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 In hundreds of languages... In mighty cathedrals...
In sparse wood buildings...
In grass huts...
And in the wide open outdoors at sunrise...
As many as ONE BILLION CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD WILL PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS THIS SUNDAY....'ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN!"
The real question now is, "What will that mean in the daily lives of 1,000,000,000 followers of Jesus of Nazareth, the resurrected Christ? Better yet, what will this mean for you?
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AN OVER VIEW OF WHAT'S IN THIS ISSUE:
...THE NGOKAS ARE COMING...THE NGOKAS ARE COMING!!
OUR GLOBAL MISSION PARTNERS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO, GEORGES AND GERTRUDE NGOKA, WILL ARRIVE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11 AND BE WITH US AT ANNUAL MEETING AND THEN THROUGH MAY 1!!
See schedule below. Our major need now is additional funds- we are far short of our $16,000 goal! Has your church sent their support yet???
...REGISTER NOW for 2012 Annual Meeting
Look at how close to we are to 300 and we know of more coming in yet!
294 registered.
...Silent Auction at Annual Meeting hopes to raise $5,000!
...Check out the flyer for Pre-Annual Meeting Event-registration is very low!
...Still time to send in your form to join the Annual Meeting Choir
...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.
...Be sure to notice the info on the Saturday morning Women's Breakfast at Annual Meeting!
SEE ALL THE DETAILS FOR 2012 SUMMER CAMPS
...Registration forms
...Health forms
...Counselor application forms
...Scholarship forms
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 2012 ANNUAL MEETINGApril 20-22 New location, Sofitel in Redwood City
All forms at www.ccncn.org
Please give special attention to three of those forms:
1. PRE-EVENT with Jerry Lang of Christian Church Foundation. "Blessing Generation to Generation"
Registration is very low...every church should have one person attending.
2. BE PART OF 40 VOICE CHOIR!
MUSIC HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR 30 ALREADY REGISTERED...YOU CAN STILL REGISTER AND SHARE MUSIC WITH SOMEONE!
3. SPECIAL MUSIC WORKSHOP- Registration is closed- we went over our limit!
Saturday afternoon 12:45-2:45 p.m.
4. THEMED BASKET SILENT AUCTION
PLEASE LET US KNOW OF YOUR PLANS TO BRING A BASKET SO WE CAN BE PREPARED WITH TABLE SPACE. We really need 14 more baskets to make our goal of 30 baskets which will be all Saturday in the main meeting room for bids.
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Tentative schedule for the two week visit of Georges and Gertrude Ngokas. You are invited to attend any of these events and bring friends:
- April 11& 12- Arrive and a day of rest in Bay Area
- 13 & 14- Travel to Chico for tours and speaking on Saturday night at FCC.
- 15- Spend day with FCC Redding
- 16- Spend day with United Christian Parish, Lakeport
- 17- Travel to Bay Area and rest
- 18- Breakfast with Disciples seminarians at PSR
- 18-19- Spend time with Forest Hill CC, San Francisco and sightsee
- 20-22- Annual Meeting at Sofitel
- 23-Spend day with NAPAD churches and leaders
- 24- Rest day
- 25- Spend day with Mills Grove CC, Oakland-dinner there that evening
- 26- Travel to Sacramento to sightsee and evening dinner with CC of Woodland
- 27- Travel to Fresno and dinner with SSJ churches in Fresno
- 28- Sightsee and travel to Bay Area
- 29- Lafayette CC in morning and with Tapestry Ministries, Berkeley in evening
- 30- Visit Westlake Terrace in Oakland and dinner near airport
- April 1- Fly back to Republic of Congo
Special thanks to the outstanding ROC Hospitality Team who has pulled all this together in just a couple of weeks since we did not have confirmation that the visit would happen for sure until March 26: Charlotte Jackson, Gerry Brague, Kyung Min Daniel Lee, Hope Attenhofer, Gale Tompkins-Bischel and Ben.
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EASTER OFFERING BEING RECEIVED
From the doorsteps of your congregation to the ends of the earth, the General Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) resource congregations for mission. The 2012 Easter Offering provides 20-25% of the annual funding for 11 General Ministries.
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 HOT NEWS
CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
 Congregation to pray for this week: First Christian Church, Alameda; East Bay Area; Pastor, Fredrick Williams; Assoc. Pastor, Gloria Johnson-Wilson
Congregation to pray for next week: First Christian Church, Antioch, Contra Costa Area; Pastor, Don Carter.
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????
2012 Summer Camp Dates-Registration materials now ready!!
Recently mailed to all churches and available for everyone at www.ccncn.org
 Here's the really good news- cost has gone DOWN but only if received on early bird basis with adequate advance payment! Be sure to check out the Scholarship application deadline as well! (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 Camp July 1-7, 2012
- Grandparents & Me I June 30-July 2
- Grandparents and Me II July 4-6
- South San Joaquin June 24-29
................................................................................................. 1. 2012 Year of Evangelism now 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 and order forms were mailed to all churches this week and are available at www.ccncn.org ...Doable Evangelism Workshops-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! Registration forms have been mailed to all churches this week and are available at www.ccncn.org 2. ANNOUNCING... Women's Breakfast at Annual Meeting
Drop in to Suiet 325 between 7:30 and 8:30am for a Continental breakfast for women of all ages hosted by the Regional Women's Ministries Mission Cluster. Learn about exciting upcoming events and programs sponsored by Women's Ministries such as the Human Trafficking Awareness day on May 12 in Oakland and Fall Retreat at Mission Springs Sept. 14-16 with Amy Gopp. Check us out on our Facebook page "Doc Wisdom"
Thank you! From Denise Turner, Moderator of Women's Ministries Council 3. 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. 4. YOU ARE INVITED United Disciples Fellowship invites you to the last lecture of its 10 year series featuring world renown scholars. This last lecture will be given on April 15, at 3:30 p.m in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church, at 1980 Hamilton Avenue in San Jose. The lecturer will be Dr. Thomas Sheehan and title of his lecture will be, "What Comes After Christianity?" As usual, there will be no admission charge, and there will be reception for Professor Sheehan in the Social Hall following his lecture. 5. Ever been on a CROP walk? Well on April 28th and 29th, your chance is here. The Bay Area is having 11 different walks. From Oakland and Pleasanton on Saturday, to Alameda, Berkeley, East County (Pittsburg and Antioch), Fremont, Marin, San Francisco, Sonoma, South Bay & Peninsula in San Jose, and Vallejo on Sunday. Wow, what a great opportunity to get involved and have fun in doing it. It is also a way to support some local agencies as well as Church World Service. Many Disciple churches are involved in these events. If your church is not, well here is your chance. Go to www.BayAreaHungerWalk.org and click on the city of your choice. (We celebrate that the Regional Director for Church World Service, who coordinates all these and many other CROP Walks in CA and AZ, is Disciples clergyman, Vy Nguyen, member at at FCC Oakland) 6. A NOTE FROM THE REGIONAL JUSTICE COMMISSION: The Justice Commission was formed in 2010 to help the region establish a
process to engage in conversation, healing and advocacy around issues of
biblical justice and diverse perspectives. The Commission is now seeking
feedback from the region about interests and expectations. A Justice
Commission page has been created on the regional website. FOllow this
link to visit the page, learn about what the Justice Commission has been
up to, and take the online survey (or you can print out a copy of the
survey): http://ccncn.org/jc.html We will also have a booth at Annual Meeting with computers available for
you to take the survey there! It takes less than 15 minutes to complete. |
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| REGIONAL STAFF NEWS
The Regional Office will be closed on Good Friday, April 6.
Ben is in Joplin, MO this week with our Seventh Annual Regional Mission Trip! We celebrate the 12 person team attending this year. He will be checking e-mail and voice mail through the week but anything that can wait until after Holy Week is appreciated. The Team returns Holy Saturday and Ben will be back in the office on Monday, April 9.
We thought that we had good news concerning Yolanda and her pneumonia as she was feeling much better over the week-end, but then began feeling far worse by the end of the week-en. She has gone to Los Angeles to be with husband Miguel and rest in order to hopefully avoid being hospitalized. Keep her in your prayers.
Welcome to Rev. Bill Garrett, who officially joined our regional staff on April 1
as Minister for Faith and Giving. Bill will be directing the 2012 Phon-a-thon and
work closely with Ben this year on the Annual Fund, and then will take over this
important aspect of regional ministry in 2013 in order to relieve the Transitional
Regional Minister for such work and work. Bill will work 50 hours per month this
year. He recently retired from full time pastoral ministry at Sierra CC, Loomis.
The Regional Executive Committee has asked that you save the date of Saturday, October 20 for a Celebration of Ben's Ministry. Exact time and place to be announced later.
Volunteers (3+) needed to help with the preparation of the Annual Meeting Delegate Packets. Please let Quan know if you have time to come to the Regional Office to assist on either of these days: April 17, 18, 19. Your assistance is needed and greatly appreciated.
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REPORT #3 FROM OUR FOUR REGIONAL MODERATORS ON THE SEARCH FOR A TRANSITIONAL REGIONAL MINISTER
 Friends, Fellow Disciples of Christ in Northern California-Nevada:
Easter is nearly upon us and we, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada prayerfully step into the future, reassured that God is with us.
Recently your Moderators and Vice-Moderators of the Ad-Ministry and Ministry Councils, Janet Hecker, Frank Scudero, Ellie McDougal, and Sara Steenhouse, held a third meeting in order to prepare a proposal to bring before the February 25 Executive Committee Meeting. That proposal included approval of important next steps related to the transition time in which our Region is now engaged.
First, that the Region hire a Transitional Regional Minister to serve while a search is being conducted for the next "Called" Regional Minister
Secondly, that a seven person Transitional Regional Minister Search Committee be formed, comprised of the four Moderators and three others to provide some balance and represent as many aspects of regional life and membership as possible.
For the third step, names of committee members and additional information, go to: www.ccncn.org.
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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!
AFRICAN DINNERS ALL AROUND THE REGION IN EVERY CHURCH
DATE SET TO MEET YOUR CHURCH'S CALENDAR
APRIL
5- Maundy Thursday
6- Good Friday
7-Holy Saturday
8-Easter Sunday
11- Regional Training and Care Committee Berkeley
11- Annual Meeting Committee FCC Vallejo 6:00 pm
15- UDF Lecture at First Congregational Church, San Jose 3:30 pm
12- Serra Center Board Meeting FCC Fremont building 6:00 pm
20-22 - Annual Meeting- Hotel Sofitel
MAY
2- Regional Training and Care Commitee- Berkeley
12- Do-Able Evangelism FCC Sacramento 8:30-4:00
12- Human Trafficking Awareness Forum- Oakland Peace Center 9:00-4:00
15- Regional Recognitiona dn Standing Committee 9:30-3:00 Regional Office
15- Serra Center Board Meeting 6:00 pm
19- Justice Commission 9:00-1:00
19- Ad-Ministry Council and Regional Resources Committee
19- New Church Commitetee
19- Do-able Evangelism United CC, Fresno 8:30-4:00
23- Regional Staff 10:00-1:30- Regional Office
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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to Chuck and Dot Bumcrot on their recent 67th wedding anniversary! They have been active members and leaders at FCC San Lorenzo members for decades and still remain very active with regular attendance in worship weekly.
Congratulations to Jennifer Earle, FCC Selma, who was recently named Selma Citizen of the Year! Jennifer has a record of "firsts:" she was first woman elder at FCC; first woman in Selma Rotary; first woman President of Rotary; first woman principal in Tulare County; first woman president of the California Interscholastic Federation Central Section; and one of the first Regional Elders for CCNC-N! Wow! What a legacy she is leaving.
Congratulations to our excellent Regional Mission Team experiencing "Holy Week-Holy Work" in Joplin, MO. Joining 19 Disciples from FCC Bargersville, IN, are our 12 persons: LouAnn Hughes, Pat Hughes, Tina Borgman, Tony Borgman, Judy Bever, Janet Hecker, Sue Tarleton, Becky Robinson, Sharon Armus, Dona Navarro,
Alyssa DeJesus, and Ben
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CONCERNS
We celebrate the entry of Elizabeth Stolp from this life into new life as she passed way on Monday at age 101. (sorry for the error last week stating she was 103). Elizabeth was a very long time member and leader at FCC Chico and very supportive of regional life for many years. The memorial service will be Saturday, April 14th, at FCC Chico at 11 am in the sanctuary, with a reception to follow in Koinonia Hall. The entire church and much of the City of Chico will be attending so get there early if you expect a seat. You can send cards to her family care of her son: Fred Stolp, 2911 Grainland Road, Durham 95938
Our prayers for Pastor Nordean Baxter, Raynor Park CC, Sunnyvale and wife Gloria and family. Nordean has been ill for sometime and would appreciate prayers for his strength. Cards would be very encouraging to him: 6163b Joaquin Murieta, Newark, CA 94560
Pastor Jack Dawson, United Congregational Christian Church of Lodi, went to the emergency room on Palm Sunday morning with chest pains. The good news is that the problem was an infection around the heart and they have been able to address that with strong medications. Jack was released from the hospital on Monday and is now home resting. You can send cards to him at the church: 701 S. Hutchins, Lodi, 95242.
Rachelle Ryness had gall bladder surgery this past Monday in Redding. Ever since an accident some six weeks ago, her health has been a challenge and it is hoped that she will now find major improvement. Rachelle wrote the curriculum for our CGC youth camps last summer and did so again this summer. Great gifts to us all! She did spend one night in the hospital but is home now. You can send her a note at: 4682 Memory Lane, Redding, 96001.
We are very sad to report the death of one of the Disciples of Christ most beloved leaders, theologians, and friends: Dr. T. J. Liggett died at Pilgrim Place on March 28. He was intellectually vital up to the end. His body slowly gave out, and he decided that this life had come to a fitting end. He died peacefully in Hospice care. His ashes will be placed at National City Christian Church in Washington DC. Plans for a
memorial service at Pilgrim Place are TBA. Former President of Disciples Home Missions, Anne Updegraff Spleth said, "I'm grieving today over the loss of a giant in the faith, T.J. Liggett. The world will never be the same." Truly Disciples have lost and extraordinary leader, theologian, and visionary. Though we are saddened at this loss, we lift our hearts in prayers of thanksgiving for the life of this remarkable servant of the Gospel. You can read moe about his remarkable life at:
http://www.disciples.org/DisciplesNewsService/tabid/58/itemId/1190/Disciple-leader-Rev-Dr-TJ-Liggett-dies-in-Cali.aspx?utm_source=Eshout%3AEasterOffering%3BTJLiggit+dies&utm_campaign=Eshout+March+29&utm_medium=email.
Tough news for Teresa Fraticelli, Lafayette CC, who was recently released from Stanford Hospital after 2 months stay following her bone marrow transplant. She was set to stay in an isolated residence for final recovery, BUT complications set in and she has been moved back to Stanford where she will be for 7-10 days if all goes well. So, keep the prayers coming. For now, cards of prayer and care can be sent to 4102 Moller Drive, Pleasanton, 94566.
Pastor Taulau Tupua, Via Dolorosa Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Modesto will soon begin a second complete round of chemotherapy in dealing with his lymphoma leukemia, but his numbers are all improving. The Tupua family and Via Dolorosa congregation 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. She is close to completing her chemo regimen and hopefully, will be told that further chemo treatments only need to be once every three weeks. Cards can be sent to: 941 Terrace Court, Oakdale, 95361.
We just got word that our dear friend to so many across the Region, Agnes Sours, is at Mercy San Juan Hospital in Sacramento. Battling both cancer and congestive heart failure for several years, we pray Agnes can grow stronger and return home even yet. Please keep her in prayer and you can send a card to: Agnes Sours,
4420 Robertson Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821
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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