BCUCC News for Sunday, January 13, 2019

/in /by

 

News and Upcoming Events

  • Saturday January 12: Citizens Climate Lobby meets in Manzanita Hall, 9:30 am.

  • Worship Sunday January 13: Topic: “Gift of Water and Spirit.” Scripture: Acts 8:9-24.
  • Tuesday, January 15, Church Council, 7 pm in Joshua Tree Room:
  • Tuesday, January 22: Everyday Peacemaking: Compassionate Communication.  Two sessions, at 10-11:30am or 7-8:30pm.  Both in the Church Office.  RSVP requested to Pastor Terry.  Topic: “Care-full conversations”- showing you care even when you’re tense!

  • Thursday, January 31: Taizé service at 6:30 pm in Sequoia Hall.

Save the dates:

  • Saturday February 2, 10am to noon: Teach-in on Racism, led by Mike Rodriguez
  • February 15-18: Common Good Film Festival at Claremont School of Theology.  View film from a process relational theology perspective.  See http://whiteheadfilmfestival.org for details.
  • Saturday March 9: Chapman University Founder’s Day.  A day of celebration and learning for UCC and Disciples.  Learn about the St. John’s Bible.  Written on vellum using medieval calligraphic techniques with luminous illustrations, the St. John’s Bible seeks to awaken a biblical passion for social justice and appreciation for art, science, and discovery.  Complete information at http://www.chapman.edu/founders-day.

 


Ongoing

  • Tai Chi is Thursdays at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary, January 17 and 24.
  • Bible Study is on Thursdays at 2-3pm.  We will resume after the holidays January 10.  Join us in the pastor’s office; you are always welcome.  We are studying the Gospel of John.  Lively discussion about what scripture means to us today. No homework! 

  • Choir practice Thursdays at 7:30pm.  Like to sing but not sure you’re ready for prime time?  Jessica Cosley is a fabulous teacher and our choir is a great place to grow musically. Join us!

 

  •    The BCUCC Theological Book Club will begin reading a new book, In the Shelter, by Padraig O Tuama.  There’s an old Irish proverb: ‘It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.’  Interweaving everyday stories with analysis, gospel reflections with mindfulness and Celtic spirituality with poetry, this book explores the practice of welcoming as a spiritual discipline.  It is comforting and inspiring.  Come join the fun and discussions at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, January 9th for chapters 1-3, January 23rd for chapters 4-6, and February 6th for chapters 7-10.  We’ll meet at the Hill household.  Please email at jandkhill@mac.com or call 714-693-0261 for directions.  See you then!

 

 

UCC’s ONA movement celebrates milestone – 1,500 churches

A small New Hampshire congregation, along with the Open and Affirming Coalition United Church of Christ, marked an important milestone on New Year’s Eve — by becoming the 1,500th ONA church in the denomination.

“It was very exciting to find out we were the 1,500th UCC church to become ONA,” said the Rev. Sharon van der Laan, pastor of Lancaster Congregational United Church of Christ, Lancaster, N.H. “I think I yelled it out! And we announced it on Sunday of course.”

The milestone was hailed by the Open and Affirming Coalition. “We’re the largest and fastest-growing LGBTQ-affirming church movement in the world, and our growth has accelerated over the past several years,” said the Coalition’s executive director, Andy Lang. “Almost all churches in the UCC that identify as ‘progressive’ have already taken this step, but increasingly we’re seeing accelerated growth among more traditional and rural churches. These are churches that 10 years ago would never have dreamed that ONA was right for them. We’re now learning that ONA is a good fit for any congregation, wherever they may fall on the theological spectrum.”