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The
Season of Lent
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2: 12 – 13)
The call of the prophets was the call to repent, to turn around, to change the way the people think and act, and to return to a life of faithfulness to God. The prophet’s message was a warning that the people had forgotten their God and all that he had done for them. The Old Testament prophets promised that one was coming who would reestablish the relationship of God with his people and his name would be Jesus.
As we observe the 40 days of Lent we too are called to repent, to turn around our thoughts and lives to be faithful followers of Jesus. We are given the opportunity to reflect on what we need to confess before our God and our need for the forgiveness of Christ from the cross and empty tomb. While some find it helpful to give up something they enjoy as a discipline of Lent, the Prophet Joel reminds us, “Rend your heart and not your garments.”
The prophet is teaching us that it is really all about the heart. Below are some suggestions for using this time in a meaningful way:
· Read thoughtfully the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)
· Read reflectively Jesus expounding on the Ten Commandments (Matthew 5 – 7)
· Confess honestly your need for forgiveness
· Celebrate joyfully in the words, “In the name of Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven.”
Lent prepares us for the joy-filled celebration of our Lord’s resurrection Easter Sunday, April 4. We are bold to repent because we are promised forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is not conditioned upon our sincerity but on his desire to love us unconditionally, “for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” We are blessed. We are loved.
If you have been away from church for a time or if you have never been part of a church, I invite you to look further on this web site or call our office for a church close to you.
Larry Stoterau
President, The Pacific Southwest District |
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Please check out our Newly added Search Feature below. Type in what you're looking for and click on the Search button. A page with results will appear, please scroll down and click on the numbered listings below the sponsored ads (Please Note: we have no affiliations with the sponsored ads). We would love to hear from you, please send us your feedback since this is a trial feature we are testing out. We appreciate your support. |
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Are you missing out on important news and information happening in the Pacific Southwest District? Subscribe to the PSD enews to receive the weekly District newsletter. By subscribing to the PSD enews, you will also automatically receive any Special Bulletins, apprising you of breaking news or disaster information. You can also subscribe to the PSD Job Site, our bi-weekly publication which lists positions available throughout the District.
Wish to learn more about the Synod's mission and ministry programs as they relate to your congregation? Subscribe to LCMS e-News to receive publications and devotions sent to your computer via e-mail.
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Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW) celebrates its 40th anniversary of ministering to the urgent needs of individuals in the southwest. We ask that you join us in celebrating this vital ministry. Please see the pdfs below, as well as LSS-SW’s web site at http://www.lss-sw.org/, for more information about this ministry and the celebration.
Bulletin Paragraphs
DVD Description
LCMS Cover Letter
for Pacific Southwest District
LCMS Newsletter for the Pacific Southwest District
Prayers for Worship |
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Interim Ministry 2009 – 2010 Workshops
Training
for Intentional Interim Ministry (IIM)
is open to all church workers to gain insights, skills, resources and
practical information for their congregational ministry. This
course is a basic requirement for those seeking to serve in Intentional
Interim Ministry in the PSD or CNH districts.
The course involves five workshops and includes reading assignments,
field work and case studies. The cost is $345 to cover books,
materials, the 200 page basic notebook, and lunches.
Southern California
training sessions will meet at the district office from 9:00 AM to 4:30
PM. AZ training sessions have been cancelled for 2010 due to low
enrollment. Many who have taken the course but do not intend to
pursue IIM have found the training very beneficial for their
ministries.
SERIES
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IRVINE, CA DATES
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SESSION
1
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Tues.
October 20, 2009
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SESSION
2
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Tues.
November 17, 2009
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SESSION
3
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Tues.
February 2, 2010
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SESSION
4
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Tues.
March 2, 2010
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SESSION
5
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Tues.
April 20, 2010
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Please register with Barbara Farley at the district office at (949)
854-3232, ext. 201 or email barbara.farley@psd-lcms.org. For more information contact Mike
Brewer at (909) 917-1259 or mike@mkbrewer.com.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE PREVIOUSLY TRAINED –
Again, you are invited to audit the classes on a space available basis.
Costs are: Meal and any new books that have been added.
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Concordia Publishing House's 2010 vacation Bible school curriculum, "Planet Zoom," provides a hands-on opportunity for children to become more involved in God's mission.
The curriculum's featured mission concept, "Project: Dominican Republic," is a joint project of LCMS World Mission and LCMS World Relief and Human Care. The mission project encourages vacation Bible school participants to give offerings and supplies to share God's love with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Dominican Republic.
The proceeds from offerings given by children attending vacation Bible schools across the country will help build two Lutheran church buildings, purchase musical instruments and Christian resources, and purchase medicine and medical supplies for children with disabilities. VBS children are also encouraged to bring in supplies for families in the Dominican Republic, including washcloths, hand towels, bath towels, cloth bibs, and bed sheets.
For more details on Project: Dominican Republic, and to view a brief video about mission work in the Dominican Republic, please visit www.lcms.org/vbs.
The "Planet Zoom" curriculum is available for purchase on the Concordia Publishing House Web site at http://planetzoom.cph.org/ or by calling 1-800-325-3040.
To learn more about how LCMS missionaries in the Dominican Republic are responding to the earthquake in Haiti, visit www.lcms.org?16421. |
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Ablaze! is the mission initiative to share the Gospel of
Jesus Christ with 100 million people worldwide by the year 2017 in
response to the great love God shows to us. Fan into Flame is the invitation for congregations and individuals to help fund Ablaze! projects that spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in their
communities, the Pacific Southwest District, throughout North
America , and around the world. Click on the documents and forms
listed here:
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Ablaze Covenant Congregation
- Church Planting Brochure {click here}
- Enrollment Form {click here}
Nearly 50 Ablaze! Ambassadors
are ready to share as guest speakers about the worldwide initiative to
share the Gospel with 100 million non-Christians by 2017. All Ablaze! Ambassadors are passionate about
outreach and many are former district and national Synod leaders
(district presidents, LWML presidents, and LCMS and Lutheran Hour
Ministries executives).
As spokespersons for Ablaze!, each agrees to give presentations about the
effort in congregations, schools, and other venues to encourage their
fellow Lutherans to share their faith with family, friends,
co-workers—even strangers.
Consider inviting an Ablaze! Ambassador to come
encourage your congregation, school, or group in their personal
outreach and faith-sharing. (Hosting groups are asked to cover the
transportation, housing, and/or other expenses related to the
Ambassador’s attendance at their event.) Please take advantage of this
wonderful resource. If you have any questions, or would like to
view an updated list of Ablaze! Ambassadors, please call 1-800-433-3954
or visit: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=14569
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DISASTER RESPONSE
The Pacific Southwest
District provides financial donations to our churches, schools, and
parishioners who have been affected by disaster (hurricanes, floods, fires,
earthquakes, etc). If you would like to help in this effort,
please send your donation, made payable to the Pacific Southwest
District—LCMS, earmarked for Disaster Relief, and we will include it
with the funds that we send. We are aware that many people have
been impacted by our current economic state, but we invite you to make
a donation in any amount that you are comfortable with to help those
who have lost so much. If you would prefer to donate funds
directly to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, you may do so on-line by
clicking here: http://catalog.lcms.org/GiveNow/Gift_Catalog.asp,
or mail donations to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, P.O. Box 68661,
St. Louis ,
MO
63166-6861
,
or call the credit-card gift line at (888) 930-4438. If you would
like to volunteer in the cleanup efforts following a disaster or
devastating incident, please contact the office of the district in
which you would like to serve. Contact information for LCMS
districts is available online at www.lcmsdistricts.org.
Please
follow the link to the Gulf Coast Synod web site, www.gulfcoastsynod.org, for sermons
and sermon ideas, prayer ideas, full worship services from previous
tragedies, resources for speaking with children after a tragedy, an
intergenerational activity and much more. We will be updating that site
regularly. If they are not already there, please be patient we are
working on them and will get them there as soon as possible.
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 Lutheran HAMS
If you are an amateur radio ham and have an active station, we could use your help. The Pacific Southwest District is very active in disaster response training and preparedness. Part of the program through I-LERT (Inter-Lutheran Emergency Response Team) is to establish a communication network that will be able to coordinate activities between the shelter churches in the event of a disaster. The network would also include a station to communicate through a network to stations outside the disaster area. The concept is to have a 2 meter local network with a 40 meter station for DX out of the area. If you would be interested in participating in the network, please contact Jerry Reichman (K7AUN) at the Pacific Southwest District office in Irvine, CA at 949-854-3232, ext. 210 or e-mail jerry.reichman@psd-lcms.org.
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Point
of Truth
Did you know that Point
of Truth offers full-length videos on demand (VOD)
of services, complete with music and sermons? Access their
gallery of videos on the LCMS web site: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=11264 |
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It’s a New Day!
It's surprising that after all these years, people still mention The Southern California Lutheran Program, our District's radio program for 60 years. Pastor Richard Schumm was the director for the final 25 years of its radio time. Unfortunately, after so many decades, Station KAIM (1390) Long Beach, was sold in 2002. Other stations were cost prohibitive and by 2004 it went off the air. The Monday after the last radio broadcast, a new PSW District internet program began. It was named "It's A New Day." Pastor Schumm's 3-minute audio devotions are on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It's nice that one can listen to the program at any time during a 24 hour period. It changes at midnight every night. It's easy to hear the devotion.
If you want the program on your desktop, type in the following address:
www.psd-lcms.org/audio/default.asp, go to the File command, select Send, then Shortcut to Desktop. If your congregation has a website, and you would like to access the program from there, they can simply add a link on their site to the above address.
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HealthNotes are monthly articles addressing a variety
of current health topics, that may be linked to your website, included
in your congregational newsletters, posted, or copied for
distribution. As always, I welcome topics of interest to you and
your communities/congregations!
Each month, a variety of
health topics or health concerns are recognized through annual health
observance dates. Health observances are days, weeks, or months devoted
to promoting particular health information, or to honor healthcare
professionals.
Most of us know someone who faces daily challenges associated with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Click here for the March 2010 issue of HealthNotes, with a brief overview of MS, and a link to the “Walk MS” web site www.walkms.org. Please share this information to help raise awareness, and consider joining in a walkathon to raise research funds!
FLU
SEASON ALERT – Here is an informative brochurewith up-to-date FAQ’s about the flu in its many
forms. We have also provided some additional helpful
informational flyers, click here to access them: Red Cross Flu Checklist, Swine
Flu Alert Information, Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR
CONGREGATION/COMMUNITY: A BONE HEALTH STUDY OF ORANGE COUNTYis being conducted by a
professor of biological sciences at Chapman University, Orange (I
believe the only requirements are resident status – any race or ethnicity,
both males and females – of Orange County, and at least 17 years of
age; the only disqualifier I know of is currently being on treatment
(e.g., Fosamax, Boniva, etc.) to improve bone density…). Please
consider participation in this study… it’s free, and even if it
weren’t, the price of the DEXA bone scan and lab tests are worth our
contribution to a better understanding of healthy bones!!
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The Extra Mile Ministries K9 Crisis Response Ministry
Faith Lutheran Church in Whittier, CA is now the home of the Extra Mile Ministries K9 Crisis Response Ministry. This ministry is a vital link in the ministry of national response to crisis/disaster.
These specially trained comfort dogs work with experienced handlers and team members in stressful situations which are often chaotic and unpredictable. The team helps victims, emergency personal, and family members cope emotionally and spiritually. In doing so the team is able to help renew faith and restore hope. The team brings Christ-like compassion and mercy utilizing the dogs as instruments, creating a healing bridge connecting those in crisis and the crisis team. As those who face traumatic situations begin to pet and touch the K9, the power of God opens the door of opportunity to help and serve. Knowing the physical power of touch and its effectiveness, a much deeper healing can take place that is beyond description. The team provides a ministry of presence and offers Christ crisis tools of mercy and grace.
Support of this ministry, through prayer and financial contributions, is always welcome. Donations can be mailed to:
The Extra Mile Ministries
c/o PSW District
2206 Luz Way
Oceanside, California 92056
Thank you for your continued support! We hope you will “friend” us on our Facebook page ("K9 Comfort").
Blessings!
Chaplain Ralph and the K9 Chaplain/Comfort Dog Teams and Staff
clothcop@aol.com
www.faceofcrisis.org
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Our purpose is to facilitate the people
movement to Christ now taking place on the Navajo reservation. We do
that by writing curriculum for making disciples, equipping the saints,
and training people for ministry. On our website you can see the
programs and the work being done to train Navajo ministers to bring
Jesus into the hearts of the un-churched among the Navajo Nation. We
train by doing. http://stevesbooks.homestead.com/index.html
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You Can Receive a Free Copy of Feed My Sheep by Donating $25 to the Feed My Sheep Book Fund
This book is not only a valuable resource on the history of the District with an emphasis on the Hispanic ministries but is also an excellent handbook on how to do Hispanic ministries. To secure your free copy, contact Karene Cargill at (949) 854-3232, ext. 200 in the District Office or Mike Doyle, District Archivist, at (909) 985-5948 or email mikedoyle@adelphia.net.
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