This past Sunday was Transfiguration Sunday. This story from the gospels has always seemed fantastic to me, with a glowing Jesus, long-dead historical figures and terrified, bewildered disciples. One of my favorite parts of the story is where Mark writes: “Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’” For me, clouds always connote mystery and the state of unknowing. It is amid this unknowing darkness that a voice is heard instructing Peter, James and John to simply listen. Listen to Jesus, the Beloved one.

It has been an honor to serve the presbytery as your Bridge Executive Presbyter during this cloudy, mysterious time. Times of leadership transition are always a bit murky, as we try to discern who we are and who God is calling us to be in the future, and then allow that vision to inform the search for new leadership, in this case a new Executive Presbyter. Intentional discernment is what we need during cloudy times, and we have certainly been doing a lot of that with the work of Gospel, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, the Fund Redistribution Task Force and the Executive Presbyter Search Committee. Discernment can be exhausting though, so I’m thankful for the faithfulness of those who have served on all the task forces and committees of the presbytery.

In my service, I hope I have helped us simply listen to voice of the Christ. I know I have certainly heard Jesus speaking to me through so many in the presbytery. I’m thankful to have worked with such a tremendous staff. They have taught me a lot. I’m especially thankful for your trust in me during my eight months as the Bridge EP. I will pray for you often.

With gratitude,

Wes

Rev. Wes Nordman

Bridge Executive

North Central California Presbytery

For link, please click the link below

https://preshouse.org/

Attached you will find the Presbytery Meeting Summary for February 3rd.

The Executive Presbyter search team is coming into the new year with completed documents and a number of candidates that have applied for the position!

The team is enjoying reading about candidates, their stories, the passions they bring, and their desire to help others in a variety of different communities. 

The announcement closes February 29 (you get an extra day for leap year!). There is still time to apply and we want to hear from you!

We are thankful for the many prayers that continue to cover the team in both health and discernment as we dive into the important work of reviewing and researching candidates.

Seeking Justice in the Holy Land: A Conversation 

Friends of Sabeel: A Christian Voice for Palestine

Tuesday February 20th. 7pm - 8:30pm EASTERN

Attached you will find the final GEI report that was presented at the last Presbytery meeting on February 3rd.

Here’s an opportunity to reflect on who you are and on areas of presbytery service so you can serve according to your calling, use this tool from the Nominating Committee:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives in countries around the world who are willing to accept them.

Since 2016, Our Church has partnered with the Sacramento office of the I.R.C. to provide cash donations, “welcome kits” for furnishing bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens and new adult bicycles for basic transportation to employment interviews or commuting to and from work. In 2023. We were asked to again focus our financial support on providing bicycles, helmets, lights and locking cables so that the family’s breadwinner could find work beyond their local neighborhoods. These bicycles are in high demand by families who cannot afford to purchase a car or have not yet obtained a driver’s license.

In 2023 SVCC was forced to adopt a tight budget and there was no money available for this important mission project. Fortunately, we were awarded a grant of $6,000 from The Presbytery of North Central California Committee on Mission Support which meant that in August, we were able to deliver 24 brand new adult bicycles and the associated safety equipment to our I.R.C. partners for distribution to the many new Afghan families being settled into our area. 

By midyear SVCC’s budget had improved due to new renters, and due the generosity of some of our members, we were able in December to provide a check for $1,000 to the I.R.C. to purchase gift certificates to grocery stores, drug stores and children’s clothing stores for refugee families who are struggling during the current high inflation that the US is experiencing. Our goal for 2024 is to continue to support this “Bicycles for Work” Mission at last year’s level. We anticipate that we will only be able to get $3,000 in grant money from The Presbytery of North Central California Committee on Mission Support for 2024, so we will need to start early to find additional sources for grants and donations to close that gap.

Submitted By: Edrine Ddungu

New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA

January 16-18, 2024

An Energetic, Captivating and Engaging Conference

My personal takeaway is we can achieve Matthew 25 Initiatives working together while bringing our gifts and passionate hearts to the table. 

You can listen to the 5 Amazing Keynote Speakers at this link:

Matthew 25 Summit Speakers

To activate the forms and register for the following events…

please use the following link:

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/matthew-25/

WONDERING HOW TO JOIN THE MATTHEW 25 MOVEMENT?

For more information please contact:

Nancy Disher, NCCP Mission Project Organizer

North Central California Presbytery

(916) 792-7725 or [email protected]



https://www.trinityoroville.com/presbytery_disaster_assistance_site

https://sacloaves.org/join-the-community/#volunteer

These are a few great ways to share fellowship while helping those in need.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me. Thank you!

Nancy Disher

Mission Project Organizer

North Central California Presbytery

(916) 792-7725

[email protected]

 Months in advance, the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program has begun gearing up to welcome this year’s contingent of International Peacemakers and is now accepting applications from entities that would like to host them.

The program has announced nearly a dozen 2024 peacemakers, who will spend four weeks in September and October visiting churches, presbyteries and educational institutions in person — something that wasn’t possible during the height of the pandemic when a virtual symposium served as a creative alternative.

“As we move into our fifth decade of hosting International Peacemakers in our PC(USA) congregations, mid councils and institutions, it is clear that these visits are as important, necessary and impactful as they were when the program began,” said the Rev. Carl Horton, coordinator of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.

Come Join the Conversation

You are invited to join with clergy colleagues who gather via Zoom each week (Tuesday at 1-2pm) to discuss the lectionary passages for the coming Sunday. The group shares thoughts, insights, and questions about the passages. The conversations not only offer differing perspectives, they provide a forum for support and connection.

Come be a part of the conversation!

(If you would like to know more about the group or to join, please e-mail David Ratcliff at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.)

Save the date!

Presbyterian Women’s Churchwide Gathering (CWG) is celebrated every three years! In 2024, the CWG will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, August 8–11

Registration opens in March 2024!

For more information visit: presbyterianwomen.org/gathering

Dates: May 6-8, 2024

Event Theme: Beyond the Land Acknowledgement

Keynote Speaker: Kaitlin Curtice

Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing.

As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships.

Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, Apartment Therapy, On Being, SELF Magazine, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes at The Liminality Journal. Kaitlin lives in Philadelphia with her family.

https://zephyrpoint.org/programs/adult/justice-conference/

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program sponsors travel study seminars to different parts of the world to provide Presbyterians with the opportunity to learn firsthand from our partners about efforts for peace, justice and reconciliation in contexts of conflict, injustice and oppression. Participants return from these travel study seminars informed and transformed by their experiences, ready to share stories and bear witness to all that they have seen and heard.



Travel study seminars are planned in partnership with World Mission staff and mission co-workers and in cooperation with our partner denominations and organizations.

May 28 – June 6, 2024

Exploring the Legacies and Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement in the US South: 

A Pilgrimage to Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma, Jackson, the Mississippi Delta and Memphis

October 14-24, 2024

Lithuania: Healing the Legacies of War and Oppression

Submitted by Faith and Politics team at Faith PC

North Central California Presbytery

5645 Marconi Ave.

Carmichael, CA, 95608

www.nccpresby.org