News

Church Started by Lay Couple Celebrates 10th Anniversary

*By Dr. Larry R. Hygh, Jr., director of communications   OAKHURST, Calif.—"Ultimately people don't start churches, it's the spirit that starts churches," said Ken Gudger. Gudger and his wife, Debbie, began what is now New Community United Methodist Church (UMC) ten years ago. Debbie Gudger says, "Other than having children, it was the most important thing we have ever done in our life."   The lay couple approached retired Bishop Beverly J. Shamana in 2001...

Lay Equalization for the 2013 Annual Conference Session

The Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, California-Nevada Conference Secretary, explains the process for lay equalization for the 2013 Annual Conference Session in this letter.  ...

Basic Lay Servant Class

  Registration is open for the Basic Lay Servant Class to take place March 23rd and 30th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1660 Grandview Ave., Reno, NV. Sponsored by the Great Northern District, the Basic Course will be taught by Certified Lay Speaker, Mary Law, and Lay Servant, Brent King. This class is the foundation for all other classes in the Leading and Learning series for working on becoming Certified Lay Servants and Lay Speakers, and is open to...

Basic Course in Lay Servant Ministries

  The Basic Course in Lay Servant Ministries guides participants to discover their gifts of caring, leading and communicating and offers practical suggestions for becoming a more active congregational servant leader. The course will be offered on Saturdays, April 6 and 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Johns United Methodist Church, 5150 Snyder Lane in Rohnert Park, CA. This course requires completion of both sessions. The cost is $10 per week with an additional fee of $12 for the...

Registration Deadline for Advanced Transformational Leadership Course Looms

The deadline to register for the Advanced Transformational Leadership Course, offered by Anne Dilenschneider, is Friday, January 11. This advanced course, scheduled Tuesday, January 22, 6 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, January 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Nevada City United Methodist Church, is recommended for those who have taken the basic Transformational Leadership (TL) course – either the 12-hour version or the 30-hour version.   CLayM pastors are encouraged to participate.   The...

Three Lay Servant Classes Scheduled for 2013

The North Coast Circuit of the Great Northern District will be hosting three lay servant classes in early 2013. All are welcome to participate. BASIC LAY SERVANT CLASS Dates: Saturdays, January 19 & February 2, 2013 (9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) Location: First UMC, 520 Del Norte, Eureka, CA, 95501. Phone: 707.442.3710  Instructor: The Rev. Kathryn Dunning of Eureka, First UMC Fee: $20 plus textbook (A limited number of books are available so after registering, please contact Pastor...

Lay Servant Ministry Courses Now Available

Register now to attend one or all of the Lay Servant Ministry courses available starting in September. Each course is comprised of two parts. Fall 2012 (Sept. 29 and Oct. 13, 2012) Hope United Methodist Church, 115 El Campo Dr., South San Francisco, CA 94080.   Courses Offered: Basic 1 & 2 In this two-part course, developed for first time participants, you will discover ways to discern God's call in your life and explore your spiritual gifts while learning about the Book of...

Leadership Through Education Lay Speaking Classes Available

The Great Northern District Lay Servant Ministries is sponsoring six lay speaking courses this fall. BASIC LAY SPEAKING CLASSES English Course: Date: August 2 & 3, 2012 Location: First UMC, 45 Acacia Avenue, Oroville, CA 95966 Instructor: The Rev. Janette Saavedra of Memorial UMC in Clovis Fee: $20   Spanish Course: Date: September 14 & 15, 2012 (tentative) Location: Sacramento (tentative) Instructor: The Rev. Martha Milk of Yerington UMC Fee: $20 (For more...

Sign up for CLayM Classes Now!

CLayM@Home Cycle 1 begins July 9 All sorts of things we meant to do have a tendency to fall by the wayside once summer arrives. Don't let signing up for CLayM be one of them!   Registration for the Certified Lay Minister (CLayM) program for 2012-13, which trains laypersons for effective and expanded service in the local church and community, is open now.   There are three ways to take CLayM training. 1. CLayMAway – a two-week residential training.  2. CLayM@Home...

Plan to Attend a Laity Workshop This Spring

Two new lay speaker courses for the Great Northern District and one for the Bridges District have been added to the Conference registration page. GREAT NORTHERN DISTRICT   "Telling Stories" has been scheduled for April 21, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1660 Grandville Drive, Reno, NV 89503. $20 registration fee includes lunch. Order the book from The Upper Room at 800.972.0433 or visit www.gbod.org/laity. For more information, contact Steve Harrison...

Two-Day Lay Speaker Advance Course Scheduled for April

A two-day Lay Speaker Advance Course with credit for renewal, "Development of Exegesis Messages," has been scheduled for April 14 and 28 (successive Saturdays), 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Smith Valley United Methodist Church. "It is important to consider the advantages of teaching exegetical preaching as a basic tool for Lay Speakers," says the Rev. Dr. Tom Butler, course author. "This approach compels the Lay Speaker to recognize the word of God in Scripture, rather than...

SPSARV Invites Clergy, Laity to Submit Material for Sermon and Bible Study Resource

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, The United Methodist Church's Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence (SPSARV) will publish a selection of sermons and a Bible study based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Clergy are invited to submit a sermon on one of AA's 12 Steps to inspire church leaders to speak about substance abuse from the pulpit. Writers' Guidelines: Clergy should select one of Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 Steps for the sermon. Each sermon should be...

'Grow Spiritually Through Daily Discipline': A District Lay Speaking Workshop, Feb. 25

Register now for the district lay speaking training, "Grow Spiritually through Daily Discipline," on Saturday, Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Easter Hill United Methodist Church in Richmond, California. The training will be led by the Rev. Gaye Benson, pastor of El Sobrante United Methodist Church.   Cost of $25 includes instruction materials and lunch. Childcare is not available.   Register online here. (Pre-registration is required.)   Download...

Anne Dilenschneider Leads Transformational Leadership Course This Month in Stockton

Anne Dilenschneider returns to California in January to teach the annual CLayM pastors' course in spirituality and leadership, as she has done each year since 1999. This year she will be offering a mid-week, 11-hour (1.1 CEU credits) Transformational Leadership course for clergy and laity on Tuesday evening, January 17 (6-9 p.m.) and on Wednesday, January 18 (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) at Grace United Methodist Church in Stockton.   Transformational Leadership is a specific philosophy of community...

Laity Day 2011: An Extraordinary Day

By Gayle Shearman and Burt Yin Conference Co-Lay Leaders Enthusiasm burst forth at "Ordinary to Extraordinary – A Day for the Laity" this past weekend (Nov. 5, 2011). More than 80 disciples gathered at the United Methodist Center in West Sacramento for a day of inspired songs, video, keynotes, and conversation focusing on where God is calling each of us to do "Extraordinary" things in our ministry and outreach.   Gayle Shearman, Conference Co-Lay Leader,...

'Ordinary to Extraordinary: A Day for the Laity'

By Burt Yin Co-Lay Leader, CA-NV Annual Conference Register Now for Nov. 5 Day for the Laity   Don't forget to register for "Ordinary to Extraordinary: A Day for the Laity" of the California-Nevada Annual Conference – Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Center in West Sacramento.    If you think your ministry is ordinary, think again – for God works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things! Come and learn about...

CLayMAway Is Just Around the Corner

Don't miss out! Fall is in the air and the next CLayMAway course is fast approaching. November is just around the corner, so apply now to attend the Conference Certified Lay Ministry program's next CLayMAway course, offered in two class blocks beginning in November (Nov. 14-18, 2011 and Jan. 16-20, 2012), at the Mercy Center in Auburn.   CLayMAway (the training with live instructors) trains lay persons for effective and expanded service in the local church and community by providing...

Making Connections: The Rock of Our Faith

By Kat Teraji (with Lisa Alva) As a 2011 lay ministry graduate, I had the opportunity to preach at the United Methodist Church of Hollister recently, when I filled in for the Rev. Ardyss Golden while she was away. Though a stranger, I felt warmly welcomed by everyone as I connected with our United Methodist neighbors to the southeast of Gilroy. I was inspired by one parishioner in particular, when she opened up and told a surprising story during the Joys and Concerns prayer time in the...

Register for November 'Basic Training' for Church Administrative Leaders

Register now to attend a "Church Administrative Leaders' Basic Training with Q & A," led by Diane Knudsen, Conference Treasurer and Director of Administration, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at El Sobrante United Methodist Church. Cost of $10 includes lunch and materials.   Register here (or at www.cnumc.org/register).   For more information, contact Diane Knudsen at dianek@calnevumc.org.   El Sobrante UMC is located at 670 Appian Way, El Sobrante,...

Register Now for Nov. 5 Day for the Laity

By Gayle Shearman CA-NV Annual Conference Co-Lay Leader Registration is open now for "Ordinary to Extraordinary: A Day for the Laity" of the California-Nevada Annual Conference – Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Center in West Sacramento.    God works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things! Come and learn about the ordinary people in the Bible who give us great examples of the extraordinary things all of us can do in...