Enroll in one of two opportunities to learn the difference between “interim” ministry and “regular” ministry and to discern your gifts for intentional interim ministry. The workshop is designed for pastors and judicatory leaders.

Workshop:

• Each workshop is a two-hour online learning event.

Dates and Registration: (select one)

• Monday, June 10, 2024, 10 am PT (12:00 pm CT)
• Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024, 10 am PT (12:00 pm CT)

Fee:

• $25.00 – due at registration (no mail in payments).
• Pay via credit card through PayPal at the end of the registration process.
• The Zoom link will be sent to you prior to the event

Click here to register.

A minimum of 5 registrants is required to offer each event.

Join Faith Lutheran Church, Fair Oaks for a simmering Women’s Retreat Getaway! They will share encouragement, fellowship, and fun as they enjoy God’s Word, music, service project, raffle, skit, and even a coffee bar. 

What: Women's Retreat Getaway

When: Saturday, June 22, 9 am-3 pm

Cost: $15.00 (Includes meals and materials) Write checks out to Faith and send to their address

Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 4000 San Juan Ave., Fair Oaks 95628

For more information, email: JoAnn Rathjen or Dianne Flynn

Click here for a flyer.

CMC (Cross-Cultural Ministry Center) graduate Nathan Linehan was ordained and installed at his congregation at First Lutheran in Yuba City. It was a joyful celebration with former pastor Mike Francowiack attending and participating. We thank God for the Sacramento circuit brothers and all others who made the celebration complete.

On Trinity Sunday, St. Paul Hmong Outreach, under the shepherdship of Rev. Pastor Doua Xiong, a ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Merced was blessed with thirteen baptisms, eleven confirmations, and five reaffirmations.

Pastor John Mueller, St. Paul’s interim was there to assist with the baptisms, confirmations, and reaffirmations. Three LWML-CNH representatives joined as well: Linda Bradley, secretary to the president, Beverly Vietor, former Gospel outreach, and Lori Fisher, human care. In addition, a special song titled, “Yug Los Ntawm Dej thiab Hluavtaws, translated as “Reborn of Water and Fire” was played and sung by Tao Lee.

Click here for more information and photos of this wonderful event!

On June 2, Joy Dahl and Justine Rollin became Called teachers of St. John’s Lutheran School in Napa, California and are now Commissioned Ministers of Religion of the LCMS. Both teachers have been at St. John’s for many years in differnt capacities. Joy Dahl first came to St. John’s as a 3-year-old preschool student, then returned as a preschool teacher before becoming the Preschool Director. Justine Rollin first came to St. John’s from a local Catholic school, eventually becoming a Lutheran and member of the church. Both teachers have been working toward this recognition for the past couple of years, and we celebrate with them their completion.

To be a Commissioned Teacher of the LCMS is analogous to ordination for pastors. It is a declaration by the church body that this person is fit as a teacher of the faith and an example of living faith. Installation means that St. John’s Lutheran Church has Called them as teaching ministers of their congregation. St. John’s currently has five teachers who have gone through the Colloquy process. Many of our District ministries are finding that this is the best avenue to having Called teachers serving in their schools due to the shortage of rostered teachers in the LCMS.

LCEF will soon be launching their third cohort of Business Skills for Faith-Based Organizations and have extended the registration deadline until June 17. Attendees are invited to apply for a generous scholarship opportunity.

Click here for a flyer with more details.

This program is targeted towards church workers (clergy and commissioned) but lay leaders are invited to apply as well.

LCEF’s ministry improvement loan is here when unexpected church or school facility needs arise. Expedited approvals up to $150,000 are available per borrower with the two first years at interest only payments.

Visit lcef.org/ministry-improvement-loan or contact CNH District LCEF District Vice President, Matt Molinari, for more information: matt.molinari@lcef.org or (916) 580-5592

Redeemer Lutheran of Fresno celebrated the dedication of a beautiful new church sign on April 21, replacing the original wood crosses. Taking nearly a year for design and production, the sign was designed by Doug Hembd, Kjirsten Harpain and President Rick Ude.

The three-dimensional design of the cross is based on the “Bethlehem Cross” that graces the front doors to the sanctuary. The granite base matches the granite flooring in the sanctuary as the congregation sought to carry the various themes from the sanctuary to the visual sign. It is well lit in the evening, providing an excellent statement about their location and ministry to their community.

In June, Lori Waetzig will retire after 40 years of service in Lutheran schools. Lori graduated from Concordia University Portland in 1983. She began her teaching career teaching Kindergarten in inner-city St. Louis, Missouri and continuing with stints at schools in Green Bay, WI, St. Louis, MO, and Eugene, OR. Additionally, Lori established Christ the Vine Preschool-Kindergarten in Clackamas, Oregon while teaching Early Childhood Education courses at Concordia in Portland. 

In 2006, Lori began teaching grade 8 at Bella Vista Christian Academy (a ministry of St. Paul Lutheran Church) in Tracy, California, and, in 2016, became the Early Childhood Director. In 2023, she became the interim principal in her last year of active ministry. Lori has worked alongside her husband, Kal Waetzig, who is the senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran in Tracy. They have three children and five grandchildren. Lori plans to keep active in retirement, consulting with other schools and churches, substituting, assisting with discipleship, and visiting her family in Portland, Austin, and Atlanta. 

We thank God for the ministry of Lori Waetzig and the impact she has had on so many! May God bless her in this next stage of her life!

Join us for an exciting Middle School District Youth Gathering on July 13th at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Rocklin, CA! From 10:30 AM to 1 PM, middle schoolers from across the district will come together for a day packed with fun activities and opportunities to make new friends. This event is specially designed for those who aren't yet old enough for next year's National Youth Gathering, ensuring everyone gets a chance to experience the joy and community of our youth gatherings.

This is a fantastic opportunity for them to connect, grow, and have a blast with peers from all over the district. Click here to register.

Held every three years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity. The next NYG will be held on July 19 – 23, 2025, in New Orleans, LA. For more information, connect with your DCE and Youth Leaders or contact the CNH District Office.

This course will study the book of Job as a resource for parish ministry, particularly for the pastor’s care of those who have suffered tragedies or face death. It will seek to develop and apply the biblical vision to the whole spectrum of human suffering from intellectual problems (theodicy) to the frequent emotional upheavals that members of the community of faith experience as they live their lives in a fallen order.

What: Old Testament Words for New Testament People: The Book of Job and the Problem of Suffering

Who: Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe

When: September 24-26

Where: Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Cupertino, CA

Click here for more information and to register.

As pillars of the faith get called back to their heavenly home, we want to honor and acknowledge the legacy they leave behind and the impact they had within our congregations. If you would like to include any upcoming memorials, please click here to send the name, date of death, and date of service so that we may include them in an upcoming issue of the InTouch. We will still continue to send a Flash for pastors and called workers as well.

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