Advent greetings from the CNH District staff! Each Wednesday during Advent, we will post a short devotion to you, written by one of our staff members. We pray that these reflections help you prepare for the coming of our newborn King! For additional Advent resources, please read Advent Reflections: Rest, Peace, Love, Joy and Hope from Jennifer Ferguson. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For BEHOLD , darkness shall cover the

Across the CNH District, the year was shaped by a shared theme of connection—between congregations, schools, leaders, and communities—as God’s people gathered, were sent, and served together. Mission was lived out through presence, compassion, and creativity, as ministries sought to meet real needs, build trust, and form authentic relationships that reflect Christ’s love across cultures and generations. Leadership and calling were central throughout the year. Ordinations, ins

Installations of new pastors are a time of great hope for congregations as they begin a new chapter of ministry. We thank God for all of the pastors who have accepted calls in the CNH District. Here is a snapshot of some of the installations in 2025:  David Ficken was installed January 12th at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Dublin, CA. He and his wife Kristen have three adult children: Rebekah, Tigist, and Abush. Pastor Dann Ettner, following Pastor John Whaley, served a long

2025 marked our 73rd District Convention, held this year in Sacramento.  The Convention included the re-elections of District President Michael Lange and Rev. Mitchell Gowen (Our Savior, Aiea, HI) as First Vice President, along with the rest of the board and resolutions. Cindy Steinbeck also shared thoughtful video reflections, offering encouragement and insight into our collective journey of faith and service. Prior to the Convention, a welcome dinner and worship service was

First Lutheran Church in Willows, CA celebrated its 75th anniversary on November 16 with a special afternoon Celebration Service, followed by a dinner reception prepared by the “chefs of First Lutheran.” Rev. Sylvan Finger presided and delivered the homily. Greetings were shared by President Michael Lange and Rev. Brandon Merrick on behalf of the CNH District and Circuit 12. Several pastors from the circuit attended with their wives, offering support and fellowship on this mi

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His steadfast love endures forever!" Our Savior Lutheran Ministries, Livermore, CA , held Thanksgiving Eve worship on Wednesday evening, November 26. After worship, a pie social was held, which was a great time for fellowship and eating some yummy pies! Thank You, God, for all our blessings! Zion, Oakland/Piedmont , has gathered food for years and partners with City Team Oakland for many projects with them as well as other organiz

On a beautiful Sunday in Honolulu, members and friends of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church  gathered to celebrate the installation of Rev. Dallas Dubke  as their new Transitional Interim Pastor . The service was filled with joy, gratitude, and a deep sense of God’s guiding hand. Pastors from across the Hawai‘i Circuit , including those serving on O‘ahu and the Big Island , joined together to represent the broader fellowship of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and to pray God’s

President Mike Lange recently visited Addis Kidan Lutheran Church in San Francisco and preached during worship. His visit was followed by a rich and encouraging time of conversation with congregational leaders, focusing on the training and development of new pastoral leaders. One of the highlights of the visit was meeting Ms. Bazawit “Bezzy” Muluneh , the congregation’s 27-year-old children’s and youth minister. Bezzy brings exceptional organizational skills and a remarkable

MAP Training – Mission Applied Practice  celebrated its 11th year as a cooperative project of the West Coast Districts to educate and orient our newest pastors to both the ministry and the unique missionary context of our three Districts. This training is designed to closely connect our pastors with all three West Coast staffs and to provide them with a stronger support network. MAP is an intentional extension of the LCMS PALS program (Post-Seminary Applied Learning). Over th

Silas Perez, who serves as the Administrative Assistant for Education, was installed on Sunday as a Vicar at Good Shepherd in Hayward. We pray for Silas and Good Shepherd in their ministry journey.

About a year and a half ago, Pizza with the Pastor was launched as a simple, welcoming gathering for connection and community by Pastor Gary Gerloff at St. Mark, Santa Rosa. The group currently meets in a church conference room on the first Friday of each month. The invitation is straightforward: “If you like pizza and want to hang out with the pastor, come to church this Friday at 6 p.m.” Typically, around 20 people attend, sharing pizza, salads, and desserts. Beyond being a

What a great couple of days together! This year’s Pastors Conference brought ministry leaders from all across the district for a time to reconnect, recharge, and be Rooted in the Word.  We laughed, worshiped, learned, and shared stories of God at work in our congregations. Dr. Matthew Borrasso—pastor, professor, and theologian—challenged us with deep insights into God’s grace and the life of the church today. Sarah Salzberg, an energetic Old Testament teacher and speaker, hel

A group of Pastors, Administrators, Directors, and DCEs participated in a Joint Meeting & Workshop on September 26 with the theme...

Meet A Pao Xiong - candidate for the pastoral ministry from Peace Lutheran in Fresno, CA. Apao was at the CNH office to talk through his...

Trinity, Gardnerville (NV) celebrated 130 years last month with a worship service, a Saturday picnic at the church with 130 people and a...

The 4th annual Pastors Party hosted by Matt & Sherrah Behrens in San Lorenzo was a huge win for fellowship and encouragement as area...

Two words that define not just our heritage, but our identity and purpose as the CNH District: Concordia  and Synod . What do these two...

This past week, The CNH District presented a webinar on our new Care and Coaching Initiative. We had almost 30 people join in with...

By Pastor Daniel Vang (Mt. Olive, Folsom) It started first with a couple of us pastors meeting at a coffee shop in Sacramento late 2023...

Friday, September 26, 2025 10:00 am – 2:00 pm CNH District Office, Livermore   Our annual Joint Leadership Meeting & Workshop  for...