All NCCP Newsletter submissions are due by12pm on the 10th of every month.

Please contact cdmanager@nccpresby.org for more information.

If you would like to invite our EP, Karen Sapio, to guest preach at your church or be part of another congregational event, please email her at karen@nccpresby.org.

Special Guest Presenter For November 7 Presbytery Meeting:

The Rev. Mary Beene, PCUSA Stewardship Officer, Western Region

The Rev. Mary Beene will share her work and vision with us at our upcoming Presbytery meeting. Mary began her work as PCUSA Stewardship Officer for the West Region last spring.  In this role,  she will be your point of contact with the Stewardship and Funds Development Office of Presbyterian Life and Witness. She is here to make sure congregations  are equipped with the resources they  need to engage with Presbyterian mission at the national level. For instance, if you would like someone to come speak to your church about the changes to the Special Offerings, if you  are interested in how your church can support Global Ecumenical Partnerships, or if someone wants to know the impact of their gifts to Shared Mission, Mary is your person! 

Mary introduced herself to our Presbytery staff with these words: 

I have been serving a small congregation in Windsor, CA for six years before accepting this position.  We were very active in our community and have been learning to reach out beyond regular “stewardship” programs to fund our local mission. I admit I am a bit of a geek about stewardship and fundraising, having come to ministry as a mid-career pastor 20+ years ago after working as a fundraising executive in the environmental arena.

Of course, I see this position as helping raise money for national church ministries and opportunities. But I’m just as excited as a small church pastor to help Presbyteries and congregations think about generosity and the spirituality of money and finances in new ways that link local, national and global stewardship – how do we all see ourselves working together to create a more just, loving, and Christ-like world?

NCCP 2026 Mission Emphasis Event

Are you curious about the life and work of a PCUSA Global Ecumenical Liaison? Would you like to know more about what congregations in the Sacramento area are doing to support refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants? Are you intrigued by the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship’s Guns to Gardens initiative? Are you seeking to connect the dots between mission and New Worshiping Communities? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will want to attend the North Central California Presbytery Mission Emphasis Event sponsored by our Mission Support Committee. The event will include lively presentations by PCUSA Global Ecumenical Liaison, Cathy Chang, World Relief Partnership Director, Philip Wiggins, Presbytery Peace Fellowship leaders Doug and Cheryl Hunt, and Digital Ministry Strategist Peter Okyere. It will also provide space for those who would like to share how their congregation is engaging in local or global mission efforts. 

The event begins with registration at 3pm on Saturday, October 24th at Carmichael Presbyterian Church and continues with presentations, and networking time. Dinner begins at 5pm and features more speakers, and time to pray for one another. 

Monday, October 26, 2026

7:00-8:30PM

via Zoom

Council will host a Q&A on the 2027 budget on October 26th at 7:00PM. Ask your questions & make suggestions. Please use this link to register for the meeting. Updated budget information will be sent out with the Call to the November Presbytery meeting.

Thursday, October 29,2026

4PM

via Zoom

With the recent PCUSA article about small‑church closures, many congregations are looking for hope and direction. This summer alone, over 100 PCUSA churches have started using these simple, doable steps — and they’re already seeing encouraging results.

If your church could use a little hope and direction right now, you’re welcome to register.

John Fong is a Presbyterian Ruling Elder dedicated to helping Presbyterian churches grow in simple ways. He presented at our February 2026 Presbytery meeting and since then has worked with more than a dozen congregations in our presbytery.

Across our denomination, many smaller churches carry a quiet but familiar weight. Fewer visitors. Aging membership. A sense that growth feels out of reach. John Fong has spent time with churches in this exact place and has seen that they are not as stuck as they feel. With a few simple practices, hope begins to rise again and new relationships start to form.

As we move toward Advent and Christmas, many churches will have more opportunities to welcome visitors and new faces. What we do now can help us make the most of those opportunities and carry that momentum into the new year.

Expanding Our Reach: Connecting Neighbors with Food and Essential Services

An Invitation to Serve Our Greater Sacramento Community

Hunger does not take a day off, and neither should our efforts to connect neighbors with available resources.

It has been absolutely wonderful getting out to meet as many of you as possible. I look forward to the future in bringing resources, people and information and joining them together to alleviate starvation and suffering. We at NCC Presbytery are pleased to introduce a Monday–Friday Food Closet Schedule identifying locations throughout the Greater Sacramento area where individuals and families can obtain food assistance. This schedule is intended to help churches, community organizations, volunteers, and neighbors more easily locate and share information about available food resources.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Community Resource Guide

In the coming months, we hope to introduce a companion schedule highlighting additional food assistance beyond traditional food closets. This smaller, complementary listing would identify churches, nonprofit organizations, and community programs offering hot meals, bag lunches, prepared foods, and seasonal meal services.

We also envision including information about mobile bathing and shower facilities, hygiene resources, and other essential services for individuals experiencing homelessness, including those provided by county agencies and community partners.

Our goal is simple: to make compassionate assistance easier to find and more accessible to those who need it most.

Churches and community organizations throughout the NCC Presbytery can play an important role by sharing information about existing services, identifying overlooked resources, and helping keep these schedules accurate and current.

Together, we can strengthen the connections between faith communities, service providers, and our neighbors facing food insecurity and homelessness.

When we share information, we expand access. When we work together, we multiply compassion.

Submitted in the spirit of Christian service, community partnership, and our shared commitment to caring for our neighbors.

Stephan Sylvanus 

haa@nccpresby.org

We are now in the process of voting on the recommended changes to the Book of Order. 

Every presbytery has until July 2nd to submit their votes.

In order to change the Book of Order or the Book of Confessions, our Constitution, 

a simple majority must approve the change.

There are 164 presbyteries.

•   these are up or down votes, no amendments
•   most of the changes are on the consent agenda for this assembly
•  five are set to be debated at the February assembly
•  any item pulled from the consent agenda will be added to the February assembly
•  there will be a Zoom Q&A for all debated amendments in January
•    committees can study relevant ones and share their opinion with you

The amendments booklet in English is available by clicking the first button below. Later this month, it will be available in Korean and Spanish.

The second button has a chart of the amendments, the booklet page number and whether it will be presented for possible debate or on the consent agenda.

Dear NCCP Family,

What if faith comes alive not only in what we believe, but in how we inhabit our bodies, connect with one another, and build community?

IAMA Embodied Ministries, under the leadership of Rev. Rola Al-Ashkar, invites you and your congregations to Grounded Together: Building Resilience, Connection, and Community hosted by Davis Community Church.

Over five weeks, we’ll explore the mind-body-spirit connection and what it means to bring our faith into the way we listen, relate, respond, and care for one another. Through storytelling, reflection, conversation, and gentle embodied practices, we’ll make space to grow—in ourselves, in relationship, and in our life together as church.

Wednesdays, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

October 21st

Davis Community Church — Fireside Room

Free and open to all.

Please share this invitation with your congregations and invite others to join us.

For more information, contact Rev. Rola at embody.iama@gmail.com 

Calling all faith formation leaders! The Faith Formation Leader Connection Resource Zooms 2026 offers a welcoming online space to connect with peers, share what’s new in your ministry context, and explore timely resources together. These resourcing Zoom gatherings are hosted by the Office of Christian Formation (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and are designed for leaders across all settings and age groups.

When: October 20, 2026

Time: Varies by date (all sessions are 1 hour)

Where: Zoom — register once to attend any or all dates.

Each session offers conversation, ideas, and encouragement for everyday faith formation work. Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration, practical tools, or a chance to ask questions with fellow leaders, these Zooms are a great way to stay connected and resourced throughout the year.

👉 Register today and mark your calendar: https://cfportal.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3387419

Dear NCCP Clergy of Color,

We are excited to invite you to the Leaders of Color Retreat, happening October 19–22, 2026 at the stunning Zephyr Point Conference Center! Please see attached flyer.

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:

Due to a generous grant, NCCP Clergy of Color Network (COCN) is offering a full scholarship—covering 100% of the registration cost per person. That means no cost to you to attend! When you register, please mark "option 4" for payment option.

⏳ Space is limited to the first 28 participants, and registration is on a first come, first served basis—so don’t wait!

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. Sam Sungsoo Jun – pastorsam@celticpc.org | (713) 305-6433

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

With joy and anticipation,

The NCCP Clergy of Color Network Team

January 27-30, 2027

Portland, Oregon

Scholarships available for NCCP participants, please contact the Presbytery Office.

Eternal Generations Emerging (EGE Foundation)is a Sacramento-based, Black-led nonprofit focused on environmental education and youth leadership.

EGE partner with, Edrine Ddungu, and the Sacramento Uganda Fellowship for the annual mission through Sierra Vista Community Church.

Human Nature: Seeking God in All of Creation

March 12th-14th, 2027

Take a respite with other women and experience the hushed calm of Sonoma County’s coastal redwoods. Women’s Weekend provides a sacred space for all women to rest and reflect, celebrate and sing, contemplate and lament, and be in community.

Featured Speakers:

Nancy Wein's passion lies in helping others discover what it means to come alive. She is inspired by working with those committed to the growth of themselves, their families, their organizations, and the planet’s regenerativity. She thrives on supporting others’ sense of belonging and empowerment:  to know themselves as Beloved, as part of Nature and interconnected with all life, and as uniquely able to contribute to the well-being of the world.

Sheila Denton served Westminster Woods for 33 years, first as Program Director and later as Executive Director. She is a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary’s Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction and co-founder of the Center for Nature and Christian Spirituality at Westminster Woods. She currently works part-time as a consultant and executive coach, accompanying leaders as they navigate the challenges of leadership, growth, and organizational life. Sheila enjoys gardening, cooking, singing in several choirs, spending time with friends and family, and being in nature.

Presbytery is investing in our churches by extending our agreement with Mr. John Fong for congregational coaching.  His coaching is individualized, practical guidance for churches to improve church visibility in the community, increase visitor follow-up and build relationships.

 John Fong is a PCUSA Elder from upstate New York who has been working with Presbyterian churches and presbyteries to develop new strategies for outreach and growth. 

Following his presentation to our Presbytery in January of 2026, a number of our NCCP congregations have worked with Mr. John Fong to develop a 30 day outreach strategy to improve their use of social media and enhance their welcome and follow-up with visitors. Our Vitality in Ministry team voted to extend our agreement with him so that more of our congregation can have the opportunity to work with him. If your congregation has already developed a 30 plan, you can opt to continue to work with Mr. Fong to further develop your vision for outreach. If you have not yet had the opportunity to get started with an initial consultation, your church leadership may contact him to get that scheduled any time between now and November 1. 

 Mr Fong has a depth of experience and ideas for churches of all sizes to get the word out to your neighbors about the events and mission endeavors of your congregation so that more folks participate and stop in to see what’s going on in your church Overall, this will help your congregation meet more people so that members can build relationships that can lead to more attendance in worship.

He is ready and willing to meet by zoom with some of your church leaders to talk about how his coaching works.  He will overview the type of guidance he offers to churches and how he helps members with follow-up and improving publicity.



To schedule an initial meeting--or to make plans to extend your congregation’s coaching relationship, contact John directly at johnchoufong@gmail.com

The Equipped For Service Form is to be used by the Nominating Committee as a tool for aligning gifts and passions with a person's service.  This form is made available to all members of the presbytery willing to serve on committees, commissions, task forces, and as officers in leadership.

The North Central California Presbytery Mission Support Committee stewards a legacy fund specifically designated for ministries with older adults. In 2026, the Committee is offering up to $750.00 to each congregation as grant funding for outreach to older adults in your community. Projects could include ministries that promote the spiritual, physical, social, or emotional well-being of Senior adults. 

To apply for the grant, please use the new Common Grant Application for NCCP. Grant applications will be extended until January 2027.

 For more information, please contact Mission Committee Co-chairs Tiffany Nicely-Holleck, or Edrine Ddungu.

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

Grace Presbyterian Church, Lodi, Part Time Pastor

Comunidad Latina de Cristo , West Sacramento  

Part-time Pastor/Commissioned Ruling Elder

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.)

North Central California Presbytery

5645 Marconi Ave.

Carmichael, CA, 95608

www.nccpresby.org