On October 6, Vy Nguyen, Minister of Week of Compassion and I visited with Shannon Kimbell-Auth, pastor of United Christian Parish in Lakeport, a congregation of the Disciples, United Methodist, and Presbyterian (USA) churches. Reverend Kimbell-Auth talked to us about the congregation's response to people who have been impacted by the fires in Lake County.

The visit was informative and as the attached pictures indicate, the visit gave us a heartbreaking look at the devastation and random nature of the fire.

There were instances in which a home has been destroyed totally while the house next to it was untouched.


In Middletown, a strip mall and the apartment complex around it were destroyed; the children's playground equipment was largely untouched and still stands.

All three of UPC's partner churches are offering support. Here is how you can too.

While there will be opportunities for hands on help beginning in a few months. Right now the immediate need is for funds to help with the ongoing costs of displacement such as providing necessary supplies, replacing lost documents, providing temporary housing, and other needs.

Every need is different and your financial support can help to bring relief to someone's life.

You can double the effectiveness of your donation in the following way:

From now until the end of the month, for every gift Disciples churches in this region make toward fire relief in Lake County, Week of Compassion will match it up to $10,000.

The address for Week of Compassion is:
PO Box 1986
Indianapolis IN 46206

We thank God that the fires are 100% contained. We ask God's presence and your support for the ongoing work of helping people who have been displaced and left homeless by the fires.


LaTaunya M. Bynum
Regional Minister

 

For more information ...

It has been my hope and prayer to one day have a strong young adult ministry at my home church, Filipino Disciples Christian Church (FDCC). Most young adults are part of J1.5, FDCC's worship band, so it would seem like it would be easier to have young adult ministry.

Starting a young adult ministry and retaining it becomes difficult - almost to the point of impossible. Everyone just seem so busy to gather together for young adult fellowship. Part of my role as XPLOR Intern working in Christian Church Northern California-Nevada (CCNC-N) is to find a way to cultivate a space for young adults for relationship, worship and spiritual formation, leadership growth, and service in mission.

However, I cannot do this without the help: help to pray for young adult ministry to become a reality not just a vision and help in brainstorming, planning, and encouraging young adult to become involve at their local congregation and the region, from CCNC-N leaders. Prayer warriors, please pray for this ministry. Young adult leaders, please step up and let us build this ministry together. Young adults, please get excited to fellowship with one another. It still my hope and prayer to one day have a strong young adult ministry.

Please, if you have any questions, opinions, and/or comments and if you want to help build young adult ministry in the region, do not hesitate to contact me, Eula Nicola Pagdilao CCNC-N XPLOR Intern, by phone at 925-556-9900 or by email at eula@ccncn.org. 

Congratulations on saying yes to this years retreat!! Saying "YES" means Your Experience Shifts and that's exactly what we have in store for you! This year's theme, "Creating a better version of yourself" is all about aligning ourselves with God's image of us.

In preparation for our retreat, we are asking that you prepare your body for the experience starting when you awake on Tuesday, October 27th. Fitness Evangelist and this years retreat speaker, Dianna Moore, has prepared Meal Planning guidelines and asks that youeat according to the guidelines on Tuesday, October 27th
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2015 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Northern California-Nevada Clergy Retreat
What does meal guidelines have to do with a retreat, you may ask? Well... Dianna wants your body and mind to be nurtured, renewed, and fed in order to spark a new "normal" and facilitate a better version of you! A few things to keep in mind:

• Dress comfortably for the conference!
• Come with an open mind and a willing spirit
• Be ready for a powerful experience with a long lasting impact!

See you on the 27th!! We are expecting something Great!

Click here to register.

Men's Retreat

The Boy Crisis

Breaking news coverage for the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Selma, California, on a newly created newscast! "Bring a Friend Sunday" is an event that the church has coordinated to reach out to individuals who are looking for a church home or are searching for "that missing something." A young adult member took a humorous spin on this for a promotional video for the church! Prayerfully, we hope this video encourages others to take a leap of faith in sharing their stories with others and, with God's help, lead our churches and denomination to grow spiritually, as well as numerically, into a thriving church full of unconditional love and welcome to ALL at the Table. Enjoy!

"Good News Newscast - Bring a Friend Sunday 2015"

The Disciples Leadership Program (DLP) at Eureka College is awarded to first-time freshmen based on leadership, service and academic excellence, and the commitment to explore during college a life of faith-based servant leadership. Seminary-bound students interested in our pre-ministry track are encouraged to apply, but all qualified DOC students of any major and vocational aspiration with exceptional leadership and service will be equally considered.   DLP Fellows receive full tuition plus two on-site mentorships exploring service anywhere in the world, a $6,000 combined stipend for travel-related expenses. Fellows have explored service and vocation in The DLP is a top-tier scholarship at the college, and is awarded to only two candidates per year with the academic preparation to maintain a 3.0 or better in college. (Qualified students are also encouraged to apply for the Reagan Leadership Program.  Go to www.eureka.edu for more information.) For more information contact Chaplain Bruce Fowlkes at bfowlkes@eureka.edu, or call (309) 467-6429, or go to www.eureka.edu/admissions/doc/.  

FCC Concord reports one new member


For the week of October 11, 2015
San Jose, CHAM Deliverance Ministry; Scott Wagers, Pastor and the entire congregation.

For the week of October 18, 2015
San Jose, First Christian Church; Dana Bainbridge, Pastor and the entire congregation.

Let us 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 consider incorporating this congregation into your congregational prayers this week during worship or in your newsletter, so we can grow together in prayer.

Please pray for these churches who are in transition:

BRIM Ministry, Berkeley
First Christian Church, Corning
United Christian Church, Fresno
Lafayette Christian Church, Lafayette
United Christian Church, Livermore
United Congregational Christian Church, Lodi
Sierra Christian Church, Loomis
First Christian Church, Merced
Via Dolorosa Congregational Christian Church, Modesto
First Christian Church, Oakland
Ubuntu Community, Oakland
First Christian Church, Palo Alto
First Christian Church, Porterville
Cottage Way Christian Church, Sacramento
Chalice Christian Church, San Carlos
United Disciples Fellowship, San Jose
New Spring Christian Church, Santa Clara
Garfield Park Christian Church, Santa Cruz
First Christian Church, Selma
Disciples of Christ - Visalia, Visalia



For next week:


Please pray for these churches who are in transition:
(see church prayer cue in cloud)

Christian Church of  Northern California-Nevada