Greetings in Christ’s name! I can’t believe it has been a year now since I came to the September meeting of NCCP to be elected as your new EP. I still feel fairly new: new city, new house, new Presbytery, new kind of ministry for me. I want to thank so many of you who have been my companions on this journey: our wonderful Presbytery staff, our Council and others in Presbytery leadership positions, and all of you who have welcomed me to your congregations as a guest preacher or a visitor for a worship service or other special occasion. There are still a few congregations that I have not had an opportunity to visit yet, so if your church is one of them, let’s talk soon about an opportunity for me to be with you. 

Through the last nine months three priorities have taken shape for me, which I shared with Presbytery Council at our August meeting.

1. Building out infrastructure: This presbytery did a great deal of work in the years just prior to my arrival to unite the former Presbyteries of Stockton and Sacramento. And there is more work still to be done. My colleague in a nearby Presbytery who started her work about the same time as I started here calls it “deferred maintenance”. I have been working with Commissions and Committees to develop a VIM Manual, to put in place a set of guidelines and policies for New Worshiping Communities, to establish a clear process for training and commissioning CREs, updating the Personnel manual, reinstating a process for annual reviews for me and other Presbytery staff--you get the idea. None of that may sound super fun or inspiring, but it is like building a house: if the load bearing walls are not sound, you can’t get creative and bold with the rest of the design. 
2. Building Sustainability: So many of our congregations are asking questions about sustainability; financial sustainability, sustainable models of congregational leadership, sustainable ways of meeting the needs of the present moment in their ministry and mission. The Presbytery is also asking these kinds of questions about itself. Moving forward, we will look for opportunities to explore what this might look like and where the Holy Spirit might be leading us to experiment, take risks, and collaborate with others.
3. Building Relationships: I have met many pastors and other congregational leaders eager to find new ways, (or rebuild old ways) of building relationships, nurturing networks, and finding ways to collaborate, share ideas, and build Christ centered community. 

None of this can be done by staff alone! Just as in a church where the pastor cannot do it all, in our Presbytery needs the energy, intelligence, imagination, and love of all our members--MWS and RE--to move forward and go from strength to strength. We would love to hear from you with ideas and proposals for how to move forward.

Karen Sapio

Executive Presbyter, North Central California Presbytery

916-414-8105

Photo by: Laura Barnes

Photo by: Ashley Love Skrabec

Gratitude for Your Service and Dedication: A Spirit of Hospitality

The welcoming smiles at the registration table set the tone for the entire event, creating a sense of belonging and ease. Volunteers (and staff from First Stockton and Trinity Stockton) guided guests through check-in, offered directions, offered food and drink, and ensured newcomers felt included. This intentional kindness did not go unnoticed. Many participants expressed gratitude for the genuine care and attention provided by those at the front lines—your hospitality was a living testament to Christ’s love in action.

Then there were the contributions of those who spoke through prayer, stories, preaching the Word, teaching the spiritual practice of corporate singing, introducing themselves to us, sharing their statement of faith and answering questions, along with those that shared important information about: the Synod, the budget, our current priorities, steps taken to address our financial situation and the hard telling of pastoral misconduct.

As Pastor JC Kang shared, God’s people are most alive, most connected to one another and to God and have the most good news to share when we authentically open ourselves to God’s transforming power of love in the midst of the real stuff of our lives. That is exactly what happened on Saturday because of these volunteers and God’s work among us!

The Presbytery Leadership Team

February 7, 2026 - Zoom

May 2, 2026- In Person

September 12, 2026- In Person

November 7, 2026- Zoom

NCCP all churches $17.00/person

 Synod $5.22

 General Assembly $11.26

TOTAL per person $33.48

September 15, 2025

via Zoom

7pm to 8:30pm (or earlier)

Ask your questions & make suggestions.

Register using the button below.

Treasurer’s Report

North Central California Presbytery seeks Hunger Action Advocate

Hunger Action Advocates (HAAs) serve presbyteries as educators, motivators, and facilitators of hunger action. They assist congregations and other groups to become engaged with issues of direct hunger relief, hunger-related development assistance, public policy advocacy, education and interpretation about hunger and lifestyle issues, including environmental justice. This is a 5 hour/week, part time position. You can find more information at the link below. To apply please send a cover letter and resume to news@nccpresby.org. Deadline to apply is September 30, 2025.  

On August 21, our NMI Handbook Development Task Team—Rev. Karen Sapio, Rev. Dr. Sarah Nave, Rev. Dr. Margaret Boles, and Rev. Dr. Stephen Moon—gathered for their second meeting at Parkview Presbyterian Church. The spirit of the gathering was full of gratitude, deep listening, and a genuine love for the church.

Rev. Karen Sapio, in her steady leadership as Executive Presbyter, brought a pastoral presence that keeps our vision grounded in faith and unity. Rev. Dr. Sarah Nave offered her heart for pastoral care and the wisdom of walking closely with emerging pastors, ensuring support for those who serve in challenging contexts. Rev. Dr. Margaret Boles contributed her insight from Personnel, reminding us that the health of our leaders is inseparable from the health of our ministries. And Rev. Dr. Stephen Moon carried the perspective of New Ministry Initiatives, lifting up the creative and intercultural work that is blossoming across our presbytery.

Together, they are crafting the NWC Handbook—not just as a set of guidelines, but as a companion for our New Worshiping Communities. It is being shaped with compassion, imagination, and a desire to walk alongside leaders and congregations as they discover how God is calling them to thrive.

As this work continues, we invite you—our presbytery family—to hold the team in prayer, to encourage those serving in New Worshiping Communities, and to remain open to the fresh and creative ways the Spirit is moving in our midst. With God’s leading, we believe this handbook will help us walk faithfully into a thriving future together.

If you feel a stirring in your heart for building and supporting creative and innovative ministries, we warmly invite you to join the NMI team. Your passion and compassion can make a real difference. To learn more, please reach out to Rev. Dr. Stephen Moon at catalyst@nextg.org or Rev. Ivan Herman at ivan@carmichaelpres.org.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” —Isaiah 43:19

The NCCP Immigration Task Force has learned that recent ICE activity within the bounds of our presbytery is impacting our congregations and the communities they serve.  We have heard about family separation, emotional trauma, and, quite frequently, significant financial hardship because of lost income, emergency travel to detention centers, and other urgent needs.

Because of the great need for immediate relief, the NCCP Mission Support Commission has authorized our Immigration Task Force to provide small amounts of funding to meet emergency needs. If you know of members of your congregation or community who need help and could use this assistance, please complete the attached form and forward it to Executive Presbyter Karen Sapio at karen@nccpresby.org 

If your church, Presbyterian Women’s group, or other groups within your church would like to contribute to this fund, please contact the NCCP treasurer, Maria Mar, at treasurer@nccpresby.org

For further information, please contact the Presbytery Office.

Davis Community Church, Full Time Pastor 

First Presbyterian Church, Colusa, Part Time Pastor

Please contact, Bob Harper, Bob@chiconut.com for more information.

First United Presbyterian Church Turlock, Part Time Pastor

Auburn Presbyterian Church, Part Time Pastor

Faith Presbyterian Church, Sacramento,  Director of Family Ministry

Interest letter and/or resume to: bshoemaker@faithpresby.org

Clergy Bible Study

Please consider joining us on Zoom weekly (Tuesday at 1-2pm) to discuss the lectionary passages for the coming Sunday. Our group shares thoughts, insights, and questions about the passages. Our conversations not only offer differing perspectives, they provide a forum for support and connection for clergy.

(If you would like to know more about the group or to join, please e-mail Laura Barnes at revlaura@eldoradofederatedchurch.org

We look forward to hearing from you.)

Affordable Housing on YOUR Congregation's Land:

  Has your congregation considered using an underutilized portion of your property for affordable housing? If you are open to that, and would like to understand the process of moving from "discussion" to possible action, either of these two hour seminars is for you!! 

    There are TWO options for participation: September 15th, and November 12th,

 from 4 - 6 pm. Participants will get an OVERVIEW of the process. From that, if your congregation wants to continue the exploration, the next step is a 5 session cohort with other churches that will begin in January of 2026.

   Eight churches ( 4 from Placer County), completed the 5 cohort sessions this Spring, and are considering the next formal step forward. 

    Questions, call Mary Biasotti at 510-326-5598, or Virgil Nelson from Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian, at 805-701-5124

Guess whose turning 111? Bethany Presbyterian Church!!!  This Sacramento community celebrates this Anniversary on Sunday, September 21st.  Join us for a celebratory service and potluck lunch. 

The service begins at 10:30am, and lunch begins at 11:45am. Call (916) 428-5281 on or before September 19th so we can reserve a space for you. We are at 5625 24th Street, Sacramento, 95822. 

3235 Pope Avenue 95821

 916-487-5192

 Come join us October 12, 2025

 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

 Annual Craft Faire and Bake Sale  

 All proceeds will support:                

DYER KELLY SCHOOL FAMILY

CHRISTMAS BASKETS   

Inspiration Lab with Ministry Incubators

Dates: September 18-22, 2025

Looking for an opportunity for inspiration and innovation on the shores of Lake Tahoe? The Zephyr Point Inspiration Lab is excited to partner with Ministry Incubators for an onsite Hatchathon®. Up to 12 ministry innovation projects, exploring new, financially sustainable ways of doing ministry. 

For more information visit: https://zephyrpoint.org/programs/inspiration-lab/

Dates: October 6-8, 2025

Retreat Leadership: My Anchor Holds

Registration opens April 15 https://zephyrpoint.org/pastors-renewal-retreat/

North Central California Presbytery participants are eligible for a $200 registration discount by entering 25PRR at checkout. If you have any questions, please contact the Program Department at 775-588-6759 ext. 113.

Sprucing Up The Pines

Dates: October 10-12, 2025

Zephyr Point volunteers are always appreciated at this bi-annual event where so much work is accomplished, readying and improving the grounds for the upcoming season. How about spending a beautiful fall Saturday on Lake Tahoe working in a beautiful setting painting, hammering, raking, sewing and having fun with other volunteers! Consider joining us for our Fall Sprucing Up in the Pines. Let us know what your talents are and we will match you up with something that needs to be done

For more information go to: https://zephyrpoint.org/sprucing/

Dear NCCP Clergy of Color,

We are excited to invite you to our first-ever joint Northern California Regional Retreat—the Leaders of Color Retreat—happening October 13–16, 2025 at the stunning Zephyr Point Conference Center!

This meaningful retreat will bring together leaders of color from four presbyteries for a time of rest, renewal, connection, and shared visioning.

🌟 Special gift for NCCP clergy:

While other presbyteries are offering $400 scholarships (with participants covering the remaining $200), NCCP Clergy of Color Network (COCN) is offering a full scholarship—covering the entire $600 registration cost per person. That means no cost to you to attend!

⏳ Space is limited to the first 30 participants, and registration is on a first come, first served basis—so don’t wait!

🗓 Registration deadline: September 15, 2025

We can’t wait to share this space with you—to be nourished, encouraged, and empowered alongside one another.

If you have any questions or need more information, please reach out to:

Rev. Dr. Stephen Moon – catalyst@nextg.org | (916) 217-5470

Rev. Dr. Grace Suwabe – gsuwabe02@gmail.com | (916) 835-8380

With joy and anticipation,

The NCCP Clergy of Color Network Team

Worship Planning Continuing Education Event At ZP In The Fall

Dates: October 19-24, 2025

Theme: Preparing for Proclamation: Worship planning through the lenses of Preaching, Liturgy, Ritual, Arts, and Music

Description: With the backdrop of the beauty and inspiration of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Mountains, participants will walk away with concrete and crafted plans for worship and proclamation. Focused on solo pastoral leadership and small staff congregations, the time will be grounded in experimentation, exploration, and collaboration. It will include exposure to various methods of proclaiming the word, small group and individual coaching, time to soak in the beauty of the surroundings, and multiple focused planning sessions.

REGISTRATION: https://zephyrpoint.org/programs/con-ed-institute/fall/

North Central California Presbytery

5645 Marconi Ave.

Carmichael, CA, 95608

www.nccpresby.org