Regional Assembly this year was held at Garden Grove Chrstian Church.  This church is so welcoming I think that had a lot of influence on what many of the subjects of worship and workshop and yes the assembly in general was all about.  Hospitality!

Garden Grove CC does hospitality very well.  This congregation has a high percentage of members that are from or have Samoan heritage and we felt like a part of the joy, care and welcome of that island family while enjoying the worship, workshops, food and fellowship at the assembly in October 2014.  Did you know that the 3 main parts in the Samoan culture are faith, family and music?  Well it certainly shows when you visit the Garden Grove CC.  

There were 4 worship services – 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday.  Lots of music all kinds, a few videos and inspirational sermons.  The last worship of the weekend on Sunday afternoon communion was also included.  Our sermon speakers were Rev. Sandy Messick, Regional Minister and President of the Northwest Regional Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.  And Rev. Julian DeShazier, Senior Pastor of the University Church in Chicago – a combined UCC and DoC church. Rev, DeShazier is also known as J.Kwest a well known hip hop music artist.

As I mentioned above the theme used most was on hospitality.  Of the three workshops I attended 1 centered around that subject.  It was on when hospitality is extended then abused by the visitor and how to still be a welcoming person and church.  The other 2 were on new ways to do church and worship resources.  The biggest thing I learned on the hospitality workshop is that when someone relies so long on another’s hospitality and kindness a change has to happen because how then can hospitality be there for others?  The other two had ideas on emergent worship (new kinds of worship in the community) and ideas on worship resources and format.

Another part of the assembly had to do with the collection of shoes.  Remember how we’ve been collecting shoes like we do other items for the Unity Shoppe?  We took a box of shoes that you all had donated.  Some churches donated more some less.  There are several great shoe stories one thing we heard as people were actively seeking shoes for donations that visiting yard sales when asked if the seller would be willing to donate their shoes instead the yard sellers gave all they had.  Some had shoes coming from friends and family in other states.  Most of the stories were of how they had no idea how big it would grow once the word got out.  2 stories were of those with a lot of shoes found someone who needed shoes that happened to hear of what they were doing and were given new shoes.  One was a man who just got a new job and didn’t have the required work boots – the church had just received a donation that day and there were a pair of steel toed boots in his size – which he received. The assembly had a large extra long semi truck sized container to fill. By the end of the Assembly they had over 20,000 pairs of shoes received – once we hear of a final account I’ll be happy to share it with everyone.  Many hoped to do this again.

Finally regarding the resolutions – they were mostly regarding getting a sense of the assembly on encouraging congregations around the region in outreach projects they can get involved in or encourage to start new projects involving the prison system, those who have fulfilled their obligations and may need help in the community or to work at helping at risk preventing having to be incarcerated.  The votes were in majority for both resolutions. 

Thank you for sending and supporting Nancy and I to go this regional assembly event.  We had a good time learned much and it was grand meeting friends across the region and making new friends.

 
Peace, Lynda Bell

 

    Most people you talk to who went through the Great Depression can think of very few things that happened to them in the 1930’s to ‘40’s that will bring a smile to their faces—a time when there wasn’t much work and there were long soup lines at our churches and other places that tried to help the poor and hungry.  But oh lucky me has a wonderful memory of something I could never forget.

            I was born in a small town in southwest Virginia in 1939.  My family was fortunate to have grandparents who lived on a farm about 30 miles from our home.  Farmers had the same problems as did the city folks but at least they could grow most everything they needed to eat.  They usually had a cow for milk, and of course chickens for eggs, and that Sunday dinner (lunch to us today) that we would dream all week about.  The work to grow vegetables and their main money crop (tobacco) were back-breaking jobs.  Long hours including Sundays, work was done with hand tools and my folks had a mule that we all loved dearly.  We had apple, cherry, and pear trees that did well, and we could sell some of the fruit to buy sugar and coffee and other things they couldn’t grow.  They didn’t seem to mind the hard work.  They were just thankful that they could feed their family and help others who needed a little help.  We would go to Granny Branche’s every week and bring home what she could give us. The folks back in that period of time were very strong and generous and they were proud people who loved the ole USA—I think the little farmer had a big hand in making America the best, strongest, most generous country in the world.

            Now before I forget, I will tell you about the wonderful memory I have about Granny Branche’s house.  If you know me, you will not be surprised to hear me talk about the food—beans, fried cornbread, all vegetables, and many fruits.  But one food stands out well above all the rest.  Granny had a two-gallon galvanized bucket she used to gather eggs, chicken feed, water the mule, carry the vegetables from the garden, milk from the cow (Of course, she rinsed out the bucket before the milk went in!) and lots of other things she used it for.  When I was at her house, I always followed her around as she did her chores.  In mid-afternoon, I could just about read Granny’s mind.  She would be thinking about supper, always good, if not fancy.  We would look forward to the meal.

            Well, now it’s time to tell you about the magic words I still hear today.  “Bill, get the berry bucket.”  I guess my feet never hit the ground until me and Granny finally got down to the river bank where the ground was thick with the wild berry bushes, blackberry, gooseberry, and  mulberry trees, just to name a few.  It didn’t take long to fill the bucket and maybe a little longer to get my fill.  I can hear Granny say, “Now Bill, don’t eat too many now, or you won’t want any of my berry cobbler.”  Fat chance for me not to have room for that pie!  The pie was made in a huge bread pan that I thought was too small.  Oh me, one problem after another.  Waiting on the pie to come out of the oven--it finally did, and you gotta believe, it was worth the wait.

You know what?  I always said it’s the little things in life that are the most important.  Yes, I will always remember Granny’s berry bucket and the pie.  You know something else?  I will always remember God’s promise to provide for you and me in good times and in tough times, even the Great Depression.  Many good things came out of that era.  We learned, with God’s help and a lot of hard work, we made it.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and yes, if we are lucky, one of Granny Branche’s berry pies. 

Bill Sharrett

It seems time flies by.  Spring has sprung and we are heading into summer.  Many of us have travel plans, whether it's a day trip, weekend, or a great adventure.  I hope that wherever you go, you take the opportunity to visit God's house. It could be a church service in a family member's church, or it could be outside enjoying the beauty of the world God gave us.  Oh - and take time to listen for God speaking to you.  We so often approach God with the things we need Him to do for us. Take that time to listen, as God may be telling you He's handling the problem.

First Christian Church in Santa Barbara is searching for the pastor God has chosen for us.  For any of you who have never been on a Search and Call committee, it's a lot of hard work!  Please pray for the committee as they search. 

We have been blessed by many speakers, clergy and non-clergy.  Thank you all who have been so kind as to answer the call.  If you have a suggestion for a minister or speaker, please let me know!!

All of God's blessings to you all,
                                          Nancy Harrell, Moderator