Greetings!
There must be 50 ways...to thank your pastor!
...a flower on the desk
... a note or card
....a home-made pie or cake
...a Starbucks gift card
...a direct eye contact THANK YOU
(That's 5 just to get you started!!)
OCTOBER IS MONTH OF THE MINISTRY!!!
How has your congregation expressed it's appreciation, gratitude and love for your pastor(s).
DO NOT LET THIS MONTH PASS BY WITHOUT SOME SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF YOUR PASTOR AND ANY OTHERS IN YOUR CHURCH WHO HAVE BEEN "CALLED" AS MINISTERS.
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A CELEBRATION OF BEN'S MINISTRY
Retirement after 46 years of ministry
Saturday, October 20
1:00-5:00 pm
California High School in San Ramon
The time has come to CELEBRATE!! We are at our 400 capacity, but it looks like everyone will have a seat!
Remember that the doors open at 12:15 and the program starts promptly at 1:00!!
For last minutes reservations or cancellations,
Contact Doral Main (510-352-2210) or retirementbb@att.net
(Please do not call or e-mail Quan as she is not taking reservations)
All details at www.ccncn.org
Important Information on Parking:
As you come in the main entrance, keep going straight ahead to the parking lot in the back (Be sure to stop at the stop sign!) For those who have trouble walking, once in the main entrance, take a quick left and you can be dropped off there close to the theater.
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 FINAL DAYS OF THE 2012
PHON-A-THON ARE HERE!
It's Almost Time to Break Out
the Gratitude Stone!!!
We're Getting Closer...
But We're Still Not Quite There.
Here's the latest update on the Phon-a-thon:
- Total of Pledges and Donations - $28,585
- Total amount received so far - $22,435
- Goal was - $25,000
This means we still need to receive the remaining $6,150 to fulfill the pledges made.
We really hope to have all pledges completed no later than October 26!
If you haven't sent in your donation to support your pledge, or if you would like to send in a donation, now would be a great time to do so. You can either go online (see button, click button, make donation) or send in your check to the Region office: 9260 Alcosta Blvd., C-18, San Ramon, CA 94583 with memo: phon-a-thon.
Again, THANK YOU for being so generous and helping us continue the ministries of CCNCN Region.
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 Ministerial Annual Standing Review Form
It's that time of year again for
ALL Commissioned and Ordained Ministers (including retired) who have Standing with the Northern CA- Region to check in with the Recognition and Standing Committee. Completion of this form IS REQUIRED in order to maintain Standing!
DEADLINE is October 26.
Here's the good news; two ways to complete the 2012 Form:
1. Online. Simply go to:https://ccncn.webconnex.com/2012minstanding
2. A Hard copy will be snail-mailed to you this week.
Complete it and snail-mail it back. Be sure you sign it requesting Standing again; and having read the
Ministerial Code of Ethics and the Regional Ethical and Sexual Conduct document.
THE DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION IS OCTOBER 26
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TIME-SE NSITIVE: DEADLINE EXTENDED
for the MLK scholarship for college students and for nominations for the region's annual MLK awards:
DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR RECONCILIATION SCHOLARSHIP AND NOMINATIONS IS NOW
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31. PLEASE DO NOT WASTE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!!
Please contact Sandhya with any questions: sandhya@ccncn.org
The Region's Reconciliation Committee decided at their meeting on Tuesday evening to extend the deadline for both the scholarship (for high school seniors and current college students) and nomination for anyone you know in the region who has done great work to create equality and build up Dr. King's beloved community and is part of the Disciples of Christ.
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 2012 Regional Unity Festival
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 3, 2012 United Congregational Christian Church of Lodi
What makes Disciples special? Come and see!
Performances. Food. Games. Crafts. Fellowship. Worship. Join us for a day long, family friendly festival celebrating the cultural and historical diversity of our Region.
...We will have activities for children including a bounce house and a nap room.
...We will have live performances of traditional dance and music.
...We will have arts and crafts and food.
Did we mention food?!?!?
Congregations and Mission Clusters have been invited to host a booth where they can sell items that reflect their cultural heritage. We expect everything from church cookbooks to kim chee. Something for everyone!
Support the congregations of our Region by coming, bringing friends and family, and enjoying a day surrounded by the greatness of God's diverse people.
Or, you can register and pay by mail.
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 HOT NEWS CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
Congregation to pray for this week: First Christian Church, Oakland; East Bay Area; Co-Pastors, Sandhya Jha and Tai Amri Spann-Wilson.
Congregation to pray for this week: First Mongollian Christian Church, Oakland; East Bay Area; Pastor: Otgonbayar (Ogi) Luvsan
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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ANNOUNCING 2013 SUMMER CAMP DATES
(Note that neither Grandparents and Me Session is over July 4!
Community of the Great Commission Camps
June 6-9- Adult Camp
June 23-29- Junior and ChiRho Camps
June 29-July 1- Grandparents and Me Session 1
June 30- July 6- CYF Camp
July 1-3- Grandparents and Me Session II
South San Joaquin-TBA
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Proposition 35 Dialogue (At Stanford University)
The CASE Act hopes to raise awareness of human trafficking and deter traffickers with higher penalties and fines.
Critics of Prop. 35 (such as Cal. Council of Churches IMAPCT) argue that stiffer sentencing is not the
core of this complex problem. Proponents say we need to raise awareness now and start somewhere. More info here.
When: October 23rd @ 6pm
Where: CISAC Conference Room
Encina Hall Central, 2nd floor
616 Serra St.
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Cost: FREE
Op-ed Opinions by trusted voices in the local anti-trafficking community:
NO ON PROP. 35
YES ON PROP. 35
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UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
1. 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. Contact Diane Wilson, dianewilson2008@hotmail.com.
2. Bread for the World Sunday
Vince Mezzera, former moderator at FCC Vallejo, now working for Bread for the World in Washington, DC, has a challenge for CCNC-N:
"Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. We have thousands of member congregations joining us in our efforts to change the policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist. Yet I have been surprised at how few Disciples congregations are among them. But we can change that, and Bread for the World Sunday (on October 21 or another date this fall) is the perfect time to start! This is a chance to join with Christians nationwide as we lift up our voices together in prayer and worship on behalf of poor and hungry people. Participation could be as simple as a few prayers about hunger during worship--nothing complex necessary; we would just love to have as many different churches as possible participate in some fashion. You can see the resources I have helped put together for this event at www.bread.org/sunday - please take a look and prayerfully consider whether your congregation can participate!"
3. Ministry with the Differently Abled:
An Invitation to Beloved Community
19 percent of the population of the United States has a
disability, is this reflected in our congregations? Why not?
Come join us for a conversation about our call as Christian community to be in ministry with people with disabilities as well as practical discussion on accessibility and worship.
When: Saturday, November 10
Time: Noon to 3:00 pm.
Lunch of soup and a salad will be served.
Where: Forest Hill Christian Church
250 Laguna Honda Blvd. San Francisco
Phone: (415) 566-1414
Cost: $10 suggested donation, but all are welcome
regardless of ability to pay.
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 Begins Saturday, November 10, 1:00 p.m. and ends Sunday, November 11 after worship (about noon)
Where: Christian Church of Woodland
Cost: $30.00 PLUS three cans of food
This is an overnight event so registration and medical forms must be completed.
For all information and forms go to: http://www.ccncn.org/fallfestregpkt-2012pdf.pdf
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ANNOUNCING THIS ECUMENICAL OPPORTUNITY
Henrietta Perdue
Memorial Lecture Series
Stone Church of Willow Glen
(Presbyterian USA)
1937 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose
November 9 - 10, 2012
Practicing Neighborhood amid Empire
Dr. Brueggemann, world-renown Old Testament scholar and prolific author, explores the dominant narrative of power, performance, and production in the Old Testament and in our society.
More information and a registration form can be found at: www.stonechurch.org
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REGIONAL STAFF NEWS
Paula's plans for her visit to Colorado to support her mother have changed again. Because there has been a delay in her mother's release from rehab to home, she will now be out of the office October 24-November 6.
The Pociecha Family is definitely facing challenges these days as Micheal's 87 year old mom has now been placed in hospice care having been diagnosed with advance cancer. Micheal has been in San Diego for over a week but hopes to be back by the week-end to video the Celebration program. Please keep Micheal and Paula in special prayers.
Quan will be out of the office, October 24, 25, 26 and 29 to join family in celebrating her mother's 90th birthday!!
There will be some office volunteers but please be patient with everyone as they may not have all the information desired but will do the best they can!
Cliff returns from vacation this week and he and Connie will be with us on Saturday. We are so glad they are back!
A little late, but CONGRATULATIONS to Diana Silva who was recently honored for her 25 (and counting) years as Organist at Lafayette CC! (Talk about talented- organist and Regional bookkeeper...wow!)
Ben and Sandhya will both be gone all day Thursday attending the Memorial Service for Rev. Don Shelton, former Regional Minister of the Pacific Southwest Region.
The service will be Bakersfield and they will be driving down and back in one day!!
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).
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DEVOTIONAL by Bill Garrett
Regional Minister of Faith and Giving
 Nest.
An interesting word...and concept.
Possibly the image that comes to mind is a bird's nest. The mother feeds and protects her young in the nest. The young start to mature, often rather funny looking and awkward, and yet the mother instinctively knows it's part of the growth cycle. Eventually the young birds leave the nest, sometimes with the mother pushing them out of the nest into the world. The nest, with its participants, creates and sustains life for present and future generations.
In James Wind's regular column in Congregations magazine, he shares his thoughts on the congregational task of being a nest. Cross-generational nests are built. Now as well as in the past, people gather to sing and tell stories, to celebrate new life as well as to deal with death, to build new forms of human community across generations, and to find new ways to counter the survival of the fittest with behavior that seeks to further the common good.
The congregation is a nest to those who need to experience the power and grace of community.
The concept of congregational nest-building also includes the idea that "we are the growing point of an unfinished epic." We are at an evolutionary hinge point in almost all areas of life - culture, religion, morality, technology, and the arts. These shifts will take time and not every person will be able to make the change without struggle.
The congregation is a nest to those who need a safe haven in a sometimes dangerous environment, as well as a launching pad from which to go out into the world. But I wonder if you caught the phrase "we are the growing point...." Sometimes it's difficult to see our congregations as a growing point, and yet we are. Our congregations, by being a safe haven - especially at our awkward or vulnerable moments - enable us to risk growing into the person that God has created us to be. The congregation enables us to listen to God's calling and develop the confidence to leave the nest to enter the world with a vision and the quest to be a "growing point" for others.
The congregation is a nest to those learning how to live in the 21st century world.
So, I'm going to go out on a limb and proclaim that your congregation IS a nest. Sure enough, what started hundreds of thousands of years ago in nature remains today as a crucial and very present task in today's congregations. And, you might be amazed at how many flights into the world you have enabled.
The congregation...your congregation...is a nest.
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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!
OCTOBER 19-20- Regional Elders Retreat- "Amazing Grace"
20- Celebration of Ben's Ministry
21- Annual Gathering Committee
24- Regional Staff 10:00-1:30 RO
27- Regional Ministry Council UCC Livermore
30- Regional Resources Committee 10:00-2:00 RO
30- Serra Center Board Meeting- Fremont
NOVEMBER
3- Unity Festival UCC Lodi
7- Training and Care Committee
10- CGC Facilities Committee
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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
CELEBRATIONS
"Thanks be to God, Chalice, and Chalice friends! I was overwhelmed by the loving gifts and warm responses from their recent fundraiser to help me with my education. Chalice raised $1190 to help me. This has been a huge help in a time of need. Thank you to all of you who have supported me in various ways." Loma Eaves, PSR seminarian whose home church is Chalice CC, San Carlos.
New members as reported: FCC Selma (1 youth baptism)
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Good news for Bill Shive, musician for FCC Oakland and leader at Tapestry Ministries, Berkeley, is now home recovering from his mild heart attack. They did determine his condition could be treated with appropriate medication, and monitor him instead of open heart surgery. Cards can be sent to: 7856 Ney Avenue, Oakland, 94605
We continue special prayers for Kathy Smith, who served FCC Sacramento in numerous ministry positions over many years. Following her recent colon surgery, she received news that the growth was cancerous. Her spirits and faith are still strong as she recovers and makes decisions about treatment. Cards can be sent to: 2809 14th Street, Sacramento, 95818
Our prayers for Alma Hernandez, wife of Pastor Kilo Hernandez, Iglesia del Pueblo de Porterville (Disciples of Christ) meeting at FCC Porterville.
Alma has been suffering for some time from extreme fatigue, partial paralysis on right side, and fainting spells. The doctors have not been able to find the exact cause and this is very discouraging and depressing for all the family. Please send cards to : Alma Hernandezx 1020 North Prospect Street, Porterville, 93257
Our prayers for Bruce Kieft, who has recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer and underwent major surgery last week. He is home and recovering well and gaining weight and strength in preparation for chemo. Bruce is the Moderator of FCC Fremont and Chair of the Construction Committee with Niles Discovery Church (Niles Discovery is the merger of FCC Fremont and Niles UCC). He also chairs the Serra Center Board as one of the five Disciples serving in leadership for that ministry. Cards can be sent to:41204 Thurston Street, Fremont, 94538
Rev. Kay McFarland, retired Disciples minister, is recovering from double knee surgery. The experts say she is progressing very well. She's up and walking around, sometimes with a walker, but still in physical therapy. Kay has also been suffering with Shingles since March of this year. Your prayers are much appreciated. Cards can be sent to: 2091 Strobridge Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546.
Our prayers continue for John Grose, key leader and former Moderator at FCC Vallejo as he continues in a five month round of chemotherapy. We send out prayers for healing and strength to John and wife Beth.
Latest update on Pastor Taulau Tupua, Via Dolorosa Samoan Congregational CC of Modesto who is only three treatments away from his final chemotherapy before his hopeful 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 continue to keep Pastor Mark Foglio, Oakdale CC in our prayers. Mark is about to get the second series of deep injections to address herniated disks in his back and neck. Cards of support can be sent to: Oakdale CC, 330 Maxwell Avenue, Oakdale 95361.
Tough news for Barbara Wikoff, musician at Oakdale CC, and husband Bob, Chair of our Regional Resources Committee ias recent tests show she still needs some major chemotherapy and she is beginning several rouds of 5 days a week, then two weeks off! 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:
Bea Tiffee, FCC Dos Palos
Lt. MaShon Wilson, serving in Afghanistan, son of Gloria Wilson, Associate Pastor, FCC Alameda
Wanda, daughter of Gloria Baxter of Raynor Park CC
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FINAL WORD-Meet Michael Carlson
New Minister for Young Adult Ministry
Over the last year, I have joyfully added Young Adult Ministry to my portfolio as part of the transition of this program. Don't count me as being generous; this was pure selfishness on my part- I simply adore this group of young adults and wanted this final year to have the honor of working with them! One of the special joys has been creating a Young Adult Leadership Council of 10 members who have helped facilitate all the Regional young adult programming in the past year. Now, it is so exciting to welcome Michael Carlson with the Young Adult Council to lead this ministry. Lucky, Michael and lucky young adults!
Ben
 Rev. Michael Carlson does many things but, thankfully, not all of them at once. First and foremost, he and his life partner, Rev. Molly Carlson are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary in August. They currently live in Modesto with their two boys, Simon (11) and Adam (8), where Molly serves as Pastor/Planter of The Urban Shepherd Christian Church. They also own and manage the local yarn store in Modesto.
Michael studied music theory, composition, popular music and singing as an undergraduate student at Chapman University. Michael's singer-songwriter CD "Fruit of the Vine" was released in December of 2002. He graduated from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, and is an ordained DOC minister.
He directed praise choirs and seasonal musicals as Associate Minister of Fine Arts at Beargrass Christian Church in Louisville, KY. He served as pastor of University Park Christian Church in Indianapolis. He currently serves as Director of Music at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Modesto, CA, and formerly coordinated and led the Jazz Vespers service at First United Methodist Church in Modesto.
Michael writes music for worship in many styles with an ecumenical, welcoming and mission-oriented theology. He has led workshops and conferences on worship, has served as song-leader for countless events, and has consulted with many congregations regarding the development of their worship life.
As a solo vocal performer, he sings several parts in real time by overdubbing digital loops with his band, TripleOhNine (which is really just his Macbook). He has directed jazz and traditional vocal groups in the San Joaquin Valley, provides voice lessons to students of all ages, and produces music projects for clients.
Along with his musical activities, he also tutors students in math, English, and accounting practices and software. Currently, he is working as an accountant at a "green industry" start-up company which sells an after-market supplemental hydrogen fuel system for big rig trucks.
His commitment to follow where God's Spirit leads him provides him with great spiritual energy and rich life experience.
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