Greetings!
The United Church of Christ has invited individuals in their denomination this month into "Thirty Days of Thankfulness." Suddenly, every day on facebook, the page is filled with people writing "Day 1--I am thankful for enough food to eat." "Day 3--I am thankful for a congregation that cares about the people in the neighborhood around them." "Day 10--I am thankful for a dog that loves me no matter what." During this Thanksgiving month, what are YOU thankful for? It's not too late to express thanksgiving to our God of abundance! (And let's all be thankful for the impact of Disciples higher education as we approach the Thanksgiving offering!) |
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 HOT NEWS CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
Congregation to pray for this week: Christian Church of Pacific Grove; Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Pastor Dan Paul.
Congregation to pray for this week: First Christian Church, Palo Alto; Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Pastor Jon Smith.
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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 Give college students and aspiring pastors a reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving!
"For me, (going to a Disciples college) was an instant connection with a built-in family that supported and challenged me--students, faculty and local clergy that all took interest in my life from the start. On top of that, (it gave me) an incredibly strong liberal arts education."
--Sara Steenhouse, Texas Christian University and Disciples Seminary Foundation Alum (and associate pastor of Lafayette Christian Church and vice-Moderator of the CCNC-N Ministry Council)
If you think the Thanksgiving offering doesn't matter, think again. Disciples ministries thrive because so many leaders in local, regional and general ministries benefited from Disciples higher education in college or seminary. Your offering helps us continue a legacy of great education for a great church.
For more information, visit: http://www.disciplesmissionfund.org/SpecialDayOfferings/ThanksgivingSpecialDayOffering/tabid/481/Default.aspx
And make sure your church doesn't miss the chance to participate in the Thanksgiving offering either this Sunday or next!!!
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From the general church eNews: an opportunity to stand with survivors of domestic violence as an act of faith.
We Will Speak Out Nov. 25
Churches and faith communities are filled with survivors, perpetrators and the scars of suffering due to rape, domestic violence and other forms of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV).
WeWillSpeakOut.US is a faith-based coalition led by IMA (Interchurch Medical Assistance) World Health to raise awareness about sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and mobilize the faith community to take action. Work to support rape survivors and prevent SGBV in violent Eastern Congo led to IMA's passion for putting an end to SGBV around the world and this new calling to rally a response.
The United Nations has designated Sunday, November 25 as the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women." All around the world, people will be taking action to raise awareness about the global epidemic of violence that affects all of us. For sermon resources, flyers and other materials, access the event website:Â http://wewillspeakout.us/. IMA World Health is a partner with Week of Compassion.
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Youth and adults--Join Regional Youth Council!
Be inspired and be an inspiration!
Applications are being accepted for the Regional Youth Council 2013, both youth and adults. The application and recommendation forms are due no later than February 1st. All forms must be complete and into the regional office no later than Feb 1 or they will not be accepted. Because of the early Annual Gathering, applications are due earlier this year. Also, applicants will need to attend the Annual Gathering at least on March 2 if not the whole weekend. Applicants will be informed by phone after Feb Camp. The application can be found at http://www.ccncn.org/youth.htm and guidelines can be found at http://ccncn.org/ryc-guidelines-2013.pdf . Good Luck and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me: cccrafting@comcast.net. It should be a great year.
-Carl Cordes
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ANNOUNCING 2013 SUMMER CAMP DATES (Note that neither Grandparents and Me Session will be held on 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 June 23-28- South San Joaquin at Camp Pacifica ...............................................................
UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS
CHAM invites you to participate in a free Downtown San Jose Health Fair on Friday, November 16. It will be held at St. Joseph Cathedral, 80 S. Market Street, in downtown San Jose from 9 am to 1 pm. The health fair will feature free health screenings including blood pressure, glucose, foot care, BMI, and flu shots, and more. The health fair is sponsored by Low-Income Self-Help Center, CHAM Deliverance Ministry,Gardner Health Care for the Homeless, St. Joseph Cathedral, and County Supervisor Dave Cortese. For more information, contact Lara MCabe at 408-299-5030 or lara.mccabe@bos.sccgov.org
....................................................... REGIONAL YOUNG ADULT CHRISTMAS EVENT IN SAN FRANCISCO! SAVE THE DATES NOW! The Young Adult Council invites you to a Christmas Event, December 29th and 30th in San Francisco! All young adults in our region ages 18 to 30-ish (post-high school) are invited! We'll gather at noon for lunch at Forest Hill Christian Church on Saturday, December 29th, have lots of fun, stay overnight and worship with our host church on Sunday morning. There is a cost of $10 that covers the whole weekend, mostly to help cover BART costs for the scavenger hunt and Christmas light viewing. (Note: Forest Hill CC does have showers!)
Check out the CCNC-N website and our FB page (facebook.com/groups/30684014515/) for more details in the coming days. Online registration will be available soon.
-Michael Carlson, Young Adult Ministries .................................................................. ATTENTION ALL CLERGY Clergy Continuing Education Grant Application Process Due to DHM being in the process of migrating our website to a new provider, the Clergy Continuing Education Grant application process dates have changed. The application process will be open from December 1, 2012 - January 31, 2013 -- to receive requests from Disciples clergy seeking continuing education funds for programs/event/activities in 2013. Any Commissioned and Ordained Disciples Clergy with Standing may apply. The maximum possible award for any individual clergy will be no more than $500. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn, block grants to regions or other Disciples groups will not be considered into the foreseeable future. Availability of individual grants will be dependent upon total number of applicants. Applications received during the Dec./Jan. application process, will be evaluated and considered during the month of February, 2013; final decisions regarding approved awards will be announced by Mid-March 2013, at the latest. No other applications will be accepted for 2013 outside of the process described above. Please send your application beginning December 1, 2012! (link "application" to www.discipleshomemissions.org/pages/CV-ContEd ............................................. CYF FebCamp 2013, Grades 9-12
Saturday, February 16 @ 10am-Monday - February 18 @ 11am
Camp Tuolumne Trails, 22988 Ferretti Road, Groveland, CA
Cost: $160.00 youth; $140.00 adult
Registration deadline is February 9, 2013
Keynoted by Rev. Jesse Kearns
Directed by Carl Cordes Registrations and Medical Forms available
online at www.ccncn.org/youth Back to top |
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REGIONAL STAFF NEWS
Keep all regional staff in your prayers during this season of transition as we seek to meet the needs of all of our congregations with grace and love!
Sandhya is in Kansas City this week for a "charrette" hosted by Church Extension for General Church, Regional Church and Local Church pastors and lay leaders to creatively engage the question of how to help small congregations with big buildings turn a problem into a solution! Sandhya is representing the region and also presenting on the Oakland Peace Center as an in-process model! She remains available by email and phone.
All other staff are following their regular schedule.
Reminder: Regional Minister Rev. Ben Bohren is now retired and no longer uses the email address ben@ccncn.org. Should you need assistance with Regional business please contact Paula at paula@ccncn.org or Quan at quan@ccncn.org. Please remember Ben's covenant of closure asks him to limit contact with the region during the transition time and the first year of the new Regional Minister, so please limit personal contact. However, if you are a church sending Ben your newsletter via email please be sure to change his email address to bohrenfree@gmail.com and add paula@ccncn.org if she's not already on your e-newsletter list.
If you missed the e-card that outlined the plans for the two months of November and December and who will be doing what and when prior to the arrival of the Transitional Interim Regional Minister on January 1, 2013, go to: www.ccncn.org for details.
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DEVOTIONAL
By Paula Pociecha
 I want to follow up on Sandhya's devotional last week about seasons. As a region, we are in a time of transition and the unknown, and it aptly comes as we enter into the winter season and the Christian calendar of Advent. Both of these seasons are a time of expectant waiting, of underground growth and dark incubation.
It is in the transition time that we take stock of past strengths and discover new options. Paradoxically, as technology processes faster and faster, we need to slow down in our human processing to go deeper and wider. It might feel safer and more comfortable to rush from one room to another, but it can also deny us the opportunity to expand and grow into new possibilities. We need the "hallways" of transition.
Every living system goes through change and transition. We are doing this in the Church as a whole, and in our culture and society. It's no use spending energy clawing at the closed doors, trying to get back in to the familiar and comfortable of "before." When we settle down and wait to adjust to the dark hallway of unknowns, we find that it is exactly where we need to be to pause, assess, evaluate, and in many ways take our hands off the wheel and give God and our faith a chance to steer us in the best direction possible. I love the way singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer puts it in her song, "When One Door Closes"
Life's gonna take you, where you never thought you'd go.
When you finally think you've got it down, it isn't so.
There are windows and doors you're not finished with yet.
It's not always getting what you want, but wanting what you get.
If I could turn down the noise of my own will and choice
I could hear the truth of my life in a clear voice.
I will bow down my head to the wisdom of my heart
Cool my heels and hold on to the best parts.
When one door closes, another door opens wide.
It's hard to believe all the locked doors I've tried,
And you can't pray for what you want or what you'd have instead
You can only offer up your heart and ask that you be led.
(Betty's Diner, Carrie Newcomer 2004, http://carrienewcomer.com/carrie-newcomer-kindred-spirits.html#carrie-newcomer-bettys-diner.html)
I invite you into the hallway of transition with me as we enter an interim time for this region. It doesn't mean we have to sit down and stay put, but rather take some time to explore the various doorways and rooms, discover who we are-and who we aren't, what we want-and what we don't want, and where God continues to call us, and where we haven't gone yet! We will still move forward and do our ministry together during this time, yet with a curiosity of what else is possible, and an openness to be led by the Spirit through this hallway and into our next best place, trusting God's own time.
May God give us the patience, trust and curiosity to make it so!
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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!
NOVEMBER
Sundays 11, 18, 25- Thanksgiving Offering
DECEMBER
>3- Recognition and Standing- 9:30-12:00 RO >29-30- Young Adult Winter Event- Forest Hill CC-SF>Sundays, 16, 23, 30- Christmas Offering 2013 JANUARY >7- Deadline for all 2012 Disciples Mission Fund Offering (Checks must be in the office by Monday, January 7) >12- Martin Luther King event and worship (Yes! On a Saturday! 1-5 PM, with an inspiring and useful training, fellowship and powerful worship, all in the Bay Area) FEBRUARY
>February 16-18 - FebCamp for high school youth, Camp Tuolumne Trails >March 1-3 - Annual Gathering at the Sofitel Hotel in Redwood City >April 20, 2013; Women's Spring Gathering, Palo Alto FCC >July 13-17, 2013 - General Assembly, Orlando, FL >Sept. 13-15, 2013: Women's Fall Retreat with Mary Donovan Turner >October 18-20 - Men's Retreat MARCH >March 1-3 - Annual Gathering Back to top
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CELEBRATIONS & PRAYERS
Woman-to-Woman Worldwide - Prayer Request
We offer up this prayer for the participants of the 2012 trip to China, including Joy Wang from Sinapi Seed Fellowship in Palo Alto: "We thank you, God, for the world you have given us to love, including the people and the land of China. We ask your special blessing on our Disciples Women sisters joining in this experience. Give them eyes to see and ears to hear the things that you would teach them. Grant them traveling mercies. And may they grow in faith and wisdom so that we, through them, may learn more clearly what it means to be members of your beloved global community. Amen."
If your congregation receives a new member by baptism or transfer, please email enews@ccncn.org so we can lift it up in celebration!
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A special prayer for Disciples of Christ in the United States after Super storm Sandy from our beloved global ministries partners in Republic of the Congo (specifically from the Ngokas, who traveled around this region in April and May)
November 1, 2012
At a moment when the attention of not only the people of America, but also the world, is on your presidential election, a natural disaster or Hurricane Sandy, hits your country as well. The amount of damage done makes us talk of a cyclone rather than a storm. The situation that you are facing does not leave us indifferent, for we are One in Jesus Christ (Unity in diversity).
We pray not only for the human lives touched directly and indirectly by this scourge, but also for other living beings and things - the wildlife and plants along the east coast of your country. As soon as I grasped the immensity of the damage, I asked all our pastors to organize prayer vigils in their respective congregations. The day that we have designated for everyone to come together for prayer is this Thursday, November 1. Here in Brazzaville, the women of the church will organize an all-night vigil from Wednesday to Thursday uniquely for this situation.
Finally, our deepest sympathy to Global Ministries, churches around the country and the American people for the loss of lives and for those in mourning.
Rev. Georges Ngoka
General Secretary and Legal Representative
Church of the Disciples of Christ in Congo, Brazzaville
Please pray for the family of Don Skinner, father of Greg Skinner, former CCNC-N pastor at Vacaville Christian Church, who passed away Monday night. Greg had moved back to Spokane to be near his parents. Cards can be sent to Rev. Greg Skinner, Country Homes Christian Church, 8415 N. Wall St., Spokane WA 99208.
Continued prayers Pastor Christine Tomascheski, FCC Eureka, whose mother recently passed away.
Continued with Pastor Fred, FCC Alameda, and Janice Williams on the sudden death of his sister Brenda, who just recently moved to San Leandro to be near family.
Do keep Bill Shive, musician for FCC Oakland and leader at Tapestry Ministries, Berkeley, in prayer as he continues to recover at home from ongoing heart issues. Cards can be sent to: 7856 Ney Avenue, Oakland, 94605
Prayers continue for Kathy Smith who served FCC Sacramento in numerous ministry positions over many years and is battling colon cancer. Her spirits and faith are still strong but there are tough days ahead. Cards can be sent to: 2809 14th Street, Sacramento, 95818
Our prayers continue 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 Hernandez 1020 North Prospect Street, Porterville, 93257
Our prayers for Bruce Kieft, who has recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer and underwent major surgery. He is home and in the midst of chemo treatments. 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 and was able to lead the meeting this past Tuesday night! Hallelujah! . Cards can be sent to:41204 Thurston Street, Fremont, 94538
Continuing prayers for Rev. Kay McFarland, retired Disciples minister, is recovering from double knee surgery, at the Retirement Celebration as well. 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.
Sorry to hear the report that Barbara Wikoff, musician at Oakdale CC, and husband Bob, Chair of our Regional Resources Committee has pent several days in the hospital last week in order to address flu like symptoms. She still needs some major chemotherapy and she is beginning several rounds 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
- The Firch pastoral family, FCC Sacramento.
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