eNews                                                                                                                                                January 12, 2012 

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

We do not put the dates of local church

events here as we never could get them

all and we would always miss some!    

JANUARY 2012

AFRICAN DINNERS ALL AROUND THE REGION IN EVERY CHURCH

DATE SET TO MEET YOUR CHURCH'S CALENDAR    

12- Regional Staff   10:00-1:30 Rgional Office

14-16- Launch of the Oakland Peace Center

14- Mid-Winter at Forest Hill CC, San Francisco- sorry cancelled

16- Resources Committee  10:00-2:00 Regional Office

21- New Church Committee   Regional office

21- Women's Ministries "What's Next" Cafe with UCC Women's Network, San Mateo Congregational Church, Noon-3:00pm  

21- Celebration of Ministry for Chalice CC, San Carlos

Week of the 23rd- Disciples History and Polity Course begins

22- Installation of Yolanda Moreno as pastor At FCC Watsonville 11:00 am 

23- Chapman Board Meeting- Orange, CA (Ben serves on this Board) 

24- Recognition and Standing Committee 9:30-3:00  RO

25- DSF Advisory Committee Ecumenical Center, Berkeley

28- Outdoor Ministry Committee MMManor, West Sacramento

FEBRUARY 

1- Training and Care Committee Ecumenical Center-Berkeley

7- Regional Elders- FCC Sac. 10:00-2:00

11- Justice Commission 10:00-2:00 UCC Livermore 

18-20- Feb Camp

17- Healthy Boundary Training- Cultural Competency

18-19 - ACTS Winter Course

25- Regional Executive Committee 9:30-3:00 Mayfair CC, Stockton

APRIL

20-22 - Annual Meeting- Hotel Sofitel  

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JUST A WEE BIT OF SUBTLE MOTIVATION

Dear Northern CA-NV Disciples: Now that the Annual Meeting mailing has gone out, some straight talk is in order! 

STRAIGHT TALK!     If ever Disciples members and Disciples churches needed to put forth a 110% effort to overflow an Annual Meeting, this is the one!

Regardless of price (did you read about that in the first section?) or the change to a new venue or the traffic you might have to fight to get to Redwood City...this is the year!!   

Pastors, you should be nudging, encouraging, pleading, begging, threatening, etc. not only your leaders but all members to be at Annual Meeting this year.

No excuses! Hold bake sales, knit blankets, sell candy bars, have baked potato lunches after church- do whatever is needed to bring a record number of members to 2012 Annual Meeting!!   

WHY?
Why, you ask?
Honest talk here!   

Ask yourself these simple eight questions:
1. Am I comfortable and confident in sharing my faith with others?
2. My church is overflowing with visitors on Sunday morning for worship?
3. When we have a new member welcome dinner each year, there are so many I hardly know their names?
4. I have to get to church early to get a seat there are so many people there?
5. Children's Moment on Sunday is such a delight-so many children?
6. Our younger members are far outnumbered by older ones?
7. Our church's leadership is so blessed to have so many new volunteers that long time servants don't have to take on 3 jobs?

8. Our church's youth group begins at age 55?
...Am I comfortable and confident in sharing my faith with others? (darn...there's that one again!)  

If you answered YES to more than 2 of these, come on down and lead a workshop at Annual Meeting!  

If you answered NO to most of these- POINT MADE!
YOU SHOULD NOT JUST WALK, BUT RUN TO REGISTER FOR ANNUAL MEETING AND TALK TO AT LEAST 5 OTHER MEMBERS FROM YOUR CHURCH TO ATTEND!   

THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL MEETING THEME IS "TELL IT!" based on our Five Year Vision Priority: "Cultivating Disciples of Christ to be dynamic "evangels," sharing the good news of God's transforming love."   

EVANGELISM...there I said it!
Yes, that dirty Disciple word! We are afraid of it!
We know what we don't want it to be like, but we have not discovered how Disciples of Christ can be authentic and excited about sharing the love of Jesus with others.

2012 ANNUAL MEETING IS THE TIME FOR DISCIPLES TO GET OVER IT!
2012 ANNUAL MEETING IS THE TIME FOR DISCIPLES TO GET IT! 

Straight talk...
...Nancy Brink and Jose Morales will preach with true Disciples passion and excitement! (That means they will knock your spiritual socks off!)
...You will leave worship both nights totally jazzed-that means "filled with the Spirit"!
...Saturday night worship led by our Hispanic Disciples will inspire you down to your toes and lift you up to higher ground!
...Our Republic of Congo guests, Pastor Georges and Gertrude Ngoka, have stories to tell us about how the love of Christ is changing lives, villages and a nation!
...Workshops on our theme will begin to equip us to become dynamic "evangels"
 **Evangelism-Removing the "yuck" factor
 **Servant/Missional Evangelism
 **Evangelism-For the Bible Tells Me So
 **Doable Evangelism-for ordinary people just like you
 **Evangelism Using Technology
 **Evangelism in a Multi-Faith World
 **Does My Church Really Want New Members?
 **Removing All Barriers- True Hospitality  

And straight from my heart, I will be the Sunday morning preacher. This is my last time to preach to this beloved Region. If I have nothing worthwhile to say, you will never doubt the hope and joy and love I will share as I reflect on 46 years of ministry and 8 years of ministry in CCNC-N.  

YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ANNUAL MEETING!!
YOU MAY THINK YOU CANNOT AFFORD THIS ANNUAL MEETING...

Truth is, you cannot afford to not be there!   

Straight talk!

We need to fill 120 rooms and the temptation will be to drive home every night since the location is easier for most to reach than Monterey...PLEASE
...Give up some Starbucks (and you know for me that is almost blasphemy)
...Ask your Aunt Minnie or Cousin Albert for your birthday or Christmas present now- CASH!
...Help your church have a special fund-raiser so scholarship money is available
...Beg on the street!

THIS ANNUAL MEETING IS SIMPLY NOT TO BE MISSED...
...FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR CHURCH AND IT'S FUTURE
...FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN FAITH
...FOR THE SAKE OF GOD'S LOVE IN THE WORLD   

Straight talk from your Regional Minister
Now is the time...Kairos moment...God moment...2012 Annual Meeting.

Straight talk...it will be every thing promised...I promise!

Blessings,

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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS

CELEBRATIONS

 Congratulations to the Pacific Southwest Region for inviting our own Northern CA-NV clergywoman, Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, to be the speaker for their Martin Luther King Service on January 15 at FCC Orange.

Steve & Lisa Haley, who are moving to Hawaii at the end of the January sent this note and offer: "A number of years ago, we purchased about 25 copies of the TUNES songbooks.  They are from the '70s & '80s youth-oriented songbooks, quite large, with mostly words to songs, but some melody lines, too. We would love to give them a new home if anyone would like them. Please contact lisahaley1231@aol.com. 

Dan and Barbara Regan send their heartfelt "Thank You" to everyone in the Region and beyond for their prayers during Dan's radiation treatments for skin cancer.  Dan successfully completed treatments at the end of December and his healing has also been successful.  He now begins a regimen of preventative medication for two weeks and will continue with an ongoing three-month checkup with dermatology.  Thanks be to God!   

CONCERNS

We are very sad to learn that Pastor Taulau Tupua, Via Dolorosa Congregational CC of Samoa in Modesto has been diagnosed with lymphoma leukemia. The doctors believe that they caught this early and he has begun chemo treatment and has taken a two month "leave of absence" from the church. Many will remember Taulau when he introduced the Via Dolorosa Samoan Dance Team at Annual Meeting two years ago. The Tupua family and the Via Dolorosa appreciate prayers greatly. You can send cards to: 2329 Senimi Circle, Ceres, 95307.

Our prayers for Lani Stoner, one of our Regional Elders just ending her term and member at Mayfair CC, Stockton had shoulder replacement surgery this past Monday and will be recuperating for 6-8 weeks. She is home already and doing well. Your cards can be sent to: PO Box 691558, Stockton, CA 95269-1558.   

Very heart-breaking news from Disciples Seminary Foundation this week:

"Dr. Mark David Parsons, Dean of Disciples Seminary Foundation and Vice Dean of Claremont School of Theology, has recently been diagnosed with incurable liver cancer.  For several weeks, his medical team has been evaluating ways to extend his life and to improve his quality of life. This week, Mark will undergo an extensive surgery to reduce the size of the cancer, and plans are underway for other treatments to follow.  Mark is now on medical leave from his work at DSF, for the duration of this treatment.  Please keep him and all of the DSF family in your prayers during this difficult time.  Mark would welcome your cards at DSF, 300 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont CA 91711." Many clergy in our Region will remember Mark with great appreciation as the major presenter at our 2010 Clergy Retreat.  

We are pleased to hear that Dick Compton, Chair of the Board, at FCC Merced, who had major cancer colon surgery, back on Dec. 7 and has spent several weeks in rehab is now HOME!!!  He still has some important recovery ahead so let's keep him in prayer. Cards can be sent to: 1388 Juniper Avenue, Atwater, 95301.

Pastor Marty Williams, United CC, Livermore, continues to improve slowly but surely. She will return to the doctor this week to see how her infection is coming. Don't forget her!  Cards can be sent to: 6906 Lassen St. Pleasanton, 94588.

We now have news on the services for former pastor at United CC Livermore in the 60's, Denton Roberts: "As most if not all of you know, Denton Roberts -- beloved father, uncle, grandfather, friend, pastor, care-giver, therapist, healer, peacemaker, raconteur, and visionary -- died peacefully on Dec. 12, at the home of his niece Caddie in Canon City, Colorado.  He had made the transition from LA to Colorado a week prior. A celebration of his life will be held on February 12 at 2:00 pm at All People's Christian Church, LA."

Many in this Region know and love retired Disciples minister, Clarice Friedline, whose family, the Wilder Immels, and the Wilsons, have been key pastors and leaders in CCNC-N for over 50 years. Clarice keynoted Mission Springs a few years ago. We have received word that she has been in the hospital in southern CA for the last week with heart challenges. She has successful completed an important procedure and should be released by the end of the week. She is in good spirits and grateful for family and friends who are keeping her in prayer. If you wish to send a card: 1420 Santo Domingo Ave, #127, Duarte 91010.   

Continued prayers for Darla Foglio, wife of Pastor Mark Foglio, who is recovering well from her major back surgery. Prayers and cards can be sent to: Oakdale CC, 330 Maxwell Avenue, Oakdale, 95361.

We celebrate the continuing improvement for Barbara Wikoff, musician at Oakdale CC, and husband Bob, Chair of our Regional Resources Committee. She may have only 5 more chemo treatments remaining.  Cards can be sent to: 941 Terrace Court, Oakdale, 95361.

This update on Agnes Sours, long time member and leader at Arden CC, Sacramento who continues to be very weak with congestive heart failure. Please keep your prayers for healing and better health coming. She has chosen not to enter hospice care at this time. Cards can be sent to: 4420 Robertson Avenue, Sacramento, 95821.

Our prayers continue for the following who remain in need of our support and concern: 

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FINAL WORD 

1. For your inspiration and challenge, these words from Sunday's MLKing Service. Read this piece aloud as the congregation did on Sunday.

See if it does not call you to a response!

A child once dreamed the Voice was calling his name. . .'Samuel';
Fishermen once heard the Voice when a young man bid them follow;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am.  Send me.   

Moses protested vehemently as the Voice spoke at the burning bush;
Mary stood amazed as the Voice proclaimed impending birth;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am.  Send me.   

Rosa Parks followed the Voice to the front of the bus;
Martin Luther King, Jr. heard the Voice as the bullet shattered;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am.  Send me.   

The Voice beckons from humble places. . .
in the tears of hungry children,
in the cries of the frail and frightened elderly,
in the pleas of those whose dreams have been too long deferred;
and still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am.  Send me.

A timid believer pauses to listen to the Voice;
A struggling church hears the Voice and turns;
and still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am.  Send me.   

(The preceding material is from Katherine Hawker, www.liturgyoutside.net) 

2. Also, Rita Nakashima Brock, one of our three panelists, used an Occupy Faith Statement as she closed her response to the question, "How do you think that the life of MLKing might impact our Region in the future?" Many people present have called and asked for this statement. You can find it at:

http://www.ccncn.org/Occupy-faith-statement.pdf.