BCUCC News for Sunday, March 4, 2018

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In the Coming Week  

  • Sun. March 4: First Food Sunday and Potluck! Bring nonperishable food items to be collected in worship.  Then join us for a potluck lunch.
  • Sun. March 4: Worship Theme: Demystifying Prayer. Bible reading: Mark 4:35-41.  After worship: It’s Your Turn to talk!  Discuss a sermon, ask a question, ponder a current event or topic. Or just stop by and listen. Pastor Terry will be at a table in Fellowship Hall with coffee in hand awaiting your input 15 minutes after worship ends.

    Upcoming

  • Sat. Mar. 10 – Chapman University Founder’s Day. Lectures by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine on Bible, Gender and Sexuality. Details and registration at: https://www.chapman.edu/about/church-relations/founders-day/index.aspx
  •  Sunday March 11: Worship theme: Gracious Challenge and Forgiveness.  Bible Reading: Mark 7:24-29.
  • Sunday March 11: One Great Hour of Sharing. The UCC’s biggest mission offering, for locally-run missions all over the world, as well as disaster relief supplies ready at a moment’s notice. Checks can be made to BCC, with “OGHS” in the memo line. http://www.ucc.org/oghs
  • Sun. March 18: Connecting Voices:  Elizabeth Hansburg is an urban planner by training. In January of 2017, she started People For Housing Orange County, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization that advocates for new housing construction in existing communities. P4H is part of a “YIMBY” (Yes in my backyard) movement that puts into practice Jesus’ teaching, “Love your neighbor.”


Ongoing

  •  The BCUCC Theological Book Club is beginning a new book.  For a change of pace, we will be reading a book of fiction that shows theology through creative transformation and the persuasive power of God.  The book is Augustown by Kei Miller.  Augustown, set in the backlands of Jamaica, is a magical and haunting novel of one woman’s struggle to rise above the brutal vicissitudes of history, race, class, collective memory, violence, and myth.  We will read the first 116 pages and have a discussion on Wednesday, March 14, and then the rest of the novel for the next meeting on March 28.  We meet at 7:00p.m. at the home of Karen and Jim Hill.  Light refreshments are provided.  Please phone or email for directions at 714-693-0261 or jandkhill@mac.com.  Looking forward to a lively discussion together.  See you there.
  • Choir practice on Thursdays at 7:30pm in the music room. We love newcomers! Give us a try.

What is One Great Hour of Sharing?
One Great Hour of Sharing is the special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that carries God’s message of love and hope to people in crisis.  Almost 60 percent of the UCC’s offering supports international development initiatives, including annual support for missionaries working in disaster relief, health care, education, sustainable agricultural development, and refugee support. The offering also funds disaster preparedness and response, and disaster related volunteer initiatives in the U.S. This voluntary offering makes a difference!
 
UCC missionaries are always sent at the request of, and in partnership with, local organizations, to meet special needs those local organizations identify, and to respect the decisions and values of the people we serve.
 
            On average, of every dollar given to One Great Hour of Sharing, 95 cents is used directly for mission programming, and the remaining 5 cents is used to create interpretation materials. Administrative costs are paid by gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission National Basic Support.

 

Creation Care Tip:  Do you order beverages that come in disposable containers?  Why not bring your own car cup? Many coffee shops will discount you a nickel, and if you are a regular purchaser of drinks, the savings in waste will add up.  Do you lose your car cup regularly? Me too. They can be bought at thrifts stores for a dollar or two.