encouraged and emboldened others to begin to question the common wisdom in various fields of life. This in turn gave impetus to an entire era called The Age of Enlightenment. Join us and participate as we explore our roots.

The lectures take place at Bethania Lutheran Church in the charming village of Solvang - also known as the Danish Capital of America-located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley of California's temperate central coast region. The weekend also includes entertainment, folk dancing, and a nature walk.  Find out more and sign up here! 

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 shenderson@socalsynod.org. 



St. Mark's Lutheran Church and School, Hacienda Heights California, invites applications for the position of a part-time Youth Ministries Worker beginning January 2017. More information here. 



Ascension Lutheran Church is seeking a Church Finance Analyst. This is a part-time (15-20 hours per week) regular non-exempt position. More information here

 

 

Southwest California Synod, ELCA 
1300 E. Colorado Street
Glendale, California
91205
(818) 507-9591
 
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