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Weekly News & Updates

August 15, 2024

Want to share your event or job posting with the Southwest California Synod?

Make sure it gets included in our weekly newsletter!

Simply use this link to submit your information: Newsletter Submission

Our newsletters are sent out every Thursday, so don't miss the deadline!

2024 Mission and Ministry Grants

Bishop's Message for Opening of Grant Cycle Questions may be directed to swcagrants@socalsynod.org

In our August 2024 Mission Support Memo we hear about how the ELCA Youth Gathering is both a place of faith formation and empowering each of us to share faith and inclusion in our church. You also have a great opportunity to attend Stewardship Kaleidoscope in September, even online so check out the memo to find out more. Find the memo here in Living Lutheran too!

If you want to access in other ways, attached is both a .pdf and in Word .doc. Each memo is also added to the Living Lutheran SOFIA site under a NEW tab on the far right called 'Memos' ~ 2024 Memos at https://www.livinglutheran.org/sofia/ ~ you can also access the Stewardship Newsletter at this tab too!

As always, we cherish hearing about the inspiring stories in your synods, regions and congregations - feel free to reach out to Karen at karen.kretschmann@elca.org.

We are grateful for the work with and among each other that bring such incredible stories. These stories allow us to share Christ among us and live out the amazing generosity of Mission Support that makes so much of this ministry happen — together.

Download the August Memo

Join us for an unforgettable weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge!

Who: Youth entering grades 6-9 in Fall 2024 and their leaders.

When: Friday, November 22 - Sunday, November 24, 2024

Where: Great Wolf Lodge, Anaheim

The Haven

Senior community, are you interested in discussing fostering healthy relationships?

Where can we find these relationships?
How do we begin a relationship?
How do we maintain a relationship?
How do we know if a relationship is healthy?

Let's talk about relationships as a senior community or as individuals caring for seniors, on Monday, August 26 12:30 or on Wednesday, August 28th, 7 PM (the August 28th session will be a repeat of the August 26 session for those who are unable to attend on Monday afternoon--different participants but the same subject). Both sessions will be on Zoom.

Please share this information with your congregations.

DRAFT OF THE ELCA SOCIAL STATEMENT CIVIC LIFE AND FAITH

HEARING AND DISCUSSION

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 10:30 – 2:00

SYNOD OFFICE IN GLENDALE

The SWCA Synod Justice Team invites you to a hearing and discussion of the draft for the Civic Life and Faith Social Statement led by Regina Banks, the director of Lutheran Office of Public Policy. In addition, discussion of the propositions on the November ballot will follow lunch.

In the middle of this most important election season, we have the opportunity to discuss how our faith and civic life intersect. Some of the section titles in the draft for discussion are The Calling to Robust Civic Participation, Religion and the 1^st Amendment, Addressing Selected Contemporary Concerns in Civic Life, and more.

The event will include lunch. After lunch, Regina will discuss the propositions that will be on the November ballot. RSVP to Dixie Hanson at dixhanson@gmail.com or (805) 529-3716.

Sponsored by LOPP and the Synod Justice Team.

Please share the flyer below with your church.

Tuesday, October 15 to Thursday, October 17, 2024

Embassy Suites, La Quinta

"A Weary World Rejoices:

Advent and Christmas Themes in an Election Year”

Online registration is NOW open and will close October 3.

CLICK HERE to register online.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & EVENT UPDATES 

Additional information about Theoasis may be found on the Theoasis event page as it becomes available. Please check back often!

From Previous Newsletters

Weekly News & Updates - August 8, 2024

The Haven, Thriving Leadership, Upcoming Events, and more!

The Office of the Bishop of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA is located on the traditional territory of the Chumash, Tongva, and Kizh people. The SWCA Synod rests on the traditional territory of over 11 different indigenous people.

Here is a resource you can use to find out more information about the traditional keepers of the land on which you live, work or travel.

Who we are

The Southwest California Synod is a Reconciling In Christ Synod, making a public commitment to welcome, include and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. For information about becoming a Reconciling in Christ congregation or organization, please contact the Region 2 RIC Coordinator or the RIC office.

We are a Lutheran Restoring Creation Synod. Lutherans Restoring Creation is a grassroots movement promoting care for creation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, cultivating a community of dedicated stewards of earth and neighbor who proclaim God’s promise of hope and healing for all.

We are a Jubilee USA Network Synod. There are over 750 national and local faith groups that work with Jubilee USA to address the root causes of poverty and inequality. Congregations and faith communities are a critical moral champions on economic policies that impact our lives. Jubilee faith communities play a pivotal role in winning debt, tax, trade and transparency policies that protect vulnerable people and economies.

Congregational Resources

2024 Compensation Workbook (includes Salary Guides for Rostered Leaders and Supply Pastor Reimbursement)

Pulpit Supply Listings & Information

Treasurers Training Materials

Secretaries Training Materials

Please pray for the following:

The people of Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Sudan, and all those touched by war.
Lutheran Immigrant Services and their work with refugees.
Axel Steuer, who is currently in hospice care with stage 4 cancer in Minnesota
Pastor Ray Kibler, who is battling immuno-deficiency disease and cancer.
Eileen Miller and Pastor John Miller.
Pastor Dan Hooper as he recovers from heart surgery.
Pastor Ray Kibler III will undergo hip replacement surgery on June 23, 2024. Please continue to pray for Pastor Ray and his wife, Victoria.

Your prayer requests are important to us. If you would like to be added to the prayer list or if we should continue your request, please email communications@socalsynod.org.