eNews                                                                                                                                                January 26, 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     

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 

13- Regional Resources Committee 10:00-2:00

17- Healthy Boundary Training for clergy

17-18 ACTS Course on Cultural Competency

18- Ad-Ministry Council 12:00-4:00 Regional Office

18-20- Feb Camp

22- Ash Wednesday- Lent begins

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

APRIL

20-22 - Annual Meeting- Hotel Sofitel  

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A REPORT TO THE REGION ON THE REGIONAL YOUNG ADULT SUMMIT HELD DECEMBER 31, 2011

Who are they?

Where are they?

Why aren't they here in church?

Identifying young adults as ages 18-29 and as Millennial generation, when you look around your church on Sunday morning, how many young adults do you see? How many Millennials in your church can you name that have an ongoing relationship with the church? Most likely, the answer is pretty scary!

The most recent Pew Research Center Report, February 2010, gives these stark figures concerning Millennials:

...25% are totally unaffiliated with any particular faith.

...18% report attending religious services weekly or nearly weekly.

...26% say they mediate in some form on a weekly basis

...45% report that religion is very important in their lives.

...36% say they are not sure God exists

Nineteen young adults from across our Region gathered at FCC Sacramento on New Year's Eve Day from 10:00-2:30 to talk about the state of young adult Disciples in Northern CA-NV. Did you get that, NINETEEN Disciples young adults from 10 Disciples churches, gathered on New Year's Eve Day to talk about the future of young adult ministry in CCNC-N. The group enjoyed singing, games, World Café discussions, visioning, closing communion and of course eating!

My role that day was to facilitate the conversation and listen. It was an amazing day!

I thought you might like to hear some of what these Disciple young adult have to say to the Region: LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY!

(Responses are not in any order of importance)

Question: What drives you crazy about the church today?

...uber long sermons

...people assume everyone has the same beliefs

...older adults run the show; they are the ones leading worship; making decisions

...worship is too early!

...why do the leaders fight so much?

...the focus seems to be on "ourselves" far more than serving others

...do we have to sing every verse of every hymn?

...holding onto traditions that seem antiquated to us

Question: What do you cherish about the church today?

...COMMUNION

...the closeness of the community

...when we get honest teaching from the Bible-not lectures

...prayer time can be meaningful

...mission trips

...CAMP

...we have some really great pastors

...this is a place I can still call "home"

...holiday services

...baptismal services are really inspiring

...it's free

...pot lucks

Question: What changes would you like to see happen in the church?

...less judgmental-

...It turns me off so much when people are told, "be like us or go to hell!"

...it's 2012 for goodness sake- get with the times.

...stop fighting so much

...re-evaluate the way funds are used

...too much dogma

...we need to focus far more on how faith changes our daily living

...less hypocrisy

...rules, rules, rules

...more contemporary services

...aren't we supposed to use our minds too- critical thinking welcome

Question: What do you need spiritually from the church?

...teach us how to think more critically about our faith

...church should be a place to talk/listen about anything

...open to new ideas-at least give it a try

...be sure that EVERYONE is welcome and we mean EVERYONE!

...talk honestly about your beliefs

...we should be doing far more outreach

...we need to have more inter-faith dialogues

...open minded pastors

...how about informal discussions about life and faith

Question: What do you most want/need from the Region?

...some dynamic worship times

...do more on Facebook

...keep everything as cheap as possible- we're broke!

...how about some inter-generational things

...camping out- retreats-

...events where we can bring "outsider" friends

...this is such an important time to be together with old/new friends

...make sure gathering times are convenient

...lock-in for big kids

DID YOU READ THIS CLOSELY WITH AN OPEN MIND AND HEART??

MAYBE YOU COULD READ IT AGAIN...

What was the result of this day? WOW! God was in the room!

1. 100% of those present said- "WE WANT A REGIONAL YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM!"
2. 9 of those present volunteered to be members of a new Regional Young Adult Council and 2 more have asked to be added to that group
3. 3 volunteered to be on the Regional Outdoor Ministries Committee
4. 1 volunteered to be on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee
5. 15 volunteered to be either a summer camp or youth event counselor

FINAL RESULTS...in 2012:

...There will be no Regional Staff Director of Outdoor Ministry!

...There will be a Young Adult Council of 10-12 volunteers who will be responsible to envision, plan and carry out all young adult events and programs.

...Ben will serve as liaison with the Young Adult Council

...LOOK FOR SOME EXCITING THINGS IN REGIONAL YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY!

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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS

CELEBRATIONS

Two extraodinary congregational events occured this past week-end in which the region was strongly represented:

1. Chalice CC, San Carlos held a Celebration of the Ministry and Leadership of Pastor Gerry Brague and Lay Leader, Lisa Haley. Lisa and her husband, Rev. Steve Haley (founding pastor of Chalice CC) are moving to Hawaii. Pastor Gerry Brague is heading to Hanoi, Viet Nam to teach English for the next year. (husband Allen Foster may be moving too) The celebration was attended by the many friends of Chalice CC including four of the regional staff, three of the former Chalice interns and members from all around the region. It's hard to say good-bye to such dynamic leadership, not just for Chalice, but both Gerry and Lisa have held major leadership positions in the Regional Church. They were sent off with prayer and "laying on of hands."

2. FCC Watsonville also held a joy-filled day on Sunday with the Installation of Pastor Yolanda Moreno as settled pastor. She has been their interim transitional minister for 3 years and the excitement of the growth and vision that is occuring in the church is heart-warming. Ben preached and Regional Elder Edgar Peck led in the Installation. Both most recent pastors of FCC Watsonville also were present: Rev. Dwight Carlson and Rev. Reuben Negron.

Congratulations to Pastor Darrin Harvey and FCC Colusa on his calling to be their "settled part-time pastor." How very exciting this is as 18 months ago there was great concern whether FCC could continue. Their faithful members kept working and praying and now there is excitement for all the new life: new people, a Children's Church, a website, etc. An Installation date will be set soon.

The Regional New Church Committee met on Satuday with two groups wishing to be received as affiliating or new Disciples congregations. Both were voted unanimously to come "under care" and this request will go to the Executive Committee in late February.

...First Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Sacramento

Formed in 1989, this congregation has about 100 members and they are building a new 350 seat sanctuary on 5 acres of land in the Del Paso area of Sacramento. Their pastor is Rev. Saleca (Sal) Fa'alua.

...Primera Iglesia Cristiana de Watsonville is a vision of FCC Watsonville to reach the enormous Hispanic population of their community. It is hoped that Pedro Goycolea, now a PSR student in his final year will be able to be their "new church planter."

It is exciting to announce that 10 persons are beginning the 8 week Disciples History and Polity on-line course this week. This course will be team taught by Gerry Brague via the videos he created and has used in teaching this course previously and Pastor Jesse Kearns, FCC Chico, who will coordinate the on-line converations.

If you have not seen the Republic of Congo PP that has been prepared for our African Dinners- it is fantastic!! Even if you are not attending a dinner, watch it! www.ccncn.org and the password is EDCC. We are so grateful to a new friend and Chapman Disciples student for producing this for us. Paul sent us this piece to tell us more about himself: "Paul Hextall is a Junior at Chapman University in Orange, California who studies Creative Producing with a minor in Advertising. Currently he is overseas at Chapman's film campus in Singapore. Originally from in Ascot, England, Paul moved to California in 2005 with his family where he became a member of First Christian Church in Torrance. He has owned his own film production company since the end of 2005 called Cat Eye Productions. For more information on Paul and Cat Eye Productions visit www.cateyeprods.com.  Despite his busy schedule as he prepared for his move to Singapore, Paul enjoyed working on this project as he loves traveling and learning about foreign cultures." We are grateful he did!

New Members as reported: Mayfair CC, Stockton (6 adult transfers); FCC Watsonville (2 adult transfers); FCC Paradise (3 adult transfers, 4 adult baptisms, 1 adult confession of faith and a baby dedication- all on one Sunday!); CC of Pacfic Grove (1 adult transfer)  

CONCERNS

An update on Pastor Taulau Tupua, Via Dolorosa Congregational CC of Samoa in Modesto, who 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. Pastor Tau was in the hospital much of last week with pneumonia, but he is home now and feeling much better waiting to begin chemo again. The Tupua family and the Via Dolorosa appreciate prayers greatly. You can send cards to: 2329 Senimi Circle, Ceres, 95307.

This wonderful note from Sally Burnham, FCC Redding, former Moderator of the Congregation:  "Good news!  My CT scan was clear and my CA 125 was 14 (in the normal range)!  So I am dancing with NED (no evidence of disease).  My next scan is in April.  My scan did show a ventral hernia at the incision site where evidently the internal stitches did not heal properly. For right now, we will just keep a watch on it.Thank you for your support and love and prayers!  2012 is going to be a great year. Love, Sally."  We will move Sally down to our ongoing prayer list.

We are sorry to hear that long time Regional participant, Ruth Costello, recently fell and broke her hip. Surgery went well and she is now at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Rehab in Grass Valley, CA. Ruth was a long time member at FCC San Lorenzo and is now a member at Sierra CC, Loomis with her daughter, Tina Heck. Cards can be sent to: 10743 Ridge Road, Nevada City, CA 95959

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. Lani was well enough to attend the Women's Council meeting and Chalice Celebration this past Saturday. Your cards can be sent to: PO Box 691558, Stockton, CA 95269-1558.   

From our friend and former pastor at FCC Corning, Bill Bergman, "Please pray for discernment and wisdom as my medical team and I sort out and prepare for upcoming right knee replacement as well as lower back surgery in February. I am blessed with sports medical orthopedic surgeons who care and are careful. Not sure which will be first and second yet. Details to follow." I will be greatful when all this is behind me in four to six months. Still Healing.... Retirement Info Changes: 130 Main Avenue South, Apt. 227 Renton, WA 98057 PNW Cell #: 206.954.8595

Pastor Marty Williams, United CC, Livermore, continues to improve slowly but surely. She says she is back to close to 70% of her energy, but still must be very careful in what she eats. Don't forget her!  Cards can be sent to: 6906 Lassen St. Pleasanton, 94588.

Good news that we are able to remove Darla Foglio, wife of Pastor Mark Foglio, from our concern listing. Her major back surgery is doing well and she is now beginning physical therapy. Please keep the prayers going and we will add her to short list at the bottom. 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 news from former Regional Minister, Dick Lauer concerning daughter Karen: "Greetings!  Wanted to bring you this latest news. Things are moving ahead. She just completed 6 days of chemo treatments in the hospital.  Then went home Sat. night.   Doris is there now.  But she has a donor in place.  And the stem cell transplant is scheduled for Feb. 29.  She will go into hospital a week or so before that to get prepared.  We are so glad that things are moving ahead and hope that this schedule works out.  Better  than waiting longer.  So, our request now is for your continuing prayers and concern during this period.  Thanks so much for what you are doing.  We feel it very strongly.   We hope this email finds you doing good.  Let us know how it is going with you.  thanks so much.  Karen will probably put out another message on "caring bridge" again soon.   Thanks so much.  Sincerely  with love, Dick and Doris"

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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