Join us for our PSD All Workers Conference 2024!

When: November 24-26, 2024 

Where: Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, Phoenix, AZ

Theme: All One – Ephesians 4:1-7

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

Stay tuned for more details!

On Thursday, February 29, CUWAA’s Board of Regents held a special session to discuss the future of the University. Following the meeting, Board Chairperson Rev. John Berg recorded the following video for the CUWAA community.

Video and Q & A

Redeemer Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, CA is hosting a Breakfast Bible Study on Saturday, March 9 at 9:00 am led by Redeemer member and Elder Rick Ritchie. The study theme is New and Better. Rick is a graduate of Christ College Irvine and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and podcast editor for 1517. He has contributed to the books Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation, Let Christ be Christ, and Theologia and Apologia. Breakfast starts at 8:30 am in the Fellowship Hall followed by the presentation at 9:00 am. RSVP to the Church office at churchoffice@redeemer-lutheran.net or call 714-846-6330. For those who prefer Zoom, a link can be found on our website under Events, Upcoming Events.

Christ Lutheran Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA will be hosting a Praise and Worship Concert featuring Dave Anderson & Roger Walck on Sunday, March 10 at 6:30 pm. The concert benefits Shepherd's Canyon Retreat Ministry.

The Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA) is offering a Basic Training in Transitions class beginning Thursday, April 11. This virtual offering includes twelve, 90-minute sessions joining fellow pastors from around the United States. Speak to President Gibson about the value of this training for ministry in the PSD or wherever in the LCMS your gifts are needed.

Visit Basic Education on the LuTMA website for information or to register.

The South Wisconsin District, in partnership with the LCMS Office of National Mission - Stewardship will host a hybrid Philippians Conference on Saturday, April 20. The conference will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Nathan Meador. Congregations are invited to host an online watch party. This would mean that your pastor(s), congregational leaders, and members would gather on your campus to participate as a group via Zoom. There will be an online moderator to ensure the presenter addresses your questions. The Zoom link will be emailed to the host the week of the event along with participant materials that will need to be printed on an as-needed basis. For more information on how to host an online watch party, contact Gale Cynova at gcynova@gmail.com.

More Details

Holy Cross Lutheran in Scottsdale, Arizona, was a church on the verge of closing four years ago that has found a new identity in missional work. From worshipping barely 50 people a week and tithing $10,000 below the needed amount a month compared to expenses, it is now a church currently worshiping around 250 a week in live worship. Holy Cross is now financially strong and growing in ministry and mission. This has happened by adding missional worship services. In 2023, Holy Cross began worship, Bible study, and ministry in two local retirement centers, with more than 40 people attending each week. It has been refreshing to hear the residents tell us how happy they are to have a church environment on their campuses. After being locked in by COVID-19 for nearly three years, they are excited to worship, be in Bible study, and know they are a part of a church. 



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Expanding the Circle, this year’s LMTP Regional Workshops, will be held in April & May. This year's topic is "What Evangelism & Assimilation Looks Like in 2024." Currently, registrations can be submitted for Regions 1 & 4. Please watch the Weekly Newsletter for Regions 2 & 3 workshop dates.

Registration Packet

After pastoring in Camarillo and Santa Barbara for nearly 15 years, Rev. Paul Nelson accepted a Call to serve LCMS OIM as a Regional Theological Educator in Southeast Asia in 2021. Since 2022 he and his family have resided in Indonesia as he travels throughout Southeast Asia teaching and working with OIM deployed staff and partner churches and organizations. Rev. Nelson will be in the Los Angeles area the last week of April before moving up to the Central Coast area. If your congregation would be interested in hearing about Rev. Nelson's work in Southeast Asia please contact him to make arrangements for a presentation. You can reach Rev. Nelson at paul.nelson@lcms.org.

Here are a few pearls from the latest Grace Place Wellness podcast entitled “Vocational Wellness - Understanding You are More Than What You Do”.  Over functioning is defined as working beyond your physical, spiritual, and emotional capacity. Continued over functioning can lead to burnout. How do you know if you are experiencing burnout? Your body will tell you as there is a sense of just going through the motions and always feeling tired, your spirit will tell you as there is no joy and emotionally there is diminished passion for the call. If these descriptors resonate in your life you could find this short podcast helpful. It might be the lifeline you need. Check it out at lcef.org/gpw-podcast/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

The 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering is 18 months away, but plans are already underway to make this event successful. The Gathering will provide 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. 

A major part of Gathering's success is the thousands of volunteers. Gathering Ambassadors are servant leaders and trusted voices, helping participants have a safe and remarkable experience. The Gathering Ambassador application is open for all LCMS pastors, church workers, and lay people ages 26 and older. Gathering Ambassadors make a commitment to serve the full week of the Gathering (July 16–23, 2025), stay in dedicated Gathering housing (provided), and pay a volunteer registration fee of $400.

To learn more and apply, visit lcmsgathering.com/volunteer by March 15,2024. 

The Spring Conference of the Black Clergy Caucus will be held April 9-11 at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. For more information contact Rev. Dr. ST Williams at pastorwilliamsjrla@yahoo.com.

Caucus Flyer

Sponsorship Opportunities

Are you unsure of how to respond to gender brokenness? Do you want to learn about gender and sexuality from a Gospel-motivated approach? Attend Hope 4 Healing, the Y4 Gender Conference, to find out how you can respond to gender brokenness with hope. View conference agenda.

This conference, being held on April 19 & 20 at Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Irvine, CA is open to both youth and adults. Space is limited!

$20 for youth, $40 for adults.

Visit Y4life.org to reserve your spot.