News

Western Jurisdiction Meetings, 'A New Thing,' Are Well Received

By Cate Monaghan Director of Communications, CA-NV Annual Conference   See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19   When Bishop Grant Hagiya (resident in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference, shown at right) posed the question on Sunday, "Should we do this again?" he received a warm response. There were nods throughout the roomful of bishops,...

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...

Online Registration Opens for 2012 Summer Camps

Registration is open now for this year's summer camps at Monte Toyon, Lodestar, and the Urban Camp in San Francisco. Click on the Registrations tab on the Home Page of the Conference website at www.cnumc.org and select "Youth Event Registrations," or visit the Camping section of the website (www.cnumc.org/camping) to register and to access: Online child and youth camp registration Online volunteer registration Camp formsBrochures Maps Everything else you...

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...

'LIMITLESS: Redefine Tomorrow' Event Is for Young Women of Faith

Registration Deadline Is Feb. 22 By Connie Hunter Chair, California-Nevada UMW   August 2-5, 2012, the United Methodist Women (UMW) is sponsoring a national gathering of young women at Duke University. The event will equip young women of faith to transcend barriers and to do justice in their communities by putting faith, hope, and love into action.   The weekend will include worship and Bible study, workshops and labs, and opportunities to engage in community service (justice...

Oregon-Idaho Offers Program of Worship Resources

Registration now is open for the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center's 2012 series of resources for passionate worship: Liturgical Arts Renewal@Collins (LARC). The 2012 workshops begin on Feb. 28 with an event featuring two young clergy musicians who defy stylistic labels while enabling their congregations to claim, enthusiastically, their voices of faith. Jackson Henry was highlighted in a recent United Methodist Reporter story about a resurgence in congregational singing, and Joe Stobaugh is...

Claremont Offers 'Transforming Ministry: New Best Practices' Conference in July

Experienced United Methodist pastors are invited to a one-week intensive introduction to emerging best practices in ministry, July 22-27 at Claremont School of Theology (CST) in Claremont, California. You will learn techniques and approaches from around the country – the practices that are helping pastors today to build successful churches for the new generation. The design of the conference will invite you into a learning community of your peers, who come from a variety of places and...

Briefing Previews General Conference Issues

This is look at issues explored at a recent Pre-General Conference News Briefing in Tampa, Florida. A separate story, which will be posted on umc.org, will focus on the proposal to restructure the Church. TAMPA, Fla. (UMNS)—Diverse issues presented at a recent three-day briefing signaled the workload ahead for the lawmaking body of The United Methodist Church, which meets this spring.   More than 300 delegates, communicators, and others who will be part of the 2012 General...

Marcia McFee 'Brings' General Conference to Lake Tahoe

Last chance to sign up for Elevation Retreat discount Marcia McFee's Elevation Worship Leaders' Retreat will take place at Lake Tahoe just a few days after she completes her work as worship leader for General Conference in Tampa, Florida.    "I will be ready to celebrate and tell stories of what will hopefully have been an amazing 28 (yes!) worship experiences there," McFee says. "Examples will abound from my time there as it relates to how we offer life-giving,...

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...

Sierra Choral Festival in March Invites Participants

The annual Sierra Choral Festival (SCF), taking place in the Yosemite foothills in Oakhurst, California, is open to lovers of church choral music from all denominations, including United Methodist Church choristers in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Whether United Methodist or not, lovers of choral music are urged to sign up now to participate in the festival – under the direction of widely praised conductor, composer, and arranger Allan Robert Petker.   The SCF...

Bishop Announces Cabinet Change

Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. has announced a Cabinet change, effective July 1, 2012. After six years, the Rev. Jerry Smith (upper right) will be completing his service on the Cabinet. Rev. Smith is superintendent for the Great Northern District. "I am extremely grateful for Jerry's faithful leadership during some challenging years for the California-Nevada Conference," the bishop said. "He has led the formation of the Great Northern District and has a deep love for that region...

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...

UMs Asked to Pray for 50 Days for General Conference

By Cate Monaghan Director of Communications, CA-NV Annual Conference "If The United Methodist Church wants the will of God to be done, the people of The United Methodist Church need to be more persistent in their prayer." – the Rev. Tom Albin, Dean of the Upper Room, GBOD   General Conference 2012 will be bathed in prayer, according to the opening preacher at the Pre-General Conference News Briefing, hosted by United Methodist News Service (UMNS), taking place this...