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PACIFICA SYNOD & ELCA NEWS & NOTES
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We are pleased to share with you the following news, information and ministry opportunities taking place within our synod and throughout the ELCA.
Our e-newsletter is distributed semi-monthly in two separate issues. One issue includes Pacifica Synod and ELCA news items, along with prayer requests. The second issue contains ministry celebrations, events and opportunities, and positions within our synod and beyond.
If you have items to share about the ministries happening through your congregation, please email Terri Robertson at
[email protected]. If you know of others who aren't receiving our emails, please share this with them and encourage them to sign up
here.
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Pacifica Synod News & Resources
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All are invited to be with us at the Lutheran Center for Mission and Learning (Pacifica Synod Office) as we gather on Wednesday, February 26 at 11:30 a.m. for Ash Wednesday worship and the imposition of ashes. Pastor Tom Goellrich, Pacifica Synod Director for Evangelical Mission, will preach and preside.
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Pacifica Synod Assembly 2020
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Mark your calendars for the
33rd Annual Pacifica Synod Assembly May 28-30, 2020
With gratitude for those who have gone before and hope for the future, the ELCA gives thanks to God for the ministry of women. In 2019 and 2020 we celebrate 50 years of Lutheran women being ordained in the United States, 40 years of women of color being ordained, and 10 years of LGBTQIA+ individuals being able to serve freely.
We are church together for the sake of the world. This year, Pacifica Synod and Southwest California Synod will celebrate their synod assemblies together on the campus of our university, California Lutheran. Expect to be encouraged and inspired by ministries we are already doing together and dream of where God is calling us to future endeavors. Congregations and members will register in their respective synods but most sessions and workshops will be united. Join us for this historic event.
Pre-assembly activities will take place on Thursday, May 28.
Business will begin Friday morning, May 29
and conclude on Saturday, May 30 by noon.
Joint Memorials
Resolutions will not be considered at the 2020 Joint Assembly, but may be submitted to the SWCA or Pacifica Synod Councils as allowed by each synod's respective constitutions. Submission of resolutions for consideration as assembly business will resume with the assembly following 2020's Joint Assembly.
Memorials for consideration at synod assembly are due no later than
Friday, February 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
, and should be emailed to [email protected]
AND
mailed to the Joint Committee on Reference and Counsel, c/o Samantha Henderson, at the SWCA Synod office at 1300 East Colorado Street, Glendale, CA 91205.
For more information about joint memorials, click here.
Synod Assembly Fee Invoices
The congregational registration fees for this year's assembly will be $575. An invoice was mailed on January 27 to each congregation, detailing voting member assignments for your congregation and allowing congregations to take advantage of an
Early Bird Discounted Congregational Registration Fee ($500 for 3 voting members) if paid by February 29, 2020.
Fee reductions for smaller congregations may be requested.
To do so, please contact Rachel Line at [email protected] by February 29, 2020. Please note that fee reductions are based on financial data reported with your 2018 Congregational Report.
Just a reminder - payment of this invoice does not register any individuals from your congregation!
You will have the opportunity to register your voting members and visitors through the online registration registration process beginning on March 1, 2020. Watch for the link to register on our website and in our e-newsletters.
If you have questions about your Synod Assembly invoice or registration for the assembly, please contact Terri Robertson at 714.352.8732 or by email at [email protected].
Synod Council & Committee Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for Synod Council and Committees through February 28.
For more information,
click here
.
Retired Rostered Minister Voting Members
Each year, following the Constitution and Bylaws of the Pacifica Synod, 10% of each of the retired members of the two rosters of this synod shall serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly (S7.22.). Retired clergy and deacons are invited to participate in this process as a voting member of the 2020 Synod Assembly taking place at California Lutheran University on May 28-30.
Please contact Carol Youngman by March 1, 2020, if you are interested in serving. Email your responses to
[email protected] or call 714.692.2791.
An election ballot will be distributed if more than 10% of each roster volunteer to serve.
Retired voting members will be notified by March 15. To download a copy of the full information letter, click here.
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Undoing Racism Workshop - April 27 to 29
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Monday, April 27 to Wednesday, April 29, 2020
1:00 p.m Monday to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday
Luther Glen Farm Retreat Center
39136 Harris Road, Oak Glen
The fabric of racism is inextricably woven into the structures of every system and institution in our society, including the church. The workshop will focus on understanding what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone through effective anti-racist organizing with, and in accountability to the communities most impacted by racism.
This will be a faith-based anti-racism workshop that will explore how to bring about change within the church and how the church can participate in ending racism in society. By the end of the workshop, participants will be enabled to take further steps in the long-term task of creating an anti-racist church.
This workshop is open to lay and rostered leaders and will fulfill the 2019 Pacifica Synod resolution requirement for rostered leaders to complete an anti-racism/diversity training at least once every three years. The workshop is limited to 40 participants.
For more information and to register, please visit our event web page.
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Save the Date - Global Women's Tea - April 20
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On Monday, April 20th, at 11:30 a.m., Lisa Higginbotham, Regional Gift Planner
 with the ELCA Foundation, will be leading and presenting a Global Women's Tea, benefiting International Women Leadership, at Messiah Lutheran in Yorba Linda.
There will be a presentation, followed by a tea reception. The main guest speaker will be ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.
Watch for more information to come, as well as reservation instructions. Lisa is looking for women who would like to come early and decorate a table for tea. If you are interested, or need additional information, please contact Lisa directly by email at
[email protected] or at 805.910.0548.
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Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Network Updates
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The Pacifica Synod AMMPARO network will meet Saturday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in San Clemente (200 Avenida San Pablo, San Clemente).
Please share this with any member of your congregation that is interested in responding to the needs of asylum seekers, immigrants in our own communities, and refugees. We will share resources and opportunities for everyone from trips to Tijuana to responding in your own neighborhood. We also want to hear what you are already doing!
Please RSVP and send questions and comments to Deacon Roberta Wall by email to
[email protected] or Pastor Karla Halvorson by email to
[email protected] or phone at 760.727.1509 .
The ELCA AMMPARO network stands for Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities.
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Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network Opportunities
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LEVN, the Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network, is looking for young adults
 (age 21-30) for an 11-month program of non-profit volunteer service and learning about social justice. From the end of August 2020 to the end of July 2021, our corps members will be provided housing, utilities, health coverage, spiritual direction, and a $535/month living stipend. We also offer a $1000 re-entry grant at the completion of the program.
The placement sites for the upcoming program year include faith-based non-profits, secular non-profits, congregations, outdoor ministry, and our campus ministry at UC Davis. These service sites address issues of homelessness, food insecurity, unemployment, children and youth ministries, and other important social justice issues facing our communities.
We gather each week for evening prayer, dinner, and formation. The corps members live in intentional community in an apartment attached to our campus ministry center in Davis, CA. We're an ecumenical program in the Episcopal Service Corps network; applicants needn't be either Lutheran or Episcopal to apply-interest in Christian spirituality is the only expectation.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020.
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Inter-Lutheran Emergency Response Team (I-LERT)
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From ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton
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"We Are Broken"
In the February issue of
Living Lutheran,
ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us of our uniquely Lutheran understanding of the gospel and renews her call for studying Martin Luther's Small Catechism. "Luther said he needed to study it every day-and he wrote it! Let's do the same."
See below for other statements and responses from Bishop Eaton:
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ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering , Phoenix - July 20 to 23
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Gathering highlights:
- 100 workshops offered over four workshop blocks
- 85,000-square-foot interaction center with over 30 exhibits
- Beer and hymns
- Banquet celebrating women's ordination
Featured guests and speakers, including:
- The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, The Episcopal Church
- Krish Vignarajah, CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
- The Rev. Karoline Lewis, chair in biblical preaching at Luther Seminary
Early registration (Feb. 20-May 20) is $245. Booking travel and hotel is your responsibility. Once you register, you will be provided with links to the three gathering hotels, each with a room rate of $139/night plus tax. A limited number of
scholarships
are available.
Visit the website for more information. In addition to the main gathering, join us for one of three
pre-event gatherings
:
- Young rostered ministers
- Deacons
- Women pastors, 50th anniversary of ordination
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ELCA stewardCast - March 14
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- Are you looking for ways to strengthen leaders?
- Are you wondering how Mission Support can add vitality to your ministry?
- Are your members wondering how their Mission Support makes an impact in the world?
Pastors, leaders and members with the above questions will want to join the ELCA stewardCast on
Saturday March 14, 2020 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon (CST).
Featured presentations will include:
- The Why and What of Mission Support
- Growing Congregational Vitality through Mission Support
- Stories from Congregations and Synods
- How Mission Support Enhances Global Mission
- Generosity 365: Resources for Growing Giving and Mission Support
Participation in this event is free and requires no registration. On the morning of March 14, simply go to
www.elca.org/stewardship
and click on the widget at the right titled stewardCast2020. You will be connected immediately.
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2020 Region 2 Plan for Retirement Seminar
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Retirement takes planning. Whether it feels light years away or just around the corner, Portico's Plan for Retirement Seminar can help you prepare. And it's coming to St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek, California on Thursday, July 30, 2020.
In the morning, learn how to balance investing for your future with your current financial goals. In the afternoon, discover ways to create a sustainable income in retirement. Portico will guide you through the topics to focus on, and when. Join for the morning, afternoon, or both.
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God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday 2020
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Please save the date of September 13 for "God's work. Our hands." Sunday, the ELCA's dedicated day of service.
Since 2013, "God's work. Our hands." Sunday has inspired people of all ages to put their faith in action through service projects that share God's love with all of God's people. As we gather together in service to our neighbors, we are reminded of one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: All of life in Jesus Christ - every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life - flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God's grace.
You work every day to make your community a better place. We look forward to working together on "God's work. Our hands." Sunday.
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ELCA 2021 Youth Gathering - Minneapolis, MN
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ELCA Youth Gathering
June 29-July 3, 2021
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The ELCA Youth Gathering team announces the theme of the 2021 Gathering, "boundless: God beyond measure," based on Ephesians 3:19 CEV.
"I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is."
Every three years, 30,000 high school youth and their adult leaders from across the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America gather for a week of faith formation known as the ELCA Youth Gathering. Through days spent in interactive learning, worship, Bible study, service and fellowship, young people grow in faith and are challenged and inspired to live their faith in their daily lives.
An important part of the Gathering's ministry are the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), a faith formation and leadership development event primarily for youth of color, and the tAble, a gathering that gathers, blesses and empowers youth with disabilities.
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In our synod e-newsletter, prayer requests may be shared for our synod's rostered ministers, spouses, key lay leaders and congregations.
Prayer requests included are subject to the following guidelines:
- Only the names of those to be prayed for will be included in our communications. Additional information (with permission) may be shared with the bishop or synod staff, but will not be publicized.
- Those being prayed for must have provided the requester with explicit permission for their names to be shared with the synod.
- Names will remain in the synod communications for one month, unless we are notified by the Conference Prayer Coordinator to extend the request.
- Prayers MUST be added through your Conference Prayer Coordinator, who will submit the prayers to the synod office for distribution.
The following people are serving as your Conference Prayer Coordinators:
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