Bi-weekly e-news May 16, 2013
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 It is a season of transition. She walks among us and alongside us. Her countenance and words, grace-shaped, offer encouragement even when change and transformation are the message. Beloved community, ubuntu, guides her ministry and life. The connection is deep. Sandhya Jha has blessed this Region with her ministry and presence for several years. On June 30 when she finishes her ministry as co-pastor of First Christian Church, Oakland (there will be a celebration of that ministry after worship on that Sunday), she also initiates a change in her Regional ministry. She will move from being the Missional and Reconciliation Minister for CCNC-N to being a Consultant to the Region for Reconciliation Ministry until the end of the year. The Spirit blows where it will, and Sandhya is letting it move her along to fewer positions. This transition opens a way and time to integrate more fully her passion and vision for the Oakland Peace Center and her call to serve the community of Oakland. It is a season of transition. Cliff Cole retired on December 31, and meant it this time. I arrived knowing that there was some discernment and decisions to be made about a person to carry on the ministry of search and call. Jesse Kearns, pastor at FCC, Chico, was called as Minister of Search and Call for the Region starting in mid April. Jesse brings into our midst his previous experience with Search and Call in the Virginia Region which allowed him to step into this ministry ready and willing to serve congregations. It is a season of transition. Speaking of transitions: what about the Regional Minister Search Committee? The committee is awaiting the recruitment of one more member, and then it will gather and begin its work. When we have the complete committee we will share their names, so that you may hold them in prayer. Don Dewey, co-Regional Minister from Pacific Southwest, will provide guidance, and Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President will offer support and wisdom when the committee gathers for the first time. It is a season of transition. It tugs at our spirits and invites us to take a deep breath. For each and all of these- Sandhya, Jesse, the RM Search Committee, complete or not- let us hold them in our care and offer them our prayer support. It is a season of transition. Pentecost Sunday comes with the message that amazing things can happen when a little fire and wind stirs up lives, and followers of the Jesus Way move out into the world. I invite you to consider letting the Spirit stir up the passion for New Church. The Pentecost offering supports the General and the Regional New Church mission. In grateful partnership, Mary |
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 REGIONALLY ENDORSED EVENTS AND INFORMATION
THE 'TRANSITION VAN' IS COMING AROUND!
 As part of our interim work, Transitional Interim Regional Minister Mary Jacobs will be leading us in circle conversations to share our anxieties about church life and change--every aspect--and to build together some hopes for our future. It will be an opportunity to share with others about transitions in our lives, congregations and region, and the challenges of being Church today.
These conversations will "travel around" the region in our "Transition Van" starting at 6pm with a light dinner and ending by 8:30pm in the following locations:
Monday, May 20: Vallejo CC, 1035 Indiana St.
Tuesday, May 21: Woodland CC, 509 College St.
Wednesday, May 22: San Jose FCC, 80 S. 5th St.
Thursday, May 23, DOC-Visalia, 649 S. County Center Rd.
There is no cost for the event, but we need a count for food and set-up so PLEASE RSVP!
I know this was a short notice and have heard from a few of you that one more Sunday to promote this would help, so PLEASE see if anyone else can come on Sunday, and then email me #'s as soon as you can!
Looking forward to being in conversation together next week.
Register online at https://ccncn.webconnex.com/transvan or email Paula at paula@ccncn.org (put Transition Van in the subject line). For more detailed information, see our website welcome page at: http://www.ccncn.org.
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Online Donations to the Annual Fund Now Available!
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Youth and Adult Camp Information
Summer Camp Registration
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION Must be postmarked by MAY 17
Registration after that will be $75 more
FINAL DEADLINE IS JUNE 10
NO CAMP REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THAT DATE
If you haven't done so already, please, recruit your Congregational Camp Registrar NOW.
1. South San Joaquin Youth Camp at Camp Pacifica! Information, registration, and medical forms are available on the Selma church website. Please take a look and spread the word! Here is the link: http://www.selmadisciples.com/id5.html
NOTE: The South San Joaquin Youth Camp Pacifica 2013 is looking for 2 volunteers to join us the week of June 22-28 (staff dates): Nurse & song leader/counselor (or song leader/CIT). We are paying mileage for anyone out of the SSJ area. Anyone interested, should contact Kathleen Schales, FCC Selma cell: 559-367-7758, kat@schales-r-us.com, or Dawn Linhoff, FCC Selma home:
559-891-7128, dawnlinhoff@comcast.net.
2. Community of the Great Commission. If you haven't already, PLEASE RECRUIT A CONGREGATIONAL REGISTRAR NOW. The Camp Registrar will register youth and adults headed for camp and collect fees. Then ONE check will be sent to the Region with ALL the registration forms. Summer camp information and registration packet has been mailed. Click here to download a copy of the registration packet, including all required forms. Please be advised that there will be no late registrations accepted this year.
Please contact Michael Carlson at michael@ccncn.org or your Congregational Camp Registrar with any questions about the registration process.
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Young Adult Work Camp at CGC!! June 6th thru 9th, the young adults will be at CGC to work, play, and attend some of the Adult Camp keynotes and activities. The young adults will stay in their own cabins, and that lodging is free since it's a work camp. There will be work to do that is available for people of all abilities. The plan is also to cook your own meals. That's why the $21 registration fee is the only cost. It pays for food. And you don't have to attend the whole camp to come. Your arrival and departure time can be flexible. Here is a link to the registration form. Fill out the registration form, health form, and turn them in to the camp registrar in your church. if you don't know who your camp registrar is, ask your pastor. If you don't have a pastor or your pastor doesn't know, call Michael Carlson (916-206-2468) or email michael@ccncn.org. Sign up by May 17th if you can! The deadline for registration is May 31st. No registrations will be accepted after that time, to allow time to safely plan for housing, activities, and meals. Thanks! Michael Carlson, Minister for Young Adults
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 WOMEN'S MINISTRIES
Save the Dates
Registration for Quadrennial Assembly will begin at the Orlando General Assembly in July. If you are going to 2013 General Assembly sign up for the Disciples Women's luncheon.
ARE YOU GOING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY? WANT TO HELP?? GA leadership has asked Disciples Women to help at educational workshops. You will be able to help at the workshops you are attending. No need for extra effort. No public speaking is required. You will receive training the day of the event, in advance of the session's start. You will receive an identifying ribbon for your badge. Please email odw@dhm.disciples.org your availability for any or all of the following opportunities: There needs to be two hosts at each workshop. One will assist the speaker with basics, i.e. water, too cold, too hot. The other will be at the door to scan attendees' badges for Continuing Education Credits (in and out scans). Sunday afternoon-only sessions have 30 openings / Monday morning-only sessions have 60 openings / Tuesday morning-only sessions have 80 openings. The Women's Luncheon is on Wednesday. We will not be assisting education session on Wednesday, but you can still volunteer as a hostess for the Women's Luncheon. There are 60 openings. Exhibit Hall - The Women's Boutique, where you will be registering early for QA 2014 to take advantage of the discount and free tee-shirt and where you will be purchasing the new pre-event tote bag could also use some volunteers to assist in general ways around the boutique. Stop by to shop. Stay to help. There are over 230 opportunities for Disciples Women, friends and family, to make a difference. Please email your response to odw@dhm.disciples.org by July 1. Please give this your prayerful consideration ~ Paula
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Women's Fall Retreat: September 13-15, 2013 Mission Springs Conference Center in Scotts Valley
Speaker: Mary Donovan Turner (Carl Patton Professor of Preaching and Dean of the Disciples Seminary Foundation's Berkeley Campus) . Resources available from www.discipleswomen.org
Disciples Women General Programs 2013 are available as a free download. You will find new programs covering Installation, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Stewardship; a special Quadrennial activity to introduce the theme of "I See You"; along with Bible studies on Human Trafficking and Environment.
www.disciples-faithinaction.org
This site was created by our WM Faith In Action Team Leader, Hope Attenhofer and is dedicated to inform and provide resources to our congregations and communities to become aware of and address Human Trafficking.
Take note of the media page where there is a link to the film: Call and Response. Watch the trailer and complete the form of interest (see: Events page) to have the film available within your church community. Also take a look at what community's are doing. See 'Events' and 'Community In Action' tabs.
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October 5, 2013, 9:30am-4:00pm:
Spa for the Spirit: A One-Day Retreat for Women at Elk Grove UCC, hosted by Women of Spirit and Action (DOC/UCC).
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
Hola!!!
Like this little girl, OUR Regional ALPHA Cluster (Alianza de Líderes y Pastores Hispano Americanos) is standing as a toddler, facing a pretty looong, bare and challenging road ahead of us. As brand new babies in the Region, we are trying to follow the footsteps of our big brothers and sisters in this transition time. We are doing our best to remain not "too bratty, knotty, nor challenging" as a toddler can get to be... But, we are certain we have been called "for such a time like this".
We are inviting you to look forward to our new Alpha web page which is now under construction where we hope to share many things, such as:
1. Calendar of Events
- May 18th & 19th at CHICO
ALPHA will be meeting a new congregation interested in a working partnership with the Disciples!
2. ALPHA History
3. Cultural Information
4. Basic Spanish Lessons
5. Scripture Meditations from a Latin Context and much more...
Stay Tuned, y Ahí nos vemos luego!!!
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CHURCHES TO HOLD IN PRAYER
Please consider incorporating these congregations into your congregational prayers each week during worship or in your newsletter, so we can grow together in prayer.
Congregation to pray for this week: First Christian Church, San Jose; Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Dana Bainbridge, Pastor. Congregation to pray for next week: United Disciples Fellowship, San Jose, Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Moderator, Leta Shattuck.
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 STAFF UPDATES
Who's around and when. . .
Prayers of support for our Transitional Interim Regional Minister, Mary Jacobs and all the Regional Staff. Starting this week Mary will take Fridays off so please honor her personal time and refrain from calls and emails.
Prayers of care for Sandhya Jha as she moves toward a time of transition in her ministry with the Region and FCCO.
Yolanda Marquez-Lucar writes: Please continue to keep Miguel's Mother in your thoughts and prayers. She is out of the hospital and home again gaining weight and out of crises.
Quan's husband is now in full recovery.The biopsy results of the gland that was surgically removed returned as cancer free. Your concern, support and prayers have been tremendous. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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JOYS AND CONCERNS AND PRAYER NEEDS
We seek to update these prayers appropriately, knowing that the region lifts them up to God with great reverence. Please email enews@ccncn.org with any prayers you would like to make sure are included or continued next week and beyond. Particularly, please e-mail the names and addresses of new members so we can celebrate them here and also send them a letter of welcome from the region!
Cause for Celebration and Prayer: 
New members: FCC Paradise had one child dedication.
Gale Tompkins will be ordained on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th at Lakeport United Parish at 5 PM.
Nathan Mazur will be ordained on May 25 at 11 AM at New Spirit Community Church.
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We celebrate with Pastor Taulau Tupua and his family and the faith community of Via Dolorosa CCC the news that the doctors have described him as "cancer free." Thanks be to God!
We continue to hold Pastor Mark Foglio in prayer. Last week he was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on his left hand, Because he delayed having it checked (back surgery) it requires immediate attention and he is meeting with the surgeon next week.
Please surround Kelsey, Tom and Shellie Warren with your love and prayers as the long process of healing for Kelsey begins following her accident. We offer our gratitude that Kelsey's prognosis is good following her surgeries and CT. Thanks be to God!
Kelsey's new address is:
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Kelsey Warren, 613B
1333 Moursund
Houston, TX 77030
Our prayers are also with Pastor Larry Love, whose brother is doing fairly well. He is out of acute care and in a convalescent hospital doing some rehab. It will take a while.
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Our prayers continue for the following who remain in need of our support and concern:
- Barbara Wikoff, Oakdale CC
- David and Anne James and family, Lafayette CC
- Janet Chapman and family and FCC, Selma
- Lt. MaShon Wilson, serving in Afghanistan, son of Gloria Wilson, Associate Pastor, FCC Alameda.
- Ann Gabor, United Christian, Livermore
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Bea Tiffee, FCC Dos Palos
- Diane Burrell and family, FCC, Redding
- Marge Rushing and family, FCC, Sacramento
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REGIONAL CALENDAR
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!
May 20-23 - Transition Van coming to a church near you for Healing Circles of conversation. 2013 SUMMER CAMP DATES June 23-28- South San Joaquin Camp at Camp PacificaCommunity of the Great Commission Camps June 6-9- Adult Camp
June 23-29- CCF/Junior and Chi Rho Camps June 29-July 1 - Grandparents and Me Camp Session 1
June 30- July 6- CYF Camp
July 1-3- Grandparents and Me Camp Session II (Grandparents and Me Sessions will not be held on July 4!) July 13-17 - General Assembly, Orlando, FL
Sept. 13-15 - Women's Fall Retreat at Mission Springs with Mary Donovan Turner October 18-20 - Men's Retreat at Vacaville Christian Church with Christian Piatt
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  May is Older American Month - a great time to learn about how Christian Church Homes builds and manages affordable housing where seniors live and thrive in the comfort of their own homes. Visit www.cchnc.org or www.facebook/CCHNC to learn more about their service-enriched senior communities. "You're Invited" to stop by CCH's booth to win theme park tickets at General Assembly in Orlando in July.
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PUBLISHING INFORMATION
This newsletter is published bi-weekly on Thursdays.
Please send short publish ready articles only
(publish ready articles are text only articles without images or formatting).
No flyers or pdf documents which require rewriting will be accepted.
JPG images and links should be submitted as a separate attached file and
not embedded in the body of a document.
ALL news articles should be sent to enews@ccncn.org no later than the Tuesday before publication.
Publishing schedule for balance of 2013:
May 2, 16, 30
June 13, 27
July 11, 25
August 8, 22
September 5, 19
October 3, 17, 31
November 14, 28 (Thanksgiving - no publication)
December 12, 26 (Christmas - no publication)
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This communication is made possible by generosity expressed through giving to Disciples Mission Fund!
Christian Church of Northern CA-NV
The CCNC-N is the presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in the northern half of the states of California and Nevada.
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