Pacifica Synod News & Notes
September 8, 2020
We share with you the following news, resources, information and event updates taking place within our synod and throughout the ELCA. If you have items or information to share, please email Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org. If you know of others who aren't receiving our emails, please share this with them and encourage them to contact us using the above email or sign up here.
Current Synod News & Resources
2020 Bishop's Gatherings
Let’s Do Church Together is the theme for the 2020 Pacifica Bishop’s Gatherings. What better time to collaborate than now, as we are all learning new ways to share the gospel with others in due to the pandemic. We will meet online by Zoom to discuss congregational and synod plans for ministry in the year to come. We will unveil Pacifica’s Strategic Plan for the work we can do together, highlighting the Ministry Result Areas and the Goals approved by Synod Council. We will listen to one another to see how we can support each other as Christians, congregations, the Pacifica Synod, and the ELCA. We will celebrate our unity, while giving thanks for our diversity, and ask God to guide us confidently into the future. 
 
We will gather by Conferences, and invite each congregation to attend with their pastors, their deacons, and at least two key lay leaders, but all are welcome! The dates and times for each Conference are listed below and will last for 75 minutes. Pre-registration is required using the button below to receive the Zoom link in advance of each gathering and to ensure we have enough room on our Zoom feed to accommodate everyone. You may join by video using a computer, tablet or phone or call in from your phone using audio only. If you cannot attend your own Conference meeting, we invite you to Zoom in with another Conference. We hope you can join us! 


Below are the dates and times of each Gathering:
 
Tuesday, September 22
Harvest Conference
6:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday, September 23
East AND West San Diego Conferences
6:30 p.m.
 
Thursday, September 24
Big Bear Conference
6:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, September 26
Son & Surf Conference
10:00 a.m.
 
Tuesday, September 29
Raincross Conference
6:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, October 10
Saddleback Conference
10:00 a.m.
 
Sunday, October 11
Rejoice Conference
1:00 p.m.
 
Hukilau Conference
Date/Time TBD
 
If you need assistance with the registration process, please contact Terri Robertson at 714.352.8732 or by email at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org.

Matthew 25 Grant Application Period Open
The purpose of The Matthew 25 Fund is to honor Christ as he spoke in Matthew 25:35-40. Jerry and Lynda Engelhardt established this fund through a strong desire to help people as in the verse.
 
The primary criteria for making awards shall be Matthew 25:35-40. A secondary criterion shall be to evaluate if the proposed project will help establish or maintain congregational outreach and unity as in the spirit of the verse. 
 
The fund is intended for Pacifica Synod congregations. However, awards may be given to other well-managed organizations not in the Pacifica Synod that meet the spirit of the text.
 
Grant applications maybe downloaded here or obtained by contacting Terri Robertson in the Synod office at 714.352.8732 or by email at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org. Be sure to click "enable editing" to complete the fillable form.
 
The deadline for applications is October 15, 2020 and grants will be awarded by January 15, 2021.
 
Please keep in mind that if you have received a previous Matthew 25 Grant Award, you MUST have submitted a written report on the use and outcome of the previous award in order to be considered for a future award.
Synod AMMPARO Network Meeting
Saturday, September 26, 2020
The ELCA AMMPARO network stands for Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities. elca.org/ammparo. Pacifica Synod has an active AMMPARO Network. For more information about their work, please email ammparonetworkinpacificasynod@gmail.com.
 
Upcoming Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Online Events
Pacifica Synod AMMPARO Zoom Meeting
Saturday, September 26, 2020 10:00 AM Pacific Time
Meeting ID: 815 7711 0996
Password: AMMPARO

If you would like the additional resources provided from our last meeting, please contact Pastor Karla Halvorson or Deacon Roberta Wall at roberta_k_2000@yahoo.com.
Global Mission Update - Hitoshi and Satoko Adachi
Pastor Hitoshi Adachi and his wife, Satoko, are currently serving as missionaries with the Japan Evangelicial Lutheran Church in Kumamoto, Japan. To learn more about what is taking place in their ministry, please click here for their September 2020 newsletter.

From the synod office, some additional information. The ELCA is sending a little over 200 missionaries to over 40 countries to serve as pastors, teachers, advisers and doctors. It costs an average of $80,000 annually to support an ELCA missionary household. Each missionary is expected to raise $20,000 per year towards these costs. We encourage you to consider becoming a longer-term sponsoring congregation/individual to support Pastor Hitoshi and Satoko in their ministries, which will continue for the next four to eight years.

The brochure attached here details the Adachi's ministry in Japan and how to best support them. You can give through the synod office or mail your check to Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifield, VA 22116-8009. Make checks payable to “ELCA Missionaries” with “(Hitoshi and Satoko) Adachi GCS2051” in the memo line. To donate by credit or debit card, go to https://community.elca.org/Japan or call 800-638-3522 and specify “(Hitoshi and Satoko) Adachi GCS2051”. To set up an automatic monthly bank withdrawal or to establish a covenant of prayer, communication, and support, please contact 800-638-3522, ext. 2657, or globalchurch@elca.org.
Coaching for All Seasons
Monthly Online Gathering for
Pacifica Synod Rostered & Lay Leaders
Tuesday, October 6 at 11:00 a.m.
The October 6 forum will be the fourth in the monthly series Coaching for All Seasons that began in July. The topic for this forum will be announced soon. Click here to view our Synod Coaching web page and access the resources from previous presentations. Our Pacifica Synod Coaching Team designed this forum to provide encouragement and support to Synod leaders as we navigate the unknown. Each month, participants will hear a brief presentation related to how we currently are called to be Church. Then they will have an opportunity to be in a small group discussion facilitated by an ELCA coach. We are creating a safe space for processing our responses to uncertain times and for discerning steps forward in our unique contexts.

Pacifica Synod has invested in training coaches to work with rostered and lay leaders one-on-one or in groups. Coaching provides an opportunity for rostered and lay leaders to experience a partnership focused on the unique objectives they want to achieve. A coach’s role is to support a leader in naming challenging issues and identifying constructive responses to them. Pacifica Synod coaches are volunteering their time to create presentations and coaching opportunities that provide a hands-on resource for addressing your challenges.

Our next meeting will be via Zoom on Tuesday, October 6, 11:00-noon Pacific Time. Mark your calendars for the first Tuesday of each month and look for future announcements.

 If you are interested in participating in this gathering or would like information on having a coach, please contact Deenna Eley, Pacifica Synod Coaching Coordinator at mikedeenna@gmail.com.
Synod Work Towards Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
On June 15, Bishop Andy shared a letter with our synod, inviting us to work together for racial justice. If you missed this, you may read the Bishop Andy's full letter here. The Pacifica Synod Council has released a Racial Justice Statement and encourages congregations and individuals to join them in taking the ELCA Anti-Racism Pledge.

We also have created a synod web page with information and anti-racism resources for individual and congregational use. We will continue to add resources, so check back often. If you have resources to recommend or would like to share stories about how you or your congregation are currently working towards equity, diversity and inclusion, please contact Pastor Lara Martin at pastorlaramartin@gmail.com.


From the ELCA & Other Partners
"God's work. Our hands." Sunday
Service in the Time of COVID-19
On Sunday, Sept. 13, congregations will observe “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. This year our church — and our world — are living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing has changed the way we worship and serve. But the need is great, and God’s church is at work.

This year, we encourage you to participate in acts of service in compliance with local health guidelines. Acts of service can happen online, or you can contribute to a project from your home or from a safe physical distance while wearing a mask. As church, we are guided by our life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve our neighbors — even if these acts of service look different this year.

Get ready at ELCA.org/DayOfService.

The Christian Education Network of the ELCA has also put together a list of ideas for adapting "God's work. Our hands." Sunday in a Pandemic. You can find that information (and other ideas) on their website here.
Share Your God's Work. Our Hands. Stories!
Don’t forget to share your congregation’s participation with us! Send your stories and photos to LivingLutheran@elca.org AND to terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org so that together we can celebrate what God accomplishes through you. Participate on social media using #GodsWorkOurHands. 

As church, we are guided by our life in Christ to share the love of Jesus and serve our neighbors — even if such acts of service look different this year.
Join Lutheran Social Services
for God's Work. Our Hands. Sunday
Hunger in the Time of COVID-19:
Life for Today and Hope for Tomorrow
Rick Steves, guidebook author and travel TV host; the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA); and the Rev. Shelley Bryan Wee, bishop of the ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, invite you to an online benefit — the first of its kind — for ELCA World Hunger. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to confront hunger in the time of COVID-19.

When: Thursday, Sept. 24, 5:00 p.m. PDT
Where: Zoom virtual event

We are in a historic moment, facing a once-in-a-century pandemic and a global change in hunger unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes. Domestically and internationally, hunger is increasing at alarming rates. At this event, you will learn about the unique ways ELCA World Hunger is responding. Our hosts will also discuss the ongoing root causes of hunger and poverty addressed in Rick Steves’ recent special Hunger and Hope: Lessons From Ethiopia and Guatemala. And you will hear from ELCA World Hunger partners on the front lines of the current hunger crisis, who will tell you firsthand how your gifts make a difference.

We are called by God to share hope in this time of challenge. Join us to face this global hunger crisis head-on and to continue moving toward a just world where all are fed.

Pacific Lutheran University's 2020 Annual
Lutheran Studies Conference
Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher
to the Whitest Denomination in the US 
with author Rev. Lenny Duncan 

This year's Lutheran Studies Conference focuses on systemic racism and will involve opportunities for reading, reflection and commitment to action for individuals and their faith and/or educational communities. We will be guided in this work and reflection by Rev. Lenny Duncan, an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Church of America (ELCA). The conference will include:

  1. Keynote Address on October 1st at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Lenny Duncan will be speaking on his book, Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US (2019). This webinar will be held virtually via Zoom.
  2. Adult Forum book discussions for Congregations on September 20th & 27th at 9:00 a.m. Forums will focus on Chapters 1, 9 and 10, and will be facilitated by Dr. Marit Trelstad, PLU Chair of Lutheran Studies. Please encourage your congregation to read ahead!
  3. PLU Chapel on September 30th at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Lenny Duncan will be preaching with University Pastor Jen Rude. 

You are invited to read Rev. Duncan’s book with us in preparation for the conference events. Registration for all events is required. Please join us!
 

The conference is free and open to the public and is made possible by the generosity of the anonymous donors who endowed the University Chair in Lutheran Studies.
Supporting the Work of Lutheran Disaster Response
Lutheran Disaster Response brings God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters in the United States and around the world. When the dust settles and the headlines change, we stay to provide ongoing assistance to those in need. In addition to their work around the world, LDR is currently assisting with two recent disasters response efforts.

California Wildfires
Fueled by a heat wave and ignited by lightning strikes, some of the worst wildfires in California’s history have erupted across the state. At least four people have died, tens of thousands of people are under evacuation orders, over 1 million acres have burned, and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed and thousands more are threatened. Some evacuees face the difficult decision of whether to stay in a shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with Lutheran Social Services of Southern California and Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, along with the three California synods (Sierra Pacific, Southwest California and Pacifica), to assess the situation and determine the best ways to respond. We expect immediate needs to include food and other life necessities, as well as emotional and spiritual care for those who have been traumatized. Long-term recovery assistance may include rebuilding and repairing homes.



Hurricane Relief
Hurricane Laura, a powerful Category 4 storm, has hit Louisiana and parts of Texas with devastating force, causing at least three deaths, major damage and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. With extremely dangerous storm surge and winds of at least 150 mph, it’s one of the most powerful storms to hit the area in a century, and it left widespread destruction in its wake.

Lutheran Disaster Response is engaging with Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response (Upbring) and the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast and Southwestern Texas synods, which are assessing the immediate needs and initiating a response. While the extent of the damage is not yet known, we will accompany devastated communities from immediate relief through long-term recovery.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference 2020
The 2020 Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference is going virtual! Please mark your calendars for the dates below. All times are Eastern Daylight Time. Hear from leading thinkers exploring the opportunities for growth in stewardship even in the midst of profound social change.

Schedule
The 2020 conference will be virtual. We will be together September 22, 29 and October 6th from 11:30 – 1:30 EDT.

September 22nd - Eric Barreto
Weyerhauser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary

September 29th - Bonnie Ives Marden
Leadership consultant and financial stewardship practitioner. Author of Church Finances for Missional Leaders.

October 6th - Bruce Reyes-Chow
Senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto, CA. Author, speaker, former PCUSA moderator.

Location
Virtual connection information will be sent to registered participants in advance of each weekly event. In order to register, go to StewardshipKaleidoscope.orgVideos will be available afterward for those registered.

Conference Registration Fee:
Three weekly events for $45 including access to recordings of the speakers and the question and answer session following the final week of the series.

Conference Scholarships
Scholarships are available from the ELCA.  Please contact Keith.Mundy@elca.org.
ELCA Young Adults - Fall 2020 Abide
Registration for Fall 2020 Abide is NOW OPEN for individuals AND groups at the link below!

This community is for everyone 18-35 looking for affirming young adult community and dynamic faith conversation. Groups meet weekly Oct 5 - Nov 20. DM with questions. We can’t wait to welcome you!


Abide serves as a ministry of ELCA Young Adult Ministries. ELCA YA is a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's churchwide office and cooperates with several ministries such as YAGM, LVC, Dream Chasers United, Campus Ministry and more. Please visit the ELCA website for Young Adult Ministries for more information and opportunities for further involvement.
ELCA & Other Partners
News & Ministry Links

Lutheran Social Services of So Cal - August 2020

ELCA Advocacy Connections - August 2020

ELCA Worship News - August 2020

ELCA Administration Matters - July 2020

ELCA World Hunger "Go & Do News" - Sept 2020

ELCA Global Links - August 2020

ELCA StewardNet - Summer 2020

ELCA "Seeds Monthly" Newsletter - August 2020


Care Connections Network
Aging. Better.
Care Connections Network is changing the face of aging in Orange County. We are dedicated to helping older adults, 50 and over, age in their own homes and communities. We connect our members to the community programming and expertise they need to continue living lives of purpose and promise. We strive to empower older adults by offering educational opportunities to help them age with confidence, social and cultural events to keep them connected with the community, referrals to vetted service providers and a volunteer program providing additional support and assistance.
 
To find out more about upcoming events and other services, click here for the Care Connections Network September newsletter.

Webinars and Other Events
Here to Serve: Being Church in the Times of Crisis
Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders
Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. PDT
You are invited to join this weekly gathering designed to provide encouragement and support for ELCA leaders across the church. Participants will hear topical presentations related to how we are called to be Church in times of crisis, as well as an opportunity to be in small group discussions with an ELCA group coach facilitating the conversation. All of this is designed to help us process our feelings in this strange and fearful time and to create a space where we can each name our next most faithful step forward in our unique context. You are welcome to share this invitation with any other ELCA leader, rostered or lay. #ELCAChurchTogether


Join us on September 9 as we hear from Sarah Jackson, founder of Casa de Paz and author of The House That Love Built, who transformed her life and the lives of thousands when she asked herself a powerful coaching question, "What if I said yes?"
 
When Sarah Jackson (she/her) visited the US/Mexico border in 2012, it changed the course of her life. She spent time with people who’d been deported, listened to their stories, and learned about their reasons for migrating and the dangers they’d faced. She also witnessed families being separated. Her own family is super close—the kind of tight-knit family that looks forward to every minute together. They also believe in treating others compassionately. So, when Sarah saw families being torn apart, she couldn’t look away. She returned to Colorado, but there was no going back to normal.
 
Back home, Sarah took stock of her resources: a one bedroom apartment, a love for volleyball, and a belief that families belonged together. It wasn’t much but it was enough. She opened Casa de Paz and started Volleyball Internacional, a volleyball league that donates 100% of its profits to pay for operating expenses of the hospitality home. She’s been hosting and helping to reunite families ever since. If you ask Sarah how she does it, she’ll laugh and say it’s not rocket science. For the thousands of people whose isolation has been eased by the Casa de Paz community, it’s something even better. It’s love.
 
 
For those who would like to donate to this entirely volunteer-run ministry, you may do that here: https://www.casadepazcolorado.org/donateYour tax-deductible donation helps provide visits, shelter, meals, transportation, and emotional support to those impacted by migrant detention.


Below is the link for each Wednesday's Zoom meeting. For a list of upcoming topics and recordings of prior meetings, go to https://www.elcacoaching.org/.


ELCA Coaching is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Being Church in Times of Crisis - Weekly Gathering for ELCA Leaders
Time: September 9, 2020 11:00 a.m. PDT
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 180 439 412
Password: 648160

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 Meeting ID: 180 439 412
Password: 648160
Cal Lutheran Bach Organ Recital Series
September 9 - 12:30 p.m.

Cal Lutheran Music Department is pleased to present

Bach Organ Recital Series
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
12:30 p.m. PDT

University organist Adan Alejandro Fernandez will showcase the 2,109-pipe Borg Petersen Memorial Organ in the first event of a Bach Organ Recital Series, featuring the music of Bach, Buxtehude and more.

Link (scroll down to the middle of the page to watch the video): https://www.callutheran.edu/college-arts-sciences/music/




Models of Older Adult Ministry Conference
Monday, September 21
Register online here.
To download a printable PDF of this document, click here.

PLTS Founders' Day 2020
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
of California Lutheran University
invites you to attend

Founders’ Day
Online via Zoom Webinar
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

9:00 a.m. - Gathering of Community
9:30 a.m. - Welcome and Distinguished Alum Awards
10:00 a.m. - Lecture with Q&A
11:00 a.m. - Worship
 Zoom Link Coming Soon

Climate Justice, Racial Justice and Divestment: The Call of the Church

Our moment in time is pivotal. Movements around the globe are aligning for powerful action toward climate justice, holding racial justice at the heart of the struggle to protect Earth’s fragile climate. Bill McKibben is recognized around the globe as a foremost leader in that struggle. His address will draw the links between racial justice, climate well-being, divestment/reinvestment, and the call of the church.

For speaker information, please visit the event web page. This event is free and open to the public. If you are able, please make a gift to the PLTS Seminary Fund to support our events and educational programs. 


Questions?
Please contact Khushali Sharma at khushalisharma@plts.edu or (510) 559-2732. 
Registration Now Open for
Workshops to Continue Learning from
"Truth and Healing for the Sake of Indigenous People"


September 16 - Movements in Indian Country  
October 14 - Indigenous Thought and Theology 
Wednesdays, 5:00-6:30 p.m. Pacific

Please join Other+Wise and our promotional partners, ELCACoaching, New Story Festival, and Briarwood Leadership Center, for two more Indigenous-centered Zoom workshops with our founder and director, Vance Blackfox.

These sessions will be the perfect follow-up to the webinars you attended with Vance previously – especially for those of you looking to grow your solidarity with Indigenous peoples.

 
Movements in Indian Country
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PDT
There are countless challenges facing Indian Country today, and Native-serving organizations are constantly working to keep up with the frontline Indigenous leaders, activists, and movements that are responding to these challenges. Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), these movements are usually unknown to the general population because non-Indigenous people either haven’t had to care or don’t know they should care. And those who do care often don’t know where to begin learning and engaging. Movements in Indian Country will provide you with a starting point for supporting a range of justice efforts in Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Thought and Theology
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PDT
Indian people have unique and beautiful ways of understanding and interacting with the world. Indigenous wisdom – as it relates to being in relationship with other created beings, Mother Earth, and Creator – should be centered in the work to provide better care for our home and relatives. Indigenous Thought and Theology will be a helpful introduction to this wisdom and ways of understanding.


These workshops are provided at no cost. Attendees are invited to offer a financial gift in appreciation for our time of learning and listening together at http://otherwise.red/donate/.

For a downloadable PDF flyer, click here. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Vance at vance@otherwise.red.
ALOA Webinar
Long Term Care in a Pandemic
ALOA (Adult Lutherans Organized for Action) offers monthly one-hour webinars on specific topics meaningful to older adult ministry leaders in congregations, as well as interested individuals. Each will include an interview with a thought leader working with older adults, and will be archived for future viewing. Webinars are offered free of charge. Information about their next webinar is listed below. You can also find the archive of previous webinars here.

Long Term Care in a Pandemic: 
A Look at Decisions about Nursing Homes & Assisted Living 
September 24, 2020 – 9:00 a.m. PDT

Daily life in the time of COVID is challenging for many seniors, but for those who may need rehab or nursing home placement, the decision making process is very challenging. Alice H. Hedt, former Long Term Care Ombudsman for the State of Maryland will look at concrete steps that those needing placement and their families/friends can take that will help in making essential decisions. Topics include:

  • How to find information on nursing homes and COVID cases
  • Questions to ask when needing rehabilitation
  • Exploring in-home alternatives to facility placement
  • Communication strategies when loved ones cannot have visitors
  • Congregation support for those in long term care – ministry opportunities in the pandemic

You’ll hear about resources and strategies to help those of us who have to make difficult decisions now and to equip the rest of us who may need long term care in the future.
Register now – you’ll receive a confirmation email and information on how to join the webinar. If you can’t attend now, register anyway and you’ll be notified as soon as the recording and resources are available on our website.
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center Workshops
Multiple sessions of the following workshops will be available online from now through the end of the year. For a complete list of learning opportunities, including 90-minute webinars and multi-day seminars, please visit our website at https://lmpeacecenter.org/brochures/. Registration forms can be found on the brochures; otherwise, you can register online at BrownPaperTickets.

Conflict Transformation SkillsAlthough a normal part of life, conflict is usually seen as something negative. Acquire the knowledge and skills to transform conflict into a force for positive change and spiritual growth. Attend this 7.5-hour event online via Zoom on Oct. 23, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, and Dec. 5, 2020.  Register as a group, using this CTS Discount Coupon, and save up to $50 per person.

Healthy Congregations: Could your congregation use a wellness check? Attend this 8-hour workshop and learn ways to minimize or prevent destructive conflict, manage negative reactivity, and help your church stay focused on its true mission and purpose. Attend this 8-hour event online via Zoom on Sep. 22, Oct. 30, Nov. 13, or Dec. 8, 2020. Register as a group, using this HC Discount Coupon, and save up to $50 per person.

Leadership and Anxiety in the Church: Participants will look at the challenges presented by the rising levels of anxiety experienced in churches today, as well as the role that self-differentiated leadership plays in calming such anxiety. Works of fine art are integrated at various points to facilitate theological reflection. Attend this 7-hour event online via Zoom on Sep. 24 or Dec. 3, 2020.  Register as a group, using this LAC Discount Coupon, and save up to $50 per person. 


Questions? Call the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at 630-627-0507, or email us at Admin@LMPeaceCenter.org.

We Remember in Our Prayers
We ask that you hold the following people in your thoughts and prayers:

  • The Rev. George Johnson and his wife, Vivian
  • Cindy Jorstad
  • The family and friends of the Rev. Laura (Laurie) Line
  • Ron and Lisa Higginbotham
  • Reverend Robert Freistedt
  • Reverend Ron and Paula Rennegarbe
  • Those affected with the COVID-19 virus and those who have lost loved ones
  • Our healthcare providers, first responders, essential workers and all who continue to serve so that others can remain safely at home



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:

E. San Diego Conference - The Rev. Richard Vevia - revvev@cox.net
W. San Diego Conf - The Rev. David Nagler - pastordave@christpb.org
Harvest Conference - The Rev. David Jorstad - pastorjorstadsmlc@yahoo.com
Raincross Conference - The Rev. Linda Brown - pastor@edenlutheran.net
Big Bear Conference - The Rev. Matt Anderson - pastormatt@trinityvictorville.org
Saddleback Conference - The Rev. Marty Jacobson - pastormartyclcrsm@gmail.com
Son & Surf Conf - The Rev. Jennifer Schultz - prjenniferblclosalamitos@gmail.com
Rejoice Conference - The Rev. Cate Luehr - pastorcate@elclh.org
Hukilau Conference - The Rev. Kathryn Zurcher - kzurcher002@luthersem.edu
Pacifica Synod - ELCA
Lutheran Center for Mission & Learning
1801 Park Court Place, Bldg. C, Santa Ana, CA 92701
714.692.2791