Upcoming Synod-Wide Events
March Events/Programs

Chrism Mass Services
Throughout March 2023
The Office of the Bishop and our Conference Deans invite all Rostered Ministers, Congregants, and Lay Leaders to this year’s Chrism Mass Services. These services will be held throughout the month of March at different churches in our Synod and each service will follow the same liturgy. Chrism Mass is a service that enables leaders to reaffirm their ordination vows and blesses the oils for anointing use throughout the year. Everyone is welcome to attend any service!
Wednesday, March 29 | 12:00pm Lunch, 1:00pm Service
at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco - 1111 O'Farrell St
Thursday, March 30 | 9:30am Coffee Hour, 10:30am Service
at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Fremont - 38801 Blacow Rd
April Events/Programs

Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee (SPSYC) High School Retreat: New Date!
April 21-23, 2023 at Mt. Cross Ministries
Due to extreme weather and power outages, the February SPSYC High School Retreat has been rescheduled to April 21-23, 2023. We’re excited to announce that registration for the High School Retreat has reopened!
This year’s SPSYC Retreat will gather around the theme “God’s Love: Inside Out”, with the centering scripture of 1 John 4:19. Guest Speaker Regina Banks, Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California, will be with us over the weekend.
Also at this retreat, eligible high school students will have the opportunity to join and serve on the Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee! Learn more about serving on SPSYC here.
If you’d like to attend this year’s High School Retreat, you can register here.
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Church Communicators Gathering
Monday, April 24th from 10:00-11:30am via Zoom
Topic TBD
Join us for our second Church Communicators Gathering! This is a space for all individuals who work with communications in their congregational setting. Come back soon to see what topic we'll center our time together around!
May Events/Programs

Ordination and Installation of Charbel Zgheib
Saturday, May 6th at 4:00pm
at Good Shepherd Church in Sacramento, CA
All are invited to the Ordination and Installation Service of Charbel Zgheib on Saturday, May 6th at 4:00pm. The service will be held at Good Shepherd Church in Sacramento, CA.
All Pastors and Deacons are invited to process - the color of the day is red! A reception to celebrate Charbel will follow the service, and we ask that you kindly RSVP by April 15th to (916) 483-0451 or by clicking here.

Children, Youth and Family Ministry Meeting
Tuesday, May 9th via Zoom
Save-the-date for our upcoming spring Children, Youth and Family Ministry meeting! This meeting will provide an opportunity for folks to connect with others who work with young people in their church, share ideas about children and youth ministry throughout the synod, ask questions about the upcoming ELCA Youth Gathering, WSYG, SPSYC Retreats and so much more.
This meeting is open to any staff member, volunteer or individual who supports Children, Youth and Family Ministry in their congregation! A zoom link will be shared closer to the date.

California Lutheran Lobby Day
Wednesday, May 17th
at St. John's Lutheran Church, Sacramento
Save-the-date on Wednesday, May 17th for Lutheran Lobby Day with the Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California. Lobby Day will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sacramento, CA, just steps away from the California State Capitol.
More information & registration can be found here!

Let the Healing Begin: Reconnecting and Recreating
Rostered Ministers Retreat
All Rostered Ministers of the Sierra Pacific Synod are invited to the 2023 Rostered Ministers Retreat - Let the Healing Begin: Reconnecting & Recreating. This year’s Retreat will take place Tuesday, May 30 - Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Sacramento, CA. The Retreat will begin at 3:00pm Tuesday and conclude at 12:00pm Thursday.
This year’s Retreat will be led by Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care, Spirituality, and Political Theology at Pacific School of Religion (PSR), Leonard McMahon.
Retreat registration will cost $350 / person. All guests will stay overnight at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in a single-occupancy room, and be fed 5 meals during the retreat. Limited scholarships are available, please email revdiannelcoc@gmail.com to inquire more.
Registration for this year’s Rostered Ministers Retreat will open on Monday, April 10th.
More details coming soon!
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Spring Conference Gatherings
Throughout May & June 2023
This Spring, the Bishop’s Election Committee and Conference Deans will host our Spring Conference Gatherings at various locations throughout the synod. These Conference Gatherings will have two key focuses: discernment of our upcoming Bishop’s Election, and a Conference Assembly for business items.
Learn more about the Conference Gatherings here.
Conference 3: Capitol Valley Conference
May 6, 2023 at 1:00pm
At Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Sacramento, CA - 1615 Morse Ave, Sacramento, CA 95864
Conference 8 & 9: Sierra Central Valley and Central San Joaquin Conference
May 13, 2023 at 10:00am, lunch will be offered
At Hope Lutheran Church in Fresno, CA - 5435 N Fresno St, Fresno, CA 93710
Conference 6 & 7: El Camino Real and Mt. Diablo Conference
June 3, 2023 more details TBD
Conference 2 & 5: Bridges and San Francisco Peninsula Conference
June 10, 2023 at 11:00am, lunch will be offered
At St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, San Francisco, CA - 1111 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Conference 1 & 4: Redwood Mountain and Sierra Nevada Foothills Conference
June 24, 2023 at 10:00am, half-hour screen break for lunch
On Zoom