Tuesday, July 13,  7:00 p.m. 
Meet the GMP and have a chance to ask your questions, share yourconcerns and hopes about the United Church of Christ.  At Mission Hills United Church of Christ, 4070 Jackdaw St. San Diego, 92103.
Light refreshments.
 
Friday , July 16, 
UCC Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Coalition National Gathering.  Doubletree Hotel Mission Valley, San Diego CA.

2:20-4:00.  “Conversation with Geoffrey”.  No charge
7:00.    G.Black speaking at the ONA Banquet 7:00 pm,  
Details at http://www.ucccoalition.org/programs/gathering/ 
       

Sunday morning, July 18, 8:15 and 10:00 a.m.   
G.Black preaching at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 W. Harrison Ave.; Claremont, CA  91711.
Reception following worship
 
Sunday afternoon, July 18, 3:00-4:30 p.m. 
Meet the GMP, Geoffrey Listens to your hopes and concerns, Q&A, at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 W. Harrison Ave.  Claremont, 91711. 
Light refreshments.
 
 
EVERYONE WELCOME!  Let’s give Geoffrey a warm Southern California Nevada Welcome! 

    G.Black preaching at Claremont United

     Over the next few weeks, in these notes you will likely begin to see signs of my moving toward farewell.  Picking up loose ends, saying things that I haven’t yet said, etc.  Here’s one of those things:   I hope you know that one of the truly most exciting things about this great Conference is your commitment to New Churches and Congregational Vitality.  Oh, every conference would say the words and a few others do what they say but you all have set this as a priority; you have put your dollars behind the priority; you have called a gifted leader in Gary Roberts to staff the priority; you have begun and welcomed and are welcoming many new congregations;  you support the excellent annual Vitality event ; and now you have an energized and committed Vitallity Team at work to help YOU be a covenant community of churches supporting one other to give life to that priority.  Hallelujah!
 
     And if you haven’t heard yet or haven’t read it in Connecting Voices (http://www.scncucc.org/publisher/news/121/ARTICLE/1229/2010-05-26.html ), you will hear at Annual Gathering about the new plans our Vitality Team has and the grant our Conference has received from the national United Church of Christ to support the vision that every church can be a new church with new life overflowing!  Isn’t that great news?   You’ll also hear and read more about the plans underway that can make a difference in your local church’s strength and vitality to serve God’s mission of love in the world.  Again I say: Hallelujah!
 
     My hope for all of you in this Conference is that you won’t take this energy, these gifts, these new visions and possibilities for granted.  Please believe me: you have something special going here. Don’t miss it! If you and your congregation haven’t taken part in a Vitality event, watch for and plan to be part of next year’s event.  If you haven’t shared the news about the grant with your church council or evangelism team, be sure they get this good news.  If you are one of our churches feeling discouraged by declining numbers and not sure how to take next steps into the future, watch for opportunities for help that will come from the Vitality Team or contact Gary to ask what’s going on.
 
     Now to be sure, no program, no resource, no consultants can ‘do’ what needs to happen for new life to bloom in your church.  That is the work of God’s Spirit and of a people open to the Spirit’s moving in and through them.  But your Conference partners can help plant seeds, teach skills, and coach the growth of the new church that can emerge from your existing church.
 
     Steve Sterner, the Executive Minister for the UCC Local Church Ministries, has written an intriguing description of ‘The Existing Church’ and ‘The Emerging Church’ (check it out at http://www.ucc.org/news/local-church-ministries-board-2.html ). If you haven’t already, I encourage you to check it out. It is a helpful insight that can provoke some important reflection in your next council meeting.  But I would add this note:  I believe—and I think our VItality Team believes—that every church can be a new, an emerging church, particularly in being ‘mission driven’.  Some of the other specifics on Steve’s ‘emerging church’ list may or may not fit every church.  The more time I spend with local churches the more I see God working in a rainbow of multicolor ways to offer good news to our world.  One size definitely does not fit all, there’s no checklist of requirements to meet to be a vibrant church.  What I think makes for a ‘new’ church is energy for the love, justice and peace of Jesus overflowing through the particular people and life of that congregation into the world where so many are thirsty for what we can give.
 
     SCNC friends: please be the best durned little-big-medium-rich-poor-young-old-progressive-traditional-contemporary-activist-spiritual-whatever church that you are!  If you know that God is good; if you have good news to offer lonely or lost ones; if you have a welcome for those unwelcome elsewhere;  if you have love to give someone who is sure they are unloved; if you care about earth, peace, justice;  if you know that Jesus loves you and everyone—-if you have any or all of that, you have what is needed and your church can be a NEW CHURCH alive for God.   If you need some help, resources or encouragement on the way, your Conference partners are right here to help.  And that’s no small thing.   One more time:  Hallelujah!
 
Blessings in Christ,

Jane

In Christ,

Jane
(And I can’t resist  a note celebrating the probable end of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’…)
 

When so many of you were gathering generous offerings for relief response to the Haitian earthquake, our church in Irvine enclosed with their check several hand-made cards thanking us for helping the people of Haiti.  Since I wasn’t sure who they had in mind to be thanking and knew that we in the Conference are just one small link in the chain of ‘help’, I sent the cards on to our disaster response folk in Cleveland—Susan Sanders, One Great Hour of Sharing Team leader, and Florence Coppola, our National Disaster Ministries executive.   It comes as no surprise to me that my friend Susan, who is always thinking creatively about how to connect partners around the world, took the cards yet another step and gave them to folks who are working in direct service in Haiti!  See how we are all linked?!
 
Please take a minute to read and savor her letter sent to the Irvine church folk and remember that the work on the ground in Haiti that Susan describes is also YOUR ministry through our United Church of Christ, Church World Service and other partners.  Thank you ALL for your generous giving that is making this work with the children of Haiti possible.  (And gifts may continue to be given!)

Blessings,

Jane

Letter To Irvine United Congregational Church:

from: Susan Sanders, Wider Church Ministries

Dear Paul (Tellstrom, pastor Irvine United Congregational Church)
 
Greetings from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  I’ve been here with a Church World Service delegation visiting partners and observing the earthquake relief/recovery work they are doing and oh, so much more that needs to happen.  It is pretty overwhelming.

 A real highlight of our trip took place today when I was able to deliver the handmade cards the IUCC young people, Calla, Nanna, Jillian and anonymous, made to thank UCC staff who were working to assist Haiti.  Jane Fisler Hoffman was kind enough to share them with me, and I was delighted to deliver them to folks on the ground who are really making a difference in the lives of Haitian children.

 Attached is a photo of the cards being presented to Polycarpe Joseph and Esther,  staff of FOPJ (Ecumenical Center for Peace and Justice).  Burton Joseph, on the left in the photo, is CWS staff here in Haiti.  FOPJ runs a program for Restavek children (children who are domestic workers/servants).  The children do their servant work in the mornings and then come to FOPJ’s House of Hope in the afternoon to have lunch and time to be children, play, sing & dance, learn Haitian culture and also study school subjects – as none of them are able to attend regular school due to being servants. 

 The previous building for House of Hope was destroyed in the earthquake – but they only missed one day of being in service to the community.  By January 14, they were up running a feeding program in the street outside the former location – feeding 623 hot meals each day.  Now they have been able to secure a new – larger and more adequate facility, so they have restarted their education program and are serving 100 children each day.  Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing and Haiti Earthquake Relief help make this possible.

 Please pass along my deepest thanks to Calla, Nanna, Jillian, anonymous and all the great folks of Irvine United Congregational Church, UCC for the care and compassion you share with sisters and brothers around the world.

 Peace,

 Susan

Susan M. Sanders
United Church of Christ
Minister for Global Sharing of Resources
One Great Hour of Sharing Administrator
216-736-3210
sanderss@ucc.org
www.ucc.org/oghs

Partners in Haiti

It is with great regret that we share with you news of the death of Rev. Larry Grim, pastor of First Congregational UCC, Santa Ana.  Larry has struggled with numerous health issues over recent years but lately seemed to be doing well.  However his neighbors found today that he had passed away and the church folk just notified us .  When we have details about memorial service, etc. we will let you know.  For now, I know you join me in celebrating a life of ministry well lived and in sorrowing its end.
In Christ,

Jane

Disasters not only seem to be endless but increasing—from Nashville to China, natural and human contributed disasters wipe out homes and lives are thrown into turmoil.  As you all know, YOU are in those places promptly in the name of Jesus Christ because you are part of the UCC and we are part of Church World Service.  Thank you!  Many of you collected funds for Blankets and Tools on Mother’s Day and/or will do so on Father’s Day—thank you!  But here’s another opportunity not only to help people with the most basic needs to wash, brush their teeth, etc. but also to help those who attend our camp this summer learn about those needs and help to address them. This will be the camp’s service project this year!  Church World Service says: In the face of natural disasters, violence, or grinding poverty, Hygiene Kits can mean the difference between sickness and health for struggling families. 
 
This year’s Annual Gathering participants are being asked to bring the ITEMS for hygiene kits to Annual Gathering—yes, the loose items!  Watch the sales and gather up bunches of the following items and bring them to the Pilgrim Pines display at Annual Gathering.  Then they will be taken to Pilgrim Pines to be sorted and assembled into the bags for kits by the campers.  They will fill in missing item needs with one of our worship offerings.

• hand towels measuring approximately 16″ x 28″ (no fingertip or bath towels)
• washcloths
• wide-tooth combs
• nail clipper
• bars of soap (bath size in wrapper)
• toothbrush (in original packaging)
• standard size Band-Aids® 

THANK YOU for helping our campers learn and give to others!

Jane

FIRST REQUIRED IN PERSON SESSION:
June 26, 2010, 10am to 5pm.  At the SCNC Office in Altadena.  
(2401 North Lake Ave, 91007)

NOTE: if majority of registrants request it , June 25 could be a rescheduled date.
NOTE2:  there is absolutely no flexibility about attending this class.  Anyone unable to attend will have to wait for other class offerings.

CLOSING REQUIRED IN PERSON SESSION:
September 18, 2010, 10am-5pm.  Location to be announced.      

EXPECTATIONS:  Registrants will be expected to participate fully in the course, attending both in-person sessions and online with completion of weekly reading and written assignments, final paper, online discussions, etc.  Certificates of completion will be granted only to those who fully complete the course work.       

COST:  $400 per student.                   

NOTE:  Few books will need to be purchased, most reading is online.
NOTE 2: Associations may have scholarship funds to assist those who need it.

  INSTRUCTORS:  

Rev. Ms. Rosario Ibarra, Rev. Mr. Dave Pomeroy, Rev. Dr. Jane Fisler Hoffman Technical Assistance,  Prof. Jim Eller, UCC, United Seminary,  Dayton OH

  TO REGISTER:                Send the following information by email to Arroyo@scncucc.org. 

Name
E-mail
Address
Postal Address
Preferred telephone Number
Alternative telephone numbers
Reason for taking the course
Membership Congregations (name & city) 

Registration deadline is June 14, 2010.    

Checks for the $400 may be made out to SCNC with memo “H&P Class” and must be received by June18, 2010.  

I have fallen a bit behind in recent weeks so have accumulated a few things I want/need to share with you.  Please scroll down and at least check out the basics—and thank you!

Blessings,

jane

• I am SO EXCITED for this Conference with the announcement of your candidate for ‘settled’ Conference Minister .  Felix Villanueva is a skilled, gifted minister and I am so confident he will be a blessing to you all.  His selection and your vote in June will mean the conclusion of my ministry with you and later I’ll offer a few farewell thoughts but for now I’m just rejoicing with you for the future ahead.  DO take the opportunities offered by the Board and Search Committee to meet Felix and share your hopes for life in this Conference!
  
• PENTECOST IS COMING and with it the Strengthen the Church offering!  Please please please promote this offering energetically in your congregation this year because by action of our Conference Annual Gathering delegates last year the 50% of the total offering retained by the Conference has been designated to fund our SCNC Youth Ministries Coordinator position and Youth Ministries programming!  Tell your members and help grow this important offering in support of our own youth—and thank you!
  
• A NEW CHURCH granted standing in the Conference!  Hallelujah!  At the April 17 Eastern Association meeting, the Las Vegas United Church of Christ was joyfully granted standing!  Pastor Ernie Luat and other members were present to share the celebration which the whole Conference now joins. The congregation has roots in the Philippine United Church of Christ, a global partner of our UCC, but welcomes everyone!
  
• Don’t miss the LUAU, August 21!!! Milt and I are very grateful that Felix has encouraged us to stay in California long enough to attend this exciting Conference wide event! (Actually Milt said he just plain wouldn’t leave until then!)  I want to personally encourage every church to help get the word out, buy tables, sell tickets, give your pastor and spouse a pair of tickets as a gift, etc!  Our Samoan Ministries folks have offered this exciting opportunity to be together, to enjoy the gifts of the Polynesian Islands, and to support the ministries of the Conference.  Please come and join the fun!
  
• Death of UCC member, actress Lynn Redgrave.  Our former Conference Minister, Davida Foy Crabtree, wrote a moving op-ed remembering Ms. Redgrave and her presentation at the Hartford General Synod.  You can read it here:  http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-hc-crabtree-redgrave-cancer-.artmay08,0,7402221.story

I think those are the items I wanted to be sure to ‘get out’ to you!  And don’t forget to help spread the word of the Conference e-news and our online magazine, Connecting Voices, to folks in your congregation!  (Or our Facebook page, maintained by the intrepid Keith Clark!)
 
May the Spirit blow with warm, stirring winds of energy and enthusiasm among us all in the approaching Pentecost season.

In Christ,

Jane