Light in the Darkness: Reflections at the Close of the Year
The Rev. Dr. Mary Westfall, Transitional Executive Presbyter
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A little over a week ago we marked “Reign of Christ” Sunday, sometimes called “Christ the King” Sunday. The liturgical year came to an end as we envisioned God’s will being accomplished on earth, as in heaven, proclaiming the triumph of love, justice and mercy, despite evidence to the contrary. Celebrated just before Thanksgiving we joined our hopes for the future with our gratitude for the present and the abundance with which God has blessed us. As the church year ended, we paused to consider who God is calling us to be as we move into a new year.
Now, with leftover turkey still in the refrigerator, we start a new church year and over the coming weeks we will light Advent candles of hope, peace, joy and love. Against a backdrop of horrific shootings that continue to take innocent lives, racial disparities, political division and global unrest, we light candles in the darkness, affirming the Light that came into the world that no darkness can overcome.
It is no small thing that we do, for in lighting these simple candles we refuse despair and deny futility. Clear-eyed about the challenges that confront the church, our communities and nation, we lean into the promise of the One who will redeem and transform all things. We light candles of resistance, candles of commitment, candles that rekindle within us a sense of purpose as the body of Christ, those called to proclaim good news. And what is the good news we bring to these times?
In the following pages, as we bring one year to a close and start another, you will find encouraging articles about the ways our presbytery is engaged in living out the good news. Here you will learn about celebrations and stories shared at our most recent presbytery meeting, receive an invitation to an upcoming educational “courageous conversations” series, find out about new ways churches are participating in their communities, and be inspired by those who are standing up to address gun violence. You will receive an invitation to join a celebration of Christian unity and also a Taize Advent worship opportunity at one of our churches. As you read you will get glimpses of the new things God is doing in our midst.
As we light candles this Advent season, may we also ignite flames of hope, as we boldly witness to the immensity of love in the face of division and proclaim again “joy to the world,” even as we weep with those who mourn. Together, from Red Bluff to Turlock and Patterson to Placerville, we are North Central California Presbytery, the people of God, bearing witness to the One who walked among us to show us how to live with courage and compassion, justice and joy. May our lives shine on!
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Prayer In the Midst of Gun Violence |
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Creator God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation has caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the God who desires that we live together in peace. Amen
- Sisters of Mercy
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November Presbytery Meeting Recap |
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Didn’t make it to the November meeting of NCCP? Click on this link below for a 2-page summary of the highlights and a few photos. Moderators and Clerks of Session are encouraged to share this with session members. It can also help jog elder commissioner’s memories when it is time to make their report! |
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Trunk or Treat Extravaganza |
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On October 30, Bethany Presbyterian Church hosted a “Trunk or Treat Extravaganza” for our neighborhood in south Sacramento. We had planned on 100 guests, but most of us believed it would be much smaller. Well, let’s just say that the Spirit moves in mysterious ways, and we ended up welcoming roughly 2000 visitors! Our event organizer and a member of our session, Candace Keefauver, got the word out to Fox 40 and the local radio stations, and arranged for a festival-like atmosphere on our campus. Our hula hooper, Kia, taught her craft to children, while other guests nodded their heads to the West African rhythms played by our local drummer. We rented a huge bouncy house which was a huge hit, and a DJ played music from our patio. Volunteers from Bethany and Grace Presbyterian Church raced off to local grocery stores to replenish our candy reserves. All of our volunteers feel we now have an intimate understanding of what Jesus and the twelve disciples experienced during the feeding of the 5,000! Thanks be to God, everyone had a great time; and despite a hot sun, long lines, and a finite supply of food, everyone remained gracious and kind. This was a gift of love to the local community – we wanted to share that we care and after the Covid Pandemic, we felt like it was time to party! There’s so much to learn from this experience, but ultimately, we felt there are still many ways our churches can reach out to the community in creative new ways, and the Spirit is still blowing in incredible ways throughout our world! |
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North Central California Presbytery Supports Sacramento Community Gun Buy Back Program
Event on October 22, 2022 was a Huge Success
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The North Central California Presbytery (NCCP) and the North State Ecumenical Committee (NSEC) partnered with the Sacramento Police Department to help make our communities safer by accepting guns from individuals who wanted to donate them. The Gun Buy Back event held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, resulted in 275 guns being surrendered. Volunteers interfaced with the public while Police Officers examined and secured each gun. Volunteers from NCCP included Nancy Disher, Cheryl and Doug Hunt, plus NSEC members and Lt. Brent with his team of community servants.
A $50.00 Amazon gift card was given per operable gun and up to 3 gift cards were allowed per person which culminated in over 12,000 dollars. This event was originally planned for 2 hours however ran 2 hours over for a total of 4 hours. People were so committed they waited up to 2 hours in their cars to give up their guns. To witness people grateful for this safe solution is very encouraging while promoting safer communities.
The plan is once the Sacramento Police Department make the guns inoperable is to have a Blacksmith
create the guns into garden tools and art.
The first Sacramento Gun Buy Back event was held in May 2022 and 134 guns were relinquished. This event more than doubled that number. There is truly a need and desire to keep holding these Gun Buy Back events in Sacramento.
Thank you NCCP for supporting this important community service program.
Submitted by Nancy Disher
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Courageous Conversation on Race. Understanding White Christian Nationalism |
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This Bible based study explains White Christian Nationalism and the “Real origins of the Religious Right”. White Christian Nationalists seek to establish a Christian nation, by any means necessary, even if those means undermine democracy. The movement continues to support white domination, supremacy and systemic racial inequalities and policies.
Class format will be a mix of reading scriptures, short presentations, video viewing and Q&A in the main Zoom room. Breakout sessions will be used to facilitate further discussions and reflections if time allows.
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Thursdays on Zoom from 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM
Part 1: Dec. 1, Dec. 8, Dec.15.
Class facilitators: Dr. Beatrice Russell and Pastor Dr. Bob Azzarito.
Part 2: will begin in January 2023 via Zoom
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Meeting ID: 876 6604 1853.
Meeting ID: 876 6604 1853.
Meeting ID: 876 6604 1853.
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This zoom class is open to all! |
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All those congregations that received grants from Mission Support before and need to apply for another grant for fiscal year 2023, the deadline to apply is December 15, 2022.
Thank you,
Edrine Ddungu, Chair MS
eddungu35@gmail.com
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Project Regeneration and Church Sustainability |
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Join Maggie Harmon for a one hour webinar on January 11, 2023 at 4pm PT.
Please register below.
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Special Event for Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity
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Save the date for a very Special Event on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme is: DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE (cf. Isaiah 1:17). This special event is sponsored by the North State Ecumenical Conference (NSEC), which was established in 1968 and is comprised of Christian faiths in the Greater Sacramento Area. The event will consist of the following key segments:
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Tuesday, January 17, 2023
· Panel Discussion (2:00 pm) with several Christian faith leaders, who will address the topic of: DO GOOD; SEEK JUSTICE.
· Featured Speaker (4:00 pm) – TBA
· Dinner (5:00 pm)
· Worship Prayer Service/Evensong (6:30 pm) led by Christian faith leaders and delivery of an inspirational sermon.
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This event will be livestreamed and available on YouTube.
There is no charge for this Special Event. Donations may be made to the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services (please make reference to: NSEC Special Event). To donate please click on the following link Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
Thank you!
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Nancy Disher, NSEC Presbytery Representative at (916) 792 -7725, or E-mail: njdisher@garlic.com.
May we all DO GOOD
and SEEK JUSTICE so that ALL may be ONE
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Dear sisters serving the Presbyterian Church,
I have recently joined the Presbyterian Women’s national Board as the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board’s representative. As you might already know, PW has been one of the pillars of the PCUSA for decades, active in all aspects of the church and society.
If you feel called to serve at a national level and represent the church as a woman of faith, a great opportunity is now presented to be part of the Presbyterian Women’s delegation to the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women 67! This year’s CSW will be hybrid, and you can choose to join in person or online.
As a delegate you be expected to engage in advocacy efforts, to plan and participate in worship services, to attend and lead educational events, and to share these experiences using social media and other communication tools.
Details:
- Focus: “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”
- When: March 6-17, 2023
- Location: UN Headquarters in New York City and online
- Cost: $0 for online; TBD for in-person
- Application deadline: Saturday, December 10, 2022
- Scholarships might be available through PW or the NCCP.
Salaam,
Rev. Rola Al Ashkar
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During the season of Advent, the Christmas Joy Offering is a time to remember and reflect on our perfect gift from God: Jesus Christ. This child, God’s Word made flesh, became one of us, leading us. Through the Christmas Joy Offering, we reflect God’s perfect gift to us with support of leaders among us — past, present and future. Resources for interpretation of the Offering like worship, sermon and curriculum can be found here. The hymn “How Great Our Joy” recorded by the Menaul School, a recipient of Christmas Joy Offering funds, is available to share on your social media channels. Click here for both the hymn text and a video of the Menaul School’s choir.
Looking for information about the four General Assembly-mandated Special Offerings of the PC(USA)? Click here for a flyer that shares the 2023 seasons and receiving dates as well as the distribution and remittance of funds and here to learn about how the Special Offerings embody Matthew 25. We are the Church, together … and together, we are building the household of God. |
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New From The Office Of Christian Formation |
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Why Presbyterians Are Like That is a 10-session Bible study designed for college students and young adults. The Office of Christian Formation has partnered with UKirk Collegiate Ministries to offer this series of free downloadable PDF Bible studies based on one Presbyterian chaplain’s suggestion of 10 reasons Presbyterians are the way we are. The study was written by Austin College chaplain and director of Church Relations the Rev. Dr. John Williams. To learn more or for individual lesson PDFs, click here. There will be an adaptation of this resource available in early 2023 for other adult class settings. |
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News From The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program - 2023 Travel Study Seminars |
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Apply soon, as the deadlines are fast approaching for the Peacemaking Program’s Travel Study Seminars in 2023: 1) Philippines and Hong Kong (Feb. 3–17, 2023) — Explore the root causes and current challenges of forced migration and labor trafficking; 2) Puerto Rico (March 13–March 20, 2023) — Engage the political, social and racial dynamics revealed by catastrophes, including the church’s response to them; and 3) Native Lands of the Southwest (April 28–May 7, 2023) — Deepen your awareness of the Doctrine of Discovery and its lasting legacy today. |
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Faith & Politics Resources |
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Submitted by Faith and Politics team at Faith PC |
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North Central California Presbytery
5645 Marconi Ave.
Carmichael, CA, 95608
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