Synod Snapshots from this Week! |
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Our Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) hosted their synod-wide day of service this past Saturday, with 5 congregations hosting a project for Lutheran World Relief! Congregations in Reno, Sacramento, Fresno, Redding and Palo Alto all joined. |
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The Rev. Todd Benson was installed as Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA this past Sunday. Rostered Leaders from the Bay Area joined to celebrate this day, along with Rev. Tita Valeriano and Bishop Megan Rohrer from the Synod Office! |
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The Rev. Ben Sandin was installed as Pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, CA this past Sunday. He began serving Bethel in July of 2021 and was officially installed this weekend! Bishop Megan Rohrer had the pleasure of celebrating with Rev. Ben and the Bethel community this weekend. |
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Catherine Slabaugh worshipped with our northernmost congregation, Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Yreka, CA! After worship, a few folks gathered for a soup lunch and conversation with Catherine. |
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Catherine Slabaugh visited with the hospitable folk at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Weaverville, CA this Saturday! Learn more about this art-filled, forest town's congregation here.
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Catherine Slabaugh visited St. James Lutheran Church in Redding, CA to spend time participating in the SPSYC Service Project, and getting to know the congregation! Conference Dean Rev. Bob Swartz faithfully serves this congregation, who has some exciting projects in the works! |
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Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson preached and worshipped with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and Misión Esperanza in Fresno, CA this weekend. Here, she's pictured with Lead Pastor Bill Knezovich and Ms. Lucy Allen. |
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Rev. Manda Truchinski worshipped at Christ Lutheran Church in Visalia, CA this weekend, and joined the Lahu Ministry for their worship service! Here, she is pictured with Pr. Samee Singkeovilay. |
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Rev. Todd Benson, newly installed Pastor, leading Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oakland, CA this past Sunday! Learn more about this congregation here.
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Upcoming Synod Wide Events/Livestreams |
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Check out our upcoming Synod-Wide Events here.
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#CaliSTRONG Multi-Synod
Youth Group
Saturday, November 20th 6:30pm PT
Sign up to participate here.
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Conference Assembly
Saturday, November 20th 10:00am PT
Sierra Central Valley Conference
Sunday, January 30th 3:00pm PT
Mt. Diable Conference
Sunday, February 6th 2:00pm PT
Bridges Conference
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Sustaining Spirit: Practicing Self-Care Cohort
Advent - Lent on Thursday Evenings
6:00-7:30pm PT via Zoom
Sign up to participate here.
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ELCA Mission Funding Livestream
Tuesday, November 30th 6:00pm PT
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Congregational Officers Meeting
Saturday, January 22nd 10:30am PT
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2022 Ignite the Church Conference
February 8-10, 2022
In-Person in Orlando, FL or Virtual
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Past Events/Programs Recorded
If you scroll to the bottom of our new Upcoming Synod-Wide Events page, you'll find links to our past livestreams for your viewing.
We invite you to check out our past livestreams at the bottom of the page here.
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Updates & Stories from the Synod |
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Stories from the Synod
Our Synod website features a Blog where different members of staff share stories about their travels to congregations, resources that may benefit others and other public statements. We encourage you to read our blog posts from this week:
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Holiday Gift Drive with Lutheran Social Services (LSS)
LSS of Northern California, one of our wonderful ministry partners, invites us to make the December holiday season brighter for 4,000 formerly homeless and at-risk children, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, teenagers and other vulnerable adults in your Northern California community!
Join LSS for for their annual Holiday Gift Drive! Here's how you can contribute:
1) Adopting one of the supportive housing programs (30-60 people).
2) Ordering from the online Amazon and Target participant Wish Lists.
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Updates and Resources from ELCA Churchwide |
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Walking Beside Our Afghan Neighbors
Join the ELCA Advocacy team on Thursday, November 18th from 1:30-2:30 pm PT for a live conversation around our Afghan Neighbors. "Hear from leaders in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, and the broader Lutheran community with a policy update about resettlement of Afghan arrivals, ongoing realities, and current needs. “We stand in solidarity with all those living in fear,” said Presiding Bishop Eaton of support for our Afghan neighbors, and we need to be there for “the long welcome for these families.” This webinar will share information and avenues for action."
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LSTC Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium
"You're invited to the 13th annual Vine Deloria Jr. Theological Symposium on November 16 and 17! As the ELCA continues to learn about our complicity in the forced assimilation, abuse, and death in Indian boarding schools, this event will focus on the intersection between Indian boarding schools and Christian education."
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Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) is Back!
"Young adults aged 21-29 years old serve alongside Lutheran companion church bodies and organizations in one of ten country programs around the world, being shaped by the witness of our global neighbors in a cross-cultural journey of faith. For the 2022-2023 service year, country programs are projected to be: Argentina & Uruguay, Cambodia, Central Europe, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Rwanda, Senegal, and the United Kingdom."
Registration is open now with the priority deadline of January 15, 2022 and the general deadline of February 1, 2022.
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Bishop's Wednesday Live Prayer
Every Wednesday, Bishop Megan (or a member of the Synod Staff) goes live on Facebook and YouTube for a time of prayer as a community.
We invite you to join us for prayer every Wednesday at 6:00pm! Public prayers can be lifted up in the comments, and private prayers can be messaged directly to Bishop Megan.
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Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer
Bishop
Sierra Pacific Synod
Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson
Assistant to the Bishop for Authentic Diversity, Inclusive Community & Service
Diana Barrios
Director of Finance, Systems and Administration
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Rev. Manda Truchinski
Assistant to the Bishop for Leadership & Strategic Organization
Rev. Tita Valeriano
Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop
Catherine Slabaugh
Communications & Connections Coordinator
Rev. Bill Wong
Call Process Assistant
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The Sierra Pacific Synod Office resides on the unceded land of the Ramaytush Ohlone People.
To learn more about their tribal history, we encourage you to click here.
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