Hospitality is an important spiritual practice, and one in which Intercultural Mosaics, a presbytery-supported New Worshiping Community in Davis, excels. They demonstrated their faithfulness in hospitality on behalf of the presbytery on Saturday, October 28, when they invited all of us to join them for a fall celebration. There was music—a saxophone and didgeridoo (at least, that’s what I think it was!), a Halloween costume contest, and a buffet of food on tables that seemed to stretch almost as far as the eye could see. And it was all simply delicious.

Thank you, Rev. Stephen Moon and the Mosaics community who prepared food for days. Thank you for your gift of hospitality!

Your partner in ministry,

Wes

Rev. Wes Nordman

Bridge Executive

Intercultural Mosaics will be celebrating its10th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 from 6 pm as follow:

A Decade of Gratitude: Thanksgiving & 10th Anniversary Gala

Join us for an unforgettable gathering as we commemorate both Thanksgiving Day and our remarkable 10th Anniversary! 

Place of Event: 2nd Floor of the Phoenix Hall, Davis Community Church, 412 C Street, Davis, CA 95616

Event Schedule:

• Thanksgiving Dinner Banquet: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Watercolor Art Contest: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

• Honoring Teachers and Leaders: 6:45 pm - 7:00 pm

• Raffle Drawings: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

• Enchanting Thanksgiving Melodies: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

To learn more about this special occasion, please reach out to Rev. Dr. Stephen Moon at 916-217-5470. We look forward to celebrating with you! Thank you!

Congratulations Matthew 25 Church

Intercultural Mosaics Davis, CA

For Information on Pledging to be a Matthew 25 Church – click on link:

Presbyterian Mission Agency Become a Matthew 25 church | Matthew 25 in the PC(USA): Join the Movement | Presbyterian Mission Agency

Congratulations Hunger Action Congregation

Trinity Presbyterian Church West Sacramento, CA

For Information on becoming a Hunger Action Congregation – click on link: 

Presbyterian Mission Agency Hunger Action Congregations | National Hunger & Poverty | Presbyterian Mission Agency

Submitted by Nancy Disher, NCCP Mission Organizer, Hunger Action Advocate

(916) 792-7725

MissionOrganizer@nccpresby.org

Attached is the Nov. 4 Presbytery Meeting Summary.

Carmichael Presbyterian Church closed their pre-school and has some equipment we would like to give away to help equip a new program or expand an existing program. In addition to blocks, toys and shelves there are many children's books. We would like this equipment to go to a good home and once again be used by young children getting ready for school. Call or email Barbara Farley if you are interested and want more information. 916 947-2827 b_farley@sbcglobal.net

The importance of good mental health is beginning to be recognized, and resources are becoming increasingly available. From the World Council of Churches, which recently observed Oct. 10 as World Mental Health Day with a theme of “Mental Health is a Universal Human Right” to various websites,

a plethora of materials can easily be accessed.

Submitted by Maurine Huang

Elder on VIM Commission

’23-24 MLC residents went on our fall retreat to Westminster Woods, where they had time to get to know each other, reflect, and relax at the

beginning of another busy academic year.

Our “co-conSPIRITors” group (previously known as Christian Fellowship) meets for dinner and discussion every Monday night.

At CA House, we feed students physically, emotionally, and spiritually. All UC Davis students are invited to attend our FREE dinners every Wednesday.

Thank you for being an exemplary and dedicated Matthew 25 Church Community.

For more information, please visit the following links:

Event Schedule — Countryside Community Church (espartocountrysidechurch.org)

The Farm — Durst Organic Growers

Submission by Nancy Disher

missionorganizer@nccpresby.org

Our mission network received an urgent appeal on Saturday, November 4, from the Rev. Joseph Kassab, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). NESSL is seeking $47,850 in contributions from its mission partners in the US and Europe to fund a project to support 145 Protestant families who have been displaced from their villages on the Lebanon/Israel border. 

There are six Synod churches along the southern border in Marjayoun, Ibel al-Saqi, Khiam, Deir Mimas, Rashaya al Fukhar, and Alma al Shaab. Even the exclusively Christian villages are being shelled and bombed repeatedly by Israel despite claims that Israel is only targeting Hezbollah. The office of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in South Lebanon has also been attacked.

Over 29,000 residents of South Lebanon have been displaced by the war. They are now facing the loss of their livelihood. It is the olive harvest season when farmers take their olives to the presses so they can sell the olive oil. Unfortunately, they were not able to reach their gardens so they have produced no olive oil this season. Others who have fruit orchards were unable to water them, so their trees died while they were far away from home. Others who work locally in their villages have lost their daily income and can no longer support their families. Schools, which had begun a new academic year, are now closed until further notice. The church clinic in Deir Mimas that used to serve the whole area is now in a critical situation since the majority of the village population has left, due to the fighting that has reached the outskirts of the village.

Assis Joseph writes: “We continue to beseech Almighty God, imploring that the war does not escalate further and that Lebanon may be spared from additional suffering and violence. Despite the ugly outlook in the region, we remain people of hope, firmly believing that Peace and Justice are at the core of God's divine plan. The Church of Christ must serve as a beacon of light in these dark times.”



Your contributions to this project for 145 displaced Protestant families will help provide one family with $100 a month for 3 months. The SLPN Steering Committee has set a goal of raising $10,000 from our mission network.

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. All donations will be combined and sent directly to NESSL.

Come Join the Conversation

You are invited to join with clergy colleagues who gather via Zoom each week (Tuesday at 1-2pm) to discuss the lectionary passages for the coming Sunday. The group shares thoughts, insights, and questions about the passages. The conversations not only offer differing perspectives, they provide a forum for support and connection.

Come be a part of the conversation!

(If you would like to know more about the group or to join, please e-mail David Ratcliff at davidratcliffu2@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.)

MATTHEW 25 SUMMIT Conference January 16 -18, 2024 in Atlanta, GA

Partial scholarship opportunities available for NCCP Church Leaders.

The Matthew 25 Summit will bring mid-councils, churches, and individuals together to explore this vision. What does it mean to eradicate poverty; how can we begin dismantling systemic racism; how will we know if we are building a vital congregation? We are offering you an invitation to innovation. A chance to dialogue, learn with, and grow with others in exploration. Featuring innovative speakers, thriving ministries, transformative workshops, and space to imagine what’s next!

(Content Source: Presbyterian Mission Agency website).

Event Location: New Life Presbyterian Church

6600 Old National Highway Atlanta, GA 30349

(770) 996 – 7159

Special Annual Event for Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity on Tuesday, January 23, 2024

You are invited to attend a Special Annual Event on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Sponsored by the North State Ecumenical Conference (NSEC), which was established in 1968 and is comprised of Christian faiths in the Greater Sacramento Area. The event will consist of the following key segments:

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

• 3:30 – 5:00 PM Panel Discussion - Several Christian faith leaders will address

the topic of: How does our faith impact public policy?

• 5:30 – 6:30 PM Dinner –There is a charge for dinner and a *RSVP is required.

• 7:00 – 8:00 PM Worship Prayer Service

This Special Event will be hosted by Reverend Frank Espegren.

You are invited to attend this event in person at the Church

(916.444.0874)

St. John’s Lutheran Church

1701 L Street

Sacramento, California 95811

Please note: You can virtually view the event by Livestream on 1/23/2024 (and after the event date) on the link provided closer to the event.

There is no charge for this Special Event. Donations may be made to Midtown HART To donate please click on the following link: Midtown | HARTs Together (when making a donation please make reference to: NSEC Special Event). Thank you!

*Important: If you want to RSVP for dinner or have questions, please contact Nancy Disher, NSEC Presbytery Representative at (916) 792-7725, or e-mail: njdisher@garlic.com or missionorganizer@nccpresby.org

Save the date!

Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering (CWG) is celebrated every three years! In 2024, the CWG will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, August 8–11

Registration opens in March 2024!

For more information visit: presbyterianwomen.org/gathering

Submitted by Faith and Politics team at Faith PC

North Central California Presbytery

5645 Marconi Ave.

Carmichael, CA, 95608

www.nccpresby.org