NCCP Congregational Engagement Process, Summer 2022 |
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I am the church, you are the church
We are the church, together.
All who follow Jesus, All around the world,
Yes, we’re the church together!
That beloved Avery and Marsh song from the 1970’s continues to resonate, even now! In our region, though congregations each have their own unique history, focus and gifts, as North Central California Presbytery, we are the church together, made stronger by the ties that bind us, the resources that are shared, a common vision that new leads us forward. Yes, we are the church, together, seeking to be faithful to the Risen Christ, manifesting God’s loves, allowing the Spirit to continue to inspire us to lives of bold witness and action.
As we emerge from the years of pandemic upheaval, every congregation has changed, adapted, gained new understanding about their calling, and perhaps also experienced great challenge. Presbytery Council and Vitality in Ministry Commission are eager to hear what is happening in each setting to determine how best the resources of the presbytery can support and enhance the life of each congregation. Over the summer, church leaders and members will be invited to reflect on how the pandemic has shaped priorities, altered mission efforts, led to letting go of certain programs or practices and where congregations are currently feeling called. The input of each congregation is vitally important and the gathered responses will inform programmatic and financial priorities over the coming years
Be watching for a letter sent to pastors and Session Clerks this week, describing this summer “Congregational Engagement Process.” Attached below you will see a copy of the letter being sent and the three core questions being asked. Please talk within your congregation and make plans for meaningful and engaging reflection together this summer. Responses should be returned to Communications and Data Manager, Tayler Stone, by August 1, 2022 (cdmanager@nccpresby.org)
Thank you in advance for joining this presbytery-wide opportunity for reflection, discernment and openness to the ways God is already doing a new thing in our midst.
- Mary Westfall, Transitional Executive Presbyter
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Please read to learn more about the dynamic engagement process about to be launched in NCCP |
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New Resource for Congregations Seeking to Deepen Faith and Increase Practice |
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This new resource from the PCUSA invites deepening reflection on the ways Christians can put their faith into practice in their daily lives. A great way to stimulate conversation and reflection in your congregation as you continue to emerge from the challenges of the pandemic and re-engage for meaningful work and witness in your community.
(Includes in person and on line options!)
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Attached you will find the June Resource Center Newsletter. |
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Listed below are the Sundays for which resources are currently available.
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Manteca Presbyterian Church Holds Final Worship Service, June 4, 2022 |
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With Pentecost colors of red, yellow and orange filling the sanctuary, members and friends of Manteca Presbyterian Church celebrated the life of the congregation, shared memories, laughter, tears and many hymns of praise, at what would be their final worship service.
After 30 years of faithful ministry and mission the congregation recently voted to dissolve the congregation and put their energy into joining one of several other PCUSA congregations in their region. Commissioned Ruling Elder Sharon Miller is
seen in photos, below, offering the final benediction.
It was a bittersweet time, but to “everything there is a season,” and those saying farewell
to their church home trust that God will lead them to a new church family and
new opportunities to work and worship alongside others in our Presbytery.
Please continue to pray for CRE Sharon Miller and congregation.
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Covenant Conversation Draws Nearly 100 Participants for Worship, Learning and Celebration |
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On Saturday June 3rd, members of North Central California Presbytery had the opportunity to attend a day-long event with Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
Titled: Covenant Conversations, the day provided a safe and welcoming setting for people with a range of perspectives to join together for worship, workshops, discussion, reflection and plenary presentations, to gain deeper awareness of how God is calling the church to increasing capacity to welcome and include LGBTQIA+ members of our communities. Remembering and meditating upon Paul’s words to the Galatians, those gathered reaffirmed their baptism, acknowledging dividing walls being broken down and replaced by oneness in Christ.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God, through faith,
for all of you who have been baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, nor is there male or female,
For you are all one in Christ.
- Gal 3: 26-27
Many thanks to those from our churches who helped plan the event, lead worship and
workshops, and created an atmosphere that was generative and spiritually uplifted.
Thanks to be God for the opportunity to grow together in faith, seeking new ways to live the gospel message of love, welcome, hospitality, grace, inclusion and oneness in Christ.
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from the Stated Clerk, the Rev. Jerilyn (Jeri) Viera Dahlke |
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In joy, in anger, in sorrow, in doubt, in faith—God’s people pray. In difficult times, it is especially important for the people of God to pray when they gather. So often, we only think to turn to God in prayer at the beginning and ending of our meetings. However, that is a minimum, not the rule! As we gather to work, serve, and commune together, there are many other moments ripe for prayer. Some are planned in advance, some are spontaneous. Be on the lookout! Be ready!
Prayer was woven throughout the May 21st regular meeting of the presbytery…
· Opening prayer led by Moderator Pat Terry included a visual and spoken prayer of confession
with a video created by Work of the People.
· We commissioned those going to General Assembly from the presbytery.
· There was a time of centering prayer as MWS Wes Nordman.
· We installed the Vice Moderator.
· In gratitude to God, MWS Brian Spangler led us in prayer for Claire Pisor (see below).
· In small groups, we prayed for some of our churches and other concerns.
· Moderator Pat Terry closed our gathering with prayer.
This is the worshipful work we are called to do!
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People were also a big part of our gathering!
• transferred out pastor members Lewis Rooker and Beth Hoyt (now the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys)
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• commissioned RE Alice Sundquist (Celtic Cross PC), MWS Mike Umbenhaur
(Woodland PC) and RE Emily Martin (Faith PC) to GA
• welcomed MWS Tony Stiff
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• celebrated milestones of three pastors—
o Grace Suwabe (First, Marysville) who completed her doctorate
o Steve Netniss (Grace, Lodi) who got married
o Bob Fernandez (HR) who turned 90
• elected several people
o MWS Aart van Beek (HR), Vice Moderator/Moderator/Chair of Council
o MWS Philip Trinh (Grace Community, Sac), Council At Large
o MWS Sara Tillema (Zephyr Point), Committee on Preparation
o MWS Jeff Chapman (Faith, Sac), Committee on Preparation
o MWS Jim Stochl (Harvest, Ceres), Finance
o RE Lynda Mendoza (First, Tracy), Finance
o RE Chuck Lauron (Trinity, Stockton), Nominating Committee
o RE Candace Peterson (First, Turlock), Permanent Judicial Commission
o MWS Laura Barnes (Federated, Placerville), Personnel
o MWS Doug Abel (At Large), Synod Commissioner
o MWS Melissa Tidwell (Trinity, Stockton), Synod Commissioner
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• recognized RE Claire Pisor’s (Faith, Sac) 16+ years of service as Recording Clerk and Interim Stated Clerk |
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• heard MWS Melissa Tidwell’s (Trinity, Stockton) inspiring story of gracious welcome
• If you’ve gotten to this point, give thanks to God for the people who contributed to our worshipful work that day!
Emma Turnbull, music
Moderator Pat Terry
MWS Steve Netniss, Zoom support
MWS Wes Nordman, Vitality in Ministry Chair
RE Anna Niemann, Finance Chair
MWS Stephen Moon, Nominating Temp. Chair
MWS Brian Spangler, Personnel Chair
MWS Joshua Trautmann, Chair of Council
Lee Hoffman, music
Deborah Jory, Davis Church staff
Staff members contributing to this meeting: Mary Westfall, Claire Pisor, Tayler Stone, Jeri Viera Dahlke, John Arthur, Karen Sturdevant
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General Assembly is held every two years with commissioners from every presbytery,
with advising in various forms from Young Adult Advisory Delegates, Missionary Advisory Delegates, Theological Student Advisory Delegates, Ecumenical Advisory Delegates and staff.
While some committees will have a closed session at the beginning of their work, for the first time most of the committee meetings and plenary sessions will be livestreamed!
Plenary sessions—Saturday, June 18
Opening worship will be a Juneteenth service—Sunday, June 19
Committee meetings staggered—June 20 and July 2
Plenary sessions—July 5-9
Please pray for…
RE Alice Sundquist…Celtic Cross PC, Citrus Heights
Committee Assignment: Theology, Worship & Education, June 23-June 25
MWS Mike Umbenhaur…Woodland PC
Committee Assignment: Mid Councils, June 23-25
RE Emily Martin…Faith PC, Sacramento
Committee Assignment: Moving Forward/Vision 2020, June 30-July 2
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225th GA: Ways You Can Be Involved |
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Website home page, sign up to receive the GA newsletter, livestreams will be via this site
Sign up for an account to access committee info & committee schedules, agendas,
resolutions & overtures
Read the bios of the two teams of candidates standing for Co-Moderators
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General Assembly Bulletin Inserts |
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What’s coming to the 2022 General Assembly? How will you explain the actions of GA to your congregation?
The 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting this June and July is shaping up to be an assembly like no other in a hybrid, three-week format.
Many issues will be discussed and debated including climate change, gun violence, the pandemic, race relations and the restructuring of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Once again, the Hands and Feet Initiative will lead Presbyterians to advocate for social justice. A special Juneteenth worship service is being planned as well as opportunities to learn about this commemoration that marks the formal end of slavery in the U.S.
Keep your church members informed with two bulletin inserts that contain Outlook’s fast, accurate and fair reporting. With these two resources, your congregation can learn both what’s coming to GA and learn what decisions are ultimately made at the assembly.
With your purchase, you will receive a digital file which you can either print for your bulletins or email to your congregation.
You can order just the pre-GA bulletin insert for $30
You can order just the post-GA bulletin insert for $30
Or, you can order both the pre- and post-GA bulletin inserts for a combined, discounted price of $50
When will I get the bulletin inserts?
We will be publishing two bulletin inserts: one that covers all the news you need to know going into GA and a second that succinctly covers all the top news after GA wraps up. The first bulletin is now available and will be emailed to you upon purchase. The second bulletin will be available online and emailed to pre-orders on July 13 by noon.
Questions?
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Faith & Politics Resources |
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Attached is the 15th edition of The Bridge: Resources for Healing the Political Divide.
Submitted by Faith and Politics team at Faith PC
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Presbyterian Women Offers Justice and Peace Calendar and Resources
Available to All!
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Sierra Vista Community Church 2022 Refugee Bicycles for Work Mission Project |
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Sierra Arden UCC (now Sierra Vista Community Church) had been a community partner of the International Rescue Committee since 2016, focusing on helping newly resettled refugees in the Sacramento Area to have a successful transition to their new lives in America. |
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Justice Conference Follow up |
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On May 2-4, forty-five ministers and lay people gathered at Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference Center for the first ever Justice Conference put on by the North Central California Presbytery (NCCP) Missions Committee. Rev. Dr. Claudio Carvalhaes of Union Theological Seminary in New York City was the guest speaker and the theme for the event was “Connect with Creation – Heal Our Communities”. We talked about the importance of discussing Eco Justice in our congregations and what we can do in our communities to assist those impacted by ecological devastation, such as, with the recent fires. Claudio gave lively presentations with powerful messages and took us to go pray with the burned-out trees last summer so we could experience the impact of these devastating fires. Additionally, we had breakout sessions with Rev. Jeanie Shaw and Nancy Disher on Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Rev. Ivan Herman on how to become an Earth Care Congregation, and with Rev. Dr. Pamela Anderson on the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Each one of these sessions discussed practical ways in which we can make a difference in our churches and communities when it comes to ecological devastation and the interlocking injustices of poverty. Val Spoonhunter of the Piute Tribe, and Presbyterian Church in Bishop, led us in powerful words of prayer before each session began to ground us before Claudio spoke. As one person said in their survey, “This conference exceeded my expectations. Claudio was outstanding and I don’t know how you are going to top next year! Thank you for beginning these Justice Conferences so that we can begin these important conversations!” We want to thank everyone who came and we want to give a special shout out to The Missions Committee, The Pastoral Support Committee and the Committee on Representation for sponsoring the Justice Conference with scholarship funds. Be sure to mark May 1-3, 2023 on your calendar for next year. Meanwhile, If you would like to do more follow up with the information provided by the breakout sessions you can go to:
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance:
Earth Care:
Poor People’s Campaign:
Submitted: Rev. Dr. Pamela Anderson
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NCCP
5645 Marconi Ave.
Carmichael, CA, 95608
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