News

Register Your Church to Change the World

In 2012, the Church will come together – not only for General Conference, but also to change the world. United Methodists will extend justice and compassion in community on May 19 and 20.  In 2011, 25 Cal-Nevada churches participated and more than 2,000 events were registered worldwide: everything from developing/enhancing community gardens to fighting human trafficking. Think now about how your congregation will Change the World!   Your event will be charted on the...

Registration Deadline Extended for Feb. 11 'Pathway to Renewal' Event

The deadline to register for "Pathway to Renewal: An Introduction to Leading Transformational Ministry for Congregational Teams," on Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Fairfield United Methodist Church, has been extended. Register by Thursday, February 9 to take advantage of this one-day workshop in which participants will be given the tools, principles, and skills to affect change and renewal in their church.   Congregational renewal is more than re-tooling your...

Don't Forget: Register for Feb. 16 Clergy CEU Workshop

Feb. 16 is just two weeks away! Don't forget to register for the Clergy CEU workshop "Cultural Competency: A Leadership Skill for Building and Strengthening the Church," at Holy Cross United Methodist Church in Stockton on Thursday, Feb. 16 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Cultural Competency is defined as the willingness and ability to shift perspectives and change behavior, depending upon the cultural/racial context – and developing it requires a spiritual journey. The goal is to become...

Registration Opens for March 14 Gathering of Clergy

Register now to attend a day of soul-satisfying worship and re-affirmation of your call to ministry, Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California. This day of worship and renewal for all clergy and candidates – in all orders of ministry, active and retired, appointed and not-currently-appointed – features worship and music leaders Mark Miller and Marcia McFee and is sponsored by the California-Nevada Annual...

AGAPE Adds FUMC Santa Rosa on March 4 to Cal-Nevada Tour

Christian hip-hop artist AGAPE (Uh-Gah-Pay) has added First United Methodist Church of Santa Rosa to his California-Nevada Annual Conference tour. In addition to his performance Saturday, March 3 at St. Paul's UMC in Manteca and an appearance during worship at The Table in Sacramento, he will perform at FUMC Santa Rosa's Stony Point Ministry Center on Sunday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.   Doors open at 7:00. Stony Point Ministry Center is located at, 2150 Giffen Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA...

Register Now for Pathway to Renewal, Feb. 11

Register now for "Pathway to Renewal: An Introduction to Leading Transformational Ministry for Congregational Teams," Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Fairfield United Methodist Church. Congregational renewal is more than re-tooling your mission statement or adding new programs. Congregational renewal occurs only when congregations have a complete change of heart and reorient their very understanding of the nature and purpose of their church.     Workshop leaders...

Register for Clergy CEU Workshop on Feb. 16

Online registration is available for a Clergy CEU workshop, Thursday, Feb. 16 at Holy Cross United Methodist Church in Stockton (9 a.m.-5 p.m.). The workshop cost is $85. The next Clergy CEU workshop will be on Tuesday, June 19, the day before Annual Conference Session begins, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., location TBD.   Click here to register for Feb. 16 workshop.   Download flyer here.   Holy Cross UMC is located at 1200 W. Hammer Lane, Stockton, CA 95209. Visit the...

'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...

Youth 2011 Hip-hop Artist 'Agape' Brings Concert to Manteca in March

High-energy hip-hop performances that inspire the audience. Authentic faith stories that touch each listener's mind and soul. Relationship building with youth that reflects the unconditional love of God. That's what AGAPE will bring to St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Manteca, California on Saturday, March 3!   Agape (Dave Scherer) is a hip-hop artist who electrified audiences at the Youth 2011 events last summer with his dancing, rap, and storytelling that combines to spread...

Dates, Times, Locations of Discovery Events Are Set

The dates, times, and locations for this spring's Discovery Events have been finalized. The schedule is as follows: Great Northern District: Oroville Saturday, February 25, 2012 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Registration 9:30 a.m.) First United Methodist Church, 45 Acacia Avenue, Oroville, CA 95966   Bridges District: Fairfield Sunday, March 25, 2012 2-6 p.m. Fairfield UMC, 1875 Fairfield Avenue, Fairfield, CA 94533   El Camino Real District: San Jose Saturday, March 31, 2012 10...

Photo Gallery of Campbell UMC's African Epiphany Service Uploaded to Website

A photo gallery has been created on the Conference website, showing photos of the African Epiphany Service at Campbell United Methodist Church on Sunday, Jan. 8. They were taken by Dave Foyle, a member of the Campbell UMC Outreach Committee. Go to www.cnumc.org/galleries and click on the title, "African Epiphany Service at Campbell UMC," to view the photo gallery.   The San Jose Mercury News wrote about the service in an article published at http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_197151...

Sponsor a Young Man or Woman for Chrysalis Flights at Atwater UMC

Consider sponsoring a young man or woman for the Chrysalis flights being held at Atwater United Methodist Church on the following dates: Girl's Flight – February 23-26 Boy's Flight – March 8-11 Chrysalis is the youth version of the Walk to Emmaus – a program which helps Christian youth – young men and young women – learn more about themselves and their relationship with God. Chrysalis also helps youth become leaders in their churches and...

Discovery Event Registration Opens

Online registration is open now, for a series of Discovery Events focused on being, seeing, and doing what matters to God. Join Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr., Conference and district superintendents, and other clergy and laity for a time of re-connecting with our passion for Jesus Christ and our compassion for all, as preparation for reaching those who are close to the heart of Jesus.   Explore the resources available to each church to help it fulfill its part in God's mission, and learn...

Service of Christian Unity Is at Twin Towers UMC on Jan. 22

Each year the World Council of Churches (WCC) designates a week when Christians world-wide engage in prayer and shared worship, and realize that in spite of the great diversity in our denominations, we adore one God. Traditionally we celebrate the Week of Christian Unity from January 18 to January 25. At this time, all Christian churches pray for Christian unity and many hold special services. Each year the WCC chooses a theme for the Week of Christian Unity. This year's theme is, "We...

'Living Bread, Living Stories': A Preaching Workshop, Feb. 3-5

"Living Bread; Living Stories," a preaching workshop and refresher course featuring the Rev. Jim Walker, is scheduled for Feb. 3-5 (Friday-Sunday) at Clovis Memorial United Methodist Church. It is sponsored by the Central Valley District Committee on Ministry. Walker, an Elder in full connection in The United Methodist Church and pastor of Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, uses a dynamic preaching style to bring life to biblical narratives....

Plan to Attend a Discovery Event in 2012

Over the last several years, we in the California-Nevada Annual Conference have been changing how we live as a connection of churches. Many things have taken place: we have sought to "rethink, renew, and reform" around a network of circuits; we have devised a plan to encourage, equip, and position servant leaders – both lay and clergy – to join with God's mission in the world; we have dedicated ourselves not only to revitalizing existing congregations but also to creating...

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...

Ministry in Action: 'Mission Saturday' at San Ramon Valley UMC

When San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo, California set out to make a difference to its community, more than 200 volunteers turned out. "Mission Saturday: The Church Has Left the Building," Oct. 1, 2011 had such a dramatic impact that the church was recognized for its service by the town of Danville. But the best part is how many of the volunteers plan to return, for future mission work.   Read all about it in the Ministry in Action story, Mission Saturday at...

Sign up for 'Growing' Local Mission Opportunity in January

Asbury United Methodist Church in Livermore invites teams to take part in a combination training time and work effort on Saturday, Jan. 14, on behalf of its "Garden of Grace" mission program. The training/work day is designed to teach people about organic gardening and winter crop planting, and efforts to grow into a steadily expanding space on the church's five acres of property. Asbury's Garden of Grace program is about 16 months old and involves raising free organic vegetables to...

Ministry in Action: UMW Group 'Blankets' Children in Love

Big numbers aren't necessary to make a big impact: Sometimes big hearts are all you need. Case in point: The tiny United Methodist Women (UMW) group at Sacramento's Hope United Methodist Church. Read its story, UMW at Hope UMC 'Blankets' Children in Love, just posted to the Ministry in Action section of the Conference website at www.cnumc.org.   To read other inspiring stories from California-Nevada churches, click on the "News" tab on the Home Page, then click on...