Heifer International to Attend Annual Conferences

Campus Ministry and the Multifaith Living Community at UC Davis

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

Heifer International to Attend Annual Conferences

INM Releases Updated "Killer In The Dark" Documentary

Campus Ministry and the Multifaith Living Community at UC Davis

Bishops Visit U.S.-Mexico Border

Cinco de Mayo Celebration

On May 5th representatives from UM Churches on the Northern California central coast came to worship together for the annual open meeting and celebration of the Monterey Bay Church Extension Society/Sociedad para la Extensión de la Iglesia de la Bahía de Monterey.

Heifer International to Attend Annual Conferences

Heifer International, a global nonprofit leader of sustainable agricultural development for smallholder farmers, is strengthening its connection with United Methodists congregations by participating in key annual conferences including CA-NV Annual Conference, June 19 to 22.

INM Releases Updated "Killer In The Dark" Documentary

United Methodist Communications is releasing an updated version of the Imagine No Malaria documentary, "Killer in the Dark: An Extraordinary Effort to Combat Malaria," which is set to air on NBC affiliates from May 5 through Nov. 3.

Campus Ministry and the Multifaith Living Community at UC Davis

The Cal Aggie Christian Association (CA House) at UC Davis is an inclusive, progressive campus ministry serving college and graduate students of all faiths in and around the Davis community.

Bishops Visit U.S.-Mexico Border

As the U.S. Senate prepares to consider a major bill on immigration policy reform, active United Methodist bishops from the United States, Africa, Asia and Europe visited the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego.

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Faith in Action

Feeding the Hungry Program - Shoreview UMC

In 2009 we replaced a Communion Service that took place at 8 a.m. every Sunday with a feeding program. Every Sunday morning a four-person team cooks and prepares meals for 60-to-80 persons. read more »

Nevada City UMC recently completed a three session Listening to Legacies program, in which youth 11-14 learned in Session 1 about 1-the importance of elders' stories and 2-listening skills. read more »

A small group at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California, is learning about Haiti and UMC missions there - especially those of the California-Nevada Annual Conference - and has undertaken a project to make dresses for little girls in Thomas, Haiti. read more »

Woodland UMC Creates Places for New People

Woodland UMC opens its doors to residents of Yolo Wayfarer Center, a homeless shelter a few blocks away. In January 2010, the church sponsored a shelter resident who wanted to be of service to others by taking a mission trip - delivering health kits for Haiti to the UMCOR West depot in Salt Lake City. read more »

Changing the World by Caring for the Earth

On Sunday, April 25, 2010, 20 volunteers from the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz fanned out through the neighborhood surrounding the church picking up trash and connecting with our larger community. read more »

Making Room for Relaxation, Prayer on Campus

What are congregations in the California-Nevada region of The United Methodist Church doing to live out their faith? As congregations are being called to "Rethink Church," the Wesley Foundation, Merced is leading the way. read more »

UMW at Hope UMC 'Blankets' Children in Love

For the past two years, the United Methodist Women (UMW) at Hope United Methodist Church in Sacramento have been making quilted blankets for Project Linus, which gives them to local children in need of comfort (some of whom are in hospitals). read more »

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo (SRVUMC) held a community-wide day of service and named it "Mission Saturday: The Church Has Left the Building." read more »

The faithful of St. Paul's UMC in Reno took to the streets and playgrounds on Saturday, April 24, 2010 for "Change The World" weekend. "Unfortunately, I set the bar too low," confesses Pastor Pat Leamy. read more »

Cal-Nevada UMCs Fight Diseases of Poverty Through Health kits for Haiti

The goal was to put together 1,000 health kits for Haiti – in one hour. And on March 20, 2010, members of Pioneer United Methodist Church in Auburn, California actually did it! read more »

During a sermon on Oct. 16, 2011, the Rev. Jay Pierce, pastor of Merced UMC, passed out $120 in "marked" one-dollar bills and issued a challenge: to utilize each $1 bill as seed money and then, on Nov. 13, to return it and report back what was done to "give back to God." read more »

Sanger United Methodist Church had "Drive-Thru Prayer" on May 1. "Cars stopped, honked, and waved and at one point we had a line of cars waiting to pray! These were not members of our church, but people who needed prayer..." read more »

Heifer Challenge at Hope UMC, South San Francisco

On Aug. 15, 2010, the Kids and Youth Faith Formation class of Hope UMC, South San Francisco, challenged their pastor, the Rev. Pamela L. Kurtz, to have her head shaved in worship on Halloween Sunday if they could raise $5,000 for a Heifer International "Ark." Kurtz challenged back that at least $500 – or 10% – had to come from people with no connection to a faith community. read more »

First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto enters into a movement of God's Holy Spirit launching UPSTREAM, a spirited, high-energy worship experience. read more »

Three years ago, the Coordinator of Youth Ministries at First UMC of Santa Rosa, Cassandra Lawrence, was seeking a new way to raise funds for Sonoma County UM Youth. The program was growing and the need for camp and trip scholarships was growing, as well. The old ways of doing fundraisers were not up to the challenge: A fresh approach was needed. read more »

Galt United Methodist Imagines No Malaria

As shoppers entered the Raleys and Savemart grocery stores in Galt on the last weekend in April (2010), they were handed a little card with a pop quiz on it. "Which animal kills more people in Africa? a. snake b. lion c.mosquito d. crocodile." read more »

As part of our efforts to help feed the hungry in our community, as First United Methodist Church in San Leandro we include gifts of nonperishable food as part of our Offering every Sunday. read more »

"I think this exhibit is important for a number of reasons," says the pastor of Watsonville First, the Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson. "We all need to prepare spiritually for Easter, and artwork during Lent can help us enter into that reflective process. We also see this exhibit as a way to model new connections with folks from the broader community with whom we do not usually get to interact -including, specifically, young adults." read more »

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, 25 interfaith high school youth and leaders came together for a day of connection, service, and learning at an "Interfaith Works" event at Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore, California. read more »

"Miracles happen all the time. I had the privilege of witnessing a couple of them myself this holiday season when I helped take a group of teenagers on a drive-by giving adventure on the streets of Gilroy." read more »

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EventsView Conference Calendar »

ROOM IN USE (A)

4/22/2013
ROOM IN USE (A)

5/1/2013
Consultation with Tongan Pastors (B)

5/22/2013
Children and Poverty Committee (C)

5/22/2013

Conversations with the Bishop

April 16, 2013

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Just like you, I was shocked, saddened, and disturbed to see images coming out of Boston yesterday of our brothers and sisters in sheer panic after two bombs exploded during the Boston Marathon killing three

people, including an eight-year-old boy, and wounding 176 people. Then, I awoke this morning to the news of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southeast Iran where at least 40 people are feared dead.

On this day, as an Easter people, no matter what is going on in the world around us, I'm reminded of Psalm 46 that says "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble." In the midst of the chaos yesterday, I also saw the images of men and women responding to those in need of medical care and assistance.

My colleague, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, who presides over the New England Annual Conference and is the resident bishop of the Boston area challenged us yesterday with the following, "Even in the midst of such tragedies may we continue to strive for a world of peace and reconciliation, as followers of the risen Christ." The content of Bishop Devadhar's full letter to the New England Annual Conference can be read here.

When tragedy strikes, I know folks come into our churches seeking messages of hope and assurance. Here are some resources from our General Board of Discipleship to assist you this week as folks come looking for a calm assurance.

Last night I returned from Birmingham, Alabama commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Dr. King penned this profound letter in the spring of 1963 to his fellow clergymen who criticized his work of non-violent resistance to injustice as "unwise and untimely."

Today, Dr. King's words still challenge us, and they are as relevant as ever, "When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love."

My brothers and sisters, during this Easter season, during this time of uneasiness in the world around us, let us follow the Resurrected Christ and continue to build and bind, and commit ourselves to be living witnesses of love in our communities.

Grace and Peace,

Warner H. Brown, Jr.

Resident Bishop

More about the bishop »