Dear Congregation Members

Update on Church Finances.

Our Checking account, as of April 30, 2021 went up to $3,342.27. Thank you for all who gave a little more. We are still not out of the woods yet.

Our average income went up to $4,488.06 for the first 4 months of this church year.

Our expenses are an average of $4,427.29 for the same period of time.

This is the first time this year we took in more than we spent. THANK YOU!!

Our Pulpit Supply is still a problem. At the conclusion of this month, we will have $2,386.00 left in this fund. The average months costs $1,276.00. At this rate, we will run out of money for our Pastors the middle of July and then we need to find the money somewhere. We have lay services scheduled, which will help.

If you have any ideas which will help, please let one of the council members know.

Thank you for everything you do to help Gift of Grace.

In God’s Name, we trust.

Bob Ely

Treasurer.

Grace and peace to you, the Sierra Pacific Synod.

For those who do not know me, I am the Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer (they/them), Bishop-elect. For 12 years, I served as the executive director of a non-profit that cared for the homeless and hungry in San Francisco, with calls from four Lutheran congregations: Santa Maria y Santa Marta, St. Francis, Christ Church and herchurch. I was also called to St. Aidan’s Episcopal church to create progressive worship experiences that would both help to heal the trauma of individuals who have been harmed by the church and enable folk to become comfortable with traditional liturgy.

I currently serve as the pastor of Grace Lutheran in San Francisco helping a small but mighty congregation diversify their income and live out their faith in public ways. I also work for the San Francisco Police Department as their community chaplain coordinator. I am currently in the process of transitioning out of these roles in order to be ready to serve you and our beloved Lutheran church in the role of Bishop, beginning July 1^st.

The days that followed my election as your new Bishop have been a bit of a whirlwind of the Holy Spirit, full of lots of media interviews or as I like to call it, evangelism. I have received thousands upon thousands of messages from individuals congratulating me and expressing how your election of me has inspired people around the globe. Thank you to everyone who reached out to share greetings, prayers and well wishes.

A number of individuals have also reached out to extend invitations to visit or worship with you. Due to the volume of emails I’m currently receiving, I have created a google form to help organize requests for visits. You may fill the form out at any time, but please remember that my service as Bishop does not begin until July 1^st. You can find the form here.

A few individuals have also reached out with questions about what it means that I am trans. As a part of my pastoral ethics, I do not answer personal questions about my body or medical choices. But, for those who are interested in resources about LGBTQ issues and terminology, I recommend the resources provided at Reconciling Works.

I am humbled and inspired by the opportunity you have given me to be your next bishop. Until then, please pray for me and my family: my wife Laurel (she/her), Dominique, 8 (they/them) and Makayla, 7 (she/her). We look forward to praying, worshiping and sharing some of our favorite stories about Jesus very soon.

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer

[Subject to change based on CDC and State guidelines]

• June 5 - Cleaning of the Center @ 9 am
• June 6 - Pot Luck after Service
• June 12 - Yard Sale and Bake Sale
• October 2 - Fall Craft Fair
• December 4 - Holiday Craft Fai

Please contact to Verl-Lee Ely at 775-575-2933 or Sunni Leggate 775-835-3951, to have a prayer added to the Prayer Chain, or to provide an update about a person already on the list. You can also contact Verl-Lee or Sunni if you would like to join the prayer chain committee. This list will be updated monthly, and if a prayer you have submitted needs to remain a little longer, please let us know.


Please pray for healing and comfort for:

• Steve Carr
• John Handrich
• Damian Wilson
• Beth Hall
• Sandy Bell
• Velma Thornburgh
• Mavis and Don Burgess
• Rick Jones
• Jeanie Borden
• Charlene Ross
• Mavis Jensen
• Ralph and Mary Chaney
• Billy Simmons
• Holly Yocum
• Judy Crawford and her daughter
• Matty Monday
• Lloyd Dool
• Jeff Edwards
• Pastor Mike Patterson
• Lenora
• Gwen
• Elizabeth McCarthy
• The friends and family of Margaret Ports
• The family of Nancy Lautenschlager
• Bruce Person
• Patti Fischer
• Linda White
• The friends and family of Earl Schlenker
• The friends and family of Joya
• Joby Kness