BCUCC News for Sunday, May 12, 2019
News and Upcoming Events
· Sunday, May 12: Worship at 10am. Theme: “Faith in Action”. Scripture: Acts 9:36-42. Open Choir rehearsal at 9am—no previous practice necessary!
· Tuesday, May 14: BCUCC Lunch Bunch meets at 11:45am, at Coco’s on Imperial near State College Ave. All are welcome to this informal fellowship gathering. RSVP to Pastor Terry so we can save you a spot.
· Bible Study is beginning the Book of Jeremiah, Thurs May 16, 2-3pm. What a great time to join in! No homework; all perspectives and questions welcome.
· Sunday, May 19: Brief Congregational Meeting after worship to vote on whether to join other UCC churches in a resolution of witness supporting HR763. For info about this bill, see https://energyinnovationact.org/how-it-works
· Sunday, May 19: ‘FAST WITH A MUSLIM” IFTAR Our friends at the Anaheim mosque — the Islamic Institute of Orange County — have invited us to join them in a meal to break the Ramadan fast (Iftar) on Sunday, May 19. Those who attended last year remember a rich evening of interfaith fellowship! The event begins at 6:45pm, and will include a brief intro to Ramadan, a sunset prayer, and a wonderful meal to break the day’s fast. By the way, fasting for the day, or even part of the day, is completely voluntary. Please RSVP by May 15th to outreach@iioc.com. Carpools will be arranged from the BCUCC lot.
· Wednesday, May 22: 10am, Recycling Tour at Republic Recycling Facility, 1131 N. Blue Gum St. Meet at the church at 9:40am for carpool. Only 3 parking spaces for visitors, so carpooling is a must! Sign up on Kiosk, or email Sharon Bolle atjsbolle@pacbell.net
· Friday and Saturday, June 7-8: UCC Annual Gathering of the Southern California Nevada Conference at Chapman University in Orange. Join us for workshops on spirituality, activism, effective church leadership and more. Make connections with other progressive Christians throughout our region.
· Pilgrim Pines Summer Camp is taking registrations now. Week-long camps for children grades 1-12 run from July 7 to August 3. (Special adult/child (ages 3-7) camp July 7-10.) See pilgrimpinescamp.org/summer-camp/for complete information.
· June 22: OC Pride Parade and celebration. Join the Parade and have fun with us!
News
· The Interfaith Shelter Network that our church was a part of has closed because of lack of funding and too few participating churches. This ministry has been a deeply meaningful opportunity for learning and service for many of us. As we mourn this loss, we will be in discernment about other options for serving the homeless. Our friend Shelley Lipscombe, who was on-site staff for ISN, is safely settled with housing and part-time employment. We are grateful to have given food, shelter and friendship to shelter guests for so many years. Our deep appreciation goes to Ann Marshall and the other volunteer coordinators who made this ministry possible. Please feel free to pray and to share your thoughts with the Council as we move forward into God’s future with this important ministry.
· Mike Flynn, husband of Lauren Stearns, was hit by a car and seriously injured. He is in a lot of pain and faces a long recovery. Please keep the family in your prayers; notes of encouragement and love are also appropriate.
· On Tuesday, May 14th, People for Housing OC are co-hosting an information and discussion forum with California YIMBY at the Brea Civic Center, 6:30-8:30 pm on the bold changes needed to address the housing crisis. We’ve priced out a generation from housing in California; more people than ever are impacted by housing instability. What will it take to fix it? They’ll break down the realities and discuss bold solutions.
· Claremont School of Theology will begin its move from Claremont, CA to Salem, Oregon in the 2019-20 school year. It is formally affiliating with Willamette University in order to be economically sustainable. Andy Schwartz, Executive Director of the Process Center will relocate this fall. Most in-person offerings will be in Oregon by the 2020-21 school year. If you want to immerse yourself in Process Theology here in SoCal, take advantage of three week-long courses being held in Claremont this June 3-7. See for more information: https://ctr4process.org/event/process-theology-summer-institute-2/.
Ongoing
· Tai Chi Thursdays at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary. Check with Karen Hill which Thursdays. Next dates: May 23rd and 30th.
• The BCUCC Theological Book Club will be reading Making a Way Out of No Way, by Monica A. Coleman. Coleman articulates the African American expression of “making a way out of no way” in today’s context of globalization, religious pluralism, and sexual diversity. Drawing on womanist religious scholarship and process thought, Coleman describes the symbiotic relationship between God and humanity that helps to change the world into the just society it ought to be. Come join the discussion on Wednesday, May 15 at 7pm at the Hill household. Please email or phone Jim or Karen for directions at jandkhill@mac.com or 714-693-0261. See you then!
We feel small and weak, but we are gathered together to signify the power of God
who transforms death into life. That is our hope, that God is doing the impossible:
changing death to life inside of each of us, and that perhaps, through our community,
each one of us can be agents in the world of this transformation
of brokenness into wholeness, and of death into life.
-Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche