by Ben Bohren



John 1:5 (NRSV)
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it
 
It was 1987 when I completed my nearly 9 years as senior pastor at FCC Orange, CA. It was definitely the darkest period of my life up until then, and ever since. I was not leaving because I wanted to; oh no, my dream was to serve in such an exciting and dynamic ministry for at least 25 years. Actually, I left because I had no choice. I had lost my voice. I could barely speak; it was a struggle to project vocally for even 5 minutes.
 
Despite all the incredible efforts to address this situation for over a year, nothing worked. And it would be well over a year before a world-renown speech therapist in LA would diagnosis my vocal loss as the disease, spasmodic dysphonia. To say that my world was in dismal despair would be an understatement. I had no clue what my future would hold. It seemed that darkness surrounded me.
 
My mantra during this time, every day, was John 1:5. I repeated it over and over.  I wanted to believe it. I had to believe it. So, I kept looking far down, deep into that darkness where there was the faintest of a tiny light. It seemed to go "blink...blink." My faith told me to hang on and keep looking into that darkness. Sure enough, over the coming months, that light began to get a little brighter...and then brighter...until I could see my way forward into a new life of ministry. John 1:5 is true! "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness...can not...will not...will never put it out."

When has your life felt like darkness surrounded you? How did you find The Light? Do you know someone who is experiencing great darkness? How can you BE a light to them or help them to find The Light?

Prayer: Great Light that shines in all darkness, even when the light is only a "blink...blink," may we not lose faith that You walk with us THROUGH the valley of shadows. We are never alone or without hope. Amen.
 
Dr. H. Ben Bohren will celebrate 50 years in Disciples ministry on Sept.18, 2016

UPDATE ON CGC HISTORY 2019

There have been some questions about what photos are needed for the writing of the CGC history. Please send CAMP GROUP PHOTOS only.  Save your personal photos for posting on Facebook or other media.

Again, save them in the "jpeg" format. Be sure to include the year and what type of camp it was (CYF, Chi Rho, Junior Camp, Adult Camp, etc.)

THANK YOU!

Dave Babayco
CGCHistoryGuy@mail.com

SAIL is a church camp program for kids ages 4-11 and meets each day from 9 AM to noon. This year it will be held at First Christian Church of Concord.

Dive in! Explore God's love through the power of water! We will learn together by playing games, singing songs, doing crafts, and reading Bible Stories.

For kids ages 4 - 11

FREE!

Learn more ...

Beloved Community of CCNCN:

It is both with great joy and sadness that I wish to invite everyone to come celebrate with me and First Christian Church - Watsonville as we bring to a close, our Holy Covenant together.  We will be doing a Farewell Celebration on Sunday, June 26th at 11am here in Watsonville followed by a community potluck meal.

Joy in that I got to meet many great and wonderful Soldiers of Christ who are really doing and living the Gospel.  I have been especially moved by many who wish and know that change is a good thing, not one to fear.  Change must happen and the church must move to the center of the community as we continue to be the hands and feet of Christ.  Sadness in that there is a lot more work that needs to be done in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County and beyond, but I have full faith that God will continue to call the faithful leaders of the community to feed the poor, care for the widow, nurture the children, encourage the youth, care for those who hunger and thirst.  I pray for the continued full inclusion of our beloved lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgendered, queer - plus communities.

God continue to bless CCNCN
Rev. Floren"Tino" Cordova, Pastor
First Christian Church - Watsonville

An Invitation From the LGBTQ Ministries Team at Lafayette Christian Church
 
LCC is registered again this year to march in the SF Pride Parade with the United in Spirit contingent.  We want to encourage Disciple congregations in CCNC-N to join us for this important witness.  You can register with United in Spirit through their website www.unitedinspiritsf.org or find them on Facebook.
 
United in Spirit brings together an ecumenical and interfaith witness. From their website:
 
For more than twenty-five years, our contingent of Northern California churches, religious leaders and people of faith has affirmed and celebrated LGBT people in the San Francisco Pride Parade. In recent years, churches/denominations represented have included American Baptist, Congregational (UCC), Disciples (DOC), Presbyterian (PCUSA, More Light, Cumberland), Catholic, Methodist (UMC), Unitarian (UU), and Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC).
 
LCC would love to see more Disciples on Sunday, June 26, 2016.  In the wake of the horrific violence in Orlando last week, our Open and Affirming witness is more needed than ever.     

In times of trouble, people of faith call upon God in prayer (Psalm 61:1-2) In these days, we pray for the families and friends of the 49 women and men killed and 53 wounded - mostly LGBTQ Latinos and Latinas - in Orlando on June 12, 2016. We pray for the families and friends of those killed across the country and around the world each day whose stories we will never hear. We pray for an end to violence of all kinds. (General Assembly Resolution 1539) Sadly, this week (June 17) is also the first anniversary of the shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. We pray Our Creator will bring peace to those who mourn, those who cope with the horrors they have seen, and those who will work for years to restore wholeness to lives shattered by violence. And we pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire us to act in powerful ways to build the Beloved Community.

Read more ...

Sacramento First Christian Church youth lock-in (grades 7-12) is scheduled for August 20-21.

More information on the way.

The Community of the Great Commission camp, located in Foresthill, CA, is looking for summer site staff.

Do you know anyone looking for a 6-9 week gig this summer?

We need Your Help!

CGC really needs some summer staff! Retreat workers and lifeguards needed from early June til mid-August. On site housing available. Great for college students!

Please contact Sandra at the camp at 1-530-367-2370.

 

To help raise money for the scholarship fund, the First Samoan Congregational United Christian Church in Alameda is hosting a fundraising golf tournament, in a shotgun format. For more details, click the link to the registration form below:

Registration Fomr

New Members
First Christian Church Concord announces two new members;
Fruitridge Christian Church in Sacramento announces one new member;
Mayfair Christian Church in Stockton announces one new member;


REMINDER:  Pastors and church secretaries, the region wishes to acknowledge and congratulate those children, youth and adults who make the decision to join a church by transfer or baptism, as well as the names of any child and the parents' names of a dedicated child.  Please send names, addresses, type of membership, child, youth or adult and church name to Cliff Cole (23mcc24x@comcast.net) whenever this occurs.



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 the churches who are in transition.

Christian Church of  Northern California-Nevada