Seal Southern California Nevada Conference

of The United Church of Christ

E-News

May 15, 2008

Calendar

Table of Contents

Annual Gathering

Jeffrey Mensendiek offers Workshop at Annual Gathering

2008 Boundary Training

Sacred conversation About Race and Racism

Resources for sacred conversation on Race

Local UCC Author

North Korean Dance & Music

Concert at CCUCC Los Alamitos

Matthew Shepard Foundation Reception

Summer Camp

Women's Spiritual Retreat

UCC Musicians Association Event

SING Prayer and Praise

Western Christian Educator's Conference

Fellowship of UCC Architects

Annual Gathering 2008

Registration Deadline extended!

The Registration Deadline of May 9^th has passed. To help the planning committee make reservations for food and plan for space, and to responsibly steward the resources of the conference, we are asking for accurate counts this year. If you have not registered, PLEASE do so today.

The deadline for registration is being extended until May 23^rd. Registrations received after May 23^rd cannot be guaranteed meals and will be subject to a late registration fee of $10.00.

Thank you very much for your help in passing this message to your congregation, and we look forward to welcoming you to a grand celebration in June!

Jeffrey Mensendiek offers Workshop at Annual Gathering

Global Ministries: Discovering Christ in our Neighbors
Have you ever noticed that when you put yourself in a
cross cultural setting, your neighbors give you many
rich questions to ponder? And perhaps that these questions
in fact lead you closer to Christ? We will share the questions
that are close to our hearts, and learn about overseas exposure
opportunities through Common Global Ministries.

This workshop has been added to list of availabe workshops on Friday, June 20th. If you have already registered for Annual Gathering and would like to attend this workshop, please e-mail Keith Clark with your request by May 23rd.

2008 Boundary Training Workshops

The Southern California Nevada Conference, United Church of Christ and the Pacific Southwest Region, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will once again offer joint boundary training for clergy. All clergy in the Southern California Nevada Conference are required to complete Boundary Training every five years. Your Association can advise you if you need to complete this mandatory training.

There will be three sessions offered this year using two different sets of materials. All sessions will be on a Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost for materials and lunch is $20. Please complete the registration form below indicating your preference. Registration is due two weeks prior to the session.

For those of you who did your first training in 2004, please consider doing the Basic Boundary Training in 2008. This material is different than the material used in 2004. By taking this training in 2008, we hope to ease the burden of overcrowded sessions for the large numbers who are due to retrain in 2009.

Basic Boundary Training
May 31, 2008, Disciples Seminary Foundation, 200 W Foothills Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711
September 6, 2008, Disciples Center, 201 Fir St, San Diego, CA 92101
This workshop will use the video series from the Faith Trust Institute titled "A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers." This material consists of four modules addressing power and authority, relationships, psycho-social/intimacy concerns, and clergy self-care. There will be an interactive segment following the viewing of each video.

Clergy Sexual Ethics
October 11, 2008, Disciples Seminary Foundation, 300 W Foothills Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711
Clergy Sexual Ethics training is a more intensive program focusing solely on this area.

Please contact the Conference Office at 626-798-8082 or arroyo@scncucc.org with any questions or concerns. Mail your registration form with payment to:

SCNC-UCC Boundary Training

2401 N. Lake Avenue

Altadena, CA 91101-2418.

Sacred Conversation About Race and Racism

Resources for Sacred Conversation on Race

Friends, here is another compilation for your convenience,

Jane Fisler Hoffman

http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/

Local UCC Member Co-Authors Children's Book

Chris Carlson, a member of Mt. Hollywood UCC, has co-authored Puddlejumbers

About The Book:

Ernie Banks, named for the legendary Chicago Cub shortstop, is a troubled, 13-year-old juvenile delinquent. Abandoned on the doorstep of the Lakeside Home for Boys when he was three years old, he's now considered a "lifer," a permanent ward of the state. His only proof that he once belonged to somebody is a vintage Ernie Banks baseball card, a crystal acorn he wears on a string around his neck, and a strange spiral birthmark on the bottom of his right foot.

As a last reprieve before being sent to a juvenile detention facility, Ernie is allowed to spend three weeks on a working farm. When Ernie arrives at the home of Russ Frazier, he learns that the widower's baby was kidnapped years before. The single piece of evidence was a red quilt found in a puddle in the nearby woods.

Fascinated by the town's famous "Quilt Baby" kidnapping, Ernie is determined to solve the case. He teams up with Joey, a local tomboy, to investigate clues that lead them on a dangerous journey into a forbidden world of dark secrets, magic puddles, and the cavernous underground kingdom of the Puddlejumpers -- eleven-inch-tall water creatures with whom Ernie has a mysterious connection.

When destiny summons, Ernie must find the courage to save the Puddlejumpers from the Most Dark and lead them in battle against their mortal enemies. Only then can he find his way home.

ISBN: 9781423107590

Price: $16.99

Available at our local Cokesbury Bookstore in Pasadena:

478 E. Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91101

(626) 796-5773

(877) 432--8802 toll free

North Korean Dance & Music

Note-A-Belles Concert at CCUCC Los Alamitos

The Note-A-Belles Women's Chorus of North Orange County presents a community concert at CCUCC, Los Alamitos, on Monday, June 9th, at 7:00 pm. CCUCC, The concert will feature Broadway favorites, spiritual music, and other popular songs. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Refreshments will be served after the concert.

The Note-A-Belles are sponsored by the North Orange County Community College District, directed by Dr. Paul V. Kubiak, and accompanied by Beata Brandt. The group has been in existence for over forty years and have entertained at the Nixon Library, Night in Fullerton, civic organizations, churches, and retirement homes.

CCUCC, Los Alamitos is located at 4111 Katella Avenue, Los Alamitos, CA, 90720. For more information, and directions, please visit, http://www.ccucclosal.org.

Matthew Shepard Foundation Las Vegas Reception

The Matthew Shepard Foundation invites you to a special reception to raise money for their important work of Erasing Hate. Special guests Judy and Dennis Shepard will make remarks. This will be a rare opportunity to meet both Judy and Dennis together as Dennis works overseas and is not usually available to attend events. It will also be the one and only time to see both Judy and Dennis in Las Vegas during 2008, the tenth anniversary year of Matthew's death.

MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION LAS VEGAS RECEPTION

REMARKS BY
JUDY AND DENNIS SHEPARD

LIBERACE MUSEUM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

JUNE 11, 2008
6:30 PM

HOST COMMITTEE
$1000 Suggested Donation
$500 Suggested Donation

TICKETS
$50 Suggested Donation

Students - free with ID
Email pgdlv@mac.com

HOST COMMITTEE?
At this time we are seeking individuals to join the Host Committee for this event, which will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, starting at 6:30 PM at the Liberace Museum. The event will feature a short DVD about Matthew and the work of the Foundation, words by Judy and Dennis, and a question and answer session. Refreshments will be served.

As a member of the Host Committee you will be asked to commit a minimum of $500.00 per person to the event and to promote the event to friends and family. Tickets for the event will be priced at $50.00, free to students.

Host Committee members who give or raise $1,000.00 will also be invited to a small private "thank you" cocktail reception on Saturday night, June 14, 2008 with Judy and Dennis at the home of Tom Kovach and Matt McCarthy.

If you are interested in joining the Host Committee or donating to the event, please reply by April 30, 2008.

For further information, please contact Paul G. De Vido at 702-300-1098 or pgdlv@mac.com or visit http://www.matthewshepard.org

Summer Camp

Summer Camp Registration is Open!!

It is time to start thinking about Summer Camp at Pilgrim Pines! Brochures for both our General Program and for our Pinester program are available and have been sent out.

We have some exciting new programs for High School age campers as well as a new program for Special Needs folks. More information is available on our website. Also, we are always here to chat if you have any questions.

Registration Dates are as Follows:
UCC Priority-February 1st-June 28th
Returning Campers-March 1st-June 28th
Open Enrollment-April 1st-June 28th

If you would like a brochure or more registration forms contact the camp office or download the forms from our website.

Looking forward to Summer Camp 2008 with YOU!!

Women's Spirituality Retreat

Discovering Our Faith Stories

7:00 pm Friday June 6 to 10:00 am Sunday June 8

Join us for a weekend full of spirituality and rejuvenation. A time to reconnect with your inner spirit and find peace and healing. This exciting, but relaxing weekend will be led by last years facilitator Rev. Lisa Maddox.

* Meditation * Bible Study * Massage Therapy * Yoga * Guided Hiking * Labyrinth Walks
* Music * Small Group Sharing * Arts & Crafts * Worship * Campfire

Cost: $100.00

Massage Therapy: An additional cost, payable directly to therapists. Please contact the Pilgrim Pines Office as soon as possible for massage reservations.

Registration: Registrations can be filled out as a group or individually. All forms available on our website.

Registration Deadline is May 16, 2008*

For More Information:
Contact our office at (909) 797-1821 or (800) 616-6612
Or visit our website at www.pilgrimpinescamp.org

Over 100 Years of Outstanding Sermons

Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church Invites you to meet new pastor

For over 100 years the church goers of Mt. Hollywood (c. 1905) have enjoyed riveting sermons from their settled pastors, so when the congregation watched and listened to the Search Committee's pastoral candidate, Rachel Ciupek-Reed take charge of the service on Sunday April 20^th, they were not disappointed.

With an overwhelming vote of acceptance, members of the congregation and the Leadership Council called Rachel to be their teacher and pastor beginning July 1, 2008. She accepted, documents were signed and photos were taken.

Rachel Ciupek-Reed joins us from Northern California, where she recently graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. She holds a B.S. in Information Technology and has spent the last 10+ years working in fundraising and technology.

Before moving south, Rachel worked part-time as a computer consultant, and part-time as the Director of Outdoor Ministries for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC.

Coming with Rachel to Mount Hollywood is her 8-year old dog, DJ (short for Dolly Joni Mitchell Parton), a rescue from the Berkeley pound.

We invite you to come to Mt. Hollywood on July 6^th to see what all of the excitement is about. Worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. We are located on Prospect Avenue between Hillhurst and Vermont at 4607 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles 90027. Our phone number is 323-663-6577.

By: Aletha Rodgers, Search Committee Chair

UCC Musicians Association Event