Spring Rally: Sing to the Lord a New Song

By Elise Spleiss, Zone Communications Coordinator

The Zone 19 Spring Rally was held April 26, 2025 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Rocklin. This event was a new experience for many attendees. St. Matthew is not your small, traditional neighborhood church. Located in a 50,000 square foot converted warehouse, church staff, relocating from their former building, had the luxury of reimagining their new church center for the many people served there and the myriad activities and outreach during the week. 

Despite intermittent showers, 80 women from LWML CNH Zone 19 enjoyed wonderful fellowship, a buffet breakfast, and lunch complete with a coffee bar. Attendees then gathered in the smaller traditional sanctuary. Following the singing of several hymns, Pastor Brad Cusson delivered a powerful sermon on how we are renewed in the spirit and Jesus is alive and well and working in our world. His mercies and spirit empower us to have a new life in Him every day.

Dr. Marco Mejia Shares Research on Church Music

The program, in line with the theme, Sing to the Lord a New Song, featured St. Matthew Worship Director Dr. Marco A. Mejia who gave a presentation on research into church music and education. Dr. Mejia has a diverse background in music, teaching and leading programs at churches throughout California for over a decade. He delved into the history and development of praise music and Contemporary Worship Music (CWM) and its real-life importance. This isn’t our grandparents’ music. While many churches remain more traditional, this music, including praise bands, has been found to be more relevant to younger members, helping bring them into the life of the church. No matter the style of music in a congregation, it should inspire all to participate.

CNH Disability Ministry Committee Goals

Our sister, Dianne Flynn, a member of Faith in Fair Oaks, was instrumental in the creation of the Disability Task Force in 2012. In 2022, after a decade of hard work, the CNH Synod voted for the original eight members to become an official Committee, the CNH Disability Ministry Committee (DMC). Their goal is to “encourage, equip and enable Christian congregations in their outreach to persons with disabilities within the community.”

LCMS DISABILITY

This committee works closely with Joni & Friends / Wheels for the World, collecting thousands of wheelchairs, having them repaired by prison inmates and hand delivering them to people living with disabilities in developing countries. A large wheelchair collection event is being planned for Disability Awareness Sunday on September 28.

Mercy Holistic Ministry (MHM) Expands

“Let us love not in word or speech but in action and truth.” 1 John 3:18. 

This verse was the impetus for the creation of MHM, which was founded in 2010 by Pastor Berhanu Didanu and his wife Miheret Abebe, both from Ethiopia. The ministry began by offering portable showers throughout Sacramento County. They also provide haircuts, clothing, Bibles, and personal hygiene kits.

MHM has expanded the program, thanks to a 2023-2025, $100,000 national LWML grant. Pastor Berhanu spoke about the compelling reason for what he does: a new way congregations could ‘break out of the Lutheran comfort zone’ to partner with Bible based organizations like Mercy Holistic Ministry. He documented how Jesus showed personal and tangible concern for the poor in every area of their need, outlining the biblical foundations for this work and how MHM follows this example.

“By addressing the physical needs of individuals with compassion and faith, we create opportunities to share God’s love and to transform lives.” This grant has also added one more component to their ministry which rally attendees braved the rain to tour. A mobile trailer was purchased and retrofitted as a mobile clothing closet which accompanies the mobile showers. The in-gathering provided hundreds of items to add to their inventory of articles for showers and other needs.