David Singer was ordained and installed as an SMP associate pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Clovis. Singer and Jake Eisinger of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Elko completed the same SMP cohort at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and both continue to serve in law enforcement. Eisinger and his father, Alan—a retired pastor—traveled from Elko, Nevada, to take part in the service.

Get to Know Your Community with the Mission Insite Demographics Tools The more we understand those who live in our neighborhoods and communities, the more we increase our likelihood of succeeding with our invitation both personally and collectively as a congregation or school. As we understand who we are serving, we can tailor a ministry plan around their needs. The truth of God’s word and the Gospel message never change, however our packaging or style or approach to sharing

In this episode of the Mission Table Podcast Paul sits down with Rev. Peter Alexander who has served as an Interim Pastor in the LCMS since 1999, serving 10 congregations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Virginia, and New Jersey. He previously served on the LCMS TIM Board and now supports the work of the Board as an advisor. Peter’s experience, passion, and leadership make him a great resource for LCMS TIM. Read More about Transitional Interim Ministry here: www.lcmstim.org

Requesting a Seminary Candidate To request a candidate from a seminary, first contact your District President. The District President must approve your congregation’s participation in the seminary candidate interview process before the seminaries can work with you. Once approval is given, please complete the form at the following link: Click here . After you submit the form: • It will automatically be emailed to the seminary you select, or to both seminaries if you choose no

About 50 friends and family of the Rev. Ted Mueller joined together on January 12 to celebrate the posthumous presentation of the CNH President’s Servus Christi award presented to the Rev. Ted Mueller, long term pastor and facilitator of leaders, and the  planting and re-planting of churches in the CNH District.  Ted also served as an Interim Pastor and, until he was no longer physically able, vacant churches within the CNH District for pulpit supply. Pictured are Ted’s wife

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...