The California-Nevada-Hawaii District honored at its spring pastors' conference a number of pastors who are celebrating their ordination anniversaries this year.

Shown above is Rev. Dr. Orv Oswald and his wife, Lois, who received a plaque commemorating 55 years in the public ministry. Dr. Oswald is a former president of the CNH District.

Pictured above were the main presenters at last week's pastor's conference: President Robert Newton, Mission Counselor Ted Hartman, Rev. Larry Moreno who is missionary leader for the Gypsy ministry in Ft. Wayne, and Rev. Randy Duncan who is with People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO) in Detroit. Not pictured was the worship preacher, Rev. Ben Padilla of Grace, Gridley.

Whether the focus was the theology and reality of missions in the CNH District ( President Bob), or the pain of turnaround in a local congregation (Ted), or how we can be hopeful for every opportunity (Ben), or the ministry to the Gypsy community (Larry), or reaching out to the Islamic people around us (Randy), God has placed us in a new misson frontier.

Randy Duncan characterized the missional pastor with 10 key points. He ended the session with these words:

"My prayer for you is that you would spend 24 hours dangling over hell by a thread. Such is the urgency in the missional task before us."

Last week you were notified about a new demographic tool available to every church and mission of the CNH District FREE OF CHARGE.

As of Monday, 143 churches have registered on Link2lead.com, and are beginning to glean important demographic data about their communities.

Members and friends of the Circuit 14, Redwood Empire are invited to attend St. Mark's third offering of a Witnessing Workshop, Saturday, April 23, 2005 - 9:00 am-2:30 pm at Good Shepherd Hall, St Mark Lutheran Church, Santa Rosa, CA

Breakfast and lunch provided. A $5 donation will help defray costs for materials and meals.

Please register via phone (707-545-1230) or email stmark@stm arklc.org

Perhaps you heard there were tornadoes in the greater Sacramento area (California type, not Oklahoma types) last week.

One of the funnel clouds touched down at one of our churches.

Rev. John Gross, pastor, St. Matthew, Roseville, CA, for recovery from a medical procedure.

Betty Iverson, wife of Rev. Ted Iverson, President of the CNH District CEF, who is recovering from surgery.

For Bernie Pankow as he undergoes cancer therapy.

For Rev. Paul Meyer, pastor emeritus and director of the Interim Ministry, who is recovering from surgery.

The family of Rev. Brad Roberts, pastor emeritus, Fresno, CA, whose mother passed away.

Rev. Marcus Lang, pastor emeritus, recovering from surgery and an ensuing infection.

Vineyard of Faith, Windsor, CA. Rev. Doug Williams has declined the call to VOF as associate pastor.

Trinity, Paso Robles, CA, upon the installation of associate pastor, Rev. Steve Willweber.

Rev. Ricky Adams, pastor at Grace, Hayward, has received a call to be pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Mill Valley, California.

Rev. Randy Weinkauf, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Hilo, HI, who is recovering from a back injury.

If you have a specific "district" prayer request that you wish to add, please let us know (rita@cnh- lcms.org)

Upcoming events:

• Pacific Region Mission Action Council, Ministry Center -- April 14
• Education Administrators' Meeting, Ministry Center -- April 15
• Interim Pastors Meeting, Ministry Center -- April 19
• Human Care Committee, Ministry Center -- April 21
• Chinese Ministry Conference, Prince of Peace, Fremont -- April 21-23
• District LWML Convention, Santa Rosa-- April 30
• Sierra/Nevada Misson Action Council, St. Luke, Reno, NV -- May 6
• Large Church Meeting, Ministry Center -- May 26
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center -- June 11
• Hispanic Task Force, Ministry Center -- June 16
• Board of Directors, Ministry Center -- September 10
• Fall Pastors' Conference, Fresno -- October 11-13