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Greetings!
 THE 2012 ANNUAL FUND
PHON-A-THON IS (almost) HERE!!!
Last year, in support of the Annual Fund, the generous amount of $24,986 was given during the Phon-a-thon!
This money provided the ability for our Region to offer a wide variety of excellent programs and ministries for our Regional family. On behalf of ALL of the people and churches who greatly benefited from your generosity... THANK YOU!
This year the Phon-a-thon will be conducted August 26-27-28, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, as our 21 volunteers once again make calls inviting our Regional family to provide financial support. Some 600 Advance Notice Postcards have gone out across the Region!!
The telephone conversations will be short (no more than 3 minutes) in order to respect your time and contact as many people as we can during the 3 days of the Phon-a-thon.
A NEW option for giving this year!!!
We now have on-line giving capabilities...both by credit/debit card  and "e-check." And, you don't have to wait to be called! If you would like to make a gift now to the Phon-a-thon, you can do so by simply clicking the "Phon-a-thon Donation" button (on both the website at www.ccncn.org and in the e-news) and entering the information. It's easy, safe and very appreciated. Once your gift is completed, your name will be removed from the calling list.
Of course, you can always "snail mail" a check in advance as well!
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WOMEN'S FALL RETREAT
at Mission Springs
September, 14-16, 2012
"Spirit-Empowered Women"
Speaker is: The Rev. Amy Gopp, dynamic Executive Director of Week of Compassion who travels the world on behalf of 3,500 Disciples congregations.
Learn more at: http://www.ccncn.org/dwf.htm
For more information on Amy Gopp and Week of
Compassion, go to: http://www.weekofcompassion.org/
Fall Retreat Registrations are coming in fast!
ALL REGISTRATIONS MUST BE IN BY SEPT. 1!
$50 scholarships are still available.
Two options for registering are being offered:
The first is the traditional one... go to the website and download the registration form (or receive the registration packet in the mail), complete the form by hand, include your check or Visa/MC information, put it in an envelope, address and stamp it, and then mail it.
The second choice is the online option. In this, you click the link on the website on any announcement of the event through email, which takes you directly to the registration form. Fill it out online, put in your payment information for your electronic check or Visa/MC (and yes, the information is completely secure - we are actually using the same merchant provider that our denomination uses), and hit the "submit" button. And, it's done. You're going to Mission Springs! Very easy, very nice, and very efficient.
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North American Pacific Asian Disciples |
2012 Woman to Woman Fundraiser
Disciples Women Trip to China.
This is a fund-raising event. We as a team of the Regional NAPAD are raising funds to send Joy Wu to China. With the favorable recommendation of Rev. Paula Pociecha, Regional Minister for Women's Ministries. Joy is one of 13 women selected from among all the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) churches in the United States and Canada. Joy is the wife of Pastor John Wu of Sinapi Fellowship Church (Disciples of Christ), a fast-growing Mandarin worship service which meets Sunday afternoons at FCC Palo Alto at 2890 Middlefield Rd. More about the church can be found at www.sinapiseed.org
The Woman to Woman Worldwide (WWW) trip is part of a program directed by International Disciples Women's Ministries, Office of Disciples Women and Global Missions of the general church. For more information go to www.discipleswomen.org.
WHEN: Sunday, September 9, 2012, 6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Fellowship Hall, FCC, Palo Alto
WHAT: Program Schedule: Welcome and Classic live Chinese music; NAPAD video; Info about Global Missions and WWW trip; Delicious dinner, beverages and desserts
COST: $20 per adults, $5 children. Tickets Sales at Church office or will be mailed or will call at door. Generous Donations also welcome. Make checks out to Sinapi Seed Fellowship. .......................................................
2012 Regional Unity Festival
"In Essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity" ~ Augustine (and later, Alexander Campbell)
Mark your calendars NOW for our first ever CCNC-N Unity Festival. To be held on Saturday, November 3rd from 10-5 at United Congregational Christian Church of Lodi - as central a location as we could find! Enjoy food, games, worship and performances that celebrate the cultural diversity of our Region.
Sign up today for booth space to showcase your ministry and even raise a little money!
...Do you have a great church cookbook to sell?
...Are handcrafts your thing?
...Does your church make a mean roast pig?
...Do you have a connection with a great fair trade coffee?
...Is there someone who makes the very best KimChee?
What is it that you could bring to share with the rest of the Region at our first ever Unity Festival? Every church - new and old - has something special to share. Sign up today for your booth space and plan to participate on November 3rd.
Every local congregation and/or mission cluster is invited to create a booth space that celebrates their ministry, history and culture. Click here for more information and booth registration forms: www.ccncn.org.
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 HOT NEWS CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
Congregation to pray for this week: Lafayette Christian Church, Lafayette; Contra Costa and So. Solano Area; Senior Pastor: Steve Moore; Associate Pastor: Sara Steenhouse.
Congregation to pray for this week:
United Christian Parish, Lakeport; Redwood Area; Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth.
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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Regional Events Not To Be Missed
 The Regional Executive Committee has asked that you save the date of Saturday, October 20 for a Celebration of Ben's Ministry. Time is now set for 1:00-5:00 p.m. Location is California High School, San Ramon. It offers a beautiful, tiered 400 seat auditorium for programming and very large reception hall for informal interaction, fellowship and food service. Ben's retirement date is November 1, 2012. Invitations will be sent out soon- one to every church with the planning committee asking that the total congregation receives the invitation. RSVP will be very important for food and space. ....................................................... 1. Special Workshop for Ministering to Children in the midst of Disaster
Modesto, California October 5-6, 2012
Modesto Church of the Brethren- 2301 Woodland Ave
Cost is $75
Disciples Week of Compassion is supporting this event and hopeful that Disciples will be in attendance.
Either Contact Diana Messamer - e-mail DMessamer@comcast.net 209 601-1070 (c) or
you can register online: http://www.brethren.org/cds/training/dates.html
Background Information: Since 1980 Children's Disaster Services has been caring for children after disasters in shelters and assistance centers by providing volunteers
specially trained and certified to care for children who have experienced a disaster. Using techniques that utilize toys that encourage expression, volunteers provide a calm safe and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos created by a disaster. Although we are part of Church of the Brethren Disaster Ministries, our workshop is open to anyone over the age of 18. Please visit our website for more information. www.childrensdisasterservices.org 2. This Saturday, August 18, FCC Sacramento will be hosting a youth lock-in for those having completed grades 6-12 (2012 Chi Rho or CYF age). The lock-in starts at 7:00 p.m. and concludes after Sunday morning worship around noon. Cost is $10 per youth, and includes evening pizza and morning breakfast. All attendees must have contacted Sacramento First Christian by Monday, Aug. 13, noon, so that we can have a count of attendees. Contact Pastor Ted Firch at 916-452-7661 or email sactofcc@yahoo.com. 3. "Tea for the Soul" A one-day women's retreat with Diane Wilson and other fabulous women leaders. Sat. Oct. 6, 9:00am-3:00pm
Sierra Christian Church in Loomis. $25 includes lunch.
Sponsored by Women of Spirit and Action (DOC/UCC Women Partnership)
For more information: http://www.ccncn.org/tea-for-the-soul-2012.pdf 4. Regional Disciples Men Retreat
October 12 -14 at Palo Alto FCC Theme "Faith of Our Fathers, Faith of Our Sons"
Men of faith can learn a great deal from each other. Much of the work of growing in faith happens in personal contact with men in the church. This type of interaction can transcend generations and cultures and build relationships of friendship and mutual benefit. All men of all of our churches are invited to attend and bring along a friend, a son, a father, a cousin. You will find each one has something to gain and something to offer.  Our leader will be Roger Jenks, Senior Pastor at Grace Community Christian Church in Aurora, IL. He is an experienced Disciples pastor who has also served the church in other interesting ways. He was developer of the Summit Youth Assembly in the Illlinois/Wisconsin Region, and of the Pastor's Academy, also in CCIW. One of his passions is biblical literacy so he has written a number of adult curriculum studies and developed "Sprint Through the Bible" (a telling of the Bible story in one day) to help people learn to live and think biblically. His biblical literacy program is being used in churches of twelve denominations. Through Grace Institute, a teaching arm of Grace Community CC, he has led workshops and done consultation for pastors and church leaders from Hawaii to Tennessee. He also served as religion correspondent for a CBS affiliate, has published music compositions and was a teaching tennis pro. Current focus areas for his ministry include leadership development and spiritual nurture. He comes to us with high recommendations from the regional staff of CCIW and from our Disciples Men President, Arne Larsen, who has seen the outstanding quality of his work firsthand.
5. Spiritual Retreat for Chaplains and Spiritual Caregivers "Creating Sacred Space For Ourselves"
An afternoon retreat...Friday, October 26, 2:00-6:00 pm Sierra CC, Loomis Includes Interactive Presentation, Labyrinth Walk, Music and Light Supper Cost: $35.00 Registration materials available soon. 6. FCC Redding is seeking an Interim Senior Pastor to begin January 1, 2013. Their beloved Senior Pastor of 19 year, Heather Hennessey is retiring. This person must have training with the Interim Ministry Network and at least 5 years as a Senior Pastor, experienced with multi-staff. The person must also have entered official Disciples Search and Call process. For more details, contact the Interim Search Committee Chair, Patrice Hanson: patricehanson1@gmail.com 7. Dear Friends, Once again, Chalice Christian Church is having our annual fundraising event, the Taco Party, Sept. 8 st 5:30 pm at the home of Bruce and Ann Willard. For those of you who don't know, this party has been an annual event for Chalice for many years. We have reached out to friends a little further this year because all of the money we raise at this event will go to support our very own PSR student, Loma Eaves. Many of you know Loma, and many of you, because you have been there yourselves, know first hand what a financial challenge graduate school can be. Loma is beginning her third year this fall, working toward a Master of Divinity. Chalice is very proud of her and wants to support her in this way, but we are, as you know, very small. So we are soliciting your help and also hoping to enjoy your company by inviting you to join us at our party.
Please also invite other members of your church or friends. Nothing to bring except yourselves and your wallet or checkbook. PLEASE RSVP TO ANN BY SEPTEMBER 3, annwillard1@comcast.net or 650-851-3096 and directions will be provided.
8. Employment Opportunity PSR is Seeking an Associate Director of Field Education and Contextual Learning
General Job Description
The person in this position works in support of and in collaboration with the Instructor in the Practice of Ministry/Director of Field Education and Contextual Learning.
Interested candidates should send resume and letter of application addressing specifically the qualifications of this position to: bliew@psr.edu. Please include: 'Apply-Assoc Dir Field Ed - Cont Lrn' in the subject line of your email.
Review of applications will begin August 13, though we will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. PSR is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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REGIONAL STAFF NEWS
We continue to keep Nancy Leee, wife of Kyung-Min Daniel Lee, and family in our prayers. Following the sudden death of her father last week, her mother remains critically ill in ICU in Redding. Your cards of care and concern can be sent to: 3422 Flora Vista Avenue, Santa Clara, 95051.
Paula received news early this morning that her mother, Bessie, who lives in Colorado fell at midnight last night and broke her right shoulder actually shattering the ball joint. She is going into major surgery this afternoon to have that replaced. At 87, any surgery is dangerous, so prayers for successful surgery and a healthy recovery are greatly appreciated.
We are so pleased to have Quan back in the office after her challenging week of ill health. Keep praying for her recovery.
Ben will heading to Indianapolis next Wednesday, August 22-Sunday, August 26 for his final time with the College of Regional Ministers. He will be checking e-mail and voice mail.
From Cliff: Please continue to keep our grandson, LaFrance Cole, in your prayers as he has been deployed to Afghanistan in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Clearance Unit).
Lots to share about Sandhya this week.
1). After a week long struggle with her back, she is up and around but often needing to use a walker, while her back stabilizes.
2). She will be out of the USA for two weeks beginning Monday, August 20; one week with Global Mission Partners in Nicaragua and one week with parents also out of the country. PLEASE no e-mails or voice mails during this time.
3). Sandhya has recently been hired to a half-time position with East Bay Housing Organizations, an organization based in Oakland that advocates for affordable housing. (http://www.ebho.org) This means Sandhya will decrease her hours with the Region from 25 hours a week to 15 hours a week. (She will also continue at FCC Oakland and the Oakland Peace Center with limited hours.) Sandhya will be able to bring a lot of the skills she has cultivated with the CCNC-N to her work as Director of Interfaith Programs, and she will get to work with some old friends, since EBHO's partners include Christian Church Homes and Mills Grove Christian Church. In many ways, this is Sandhya's dream job, since it involves working with the faith community in her beloved city of Oakland, and its part time nature allows her to remain connected to the people of the region who she loves so much during this transitional period and also fulfil her commitments to the denomination. This does mean that Sandhya will not be in the office as much--one day a week instead of two--but she will work from home for the region and continue to foster both missional and reconciliation work in the Region. |
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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! AUGUST 16- E-Van at FCC Hanford 6:00-8:30 20- Regional Resources Committee 10:00-2:00 RO 21- Serra Center Board Meeting 4:00-7:00 25- Justice Commission Training United CC Livermore 26-28- Annual Fund Phon-a-thon SEPTEMBER 5- Training and Care Committee -PSR 7- Christian Church Homes Annual Dinner Celebration 8- New Church Committee 8- Outdoor Ministry Committee 9- Special Fund-Raiser for Joy Wu's trip to China 14-16- Mission Springs Women's Fall Retreat 18- Recognition and Standing Committee- RO 21-23- Playing with Fire Missional Church Event in southern CA 22- Regional Ad-Ministrative Committee- RO OCTOBER 3- Training and Care Committee-PSR 6- Regional Executive Committee- Livermore 12-14- Regional Men's Retreat- FCC Palo Alto 20- Celebration of Ben's Ministry NOVEMBER 3- Unity Festival UCC Lodi Back to top |
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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
CELEBRATIONS
A HUGE thanks to The Circle Church, Santa Cruz, for hosting our Regional Young Adult Retreat last week-end. 22 young adults and young-at-heart adult sponsors attended and had a growing and learning experience about ministry with the street community. The afternoon time in the city park, interacting with dozens of persons who are homeless, sharing over 100 sandwiches, socks, water, etc. was enlightning to the whole group! Special thanks to Pastor Steve DeFierlds-Gambrel for his insightful teachings and to the wonderful members of The Circle Church who shared their stories of life-transformation through God's work in The Circle Church. Also, how grateful the group was for a fantastic home-made dinner on Saturday night-blessings to the Mathiesen family who prepared this meal despite being out of town.
Thanks to Nancy and Marc Bingaman, CC of Pacific Grove, our young adults across the Region will enjoy a second week-end together...this time on a boating outing to Lake Oroville. Have fun!!
Rev. Christy Newton and Rev. Jeannie Loveless are so excited to announce birth of Clive Wilson Loveless Newton! "Clivie" was born Aug 3 @ 9:35 pm and weighed 8lb 8oz and 22" long. Mamas and baby are at home now and appreciate your prayers for Christy's continuing recovery.We deeply appreciate the support of our church family as we embark on this incredible journey together. Christy serves Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley and Jeannie serves United Church of Hayward UCC.
We celebrate the wonderful 8 day visit we have have had with our Global Mission Partners from China, Tom and Lynnea Morse. They presented in 6 churches and had marvelous tours of the Bay Area, the Monterey Aquarium, Muir Woods and Yosemite! They provided us with a wonderful insight into Disciples historical work in China and their excellent current mission work there.
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Hard news this week from John Grose, key leader and former Moderator at FCC Vallejo:
"Well, another mountain to climb. My cancer is much larger so I start the next
round of chemo next week. The doctor gives this round a very high probability of
knocking the cancer down. It is a 5 month process."
We send out prayers for healing and strength to John and wife Beth, who is current Moderator of FCC.
Pastor Taulau Tupua, Via Dolorosa Samoan Congregational CC of Modesto is about to moe to the next critical stage for the treatment of his lymphoma leukemia. As soon as paperwork and an opening is available, her will undergo a bone marrow transplant at Stanford Medical Center. Fortunately, his older sister is a perfect match! Your prayers are deeply appreciated. Cards can be sent to: 2329 Senimi Circle, Ceres, 95307.
We are so pleased to say that Hazel James, who was placed in hospice care three weeks ago, is now, up and around and getting stronger and stronger! Hazel is a member at United Disciples Fellowship, San Jose, and for years a member at FCC San Jose and very active in regional leadership and programming. Our prayers of love and care continue.
This request from FCC Alameda, Associate Pastor, Dr. Gloria Wilson: Please add my son for prayers:
Lt. MaShon M. Wilson
B/4-319 AFAR, 173d ABCT
FOB Airborne, Afghanistan
APO, AE 09364
Our prayers continue for Marlene Elliott, who along with her husband Bill, are decades long members and key leaders at FCC Corning, and both have several terms on the Regional Board. This past Monday, Marlene had her third of six chemo treatments for lymphoma. She deeply appreciates the prayers of so many. Send cards to: PO Box 474, Corning, 96021.
We continue to keep Pastor Mark Foglio, Oakdale CC in our prayers. Mark is now working with his doctors to make decisions about how to address herniated disks in his neck, which have been the cause of numbness and heart challenges. Cards of support can be sent to: Oakdale CC, 330 Maxwell Avenue, Oakdale 95361.
Barbara Wikoff, musician at Oakdale CC, and husband Bob, Chair of our Regional Resources Committee is having some really good days right now following test results showing that the chemo treatments are working! She and Bob deeply appreciate all the prayers and ask that you keep them coming. Cards can be sent to: 941 Terrace Court, Oakdale, 95361.
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 John Grose, FCC Vallejo Wanda, daughter of Gloria Baxter of Raynor Park CC
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FINAL WORD-Three Items of Interest
 1. The E-Van is on its final evening trip across the Region. Over 225 people have attended these 5 evenings at: FCC, Concord; FCC Chico; Arden CC, Sacramento; FCC San Jose and FCC Hanford. Our sincere thanks to each church for hosting these events and the delicious dinners they have provided. Thanks to Regional Staff who have been present all 5 nights-Paula, Sandhya and Ben); 2 nights for Bill  Garrett and Dana Brainbridge, Pastor FCC San Jose-4 nights. We also had the joy of Chad and Charlotte Thompson and youth from FCC Selma who led a special workshop on Evangelism with Youth on the Hanford evening.
2. Lightning Strikes Community of the Great Commission!!
This from Mike Carr, CEO of United Camps, Conferences and Retreats (UUCR) who manages our campgrounds:
"Hello All: not sure if you know this, but CGC was again hit by lightning recently. By my count this occurs about every 2-3 yrs causing substantial damage. This time the new well pump was fried and fortunately the well contractor was able to replace it with warranty. The transformer at Bobbitt was again fried- happened 2
yrs ago also. It has been replaced and grounded. All phone and internet plugs were fried and now replaced. I looked into how to prevent future lightning strikes causing damage and have asked Connie to put in lightning rods on the property which has been accomplished. I have had Connie add a lightning safety procedure in her welcome talk. Total costs of all the damages was close to $15,000!! Thank goodness, all damage was covered by UCCR insurance pool."
3. You will not want to miss reading the latest newsletter from the Center for Faith and Giving.
This issue focus attention on stewardship issues at the end of life.
Please share it with those with whom you think it will be helpful. Remember, the Center's website (www.centerforfaithandgiving.org) has many resources to help congregations with their annual campaigns.
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