San Bernardino's UCC Church

Sorry for the belated final Synod post -busy travel and inconsistent internet access got in the way. Synod ended with business - and excited delegates voting to extend meeting times to be sure to get to all business - and a wonderful closing worship service with a gift of light for each person - a flashing stick thingy that looked very cool as all of them twinkled around the large stadium.
We were all commissioned to return home to share the light - and we pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit to empower us to do that - and to live in love together.
Peace to all - and may our celebrations continue...

Monday was a very full day - committees finished their business in the morning, special lunches and dinners continued, sponsored by different groups, and in the afternoon and evening Synod business sessions moved forward. I went to a lunch sponsored by the seminary I attended, United Theological Seminary in the Twin Cities, MN, and had a wonderful time there and elsewhere catching up with staff, faculty, and fellow alumnae, many I haven't seen in the 6 years since graduation.

One of the highlights of the Synod sessions yesterday was Marion Wright Edelman's keynote address. The UCC website folks have now been able to catch up with the enormous work of posting video archives of some parts of the Synod events and speeches and I highly recommend watching Bill Moyers and Marion Wright Edelman first if you don't have time to watch it all. Go to http://www.ucc.org/synod/video-archive.html

While there are countless concerns about the state of our children in this country which demand our response, Edelman especially focused on an issue where we can effect change right now: health care for all children in the U.S. She shared powerful statistics along with heartbreaking stories of children who have died in this country, just in the last few months, after being unable to receive simple and inexpensive dental and medical services. We will receive offerings of letters to our representatives and senators tonight at our closing worship- and you can join us in calling or writing our elected officials. http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=healthy_child

I also wanted to share that we will be bringing home a Synod wrapup video, as a way to share a taste of what's been happening here, and a video report on the UCC's "Hope Shall Bloom" response to the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and Florida, which our congregation has generously supported with financial resources. We still have an invitation to participate in person as well, individually or as a group, as the UCC is there for the long haul in disaster relief, and unfortunately a great deal remains to be done.

Along with catching up with old seminary friends, and others I've met in various places in the UCC, another great joy here has been seeing 3 young adults who Dave and I were camp counselors for, for many summers back in AZ. One is in seminary, one is a youth director at a UCC church, and one is working for the national offices of the UCC. We take all the credit for their accomplishments! Actually, none of it is us, we just share their great excitement about the justice, love, and hope of the United Church of Christ which continue to inspire us all in our life's callings, in both the church and the world.

Today is the final day of Synod - and we'll all head towards home soon... one more post will come later.

Sunday, June 24 - about 10,000 or so of our friends gathered in the Hartford Civic Center arena for a grand celebration worship service. The San Bernardino UCC group sat together, and the Jewetts were one section over with the group from their other church family in New Hampshire. We took a photo of all of us afterwards- look for it in the July newsletter.

Worship was a very exciting and hopeful time - John Thomas' sermon is online at http://www.ucc.org/news/significant-speeches/on-the-run.html
and I highly recommend you take some time to read it. Perhaps some of the greatest parts of worship were the 600-voice choir singing some GREAT music - and the long grand opening procession with banners from all the UCC conferences, seminaries, colleges, health/human services institutions, different racial/ethnic groups, and more. The altar was built with the cross and Bible, chalice and plate, and symbols from the history and future of the denomination.

Last night the committee work of Synod began - and then there was a wonderful late-evening forum about the future of the UCC which I enjoyed very much - if only the speakers weren't all so tired, we could have talked all night.

Today business sessions begin in earnest. We look forward to more excitement - and inspiration - and fellowship in hallways and restaurants and elevators.

Hi all -
Saturday was the Synod in the City day - and we were very much all over the city. We gathered in the morning for the opening worship and keynote by Bill Moyers, then spread out across the city to an impossible choice of options that tore you in different directions wanting to see it all.

Then the group all regathered in the afternoon for the address by Sen. Obama, and then out again, before the final gathering together in the Civic center for the grand birthday party in the evening. All in all, a big celebration and an exciting time!

It's hard to even begin to describe it all - do check out ucc.org/news for all the latest stories from UCNews about the events, and http://www.ucc.org/synod/photo-gallery.html for the photos. It was a wonderful, full, exhausting day - and so much more is yet to come. I know that Obama's speech is online, but I very much hope that Moyer's will be - so much to discuss in there for us as the UCC today.

The San Bernardino crew that is here will gather to sit together today, Sunday, for the grand worship in the afternoon - not long after you've gathered back home. Peace and blessings to you all today! -Rev.Petra

Hi all - Sorry no post last night - it was a LATE night. Yesterday afternoon Synod began with hearings in the afternoon - including one on the immigration resolutions which I attended and which was packed with people and full of positive, constructive conversation and questions.

Then the opening business session took care of lots of business stuff, and included a play/video thing telling of recent and not-so-recent UCC history. During this session, the collegium presented a passionate pastoral letter on Iraq, which you can read about at http://www.ucc.org/news/synod-churches-receive.html The only controversial item of the day was the motion that the General Synod sign on to the letter, which eventually passed with a very large majority - but not at all unanimously, with concern and care around the discussions of these issues.

Then it was off to grab dinner, and return for the opening worship. All the San Bernardino crew sat near each other for this - it was an inspiring and exciting worship that moved right along. After worship the tired ones headed for early bed and the rest of us stayed for more reports and presentations - which were unfortunately much less fast paced than worship and dragged long after the appointed time to close. The Southern California/Nevada Conference had a reception planned for after the evening events - apparently people came in waves to that, and many didn't make it. Others of us stopped by there and then headed to the young adult reception at another nearby hotel, where the music and fun continued till just before midnight.

All in all, an exciting day - for some of the highlights, which included the evening sermon by youth and young adult advocate Rev. DaVita McAllister, see the news coverage at http://www.ucc.org/news/

And, one of the best parts of Synod for me is reuniting with old friends and making new ones. I have seen several of my seminary professors and classmates, and also some of the "kids" - now adults - who Dave and I once counseled at summer camp. And we've got the great kid-tool for making new friends - they always help start conversations.

More soon, friends...

Hi all -
The party is about to begin... folks are arriving here in Hartford, CT, for the grand 50th anniversary General Synod of the United Church of Christ. 10 members of our church in San Bernardino are attending, and we hope to share with you about our adventures here. And, you can join in by logging on to ucc.org and follow the instructions there - all of the main events in the Civic Center will be live online too. A schedule is available at http://www.ucc.org/news/synod-highlights-schedule.html so you can decide when to tune in.

So join us here at the blog, and by video too, and we look forward to sharing lots of exciting moments with you. Registration began tonight, and already there are canvas bags proclaiming "Let it Shine!" up and down the streets of Hartford.

Peace to all who travel and all at home, and we'll share more tomorrow.

Hello all - spring has sprung, the tomb is empty, and we are full speed ahead in the resurrection life! Right? Well, there are certainly some wonderful and important opportunities coming up soon for us all. This Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. we have the joy of a violin, 'cello and piano concert in our sanctuary. The violinist has been practicing in the library all week and so just ask any of the staff: you are in for a treat!

And then all are invited to head to Congregation Emanu El at 6 p.m. for the Holocaust Remembrance service of prayer, an interfaith yearly event which is a powerful opportunity to remember and to recommit ourselves to working against genocide in our world today. If you can't come, consider taking a moment at http://www.savedarfur.org/content
to learn about the issues in Darfur and to sign petitions to the President and the United Nations, pressuring them to take action in the region as violence spreads.

And of course, the rummage sale is approaching. Clean out those closets now, and call the church office to arrange a pick up if you need one. This congregation must have the most organized closets around, with how much we manage to sell every year. I know, except for what we take back home with us. Do plan to come and help - it's a joyous fun time, even in the midst of the hard work.

Lastly - consider joining the "Y'all Come" Choir for this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for a quick run through - and then sing the Hallelujah Chorus as the worship anthem for the week. There's a way to kick off the Easter season! See you in worship!