2025 Year in Review: When We Gathered

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 held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Rocklin.

The summer brought the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, where more than 20,000 youth and supporting adults participated in five days of Bible study, youth sessions, servant events, interactive activities, exhibitors from various Christian organizations, and nightly mass events. The CNH District was represented by almost 300 youth and adults. Our district youth also enjoyed a special outing together on a Mississippi River steamboat cruise.

Directors from across the CNH District held their annual retreat in February at Hope Lutheran Church & School in Daly City, California. The theme was “Bridging Churches and Schools.” In addition to professional learning, this gathering provided valuable time for EC Directors to ask questions, share resources, and support one another in ministry.

In March, we hosted the CNH District Spring In-Service, where we recognized 26 educators in our Lutheran schools celebrating jubilarian anniversaries—major milestone years marked in five-year increments. A total of 180 educators gathered at Our Savior Lutheran Church & School in Livermore for this annual event.

This year’s Pastors Conference brought ministry leaders from across the district together 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.

Twenty-six pastors (and a few wives) also gathered at St. Anthony’s in Three Rivers, CA, for the Transitional Interim Ministry Retreat. Several Circuit Visitors attended to learn important skills for transitional interim ministry.

Each year, CNH District teachers are invited to join educators from the Pacific Southwest District for the Lutheran Educator Conference (LEC). This year’s conference in Phoenix, Arizona, included more than 700 educators who spent time in spiritual growth, professional learning, and fellowship with other Lutheran teachers and administrators.

The 4th annual Pastors Party, hosted by Matt and Sherrah Behrens in San Lorenzo, was a wonderful opportunity for fellowship and encouragement as area pastors and their families gathered together on Saturday, August 30.

MAP Training – Mission Applied Practice celebrated its 11th year as a cooperative project of the West Coast Districts, helping orient our newest pastors to both ministry and the unique missionary context of our three districts.

Directors of Christian Education and youth leaders met for their annual retreat in South Lake Tahoe last month. This retreat offered youth leaders in the CNH District a meaningful time of fellowship, rest, and both spiritual and professional growth.

Across all these moments—large gatherings and small, retreats and celebrations, times of worship and times of learning—the CNH District experienced a year filled with God’s faithfulness. Together, we grew in fellowship, strengthened our ministries, and continued to support one another in the mission God has placed before us.