Featured in the
December 8, 2016 issue:
Bishop Eaton's Column
Prayer Requests
Paid Internship
Executive Skills Workshop
Celebrating MLK
Jobs in the Synod


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December 14 11:30 a.m.
Midweek Eucharist
Lutheran Center, Glendale

December 15, 10:00 a.m.
Green Faith Meeting
Lutheran Center, Glendale

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

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

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 

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
________________________
Hear the good news
In her December column in Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on Matthew 24:36-44, reminding us that through a helpless baby, God was announcing the end of a world "in bondage to sin and death, a world that believes in a god of 'what have you done for me lately?' "
 

Special Group Insurance Window - Deadline December 15
 
Are you a congregation that does not have a group health insurance plan? From now until December 15, one or more of your employees can enroll in a health insurance plan, and you are not required to cover the cost. More information here! 

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.

Region 2 Bishops 

Bishops Jim Gonia, Stephen Talmage, Guy Erwin and Andy Taylor in the SWCA Synod office for the ELCA Region 2 Mobility Conference.
Youth Lounge at Hill Avenue Grace, Pasadena 

Join us for Youth Lounge , a  youth-led  contemporary worship service at Hill Avenue Grace, Pasadena on Saturday, December 10 at 6:00 p.m. Youth are invited to sing, play a song or help lead worship. All ages are welcome at this Christmas-themed event! HAGL is located at 73 N. Hill Avenue in Pasadena. Interested people may contact Matt Braaten at [email protected]

Shepherd of the Valley 
Fills Call 

Pastor Reg Schultz-Akerson was with Council President Barry Waters, Call Committee Chair Pat Plyler, and Secretary Lynn Squire of Shepherd of the Valley, Simi Valley as they signed a letter of call for Pastor Jennifer Chrien.

 
Please pray for the following: 
  • 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. 
  • Kikuno Nakamura, wife of Pastor Paul Nakamura, recovering from a stroke. 
  • 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
  • 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 .  
   
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. 
 
    
SWCA Synod Congregations Assist Habitat for Humanity 

On December 2, Bishop Erwin blessed the work of Habitat for Humanity and the families that will live in three recently built houses in Inglewood. With the assistance of thousands of volunteers and generous donors, Habitat for Humanity has been able to provide families in need better housing and a permanent path out of poverty through homeownership. Thanks to the Southwest California Synod congregations that volunteered on this build! 
Trinity, Hawthorne
Trinity, Manhattan Beach
Chapel of Peace, Inglewood
Bethel, Los Angeles
Westchester, Los Angeles
Church of the Good Shepherd, Torrance
St. Luke's, Long Beach
Resurrection, Redondo Beach
Paid Internship Opportunity in Vancouver, Washington
Previous Messiah summer interns Jayson Nicholson, Caitlyn Melillo, Kevin Beebe, and Ben Hogue

Messiah Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington is offering two internships for full-time college students this summer. 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.

Interested young adults are invited to apply. Messiah would also appreciate church leaders forwarding this opportunity to young adults in whom they see the requisite gifts to be a pastor or professional church worker, but who may not recognize these gifts in him or herself. The student may be someone who has never considered the possibility, or may be someone who would simply appreciate a safe space to investigate an emerging sense of call.

COME SEE, HEAR, FEEL 
Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye) 
A TragiComedy in Three Acts 
with Grief, Comedy, Romance, Healing and Self-Help Tips
A story is about a widower, stuck in grief, 
who finds ways to help himself and others.
 
A Table Reading (Free Parking!) Sponsored by the Southwest California Synod

Presented by Playwright Richard Buckner (King of Glory Lutheran Church, Newbury Park)  and 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 Brechtian Techies and the Hearing Impaired 

This presentation, for theatre goers, churches, academics, potential donors, and the public is to garner support for a full performance by December 2017 as a benefit for the San Bernardino Community.  This play is PG-13 with some adult language and scenes; discretion is advised. 

Please R.S.V.P to [email protected] 
Want to help with the ongoing project? We need you!

The Good Gift of a Water Well 
ELCA Good Gifts 

ELCA Good Gifts are a creative, meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA that mean the most to you and your loved ones. The items in the catalog lift up examples of work being done in different projects and programs supported by funds from the ELCA: the ELCA Fund for Leaders, ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, ELCA New Congregations, ELCA Vision for Mission, ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response. Each of these programs is a long-term, partnership-based ministry that focus on the needs identified by local congregations and global companion churches and their communities.

When you give an ELCA Good Gift you are supporting work within a specific category of ministry. For example, when you give a gift to "stock a health clinic," your donation goes on to support the health care ministries of ELCA World Hunger where needed most. This allows our global companions to determine how these funds can make the biggest impact in their local contexts, and ensure that our work is sustainable.



Following the success of the 3rd Annual National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend in December 2015 with more than 500 places of worship participating, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and the Washington National Cathedral are joining the Newtown Foundation and States United to Prevent Gun Violence in calling all Americans across the nation to keep raising our voices for change by pledging to participate in December 2016! 

Your congregation is invited to participate and provide educational and advocacy opportunities to end gun violence in America. For more information, contact:  

Pastor Dan Gibson, Gun Violence Prevention Chair


Celebrate the season with  Ascension Lutheran 
1600 Hillcrest Drive 
Annual Christmas Cantata 
50-voice Choir with Orchestra and Narration
Sunday, December 18
8:00 and 9:30 a.m.


  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  [email protected].

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

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]



Ascension Lutheran Church is seeking a Church Finance Analyst. This is a part-time (15-20 hours per week) regular non-exempt position. This position will work closely with the Director of Administrative Ministries and Church Accountant on the accounting operations and reporting for the Church and Foundation. Duties and Responsibilities include preparing contribution statements, maintaining and fostering all banking and brokerage relationships, coordinating with the accountant for timely processing of church related invoices, preparing monthly budget variance and analysis to the Director of Administration and Finance Committee, and leading and coordinating the annual budgeting process for the church and the foundation.

Qualifications include two years of general accounting experience, basic understanding of accounting practices and internal controls, and a good working knowledge of Excel. Experience with Shelby Systems church management software is a plus.

A resume with a cover letter can be sent to Kaylee Searway at [email protected] or mailed to her attention at 1600 E Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.For more information and a full description of the position, click  here.


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.

For a full job description, visit the  Mt. Carmel, San Luis Obispo website.

 

 

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