January 2015
Inside this issue:
HALLUCINATING
Events and Highlights
2
People have OBEs and NDEs – out of body and near death experiences. Lately a spate of books has come out, detailing neural
episodes that involve Christian imagery. One of the most popular is Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife by Eban Alexander. Another, Heaven Is for Real: A Little
Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd
Burpo is the basis for a recent Hollywood film. These books
make the claim that secular, materialistic science, far from refuting religion, actually confirms the Bible-based notions of the
afterlife believers have held all along.
Our Church Family
3
From Our Church
4-5
News and Notes
6-7
Get Involved!
8-9
Volunteer Schedule
10
Calendar
11
What are we to make of this? I take as my point of departure
the analysis of Oliver Sacks, himself a neuroscientist and popular
author (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat). In a 2012 article in The Atlantic Sacks writes that OBEs and NDEs are real
but not of supernatural origin. “They are part of the normal
range of human consciousness and experience.” Sacks labels
them “hallucinations” and points out “that they deploy the very
same systems in the brain that actual perceptions do.”
I think it is prudent and wise to let science speak in the areas
where its writ legitimately runs. A hallucination is a hallucination. But the sixteenth century reformers taught us that it is
dangerous to speak of spiritual matters without reference to the
cross. The good news is that our hope of heaven is based on the
death and resurrection of Christ and not on any human experience. The old dogmaticians spoke of salvation as extra nos,
blessedly outside of us, not confirmed by our feelings but given
by God as an unearnable gift.
The Epiphany season points us to Jesus, Light of the world. Not
to be confused with the brightness beheld in intracranial happenings. I will post more comments on this subject on Mt. Carmel’s Facebook page. Watch for them, and please add your
thoughts.
bgw
Sunday Worship
at Mt. Carmel
8:45 am
Traditional Service
10:00 am Adult Forum
Sunday School
11:00 am Contemporary Service
Holy Communion is offered at all
Sunday worship services.
Child care available on
Sundays 8:45 am-12:15 pm.
2
Events and Highlights
ANNOUNCING SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEW YEAR!
Here is something to look forward to in 2015: Mt Carmel will host our 3rd Annual
Interfaith Series beginning Sunday, Jan 12, thru Feb 16.
The 2015 series theme is “WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS A GOD?” Leaders from a
number of faith expressions will be with us to discuss their personal and/or corporate experiences in an informal setting with q & a time for listeners included.
Sessions will be in the multi-purpose room at 10:00 am and 12:30 pm.
The schedule for the series is
Jan 12 – Richard Carsel, Attorney and Jewish Community Leader
Jan 19 – Ron Richards, Minister SLO Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Jan 25 – Dr. Deborah Wilhelm, Roman Catholic Liturgist
Feb 1 - Dr. Todd Long, Cal Poly Professor of Religion
Feb 8 – Carol McFall, Practitioner, SLO Christian Science Church
Feb 15 – Naiyerah Kolkailah, President Islamic Society of SLO County Community
The series is intended to deepen community-wide understanding between differing faith traditions and the series will be open to the public as well as to Mt Carmel members and guests.
Join us on January 10, for some “female fellowship”
It was decided at the last Women’s Retreat that the
group wanted to create more opportunities to come together. Once a quarter, we will be gathering and walking various labyrinths around the County. The first
event will be on Saturday, January 10. Meet at Suzanne
Gorter’s, 1455 5th St. Los Osos, and we will walk the labyrinth in Los Osos. Didn’t
attend the Retreat? We don’t care! Come join us!
Get your brown bag ready!
Start the new year off by coming to the Brown Bag Lunch
Group, Friday, January 9, at noon. Topics vary, but our
speakers are always interesting and entertaining. Bring your
brown bag lunch, a friend and join us. Have a topic you
want to hear about? Suggestions always definitely appreciated.
Contact Nancy Priddy, 544-6410
January 2015
3
Our Church Family
We Remember in Prayer
Homebound or unable to get out often: Russ & LaVanne Anderson; Don & Sally Eggen; Bill Hopper; Flo Krumhaus; Constance Petersen; Althea Schmidt; Shirley Simmons; Bud &
Pearl Thoma; Midge Stettner and Becki Iannsee; Beth Peterson; Len Mansell;
PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY:
January 4: Joel, Debbie,
Kyle, & Elyse Peterson; Larry
& Beth Peterson; Marshall,
Riley, & Sarah Pihl;
January 25: Pat Ramsay;
Ryan, Martha, & Andre Reck;
Sally Reck; Walt & Helen
Rehm; Irene Reis; Wendy &
Emily Reis.
January 11: Cynthia Polk,
Donavin Bacon, Daisy Kessler,
Cash Kessler; James & Gail
Porter; Mary Ann Presswood,
Elizabeth Bingham
January 18: Glenn & Nancy
Priddy; David Quist; Steve,
Cynthia, & Annie Quist; Warren & Betty Ann Quist
1-11-92: Bob and Teresa Hendrix
1-15-10: Nancy and Seymour Nicolaisen
1-27-68: Pat & Cindy Hill
January Birthdays
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7
8
9
10
11
11
12
13
13
13
15
15
16
17
19
19
19
22
24
24
25
25
26
26
27
27
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29
Ed Dresp
Clare Weidner
Jerry Kirkhart
Bob Harvey
Sally Eggen
Gerda Culwell
Timothea Tway
Robert C. Grosse
Heather Babcock
Erin Garnsey
Annamarie Fuchs
Nancy Priddy
Donley Winger
John Morse
Jack Peschong
Cameron Dong
Sheryl Huffaker
Janis Stansfield
Karen Weber
Jeannie Fuess
Maia Malone-Davison
Caleb Hensinger
Irene Reis
Judy Burroughs
Carlyn Hinds
Elsa Brody
Ryan Mansell
Jude Zepeda
Bryan Gingg
Please let us know if we missed your
birthday
Mount Carmel Staff
Rev. Bruce Wollenberg
Ingrid Frokjer
Rachel Valliere
Paul Woodring
Ruth Rollefson
Mark Pietri
Karen Weber
Tony Bloodworth
John Domingo
Interim Pastor
Director of Children & Teens Ministry
Lutheran Campus Ministry Director
Organist
Director, Sacred Arts Choir
Director of Contemporary Music
Child Care Provider
Custodian
Temporary Parish Administrator
Church Office Hours
8:00—4:30 Monday- Friday
Phone 805-544-2133 Fax 544-5356
Email: [email protected]
www.mtcarmelslo.org
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Email: [email protected]
www.lcmslo.org
Our pastoral staff is here for you.
In time of crisis, please contact the church.
January 2015
4
From Our Church Family
Paul Woodring is Retiring as Choir Director
“After 20 years of enjoyable, exciting, and satisfying work with the Sacred Arts Choir, I have decided that the time has come to retire from my position as choir director. My last service with
the choir was on Christmas Eve. My main reason for retiring is that between my three jobs (2
churches and Cal Poly) I don't have the time I need to pursue some other activities that I'm trying to bring into my life. I didn't make this decision lightly, and although it is the right thing for
me to do, it weighs rather heavily on me.
I am hoping that with the Council's approval I will stay on as organist for the 8:45 service. Plans
for the Sacred Arts Choir are pending, while the Council, Pastor and I, along with other interested persons, discuss the issue.
I can't begin to thank all those past and present who have made my time as choir director a genuine joy. I will treasure my many, many wonderful memories and experiences!”
Dec. 6, A Magical Day at Mt. Carmel
After visiting their dads at CMC, a bus full of 38 children, ages 0 – 17,
2 adult children, various chaperones, bus driver and moms, arrived
for a party at Mt. Carmel. They were greeted with welcome signs and
escorted off the bus by their hosts. Everyone was given a homemade
cookie to decorate. Each table was supplied with frosting, sprinkles,
everything needed to create a beautiful holiday cookie. Hidden away
in the “Bible Room” was Santa, aka David Bobell. WOW, was he a
great Santa!. One at a time, families were escorted back for a surprise visit. Santa heard their Christmas wishes and gave each one a
HEAVILY stuffed stocking. The stockings had been made by the women at the County Jail Honor
Farm and items in the stockings were donated by folk around SLO. Ingrid and the College director
from Front Porch had set up activity areas, such as a bean bag toss, craft table or just outside
play time. The areas were supervised by college and high school volunteers. When is was time for
the guests to leave, volunteers picked up a sack lunch and a bus ornament for each person, got
hugs good-by and then everyone chased the bus down the street for a final farewell. Again, it was
MAGICAL!
Thank you to everyone who donated, participated and supported. You have given these children a
beautiful Christmas memory.
January 2015
5
Thank You
Dear Mt Carmel Parishioners and Staff:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your prayers and good wishes regarding my
overall health.
My diagnosis is Intractable Bipolar Affective Disorder. Intractable means difficult to treat. Yet
it looks like in the past month the right medication combination has finally been found. Two
medications--Abilify and Seroquel have so far been exceptional at stabilizing my moods.
I'm so happy to be doing so much better and I know that all of your prayers and good wishes
have been instrumental to my overall good health.
Since I am doing so well, I'd like to do more to help out at Mt. Carmel, my home church since
April of 2005. My cell phone number is (805) 704-5997 and my e-mail [email protected].
Anything I can do for Mt. Carmel, I 'm honored.
God bless all of you! A very special thanks to the late Pastor Marcus and to Pastor Marj for
prayers, good wishes, and kindness. Christ definitely has worked through the two of you. And
Nancy Priddy, Janis Sexton, and Pastor Bruce. The three of you have been so instrumental to
my overall recovery. Also all of you at Mt. Carmel--God bless all of you now and always! And
Ingrid--Thank you!
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2014 and always. I have evolved from merely existing to actually living. Praise God.
The journey since initial Bipolar diagnosis November 12, 1997 has been long and the longest
stretch of mood stability was 6 of the past 17 years; thus intractable. God and Christ are awesome and I'm so proud to be a Lutheran!
Parishioner Jeannie Ann Ledford
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Advent Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
On behalf of the members of the Santa Cruz Church, we express our
heartfelt thanks for food items donated by your congregation. Especially during the winter months, our families in need will be blessed by
your generosity in having access to basic food items for their families.
Your kind and generous hearts are a blessing to your family members in Christ here at Santa Cruz
Church.
Amor en Cristo,
Pastor Patricia Muran & Congregation Members
Santa Cruz Iglesia Luterana
Santa Maria, CA
January 2015
6
News & Notes
Friday Morning Bible Study
When asked to name heroes in the Old Testament, we easily think of Abraham,
or Joseph, or David. But what about Miriam, sister of Moses? What about Rahab, the unlikely ally? What about Abigail, the level-headed woman married to
a man named “fool”? God also worked through women to lead, nurture, and
save his people – some old, some young, some rich, some poor, and many of
them outsiders to the faith. All of them were strong, intelligent, courageous,
and have something to teach us. The Friday Morning Bible Study group is starting a 12-week series on the Women of the Old Testament on January 9. Come join us every Friday from 10:30noon at Steynberg gallery on Monterey (near Splash Café and Franks) for great coffee, conversation, and an in-depth look at God’s Word.
Members Helping Members....
From time to time, members of Mt Carmel find themselves in
a situation where they could use a bit of TLC. Maybe a few
meals while recovering from an illness, a ride to church, or
help with simple repairs around the house. In the past we have
compiled a list with the 'Time and Talent' forms but it has
been awhile since we have updated that list. Therefore, the
Caring Ministry Team is starting up a new list so that we have a few names to draw from. This is
a wonderful chance for new members to help where they can and ease the load for the longtime faithful members. One thing we can say about the Mt. Carmel family, they really do support their fellow members. You can add your name to the list by emailing Karen at
[email protected], contact the church office, or by signing up on Sunday during January.
Thanks for all you do.
Children And Teens
Looking ahead!
Sunday School Epiphany Party (January 4)
 Family WinterFest (January 17-19)

The Sunday School will celebrate Epiphany on January 4th during the Sunday School hour at
10am. Come join the fun!
The Family WinterFest at El Camino Pines will be January 17-19 and it is a wonderful time to
spend with your family and others from churches across our synod. The camp staff does a fabulous job planning a fun weekend for the kids and adults. Contact Ingrid in the church office for
more information, or go to lrcchome.com to view the El Camino Pines website.
Thank you to the Keislers for opening up your home for the annual CAT Christmas Dinner. It was
a great time to celebrate the season and the ways that the Children and Teen Ministry team is
helping to pass the faith on to our children.
(Be sure to check the back cover for pics of recent activities)
January 2015
7
Lutheran Campus Ministry enjoyed a
wonderful December. We enjoyed
our final mid-week gathering with
another incredible dinner at the
Keisler household. We also had an
amazing Pancake Palooza with over
75 students during Cal Poly’s final
exam week! Thanks to all the helpers.
The Social Action Team and LCM had a great trip to
Tijuana delivering all of the Christmas presents you
so graciously bought! Each child got a gift, we
painted 4 rooms of the church, played lots of games
with the children and teenagers, celebrated Martha’s birthday and even ate a few (actually a lot!) of
tacos.
In Mexico we talked about how our relationship with God is just
that - a relationship. Just like any other relationship here on
earth, in order to communicate we both talk and listen. God wants
the same of us. It takes practice and patience to listen to God and
to hear his voice. One of my favorite passages about hearing God’s
voice is in 1 Kings 19. It was not in the wind, fire or earthquake, but in the whisper. Have you taken the time to listen
for God’s whisper? Take this New Year as an opportunity to hear
from God in a new way. Look for his Spirit at work in your life
through your daily activities. I dare you to look for Godmoments throughout your day and be
surprised by his active presence in
your life. To hear from God, we must
read his Word to us. It is not ambiguous or secret, but God has made himself and his word manifest through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1), and he desires to work in our lives through the
power of the Holy Spirit (check it out,
1 Corinthians 2)!
Happy New Year from Lutheran Campus Ministry, and thank you
for your prayers and support for our trip to Mexico!
Love, Rachel
January 2015
8
Get Involved!
People's Kitchen needs 5 new volunteers in 2015: two volunteers to bring a hot dish with 12 hearty servings three
times in a year; two volunteers to bring a salad with 12
hearty servings three times in a year; and one volunteer to
bring 2 gallons of milk three times in a year. If you'd like to
help this important ministry, please call Laura Krueger at 458-6012. Thank you!
People's Kitchen Fact of the Month: At Mt. Carmel, we have 60 food providers. Each month, 15 of those volunteers provide the meal on the first Friday of
the month. Each person provides food three times per year.
People’s Kitchen Aprons—Your Social Action Team recently decided that the Mt.
Carmel People’s Kitchen serving crew should wear aprons to identify where the
good food & caring servers come from. There might be other events where it
would be appropriate or fun to wear a Mt. Carmel apron. As a result, we have
placed an order with Grace in Action Detroit for 20 navy blue aprons with the Mt.
Carmel logo silkscreened across the front. The aprons will probably be available
in February at a cost of about $13. If you want an apron saved for you, please
contact Sue Cummings at [email protected] or at 543-8972.
Deadline for February
“Summit” is January 16.
E-mail submissions to
[email protected]
To the owner of Dwayne the Fish, who
was left on Pastor Bruce’s car at the start
of winter break: Dwayne is safe and
sound. Please see Ingrid Frokjer to be reunited with the world’s coolest fish.
HELP WANTED
Would you consider being a part of Mt. Carmel's Altar Guild?
No experience necessary
On-the-job training and wonderful fellowship
If you would consider being a part of this "special" group, please contact
JEANIE SCHULTZ
543-2647
January 2015
9
SOCIAL ACTION TEAM
The new 114th Congress has seen an increase in
Lutherans serving our country, from 23 in the past
to now 28 members.
For updates of our advocacy efforts in Washington,
go to elca.org/en/News-and-Events on the web.
THANKS
__ All the gifts for the children of Tijuana
__ Support for homeless and GOB events in December
******************
We will continue to serve in 2015
Join Pastor Russ Gordon on a tour of
Greece following the footsteps of St. Paul
to Athens, Corinth, Philippi and more. Departure is April 18, 2015. Consider an extension of the beautiful Greek isles and
Ephesus. For more info and a brochure,
contact Russ at [email protected] or
704-2199.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
SOMEONE SPECIAL,
YOU MIGHT CONSIDER SPONSORING
FLOWERS FOR OUR CHANCEL.
Each bouquet is $27.50 or $55.00.
Thank you,
Jeanie Schultz
CHECK OUT FACEBOOK! Pr. Wollenberg has begun posting on Mt. Carmel's Facebook page.
Consider reading, commenting and re-sending.
National Youth Gathering Update
Continuing on the road to Detroit!
I’d like to send a huge THANK YOU to everybody who contributed to our
stock fundraiser during November! We raised around $2,500 of the
$10,000 that we need to go to the Rise Up! ELCA National Youth Gathering in Detroit next summer. That’s a huge chunk!
Right now we have 8 youth and 2 adults registered and are looking at
travel options to get us there and back. We have already partnered
with 4 members of Hope Lutheran in Atascadero who will travel and stay
with us in Detroit, and are talking with groups from Solvang, Ventura, and Camarillo. What a
great way to link together all of our groups!
Ingrid and Monica will be traveling to Detroit at the end of January for the national ELCA Youth
Ministry Network’s Extravaganza. As members of the Hospitality team, Ingrid and Monica have
been working for over a month already to help welcome over 800 youth pastors and ministers
from around the country who will be attending the “E” to network, share resources, and prepare
for the summer event.
Rise Up! Fact of the Month:
As of the summer of 2013, the city of Detroit owed money to more than 100,000 creditors, and
was facing $20 billion in debt and unfunded liabilities. That breaks down to more than $25,000
per resident. To make this fact even more astonishing: Back in 1960, the city of Detroit actually
had the highest per-capita income in the entire nation! In 1950, there were about 296,000 manufacturing jobs in Detroit. Today, there are fewer than 27,000. Between December 2000 and
December 2010, 48 percent of the manufacturing jobs in the state of Michigan were lost.
January 2015
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Volunteer Schedule
Acolytes and Date Time 8:45 Jan. 4 11:00 8:45 Jan. 11 11:00 8:45 Jan. 18 11:00 8:45 Jan. 25 11:00 8:45 Feb. 1 11:00 8:45 Feb. 8 11:00 Coﬀee Servers Communion Greeters Sound Lector Assis ng COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: Ingrid Frokjer Carol Harvey Diane Mansell Pat Forrest 544‐2133 481‐2418 481‐4053 541‐4799 Jack & Peggy Stevens Volunteer Needed Ariana Holman Jenni Kinsey Sally Reck Diane Mansell Pat Forrest Sarah Kinsey Jenni Kinsey Sarah Kinsey Pa & Marc Frey Karen Petersen Ka e Moersdorf Mike & Val Lund Sheryl Huﬀaker Len & Diane Mansell Fiona Huﬀaker Ka e Moersdorf Fiona Huﬀaker Libby Benne Bob & Mary Christenson Ro Cannon‐Miller Ma hew Babcock Carlyn & Lily Hinds Sherri Parkinson Sue Cummings Ma hew Babcock Makenna Parkinson Makenna Parkinson Olivia Dong Jack & Roberta Moen Greg Zocher Judy Burroughs Diane Mansell Monica Holman Monica Holman Janis Sexton Wayne Lippold Greg Zocher Paula Jaster Dick Eschenbach Jeanie Ledford Paula Jaster Judy Burroughs Callie Bobell Nancy Cook Sarah Pihl Callie Bobell Sarah Pihl Ariana Holman Jenni Kinsey Dorothy Mc Coid Sarah Kinsey Jenni Kinsey Sarah Kinsey Ka e Moersdorf Sheryl Huﬀaker Fiona Huﬀaker Ka e Moersdorf Fiona Huﬀaker Usher List
8:45
11:00
1st Sunday
Jess & Pat Bathke
Steve & JoAnn Bennett
Len & Diane Mansell
Bill & Karen Almas
2nd Sunday
Ed Dresp
Marc Frey
Bob Dwight
Volunteer Needed
3rd Sunday
Russ Anderson
Glen Priddy
Burke Towle, Jr.
Volunteer Needed
4th Sunday
Warren Quist
Vern Brody
Jack & Roberta Moen
Bob & Carol Grosse
Jeanie Schultz
Linda Schultze
Mike & Val Lund
Dorothy McCoid
Volunteer Needed
Donley & Carol Winger
Pat Forrest
Andy Frokjer
Jan. 4 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 25 Feb. 1 Altar Guild Jeanie Schultz Vickie Tway Maureen Dresp Pat Forrest Dorothy McCoid Children’s Church
8:45
Ingrid Frokjer
Cheryl Garnsey
Ingrid Frokjer
Mike Dresp
11:00
Jackie Kinsey
Ingrid Frokjer
Erin Malone
Ingrid Frokjer
Friday Morning Volunteers
Pat Forrest
Dorothy McCoid
Carol Grosse
Mary Christenson
Carol Winger
Maureen Dresp
December 19
December 26
January 2
January 9
January 16
January 23
January 30
February 6
February 13
February 20
February 27
March 6
January 2015
11
January 2015
Sunday
Monday
Dec. 28, 2014
Dec. 29, 2014
Tuesday
Dec. 30, 2014
Wednesday
Dec. 31, 2014
7:30pm – NA
Lessons & Carols
8:45 am – Traditional Worship
Thursday
2
3
New Year’s Day
8am -Garden Club
Office Closed
9am - Lutheran
Chicks
8am – Men’s
Breakfast and
Bible Study
11am - Peoples
Kitchen
6
7
8:45 am – Traditional Worship
6:30pm – LCM
Team Meeting
9:00am – Staff Meeting
10am – Sunday
School/Adult
Forum
7:30pm – NA
10am – Quilters
9am - Lutheran
Chicks
5:30pm – Praise
Band Rehearsal
10:30am – Bible
Study
5
11am - Contemporary Worship
11
8
14
8:45 am – Traditional Worship
5:30pm – Executive
Team meeting
9:00am – Staff Meeting
10am – Sunday
School/Adult
Forum
7:30pm – NA
5:30pm – Praise
Band Rehearsal
12
15
8am – Men’s
Breakfast and
Bible Study
17
8am – Men’s
Breakfast and
Bible Study
8am - Garden Club
9am - Lutheran
Chicks
10:30am – Bible
Study
12pm – Brown Bag
Lunch Group
12:15pm – CAT
Team meeting
25
16
Deadline for
February
“Summit”
6pm – Stephen Ministry
12:15pm – LCM
BBQ
10am – Sunday
School/Adult
Forum
11am - Contemporary Worship
10
8am - Garden Club
6pm – LCM Dinner &
Bible Study
11am - Contemporary Worship
8:45 am – Traditional Worship
9
6p – LCM Dinner &
Bible Study
13
18
Saturday
1
11am - Contemporary Worship
4
Friday
19
20
21
Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day
7:30pm – NA
Office Closed
22
23
24
9:00am – Staff Meeting
8am - Garden Club
5:30pm – Praise
Band Rehearsal
9am - Lutheran
Chicks
8am – Men’s
Breakfast and
Bible Study
6pm – LCM Dinner &
Bible Study
10:30am – Bible
Study
7pm – Church Council meeting
26
27
28
8:45 am – Traditional Worship
9:30am – Assistance
League meeting
9:00am – Staff Meeting
10am – Sunday
School/Adult
Forum
2pm – RAMs
5:30pm – Praise
Band Rehearsal
7:30pm – NA
11am - Contemporary Worship
5:30pm – Financial
Management
Team meeting
4pm – ICH Board
meeting
6pm – LCM Dinner &
Bible Study
29
30
31
8am - Garden Club
9am - Lutheran
Chicks
10:30am – Bible
Study
8am – Men’s
Breakfast and
Bible Study
January 2015
1701 Fredericks St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Phone: 805-544-2133
Fax: 805-544-5356
Email: [email protected]
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Gather, Grow, Go
Southwest California Synod/Mt. Carmel
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop
The Rev. Dr. R. Guy Erwin, Bishop, Southwest California Synod