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The Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ seeks to be a community of diverse congregations which nurtures, supports, and unites local churches in faithful covenant in Christ to carry out ministry and mission in the world.
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Everybody Talkin' 'Bout Heaven Ain't Goin' There!
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 By Ron Buford
After church, some Sundays, mama whom we affectionately called Queen Dorothy behind her back, would reflect upon something that happened at church and then say to us, "Child, Everybody talkin' 'bout heaven ain't goin' there!" When I hear these words today, they remind me of just how hard it is in life to "get it right." These days I think less about heaven and more about what I can do to bring about the Kingdom or Realm of God on the earth. In truth, everybody talkin' 'bout bringing the Realm of God, ain't committed to bringing it either, myself included. I discovered that by going to Racists Anonymous.
Someone asked me, "Why is it that we still have racism?" These days, I hear that question the way I imagine that Jesus might have heard a similar question from the Rich Young Ruler. Perhaps it's the way John the Baptizer heard the people's question after he called the people snakes. But then they asked John, "Well, Rev. John, what shall we do? Please, Please, Please let us "DO Something."
John responded by telling them that what God wants from them is more about being than doing. John told them that connecting with God, our higher power, they could be on the same path but transported in such a radically new way, that it would be like walking in the opposite direction. Click HERE to read more.
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Our donors make this newsletter possible. Thank you!
Your Church's contribution to Our Church's Wider Mission and individual contributions to Friends of the Conference empower our covenant connection.
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Calling all Cazadero Alumni to Celebrate 75 years of Camp Caz!
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Join us to celebrate 75 years of Camp Cazadero on Sunday, August 9th, a,t 4 pm. We will meet virtually to honor the space that has provided so many countless memories, stories, and personal growth for us all. We will have a time of prayer and reflection as well as a trip through Caz history.
Besides all of our love, one of the things that has helped keep Camp Caz going has been donations. To kick off the 75th year, w,e ask those that can donate to the Camp Fund that provides scholarships, repairs to buildings, and more. Any amount can help a kid get to camp or make improvements to the facilities.
You can donate before the Anniversary Party, during, or even after!
Click HERE to add your email, and you will receive the link that will let you know how to join us on August 9th at 4 pm:
We look forward to having you join us to celebrate this Major Anniversary of Camp Caz!
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PAAM Leaders Message to the UCC
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We, the Executive Officers of PAAM UCC, share with our PAAMily the stress, anxiety and uncertainty of COVID-19 and pray for God’s gentle hand to surround. We stand and support our Black & African sibling as you struggle with the injustices that have been exaggerated because of the pandemic and we will work with you to rectify these injustices.
We stand with Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, Hispanic, Native Americans and others of colors who are assaulted and attacked just because of who they are.
We lift up the180 PAAM designated churches within the UCC who are struggling with health conditions that make them vulnerable and high risk. Especially our PAAMily in Texas and California and Florida.
Your Executive Officers hold you all dear and are ready to virtually visit and offer words of strength and prayers of encouragement. Know that we all are God’s children and in being such, we hold covenant with one another and offer you this prayer…
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Your PAAM UCC Executive Officers,
Dick, Sana, Mitchi & Jacob
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Leadership and Anxiety in the Church Workshop
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Lombard Peace Center will be offering a workshop entitled,
"Leadership and Anxiety in the Church: A Family Systems Perspective,"
Wednesday, August 19, from 7:00 am PT to 2:00 pm CT. This workshop is appropriate for clergy and laypersons alike and especially helpful if members of the same congregation attend together. This workshop will
be repeated on Sep. 24 and Dec. 3. For more information, please visit our website. To register, call 630-627-0507 or go to BrownPaperTickets.
LPC webpage with info: Click HERE
BrownPaper Tickets: Click HERE
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Clergy Communities of Practice
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Open Registration July 2, 2020 8:00 am - August 29, 2020 5:00 pm
What is a Clergy Community of Practice?
While each CCOP is unique in some ways, they also have some collective intentions:
* Share information, insight and advice around case studies or situations in your setting
* Ponder common issues, explore ideas and act as sounding boards to colleagues
* Feel a bond in learning and spiritual support together
* Create environments for intentional learning where each perspective can be heard
* Develop a collective body of knowledge, practices, and approaches
* Provide spiritual discernment and prayerful support to one another
Each CCOP is a small group made up of 5-6 members. And facilitated by an individual who receives specialized training and financial support in their role and is charged with keeping the group’s calendar, lifting the mutually created covenant, providing hospitality, and providing worship for the group, as well as facilitating the conversations. There is a $250.00 which covers facilitators, materials, and yearly gathering fees (scholarships are available).
Register HERE.
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Conference Disaster Response Team
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When ‘What If’ becomes ‘What Now’
Written by Dr. Ken Moore
No matter where you live, the threat of natural disaster is a real possibility. One that most of us don’t want to think about. But such ‘acts of God’ impact churches every year and, more often than not, it’s not the disaster but the lack of preparedness that holds up God’s work. The time for planning what to do if the worst happens is now. For the good of your congregation and your community.
Your Conference “Disaster Response Team” is a resource that you and your congregation can turn to. We are able to provide grants to assist in your church’s disaster response ministry and connect you with resources that are available from the wider church. We recommend that your church make use of the Disaster Preparedness Manual for Churches that has been prepared by UCC Disaster Ministries & the Insurance Board. The best way to be in contact with the Conference Disaster Ministries Team is by contacting the Conference office. One of the services your Conference Disaster Response Team can offer to your congregation or association is a congregational disaster preparedness workshop.
Studies show…
According to Jamie D. Aten, founder and executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute (HDI) at Wheaton College (Illinois), major disasters present unique challenges to pastors and their churches. His 2017 research study, conducted among 27 pastors from South Mississippi and New Orleans whose churches were damaged by Hurricane Katrina, tells the tale. And, though none of us live in hurricane-threatened coastal areas, we can still benefit from the lessons learned for the natural disasters we could face, including fire, flood, and earthquake.
The majority of churches in Aten’s study were not prepared for disaster. Of the pastors surveyed:
- 59 percent reported their churches did not have a formal disaster preparedness plan in place prior to Hurricane Katrina.
- 24 percent had only “bare necessity” plans in place that consisted of attempting to protect physical property the day before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
- And, 24 percent described having comprehensive preparedness plans in place focused on protecting church property (e.g., church records and data, sacraments) and church member communication (e.g., phone ‘tree,’ evacuation recommendations).
- The pastors also reported many obstacles to preparedness. Among the findings:
- 55 percent discussed communication challenges and difficulties collecting information (e.g., emergency contact information, evacuation plans) from their congregants as the storm approached.
- 53 percent noted they had underestimated the potential threat of Hurricane Katrina.
- And, 47 percent said they felt rushed and disorganized trying to help their churches prepare
The lesson from these studies is that congregational preparedness is very important. Let us know if your Conference Disaster Team and be of help!
Contact Rev. Davena Jones at davena@ncncucc.org
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Well, you're in luck because this year we will be hosting a Virtual Summer Camp for FREE! Sign up to come join us for a week of camp online! Virtual Camp will take place the week of July 27th-31st, Monday - Friday every day that week from 2 pm-4 pm.
Virtual Camp is for ages 4-18. Everyone will be at 'camp' together online to start and then we will break out into groups based on ages where you will be with a leader and your fellow aged campers. There you will do activities, build community, have fun, meet people, reconnect, etc. We will have songs, stories, games, and fun!
Sign up for free Virtual Summer Camp HERE
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NCNC will offer an online Level 1 Racial Justice training in July. The six-hour course will be offered in three sessions of two-hours each. We invite you, at no cost, to participate in this online training. Three sessions will be held on July 16, July 21 and July 23, 6-8 p.m.
You must be able to attend all three sessions. This training presents a remarkable opportunity to move our churches forward in a relevant and holy way, to go deeper with one another in this work, and to forge relationships and a new commitment to a just and multiracial culture in the NCNC UCC that will fan out far beyond our fellowship. Register HERE.
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Virtual 2020 National Youth Event
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National Youth Event, is now offering interactive digital experiences on July 24-25. Click HERE to view more information.
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