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Bi-weekly e-news - October 17, 2013

REFLECTIONS  

"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing."

 1 Thessalonians 5.11

 

It's Ministerial Appreciation Month!  Every October within Disciples communities all over the United States and Canada, we are invited to lift up the ministry being done in our midst. 

APPRECIATE YOUR PASTOR.  Take a moment to write a note, plan a time for lunch or Starbucks and remind your pastor of the ways your life is blessed by her or his ministry.  It's not an ego thing...it's an encouragement thing.  The many people carried within the depths of their spirits, the baffling things that keep them awake at night, and the joy that delights them when we live out the gospel together weigh on their pastoral hearts and minds.  Small gifts of well-spoken "thank-yous" and "I appreciate" and even "kindly spoken feedback" comes as a fresh wind of God's Spirit that renews weariness and fans into flame again the call to ministry. 

Also, take time to speak a word of encouragement to those serving in specialized ministries as chaplains or or non-profit workers or...  Offer a word of thanks to those who have served faithfully as missionaries, pastors, chaplains...and are now retired.  

REMEMBER THOSE IN OUR MIDST.  Consider others who as lay women, men and youth arrive at hospitals, serve at the table, teach on Sunday mornings, work at the Food Bank, build a house for Habitat, touch others with cards and phone calls quietly and with compassion...  AND celebrate their ministry.  Such ministry flows from the spiritual gifts within each of them that work together to build up the body of Christ in order to share good news in many forms.  Send a note or take a moment to call, and encourage and express gratitude for the ways their ministry blesses your life. 

CONSIDER YOUR BAPTISM.  Everyone of us is called to ministry when we are baptized.  We rise out of the waters empowered to serve with a spirit of power and love no matter what our age.  Take a moment to reflect upon your own ministry.  What stirs your imagination?  Where are you being nudged to live the gospel in new ways?  

Thank you, ordained clergy, whatever your ministry for your daily embodiment of the gospel in your very being and doing. Elders and congregational moderators, teachers and youth leaders, women's and men's ministries leaders, phone callers and letter writers and..., thank you for using your gifts and energy to build up the witness of Christ's compassion and hope. To each retired clergyperson, thank you for what you have given with grace and joy for the sake of the gospel and thank you for the ways you still share your gifts in our midst.  

Thanks be to God for each and all of you!  Remember "to fan into flame the gift of God within you...for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline."  

In grateful partnership, 
Mary 

Please accept our apology for this being late.  Due to a family death and the flu, Quan and I couldn't finish and send earlier.  Thanks for your patience. 
regionaleventsUPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS 
 
CLERGY RETREAT II - Wonder-fully Made
We will take this time together to "wonder fully" about how we have been awefully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)

At San Damiano Retreat Center
710 Highland Dr.
Danville, CA
www.sandamiano.org

November 10-11, 2013
Registration starts at 3:00pm on Nov. 10, with community gathering starting at 4:30pm.  We will conclude by 5:30pm on Mon.

Cost per person: Includes 1 night and 3 meals
  • $130 for shared room
  • $165 for private room (if available)
  • $85 for commuter (includes all 3 meals)
No shortened or part-time registration is available
Some financial assistance may be available.
Contact Mary at mary@ccncn.org or call 925-556-9900.
 
FALL FEST 2013
A Regional event for 6-12 graders

Saturday, November 16 starting at 1:00pm; ending, Sunday, November 17 after morning worship
First Christian Church
3039 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94519
925-685-7503

Register by November 12, 2013
Cost $15 per person, no early bird special

Keynote, Rev. Clarence Johnson of Mills Grove Christian Church, Oakland

Theme: From the New International Version of Ephesians 4: 5-6:
"There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

 Learn more and register

Order your Fall Fest "all means all" T-shirt no later than November 1.
Generous Tree

2013 Phon-a-thon

The Tree Is Growing!

 

Remember the Tree of Generosity? It's symbolic of our response of gratitude. It reminds us of the many ways we make a difference by our giving.

 

Because of your generous support for the 2013 Phon-a-thon, the tree continues to grow and enable CCNC-N to provide the ministries and programs for our region.

 

Our new update of pledges and donations received is: $22,570.

 

This means we are doing really, really well ... but we still have a ways to go to reach our goal of $25,000. With your donations, we can make it.

 

We'd like to receive your donation by mid-October. However, if you can't quite make it by that time, your donation will be GLADLY AND GRATEFULLY received any time before the end of the year.

 

To make a donation, please mail your check to the Regional Office: 9260 Alcosta Blvd., nullC-18, San Ramon, CA 94583 with "Phon-a-thon" in the memo section, or click on the "Donate" button here in the e-news or on the CCNC-N website.     

 

Your support for the ministries of CCNC-N is greatly appreciated. Through your generosity, our Tree of Generosity will touch many lives.

 

Blessings, Bill Garrett, CCNC-N Minister of Faith and Giving

 

YOU ARE INVITED TO RETURN TO SOUTH JOPLIN CHRISTIAN CHURCH THIS FALL

Dear Friends,

Joplin's recovery continues and your contribution has not been forgotten. We continue to give thanks for you constantly in our prayers as we watch the progress. Know that every prayer you prayed, every piece  of debris you removed, every tree you planted, every nail you pounded, every wall you painted, every effort you made matters to our community Thank you!

We are extending an invitation to you to return to Joplin this fall and be part of a special build. The Disciples and UCC churches together are sponsoring a house build this fall. This means that we are providing the funding as well as labor for this build and invite those who want to return to Joplin to be part of it.

What:     Diciples / UCC House Build with Rebuild Joplin
When:    September and October 2013
Needed:  Up to 20 volunteers each week to work on site (when Disciples/UCC House meets its need for volunteers, any additional volunteers staying at SJCC will be put on other work sites.

 

DISCIPLES MEN'S RETREAT 
October 18-20
Christian Church of Vacavile
66 Vine Street, Vacaville

christian PiattCHRISTIAN PIATT!!
That's right! The speaker for this year's Men's Retreat is Christian Piatt, a popular Disciples writer and blogger. This will be a time filled with energetic presentations and discussions about men, boys, church and faith. Christian describes himself in this way, "Author, Speaker, Antagonist, God Nerd". Interesting, yes? Come by for as much as you can.

The retreat starts with dinner at 6:00pm on Friday and ends at 11:00am on Sunday.
Presentations are Friday evening (after dinner), Saturday morning (before lunch) and Saturday night (after dinner).
Activities will be available for Saturday afternoon.

Everyone in the Region is invited to attend worship at The Christian Church of Vacaville at 11:00am and hear Christian preach!

The fees have been reduced. We found a way to cut costs and maintain quality. Sweet!

REGISTRATION
You can register online, at https://ccncn.webconnex.com/2013mensretreat, or you can request a hard copy registration form from Edgar Peck at edgarpeck@yahoo.com or 916-797-7264 or you may download and print the registration here.

You can register at the door. But please at least let us know if you are planning to be there, so we can have food for you.

HOUSING
If staying at a hotel you can choose your own.
Or you can rough it at the church.
Or maybe you have a friend who will put you up for a night or two.

FEES
Full Time                $90    (three sessions, three meals)
Saturday Only        $60    (two sessions, two meals)
Friday Only             $35    (one session, one meal)

 
womensministries WOMEN'S MINISTRIES
Woman to Woman Worldwide Disciples Women/Global Missions partner pilgrimage to Mexico.

Denise Turner from our region will share about her journey at the Women's Gathering on March 8, 2014.

You can follow their trip on the Global Missions Blog site:   http://gmpeopletopeople.wordpress.com/
REGISTRATION Now Open!

International Women's Quadrennial Assembly, June 24-29, 2014, Atlanta, GA! "I See You" Can CCNC-N "See" at least 40 women going?? Let's imagine it!

 https://www.discipleshomemissions.org/dhm/dhm-ministries/disciples-women/quadrennial-assembly-home-page/ Registration will open at General Assembly in July. Sign up there, or online during that week, for a special discount. Want more information? Go to:
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" and a link to the QA hope page; along with Bible studies on Human Trafficking and Environment; subscription and leader/study guides to the official Resource for Disciples Women, "Just Women" quarterly magazine; Tools for Leadership guide--over 100 pages of models, information and programs for Women's groups and ministries.

CCNC-N Women's Ministries Faith in Action is partnering with Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition
to address the tens of thousands of trafficked victims that come to town with major sporting events. Here is a note from their director:

Hi everyone, We are excited about all of the opportunities as we explore trafficking around sporting events, and we are trying to focus our efforts for this summer around things that we can effectively tackle with the resources that we have. Having said that, along with hotels, police and America's sponsors, we will have a prayer walk in SF, Saturday, August 24th, 10am. 

Thank you.
Brian Wo Director of Partnerships
Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition
baatc.org
facebook.com/baatc.org
@BaatcDotOrg
freedom-summit.org

Human Trafficking Awareness

chainedThe Super Bowl comes to Santa Clara in 2016--and along with it comes around 30,000 thousand trafficked humans! Help us be ready to Respond! "Call and Response" Movie available for showing to your group! Women's Ministries has purchased the public showing license for this 2-hour film bringing awareness to the fact that there are more people enslaved today than anytime in history, and we must respond as modern-day abolitionists! Go to http://www.disciples-faithinaction.org and click on "Media" to see the trailer or email Hope Attenhofer, faithin2action@gmail.com to apply to host a movie screening at your church or community.

Mark your calendars! for an upcoming Human Trafficking Awareness Event being hosted by First Christian Church located at 3039 Willow Pass Rd., Concord on October 13, 2013. Meet with 14 agencies who's life work is to eradicate modern day slavery. Learn what to look for how to respond. Stay for the FREE showing of Call & Response that begins at 2 p.m.

Special Speakers include: Debra Brown of Pillars of Hope who are soon-to-open their first Safe House in Antioch, Ca., Nola Brantley of Misssey training teachers, police, clergy and others in the Bay Area since 2007 and hear from Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition (BAATC.org) the areas' leading Abolitionist movement today.

To learn more about this important one-time event see: www.concordfcc.net or visit  www.disciples-faithinaction.org

Go to http://www.ccncn.org/upcoming-events.html to download the flier.

arundtheregionNEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION
Let us remember Melvina Symons' life and ministry among us and surround her family with our prayers and care.  Her memorial Service will be held at United Christian Church, Fresno,  Thursday, October 24 at 11 AM with lunch following.   

Cards and notes may be sent to her family at:
544 West Andrews Ave 
Fresno, CA 93705 

Dear Friends, 
Remember to send news of new members, baptisms and blessings of children to Cliff Cole at 23mcc24x@comcast.net who then shares this news with the Regional Office.  We send along a letter to each person and family to welcome them to our larger family.  We want to celebrate with you and them at such times!
First Samoan Congregational Christian Church of Sacramento will host another Polynesian Luau, Saturday, November 2, at Phillip Burton High School, San Francisco, CA. Time to be announced.

 churchesCHURCHES 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:  Chalice Christian Church, San Carlos; Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Correspondent, Phyllis Stowell.

Congregation to pray for next week: Forest Hill Christian Church, San Francisco, Golden Gate to Pebble Beach Area; Pastor, Susan Parsley.

  

 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.    

 

  

PLEASE PRAY FOR CHURCHES CURRENTLY IN TRANSITION
 

First Christian Church, Porterville 

United Christian Church, Livermore 
First Christian Church, San Lorenzo
First Christian Church, Watsonville
Sierra Christian Church, Loomis
New Spirit Christian Church, Berkeley
Lafayette Christian Church, Lafayette

  

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staffupdatesREGIONAL STAFF UPDATES
  Staff Image
Mary Jacobs is out of the office October 16 - 20 for QA Planning in Atlanta. She returns Monday, Oct. 21.

Paula Pociecha celebrated ten years of ministry with the Region on October 3.  Thanks be to God for her thoughtful and gracious ministry among us!

Prayers continue for Sue Tarleton.

During this month of appreciation for those who minister in our midst, remember your Regional staff who remain hard at work to help the CCNC-N Region be the body of Christ in its many forms.  We invite your prayerful support.

     

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joysconcernsprayersJOYS & CONCERNS & 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

praise the lord
How wonderful that Joy Wang, member of Sinapi Seed Fellowship and wife of Pastor John Wu has an article featured in the new Just Woman Magazine entitled, "Returning to the Land of My Birth."  It gives her unique perspective on her participation with the Woman to Woman Worldwide pilgrimage to China and how the country and its treatment of Christianity have changed. 

We celebrate with First Christian Church of Vallejo, Disciples of Christ, ias they celebrated the ministry of covenant with Rev. Dr. Christy Newton on October 13.  
 
Florentino (Tino) Cordova, new church pastor of Iglesia de Caliz and recent Pacific School of Religion graduate, will be presented by New Spirit Community Community Church and Tapestry Ministries to be ordained at the PSR Chapel on Saturday, October 19 at 1 PM.  Blessings on you, Tino!

Vacaville Christian Church celebrated its 159th year on World Communion Sunday, October 6.  That's 8,280 times of blessing and breaking bread and being sent out to be a blessing to the world!
 
FCC, Porterville will have an anniversary celebration on November 2 at 2 PM.  
 
NEW MEMBERS:  
United Christian Church has welcomed 15 new members this year, 7 by transfer and 8 by baptism.
Cottage Way Christian Church, Sacramento welcomed seven new members.
First Christian Church, Sacramento has a new member, by transfer.   

Cause for Prayer
  
Thoughts & Prayers
Diane Kindle, spouse of retired pastor Steve Kindle, underwent test recently to determine the cause of certain ailments.  It has been determined that she suffered a mild heart attack and a stroke. Prognosis is yet to come.  Please keep her in your prayers.

Prayers for the Disciples Men's Ministries as they plan and register men for the Regional Men's Retreat, October 18-20, 2013 with author and new father, Christian Piatt. 

 

Quan and Les Walker as they grieve the recent death of Les' sister and last sibling. 

John Dewey, retired pastor, in a time of rehabilitation following a fall.   

Pamela Lawson as she anticipates surgery in the next month.
 
Nancy Love and family upon the death of her uncle. 
Our prayers continue for the following who remain in need of our support and concern:
  • Pastor Iopa (Job) and Meaalofa Amosa 
  • Yolanda Moreno's father
  • Barbara and Bob Wikoff
  • Kelsey, Tom and Shellie Warren 
  • Pastor Taulua Tupua
  • Pastor Jon Smith
  • Nancy McKee-Jolda's daughter, Allie and husband David 

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calendarREGIONAL CALENDARCalendar

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!  

 

2013 

  • October 18-20 - Men's Retreat at Vacaville Christian Church with Christian Piatt
  • Oct. 18-19 - Regional WM Coordinating Council Meeting
  • Oct. 25-26 - Regional Elders' Retreat 
  • November 2 - 8:30 AM Justice Commission phone conference meeting; 9:30 AM Outdoors Ministry Committee and CGC Facilities Committee meetings
  • November 10-11 - 3 PM Registration - 5:30 PM Send Out, San Damiano Retreat Center, Clergy Retreat 2  "Wonder-fully Made" geared for clergy serving in pastoral ministry or specialized ministries   
  • November 11 - Veterans Day - Regional Office Closed  
  • November 16-17 - Fall Fest, "All Means All" at FCC, Concord for middle school (Chi Rho) and High school (CYF) youth
  • November 23 - 10 AM - 2 PM, New Church Movement Committee meeting  
  • November 28-29 - Happy Thanksgiving! Regional Office Closed. May the gift of gratitude be yours!
  • December 7 - 1-3 PM Regional Advent Open House in celebration of Sandhya Jha's ministry with the Region  
  • December 24, 2013-January 1, 2013 - Regional Office Closed. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!  

2014

  • January 10-12 -  Pro-Reconciling-Anti-Racism Training for Regional and Congregational leaders ending with MLK Celebration and Awards

generalchurch
General Church Logo

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

Life never ceases to amaze, delight, challenge, and surprise me.  After eight unforgettable and fulfilling years with Week of Compassion, I will be moving on to a new position with Church World Service.  As of January 2014, I will begin to live into my new call as the Director of Member Relations and Pastoral Care for CWS Global.  I look forward to the next few months of transition as a search process is put in place and I take my leave.

 

It has been the greatest honor of my ministry and life thus far to have served as the first Associate and then Executive Director of our beloved Week of Compassion.  I could not feel prouder of the work we all do, together, to serve God's children in need.  My earnest hope is that this denomination that I love with all my heart will continue to prioritize the poor, the marginalized, and the otherwise forgotten.  It is my true joy to have served alongside you in this way and to continue to serve alongside you ecumenically, but as "one of us" within CWS and the wider ecumenical community. 

 

I wish and pray all good gifts for each and every one of you.  Thank you for your collegiality, collaboration, and friendship.  How blessed I am to be a part of this church family. 

 

Your partner in the Gospel,

Amy Gopp 
publishing
 PUBLISHING INFORMATION
 
This newsletter is published bi-weekly on Thursdays. 
Always send your news articles to enews@ccncn.org
 
Please send short text only articles only...
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
October 31
November 14, 28 (Thanksgiving - no publication)
December 12, 26 (Christmas - no publication) 

________________________________  

 

This communication is made possible by generosity expressed  

through giving to Disciples Mission Fund!

 

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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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