|
|
|
|
Pentecost and Life in the Church
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” (Acts 2:42-43)
The work of Christ on earth was completed and He had given His followers the responsibility to share the wonderful story of God’s love with the world. It all started in Jerusalem with people who had come from all corners of the Roman Empire hearing the message of Jesus in their own language. Acts 2:41 tells us that there were about 3,000 who came to faith that first Pentecost and were baptized.
The Book of Acts describes for us how the message of God’s love, lived out in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus spread throughout the empire. In just a short time there were believers gathering to learn, worship, pray and encourage one another as described above. By the power of the Holy Spirit working in the lives of people, others came to know Jesus.
In the Pacific Southwest District today people of all ages are gathering in homes, churches, schools and the work place to learn more about how to live a life of faithfulness to Jesus and how to share their joy with others. The word of God’s love in Jesus is being shared in different languages and cultures so that all people may know, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
Faced with the challenges of life today, whether economic, environmental, health or security, we know that our God loved us so much that He became one of us in the sending of His son, Jesus. He is the one who promises to be where we are and to bring peace and joy in the midst of the turbulence of our lives. He unconditionally loves us, forgives us and strengthens us for love and service to Him and one another.
Larry Stoterau
President, The Pacific Southwest District
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
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.
|
| |
|
|
| |
THE ANNUAL CONTINUING EDUCATION CONFERENCE
For Deacons, Deaconesses and Parish Ministry Assistants is scheduled at two different locations in 2010. The first one will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 760 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, CA on Saturday, October 16. The second one will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 820 East Plaza Circle, Litchfield Park, AZ on Saturday October 23.
Presenters will be Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson at Costa Mesa and Rev. David Bolte at Litchfield Park. These two sites have been chosen in order to make travel more convenient for those attending the conferences this fall. Information will be sent out soon and will also be available on the District Web Site. Make plans now to join as we come together for fellowship, study and learn from two great presenters.
Click here to access forms
INTENTIONAL INTERIM MINISTRY
2010 – 2011 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 will be held in the Phoenix area.
Many who have taken the course but do not intend to pursue IIM have found the training very beneficial for their ministries.
The following dates are provided for those anticipating participating in the next series of IIM Training Sessions. More information will be provided soon. Please reserve the dates now.
SERIES |
|
IRVINE, CA DATES |
|
PHOENIX, AZ DATES |
SESSION 1 |
|
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 |
|
Thursday, January 13, 2011 |
SESSION 2 |
|
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 |
|
Thursday, February 24, 2011 |
SESSION 3 |
|
Tuesday, January 11, 2011 |
|
Thursday, March 17, 2011 |
SESSION 4 |
|
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 |
|
Thursday, April 7, 2011 |
SESSION 5 |
|
Tuesday, April 5, 2011 |
|
Thursday, May 5, 2011 |
For more information, please contact:
Mike Brewer, Director at 909-917-1259 or via e-mail at mike@mkbrewer.com
or Barbara Farley at 949-854-3232 ext. 201 or via e-mail at barbara.farley@psd-lcms.org
On the Edge Conference is for high school students who are thinking about or wondering about a professional career in church work. This very exciting day-long conference will be held at Concordia University, Irvine, on Saturday, October 2, 2010. For those that may wish to stay overnight, please contact School Ministries at the District Office for arrangements.
Click here for the Schedule
Click here for the Registration Form
Click here for the Medical Release Form
Click here for the On The Edge poster
Click here for the Pastors and DCE email information
|
| |
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:
|
|
|
  
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 click here.
|
|
|
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,
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.
|
|
|
 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.
|
|
| |
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.
|
|
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. After the last radio broadcast, a new PSW District internet program began on Monday, November 11, 2002. 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 (Eastern time) every night (9:00 PM Pacific time). 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. |
|
|
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.
In September, we recognize women’s health and fitness. We women (who are better at taking care of others than ourselves!) need to learn what risk factors we can change – and how – in order to enjoy quality and quantity of life!
Additionally, as economic challenges continue to press many individuals and families in our society, you’re offered “food for thought” regarding ways to help the hungry in our communities. And in light of current heat waves throughout our nation, some tips to help you “beat the heat,” and maybe use your church or community agency as a cooling center to help others do the same!
As always, your topics suggestions for future issues of HealthNotes are welcome!
In HIS service,
Marla M.LichtsinnRN, MPA, CIC, FCNmmlichtsinn@socal.rr.com
marla.lichtsinn@psd-lcms.org
|
| |
|
|
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 |
|
| |
 
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. Click here for more information.
|
|
|
 
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.
|
|
|
|
