As we are coming into this 4th and the last Advent Sunday, I imagine the candle of Love kindles. A thought as to why there is a sequence for the Advent season that starts with Hope, Peace, Joy, and then this coming Sunday with Love, I wonder whether this Love is same as the one in the Gospel John (3:16). "For God so [L]oved the world that He [G]ave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"(NKJV)

 

I wonder also how we can connect our lives to this phrase "God so Loved the world that He Gave." When I said "connect," I meant to say "real," as a dictionary defined as existing or occurring as a fact; actual rather than imaginary, ideal; being an actual thing.

 

The other day I took my family to Valley Fair, a fancy mall in the South Bay, to return a gift my son John got it from one of our visitors. After the return, we were heading back to the garage through scrolling down the corridor with our eyes busy visualizing the stores' display on the both sides. In minutes later, my latest comer Hanna who is now 6 years old said that she is tired and wants to come up on my shoulders. Yes, I surrendered to her request. Somewhere in the midway to the exit, Hanna abruptly commanded me to halt and turn back as she was tilting. I asked why. She said she saw something. "Go back." So we all did. There in the middle of the crossway was a Santa taking picture with a family. And she said, "I TOLD YOU THE SANTA IS REAL." Her imaginary became factual and her doubt certain when she saw the Santa with her own eyes.

 

Reflecting on this, I am wondering how the Love of God in the Baby Jesus can be real in this Holy-day Season. Let me come up with a formula and see if you would buy this. Love = Give (give in, give up). Real = See. Therefore, the Love of God is Real when we See Give.

 

What and to whom would you like to give, give in, or give up this Christ-mas so that other can see and tell that the Love of God is real? Your time, your things, your attention, your energy, your presence, your care, even listening, of course your money too, are all expandable. Do you want to give up a few minutes of your time to surrender to God and pray for yourself, your family, your job, and your church (yes, let's add our CCNC-N)? Can you feel the love of God when you pray with others? Can you imagine the Love of God through handing out your pocket change to a person at the stop sign? Would you be able to yield yourself to plans other than yours in the coming weeks for "glory to God and peace on earth"? God so loved us that He gave us the eternal life through the Baby Jesus. What would you like to give, give in, or give up to yourself, your family, your church, and your community so that you and others could feel and see the Love of God in the celebration of our Lord's birthday this year? ........Merry Christ-mas to you all.

Save the Date!

The 161st Annual Gathering of the Christian Church of Northern California/Nevada will be held Friday April 24-Saturday April 25, 2015 at Arden Christian Church in Sacramento! 

Our theme this year is "Re:"  As in Re-Storing, Re-making, Re-imagining, Re-surrecting, Re-membering who we are meant to be as Church.  Mark your calendars now for this important weekend in the life of our Re-gion (see what we just did there?)!  

January 11, 2015, 4:00 pm - SAVE THE DATE

Lafayette Christian Church

584 Glenside Dr, Lafayette 94549

 

 

Join us as we remember Martin Luther King, Jr.  
And honor Rev. Sandhya Jha with the MLK award for her work

Founder of the ministry of the Oakland Peace Center Activist in her Oakland community Powerful & effective anti-racism trainings Advocate for affordable housing

Save the Date - for  Dr. LaTaunya M. Bynum's installation. The service will take place on March 21 at 3:00 pm at First Christian Church in Sacramento.

 

 Learn More

Imagine if people all around the globe paused at the same time and prayed for peace. At noon, Greenwich Mean Time, on December 31, that happens. At that moment, people all around the world pause as individuals and gather in community to pray for peace.

"That can be kind of tough for those of us living on the west coast," explained the Rev. Jeffrey Spencer, an organizer of a peace prayer gathering in Fremont. "Noon in England is 4:00 a.m. here. But some of us are going to get up for a 4:00 a.m. interfaith prayer service on December 31 - and others won't go to sleep on December 30."

The service, co-sponsored by the Tri-City Interfaith Council, Interfaith Women of Peace, and Pax Christi will be held at Community of Christ, 34050 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont.

The organizers believe the service can make a real difference. "Peace begins with me," Sister Annette Burkart, one of the organizers, explained. "In these troubled times when we desire to have global peace, we need to make peace within ourselves and share that peace with our neighbors. By doing so, we end violence - all violence."

Marge Leonard agrees: "This is a time to focus intentionally on what we can do personally to contribute to peace."

Prayers from several different faith traditions will be shared by those present, in spoken word, in silence, and in song. "People from all faith traditions are encouraged to attend," Spencer said.

 A multi-church Christmas Eve service will be hosted by First Christian Church of Oakland, 111 Fairmount Ave., Oakland.  Six congregations will gather together, including  the host church, Bethany Christian Church (Korean), First Christian Church of Alameda, First Mongolian Christian Church, Mills Grove Christian Church and Tapestry Ministries.

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With a Prayerful Heart:   

With a Grateful Heart:
All the people who come together during this cold and wet season to bring hope and love to those who need it.

NEW MEMBERS:
Disciples of Christ, Visalia welcomed two new members

Please consider incorporating these congregations into your congregational prayers each week during worship or in your newsletter, so we can grow together in prayer.
First Christian Church, Watsonville

Jan 11, 2015	9th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. 4:00 p.m. at Lafayette CC
Feb 4-8, 2015	Women's Action Web, Learn More.
March 21, 2015	LaTaunya Bynum Installation, FCC Sacramento (Save the date!)
March 29 to April 4, 2015	Regional Hands-on Mission Trip to Loveland, CO Learn More.

Provide Gifts for Kids & Moms from Central America Detained This Christmas!

February 23-27, 2015
Marten House Hotel and Conference Center, Indianapolis, IN

The Leadership Academy is a week-long learning experience for leaders in both new congregations and transforming congregations, as well as social entrepreneurs of faith (new this year)-those starting faith-based health and social service enterprises.  Learn More

Mission teams are being hosted by First Christian Church, Loveland to assist with flood recovery following the severe storms and significant flooding that occurred across northern Colorado in the fall of 2013. Lou Ann Hughes, the chair of the committee that plans regional hands-on mission trips, has planned a trip there for next year. Ten registrations have been purchased to go to the mission station in Loveland, Colorado during Holy Week (March 29 to April 4). Anyone interested in going should send Lou Ann an email at:  loualoui@hotmail.com. Learn More

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This communication is made possible by generosity expressed  

through giving to Disciples Mission Fund!

 

      

 
The CCNC-N is the presence of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
in the northern half of the states of California and Nevada.