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Dear CCNC-N Disciples...WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THIS ISSUE:
"WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME TO CHURCH WITH ME?" SUNDAY
PALM SUNDAY- April 1
Check out the bulletin/newsletter inserts with information and the wonderful Holy Week brochure available to give as part of your invitatio n: www.ccncn.org
...REGISTER NOW for 2012 Annual
Keep those registrations rolling in: 261 registered.
ALL ANNUAL MEETING FORMS ARE NOW IN ONE PLACE - FOLLOW THE LINK ON THE HOME PAGE OF THE REGIONAL WEBSITE! www.ccncn.org
...Please note the deadline for registering to sing in the Annual Meeting Choir and to sign up for the special 2 hour Church Music Reading Workshop is next Wednesaday, March 21!!
...Silent Auction at Annual Meeting hopes to raise $5,000!
...Check out the flyer for Pre-Annual Meeting Event
...Youth planning to attend...if not staying with your family, you MUST contact Carl Cordes to reserve space in the reserved youth rooms.
...Young Adults planning to attend...you MUST contact Ben to reserve space in the reserved young adult rooms.
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"WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME TO CHURCH WITH ME?" SUNDAY
As part of our 2012-Year of Evangelism, we are naming Palm Sunday, April 1, as a perfect Sunday to invite friends, neighbors, work colleagues, fellow students, family to join you in worship on Sunday. You'll get the idea easily if you watch the video made by FCC Selma
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 2012 ANNUAL MEETINGApril 20-22 New location, Sofitel in Redwood City
PLEASE NOTE ALL FORMS FOR ANNUAL MEETING ARE AT ONE PLACE NOW: www.ccncn.org
Special attention to four of those forms:
1. PRE-EVENT with Jerry Lang of Christian Church Foundation. "Blessing Generation to Generation"
How to help your church educate your membership on ways to encourage bequests, wills, and legacy gifts. Pastors...do you know how to do this???
2. BE PART OF 40 VOICE CHOIR!
AS MUSIC MUST BE ORDERED, DEADLINE IS MARCH 21
Calling all singers to sign up for the Annual Meeting Mass Choir under the direction of Michael Patch, Choir Director at Lafayette CC. Look for the registration forms at www.ccncn.org. We are asking for a $5.00 donation to cover the cost of the music which you will keep for yourself.
3. SPECIAL MUSIC WORKSHOP
AS MUSIC MUST BE ORDERED, DEADLINE IS MARCH 21
Michael will also be holding a special Saturday afternoon 2 hour church reading music workshop. (This is different than singing in the choir) The cost is $16.00 but you will keep the 15 pieces of music that will be used. Minimum for this workshop is 16.
4. THEMED BASKET SILENT AUCTION
Because there will be no Mission Action Auction Dinners this year, and that raised $10,000 to support our regional budget last year, we plan to have some fun with a minimum of 30 themed baskets for people to bid on throughout Saturday at Annual Meeting. We need churches, women's groups, men's groups, youth groups, etc. to complete the form and bring a fun basket with hopes of raising $5,000 in this way.
(We already have 14 baskets promised-THANK YOU!)
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Our Global Mission Partnership with the Republic of Congo Is Coming Alive! Materials are available at www.ccncn.org.
We are very excited to have received the news that Georges and Gertrude Ngoka have now been given their passports and expect to have their visas within a week. That is the final hurdle to get them here....other than places to visit and speak and places to stay and an interpreter, etc. etc.
But, now our Global Mission Team can go to work and fill in those spaces they have been planning on for so long.
PLEASE KEEP THE SUPPORTING FUNDS COMING!!! We still have a good way to go to get to the $16,000 needed!!!
DO NOT MISS the four minute PP about the Republic of Congo produced for us by Chapman Disciple film major student, Paul Hextal! It is great!! Show it at your African Dinner or on a Sunday morning as a Minute for Mission.
The link is: http://vimeo.com/34276649 and will require the password: EDCC
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Are you wondering about entering this contest and making a video OR are you sure you just could never do it?? So, the Ministry Council and the Urban Shepherd Christian Church, Modesto, put together this fun video to promote this "Our Church Rocks" Video Contest. Watch, laugh, enjoy and make that video! http://youtu.be/UX0p8SsY3vIhis
1st prize- $250; 2nd prize- $150; 3rd prize-$100
All the details are at www.ccncn.org
If you want to see what we are talking about, take a look at what FCC Selma youth and young adults have done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzpTeJpdaSQ
We now have our second video entry and here's exciting news about #3 on the way:
Lafayette CC, upper elementary age "Bible Alive Class" is making a video that this church can share with their friends about the depth of their faith and their excitement of being part of the faith community. If they can do this, so can you!!
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 HOT NEWS
CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
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Congregation to pray for this week: First Christian Church, Wheatland; Mt. Lassen Area; Pastor, Denis O'Connor.
Congregation to pray for this week: Christian Church of Woodland; Greater Sacramento area; Pastor, Larry Love.
We will feature two congregations in each edition of the eNews. Please pray for their vitality, spiritual and numerical growth, their commitment to serving their neighborhood and their openness to the Spirit of God calling them into ministry in the 21st century.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE REGION????
ATTENTION ALL PASTORS... 19 of you have still not completed your Yearbook report!! We know where you live! Look out, we may need to come and give you a special blessing.
1. 2012 Year of Evangelism soon ready to launch the next two special emphases of this year. What great opportunities await!
..."1,000+ People Praying" will be launched at Annual Meeting when those present will be asked to commit to three months of a daily prayer time around strenghtening for the work of evangelism. A beautiful prayer bookmark will be given to each one who makes a commitment. The program will then go throughout all our churches-bookmarks available to everyone. Materials available soon.
...Doable Evangelism Workshops will be held in four locations around the Region. Led by Randy Siever, Commissioned Disciples Minister from FCC Sparks, NV, and nationaly known for this evangelism teaching and training, will lead these 6 hour workshops. Here are dates and places:
May 12- FCC Sacrameto
May 19- United CC, Fresno
June 16- Lafayette CC
June 23- FCC Palo Alto (co-hosted by Sinapi Seed Fellowship and Walking Faith CC). Our goal is 50 people at each event-200 total!
Much more information next week
2. Sparks FCC is very excited about their upcoming All Church Family Retreat, at the Community of the Great Commission May 4-6, 2012. They are excited to welcome Disciples from across the Region to join them for a weekend of fun, community and learning (Discover your Spiritual Gifts)! There will be activities for kids as well as adults. If interested email Sandy Siever at rosebg@charter.net for more information or you can find a registration form: http://www.sparksfirstchristianchurch.org/SpecialEvents2.html
3. Applications for Regional Youth Council-Deadline is Friday, March 16!
RYC is the primary planning, leadership training, spiritual development group offered by our region to 8-12 high school youth and 2-4 adults. Note that all applications and reference letters must be to Carl Cordes no later than March 16...absolute deadline! Information at: www.ccncn.org.
4. Make plans now for a really BIG Work Weekend at Community of the Great Commission, April 13-15.
We could always use help with a variety of projects. We will join the hard working folks from the Music Camp and another new camp to make for significant work being done! Contact Tina Heck at 530-265-6636.
5. 2012 Summer Camp Dates-Registration materials now ready!!
Here's the really good news- cost has gone DOWN!!
(All camps will be held at CGC except SSJ which will be at Camp Pacifica)
- Adult Camp June 7-10
- ChiRho/Junior Camp June 24-30
- CYF July 1-7, 2012
- Grandparents & Me I June 30-July 2
- Grandparents and Me II July 4-6
- South San Joaquin June 24-29
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| REGIONAL STAFF NEWS
Many people have been asking about some kind of Celebration of Ben's Ministry as he retires on November 1. Our Regional Executive Committee would like to ask that you hold the date of Saturday, October 20. Time and place to be announced later.
Ben will be gone March 22-27 to Lynchburg, Virginia where he has been invited to deliver two historic lectures at his alma mater, Lynchburg College: The Turner Lecture on Life and Faith and the Shumate Lecture on Christian Ministry. He will also spend a day in the Blue Ridge Mountain area of his two student pastorates. The first couple he ever married in 1968 will host a reception for him to greet his former church members.
Sandhya will be out of twon March 27-28 leading a New Beginnings consulation.
HELP! HELP! As many of you may have read a few weeks ago, Yolanda had her car broken into a few weeks ago, while it was in the church parking lot! (True, nothing is sacred these days!) The main thing she lost was her laptop and she just learned that the insurance will not pay for it. If anyone has a second laptop sitting around (yes, there are actually some people who got a new one and have not disposed of their old one), please contact Yolanda@ccncn.org No, offers yet on the second laptop....so anyone want to make a gift of a new laptop???
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UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Per requests around the region,
here is a listing of regional meetings
and events over the next 30 days or so.
We do not put the dates of local church
events here as we never could get them
all and we would always miss some!
MARCH
17- New Church Committee-Regional Office
17- Annual Meeting Committe at Sofitel 10:00
19- Resources Committee 9:30-1:30 MMManor, West Sacramento
23 & 24- RYC CC of Woodland
31- Joplin Holy Week Mission Trip Orienation
AFRICAN DINNERS ALL AROUND THE REGION IN EVERY CHURCH
DATE SET TO MEET YOUR CHURCH'S CALENDAR
APRIL
1- Palm Sunday and Holy Week begins
"Won't You Come to Church with Me" Sunday
5- Maundy Thursday
6- Good Friday
7-Holy Saturday
8-Easter Sunday
11- Annual Meeting Committee FCC Vallejo 6:00 pm
12- Serra Center Board Meeting FCC Fremont building 6:00
20-22 - Annual Meeting- Hotel Sofitel
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DEVOTIONAL
By Kyung Min Daniel Lee, Regional Minister of NAPAD Ministries
 For my devotional in this season of Lent, I would like to share some of our NAPAD ministries instead. You all know that the word 'share' or 'sharing' is significant when we want to do something about evangelism. I believe sharing is also important for building and sustaining our relationship with others. It is this relationship that we could tell others "Come and see." In the Gospel of John, our Lord Jesus also shared his whereabouts to the disciples-to-be when they had asked where he was staying. They came and saw where he was staying. I am about to tell you some of my ministries in the past month so that you can come and see them.
So, do you like to come and see that I am going to the Disciple church in Vacaville with Ben to meet people for our possible 5th Samoan church in the region? Yes, that would be the 5th one if all goes well. With the help of Pastor Sal from the Sacramento Samoan church, Ben and I will meet both a potential Samoan church planter and the people from the hosting church. (This Saturday, First Congregational Christian Church of Reno will present its ministry before our New Church Committee to be received as our third Samoan congregation and a fourth Samoan church is being gathered in the Antioch area and will begin worshipping soon at FCC Antioch)!
I wished you had come and seen the gathering of five (5) regional Korean Disciple pastors Monday, March 12 at First Mongolian Christian Church of Oakland. Yes, if you had come, you would be able to tell the faces like Pastor Chris Kim of Revival Christian Church in Sacramento and his wife Joice and his associate pastor Phoebe Lee. You would also have seen Pastor Moon Il Lee and his wife Yeon Ja of Bethel Christian Church in Alameda, Pastor Hai-Nam Seo of New Spring CC in Santa Clara, of course, myself, and the host for the gathering, Pastor Ogi and his wife Hannah. Among several things, I found that they all are going to attend our 158th Annual Meeting at Sofitel Hotel in Redwood City. That means I will be busy helping with their registrations. Yes, please come and see that they are not used to the registration process but willing to learn and get used to it.
I wished I had gone and seen the Spring Gathering of Women on March 10 at Mills Grove when 15 NAPAD women went to explore their own longing for God and for each other and to hear the sharing by Katy Valentine and Betty Franks about the longings of the women of Turkey. I wish I had gone there because I heard from those Asian women that they really enjoyed the gathering very much, learned a lot, and appreciated the leadership by Paula Pociecha. Well, that was for women only.
Sharing should be the word that would allow us to "Come and see." Yes, in this season of Lent let's try to share our stories with others in this season of Lent.
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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
CELEBRATIONS
Do you wonder sometimes: what do those folks in the regional office really do?
(Come spend a day with us sometime and you will be amazed!)
Last week we completed materials for three upcoming programs: "Won't You Come to Church with Me?" Sunday; 1000+ People Praying; and Doable Evangelism as well as preparation for Women's Gathering and some major work on the regional website.
We celebrate the wonderful Spring Gathering of Women graciously hosted by
Mills Grove Christian Church in Oakland this last Saturday, attended by 82
women. We were inspired by the stories of Katy Valentine and GM Missionary Betty Frank of the many women and refugees struggling to find a safe place to call home, and how our ecumenical partnership of Global Ministries helps. A Love Offering of $1277 was collected to be divided equally among the Regoinal Women's Ministries Scholarship fund and IIMP--the ministry partner of GM helping refugess in Turkey. We also counted $121.63 in Blessings (from Blessing Boxes)!
New Members as reported: FCC Redding (5 adult transfers); FCC Paradise (3 adult baptisms-father, mother and teenage son)
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CONCERNS
Good news for Teresa Fraticelli, Lafayette CC, who has now completed her bone marrow transplant at Stanford Hospital and is in the long waiting stage of several weeks for the transplant to provide the health expected. Her numbers at up and she was able to get outside of her room for the first time in weeks! She was able to ride in a wheelchair outside, enjoy the
gorgeous weather, flowers, special time with family. Keep the prayers coming. For now, cards of prayer and care can be sent to 4102 Moller Drive, Pleasanton, 94566.
We are so very grateful that the news that our dear beloved Adelle Lemon experienced a mild heart attack last Friday was followed by the good news that she was already home by Sunday and resting well. She is up and around but has decided to slow down a bit more- to 75 MPH! Prayers and cards can be sent to her at: 1063 Cragmont Avenue, Berkeley, 94708.
Our prayers for Disciples clergywoman Kathy Cramer, member at Lafayette CC, on the sudden death of her father, Eugene Cramer, in southern CA. Services will be held this Saturday at FCC Riverside. Cards can be sent to: 1925 Lernhart, Napa, 94559.
Please pray for Claudia "Shon" Jeff, member at FCC Oakland, and her family as they mourn the loss of their son who died due to violence in the California prison system.
Our prayers for Bill Land, strong Disciples leader in FCC Turlock, who fell this week and was taken to VA Hospital in Palo Alto. Following surgery, he is doing well and should be back in a rehab center in Turlock by early next week.
Last Saturday was a special day of celebation at Via Dolorosa Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Modesto as the congregation gathered to celebrate the improving health of Pastor Taulau Tupua. Ben was honored to be invited to share this day and preached a short sermonette on Galatians 6:2..."bear one anothers burdens." Pastor Tau still has another complete round of cehmotherapy ahead in dealing with his lymphoma leukemia, but his numbers are all improving. The Tupua family and Via Dolorosa appreciate prayers greatly. You can send cards to: 2329 Senimi Circle, Ceres, 95307.
Do keep Barbara Wikoff, musician at Oakdale CC, and husband Bob, Chair of our Regional Resources Committee in prayer. Barbara has a few more chemo treatments-just to be on the safe side! This has been a little discouraging, but hopeful. Cards can be sent to: 941 Terrace Court, Oakdale, 95361.
Prayers are requested by Pastor Yolanda Marquez-Lucar and Primera Iglesia Cristiana (PIC) de Fresno, for Carla Garcea, treasurer at PIC, and her family. Her brother Eric was in a horrible motorcycle accident in Dallas this week and is in extremely critical condition. Carla has been one of the very strong young adult leaders in this new congregation.
Our prayers continue for the following who remain in need of our support and concern:
Darrell Burrell, FCC Redding
Bea Tiffee, FCC Dos Palos Violet Fields, FCC Oakland Darla Foglio, Oakdale CC Agnes Sours, Arden CC, Sacramento Wanda, daughter of Gloria & Nordean Baxter, pastor at Raynor Park CC
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Sincerely,
Ben Bohren
Regional Minister and Newsletter Editor
Christian Church of Northern California-Nevada
925-556-9900
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