BCUCC News for Sunday, September 2, 2018

News and Upcoming Events

  • Saturday Sept. 1: YAYA’s Bubble Run. Some crazy fun! Talk to Bryan Wake for details.
  • Sunday September 2: Potluck after worship. Bring a dish to share and enjoy the company.  First Food Sunday!  Bring food to worship for Brea residents in need. Typically needed to supplement bulk food supplies: canned fruit, healthy lunch snacks, jams and jellies, oatmeal, easy-open foods for people without kitchen access. 

  • Sunday September 2: Theme: Ethics: Fences and Beacons.  Scripture: Mark 10:2-16.
  • Low Impact Cardio class 6:45pm-7:15pm; Martial Arts class 7:30pm-9pm. Wear tennis shoes and comfortable workout clothes! Free to church members!
  • Thursday Sept. 6: Bible Study is Thursdays 9:15-10:15am in the church office. Starting the Gospel of John 6 – a great time to join! All are welcome, to discover the intersection of sacred story and modern life with an open mind
  • Thursday Sept. 6: Tai Chi, 6:30-7:15pm pm in the sanctuary.
  • Thursday Sept. 6: “Art and Soul” 2-4pm in the Hall. Back by popular demand!  A little spirituality, a little conversation, and a lot of space to create; no skill necessary.  Bring your favorite art or craft project, extra supplies if you want to share, or borrow ours.  We will have coloring and doodling as prayer.  Last time we also had origami and collage… join us!
  • Saturday September 15: Please join us for Inner-Coastal Cleanup, 8-10am. KEEPING OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN: When the rainy season begins, much of the plastic and other debris in and around our drain channels gets washed out to sea. We can help prevent this. We’ll join others in Brea to help clear trash from the area next to the westernmost parking structure on Birch Street in Downtown Brea. For more information, contact Dennis Arp: dennisansellarp@gmail.comor 714-747-0206.

Ongoing

  • TheBCUCC Theological Book Club will be reading, Days of Awe and Wonder: How to be a Christian in the 21st Century, by Marcus J. Borg.  “God, the sacred, pervades all that is, even though we do not often see it.  But there are moments in which our eyes are opened, and we see the glory.”  Come join us in discovery.  We will meet Wednesday, Sept. 12th, at 7pm to discuss Chapters 1-8, and on October 17th to discuss Chapters 9-16.  Light refreshments are served, and fun and discovery are enjoyed by all.  For more information, call Jim or Karen Hill at 714-693-0261 or email to jandkhill@mac.com.

  • Thursdays 6:30- Tai Chi with Karen Hill – a gentle and meditative movement. We meet in the sanctuary.  Continues through September, except September 13. 

 

Care Note:  Bill Goetsch has returned home on hospice care.  Please keep him and his daughters in your prayers.

 

Search Committee Progress and Plans

Your search committee has met with conference Pastor Felix Villanueva again regarding the process of reviewing resumes, interviewing potential candidates, and selecting a candidate for church approval. This week we will review 11 potential candidates.  Although confidentiality of these candidates prevents us from revealing any details about them, we do intend to let you know where we are in the process, and the number of candidates under consideration.  For candidates that we believe are a good fit for our church, the process involves a first interview, a second interview, and perhaps a third.  We will then conduct a confidential neutral pulpit visit.  After a successful neutral pulpit visit, we will negotiate a contract and host a candidate weekend where you will have chances to meet, greet, hear preaching, and ask questions with the selected candidate.  Then we will have a congregational meeting without the candidate where you can ask questions of the search committee and vote on our proposed candidate and contract.  As always during this process, we appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance throughout this search.

 

Members of the Search Committee are:

Shannon Clay                Kathryn Kadletz

Randy Fowler                Russell Nowell

Karen Hill                     David This

Georlyn Igma

BCUCC News for Sunday, August 26, 2018

News and Upcoming Events

  • Hymn Sing starting at 9:50am continues through Labor Day weekend, user’s choice!
  • Sunday August 26: Worship 10am. Theme: Feet on the Ground. Community Voices: Rev. Nora Jacob shares her work of Restorative Justice. Nora serves as Restorative Justice Minister at UrbanMission (UCC/DOC), a fresh expression of 21st-century church in south Pomona since 2013. She is also a co-founder and Restorative Justice Director of the related non-profit organization, UrbanMission Community Partners (UMCP). Since 2014, Nora has co-facilitated three accountability and healing groups each week with incarcerated students inside the California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino. She also works in reentry and reintegration of men and women returning to their communities after prison. In addition, she facilitates InsideOut Art  at UMCP, promoting opportunities for currently and formerly incarcerated artists to share their creative work, and encouraging conversations in the wider community about the role of art in personal and social transformation.
  • Monday August 27: Evening cardio and martial arts classes start! In Sequoia Hall; teens to elders are welcome. Free to church members! Low Impact Cardio class 6:45pm-7:15pm; Martial Arts class 7:30pm-9pm. Wear tennis shoes and comfortable workout clothes!
  • Tuesday August 28: Everyday Peacemaking: Compassionate Communication. Morning session 10-11:30am in the church office (ring bell at gate on Flower Street).  Evening session 7-8:30pm in the Hall.  We will examine the meanings of empathy and practice deep listening.  Beginners welcome.
  • Thursday August 30: Choir starts again; practice at 7:30pm. (First performance Sept. 9.) Beginners and newcomers welcome! Our Music Director Jessica Cosley can tell you more.
  • Thursday August 30: Tai Chi starts again, 6:30-7:15pm pm in the sanctuary.
  • Saturday Sept. 1: YAYA’s Bubble Run. Some crazy fun! Talk to Bryan Wake for details. Kawaipono@gmail.com
  • Thursday Sept. 6: Bible Study is Thursdays 9:15-10:15am in the church office. Starting the Gospel of John 6 – a great time to join! All are welcome, to discover the intersection of sacred story and modern life with an open mind
  • Thursday Sept. 6: “Art and Soul” 2-4pm. Back by popular demand!  A little spirituality, a little conversation, and a lot of space to create; no skill necessary.  Bring your favorite art or craft project, extra supplies if you want to share, or borrow ours.  We will have coloring and doodling as prayer.  Last time we also had origami and collage… join us!
  • Saturday September 15: Please join us for Inner-Coastal Cleanup, 8-10am. KEEPING OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN: When the rainy season begins, much of the plastic and other debris in and around our drain channels gets washed out to sea. We can help prevent this. We’ll join others in Brea to help clear trash from the area next to the westernmost parking structure on Birch Street in Downtown Brea. For more information, contact Dennis Arp: dennisansellarp@gmail.comor 714-747-0206.

Ongoing

  • The BCUCC Theological Book Clubwill be reading, Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr.  In this book, Father Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries, how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth.  We will meet at 7pm on Wed 8/29 to discuss Chapters 7-13.  We gather at the home of the Hills; please call or email Jim and Karen for directions at 714-693-0261 or jandkhill@mac.com and join our conversation.

  • Thursdays 6:30- Tai Chi with Karen Hill- a gentle and meditative movement. We meet in the sanctuary.  Starts August 30, continues through September, except September 13.  Karen Hill will guide us in this gentle meditative movement: restorative for body and soul. All ages welcome. Wear comfortable stretchable clothing; layers so you can be a comfortable temperature.

  • “Everyday Peacemaking” Compassionate Communication practice groups will continue on a monthly basis: Tuesday mornings 10-11:30am in the church office, 8/28* and 9/18.  Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm in the Hall, 8/28 and 9/25. Practice speaking your truth in love, and listening from the heart. No experience necessary. (*Note date change.)

    “Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It’s thinking of yourself less.”

-S. Lewis

  •  

    Creation Care Tip:  Vote! Educate yourself to vote for local and national candidates who act on the sacred value of the earth and its creatures.  Share what you learn with your neighbors and urge them to vote, too.

BCUCC News for Sunday, August 19, 2018

News and Upcoming Events

  • Hymn Sing starting at 9:50am continues through Labor Day weekend, user’s choice!
  • Sunday August 19: Worship 10am. Bible reading: Psalm 98. Theme: Why We Worship. Special Music:  Francie Quaas-Berryman has a song with a story for you.
  • Tuesday August 21: Church Council meets at 7pm in Joshua Tree room.
  • Sunday August 26: Worship 10am. Theme: Feet on the Ground. Community Voices: Nora Jacob shares her work of Restorative Justice. Rev. Nora Jacob is an ordained Disciples of Christ pastor serving as Restorative Justice Minister at UrbanMission (UCC/DOC), a fresh expression of 21st-century church in south Pomona since 2013. She is also a co-founder and Restorative Justice Director of the related non-profit organization, UrbanMission Community Partners (UMCP).
  • Monday August 27: Evening cardio and martial arts classes start! In Sequoia Hall; teens to elders are welcome. Free to church members! Low Impact Cardio class 6:45pm-7:15pm; Martial Arts class 7:30pm-9pm. Wear tennis shoes and comfortable workout clothes!
  • Thursday August 30: Choir starts again; practice at 7:30pm. Beginners and newcomers welcome! Our Music Director Jessica Cosley can tell you more.
  • Thursday August 30: Tai Chi starts again, 6:30-7:15pm pm in the sanctuary.
  • Saturday Sept. 1: YAYA’s Bubble Run. Some crazy fun! Talk to Bryan Wake for details.
  • Thursday Sept. 6: “Art and Soul” 2-4 pm. Back by popular demand!  A little spirituality, a little conversation, and a lot of space to create; no skill necessary.  Bring your favorite art or craft project, extra supplies if you want to share, or borrow ours.  We will have coloring and doodling as prayer.  Last time we also had origami and collage… join us!

Ongoing

  • Bible Study is Thursdays 9:15-10:15am in the church office. We may take days off in the summer; RSVP to Pastor Terry if you’re not a regular to be sure we’re meeting. All are welcome, to discover the intersection of sacred story and modern life with an open mind.
  • The BCUCC Theological Book Clubwill be reading, Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr.  In this book, Father Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries, how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth.  We will meet at 7:00p.m. on Wed 8/29 to discuss Chapters 7-13.  We gather at the home of the Hills; please call or email Jim and Karen for directions at 714-693-0261 or jandkhill@mac.com and join our conversation.

  • Thursdays 6:30- Tai Chi with Karen Hill- a gentle and meditative movement. We meet in the sanctuary.  Starts August 30, continues through September, except September 13.  Karen Hill will guide us in this gentle meditative movement: restorative for body and soul. All ages welcome. Wear comfortable stretchable clothing; layers so you can be a comfortable temperature.

“Everyday Peacemaking” Compassionate Communication practice groups will continue on a monthly basis: Tuesday mornings 10-11:30am in the church office, 8/28* and 9/18.  Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm in the Hall, 8/28 and 9/25. Practice speaking your truth in love, and listening from the heart. No experience necessary. (*Note date change.)

The heart of most spiritual practices is simply this:

Remember who you are. Remember what you love. Remember what is sacred.

Remember what is true. Remember that you will die and that this day is a gift.

 Remember how you wish to live.

– Wayne Mueller

Creation Care Tip:  Carpool… to work, school, church, events… not only will you save gas, you’ll gain companionship.

 

CUCC News for Sunday, August 12, 2018

News and Upcoming Events

  • Hymn Sing starting at 9:50am continues through Labor Day weekend, users choice!
  • Sunday August 12: Sunday Worship 10am. Bible reading: Numbers 22:12-35. Theme: Wrong Train!  The second talking animal in the bible, and a funny story that isn’t in the assigned lectionary.
  • Sunday August 12: Guest Musician: Armand Melnbārdis will play classical violin pieces.  Armand was born in Latvia and lives in Long Beach. He has performed violin and piano since the age of 12 in genres including classical, pop, metal, and jazz, solo and with a variety of well-known artists on recordings, stage, and TV.  If you want to experience heavy metal violin, search Armand on Facebook.
  • Wednesday August 15, 6:30 pm: Join your church friends for a Big Band Concert in the Park. At Brea City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd. Details at Sunday worship or contact Pastor Terry.
  • Friday August 17: YAYA’s Movie Night 5-10 pm—“The Greatest Showman.” Free dinner and childcare, costumes, trivia contests and more.  If you haven’t seen the movie, come find out why people love it. YAYA’s means Youth and Young Adults, and they take the lead but, everybody else is very welcome!
  • Monday August 27: Evening cardio and martial arts classes start! In Sequoia Hall; teens to elders are welcome.  Free to church members!
  • Choir starts again Thursday August 30; practice at 7:30pm. Beginners welcome!

 

Ongoing

  • Bible Study is Thursdays 9:15-10:15am in the church office. We may take days off in the summer; RSVP to Pastor Terry if you’re not a regular to be sure we’re meeting. All are welcome, to discover the intersection of sacred story and modern life with an open mind.
  • The BCUCC Theological Book Clubwill be reading, Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr.  In this book, Father Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries, how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth.  We will meet at 7:00p.m. on Wed. 8/15 to discuss Chapters 1-6 and again on 8/29 to discuss Chapters 7-13.  We gather at the home of the Hills; please call or email Jim and Karen for directions at 714-693-0261 or jandkhill@mac.com and join our conversation.

  • “Everyday Peacemaking” Compassionate Communication practice groups will continue on a monthly basis: Tuesday mornings 10-11:30am in the church office, 8/21 and 9/18. Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm in the Hall, 8/28 and 9/25. Practice speaking your truth in love, and listening from the heart. No experience necessary.

Pastor Search Committee Update

The Pastor Search Committee met with Rev. Felix Villanueva from the Southern California Nevada Conference UCC on Sunday, August 5, 2018 after church.  Felix explained the challenges of a church in the transition of finding a permanent pastor.  Felix said that the most important thing for the Committee to do is to share information with the congregation.  So, if you do not find us communicating enough, please let us know.  The Committee has taken an absolute vow of confidentiality to protect the candidates.  We cannot tell you specifically who, what or where, but we can certainly tell you HOW we are going about the pastor search.

HOW long?

Felix has had a great deal of experience with this process.  Generally, the process from this point to the time when the Search Committee brings their chosen candidate to the congregation can be anywhere from six (6) to eighteen (18) months.  It may take longer.  The Committee has been given the tools to spread a big net and narrow down the field.

WHAT Next?

The church profile has been approved by the Southern California Nevada Conference UCC.  Now the Committee is preparing the short ad promoting the pastoral position for posting on the web.  If you know of someone you think might be interested in the position, feel free to tell them to contact the Conference at arroyo@scncucc.org.  Generally speaking, the candidate needs to be a pastor within UCC or DOC or willing to seek standing with the UCC.  Seminarians could also be considered.

WHAT can I do?

We ask that you pray for each of the committee members as we have a daunting task ahead of us.  Also, look for us on Sundays.  We will be wearing the “Ask Me” buttons.  Know that if we have not reported in a while it means we are behind the scenes working hard on the church’s behalf. But do not hesitate to ask any of the Committee for an update.  We welcome all inquiries that do not breach confidentiality.

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

– Albert Einstein

 

Creation Care Tip:  Reuse beats recycling.  Invest in those cute little reusables… or give them as gifts.  Bags, bamboo sporks, straws that fit in a purse, pocket or glove compartment.  Car cups that go with you to the coffee shop.  Ziploc bag alternatives.  Then let us know your favorites!

BCUCC News for Sunday, August 5, 2018

News and Upcoming Events

  • Sunday August 5: Potluck after worship!  All are welcome.  Bring a dish to share.
    First Food Sunday.  Bring food to worship for Brea residents in need. Typically needed to supplement bulk food supplies: canned fruit, healthy lunch snacks, jams and jellies, oatmeal, easy-open foods for people without kitchen access.
  • Sunday August 5: Communion Sunday.  Guest Preacher: Rev. Felix Villanueva.  Felix has been serving as our UCC Southern California Nevada Conference Minister for 8 years, bringing us innovative programs and ideas, including clergy coaching, which Pastor Terry appreciates.  He is originally from Puerto Rico.  He previously served as a Navy chaplain, and as a pastor in San Diego.
  • Thursday August 9: Worship Committee meets at 1:30pm in the church office.
  • Thursday August 9: Art and Soul. 2:30-4:30 pm in the church hall.  Come feed your soul with art.  Bring your favorite (easily portable) art supplies if you like, or use ours. We will have a short meditation, then work and play, together or independently, on a project. Also, share ideas for future arts at BCUCC!  Teens and adults welcome.
  • Wednesday August 15, 6:30 pm: Join your church friends for a Big Band Concert in the Park. At Brea City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd. Stay tuned for details.
  • Friday August 17: YAYA’s Movie Night—“The Greatest Showman” with food, games and more.  Stay tuned for details!
  • Monday August 27: evening cardio and martial arts classes start! In Sequoia Hall; teens to elders are welcome.  Free to church members!

 

Ongoing

  • Bible Study is Thursdays 9:15-10:15am in the church office. We may take days off in the summer; RSVP to Pastor Terry if you’re not a regular to be sure we’re meeting. Topic is 2 Samuel (King David).  All are welcome, to discover the intersection of sacred story and modern life with an open mind.
  • The BCUCC Theological Book Clubwill be reading, Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr.  In this book, Father Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most profound of life’s mysteries, how our failings can be the foundation for our ongoing spiritual growth.  We will meet at 7:00p.m. on Wednesday, August 15th to discuss Chapters 1-6 and again on August 29th to discuss Chapters 7-13.  We gather at the home of the Hills; please call or email Jim and Karen for directions at 714-693-0261 or jandkhill@mac.com and join our conversation.

 

The Southern California Nevada Conference

of the United Church of Christ:

The Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ (“The Conference”) is made up of over 130 local churches in the geographical region that lies south of the northern boundaries of San Bernardino, Kern, and San Luis Obispo Counties and includes Clark County of Nevada.

These 130+ congregations make up the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Central Associations. (BCUCC is in the Eastern Association.)

The goals and responsibilities of the Associations are as follows:

  • to cultivate a spirit of oneness in Christ among the member churches
  • to stimulate the spiritual life and mission of the member churches
  • and to authorize and nurture ministers and ministry in the local churches

These local congregations reflect our society’s racial, cultural, and ethnic diversity. Worship services are conducted in a variety of styles and in seven or more languages every Sunday morning!

The congregations of the Conference are connected through local, national, global, and ecumenical partnerships.

 

Mission of the Conference:

To embody a covenant of extravagant Christian love that empowers leaders, congregations, and communities in pursuit of a just world.

 

Conference Core Values:

  1. We experience covenant through extravagant hospitality that connects us in interdependent inclusive Christian community.
  2. We empower educated, innovative and ethical lay & clergy leaders for ministry.
  3. We are mission centric and relational.
  4. Our faith demands that we seek justice.