YOUTH TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. AND VIRGINIA

The 14 Youth and Adult Chaperones have had an amazing few weeks touring Washington DC and Richmond, Virginia! They have been to amazing historic locations such Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown and the Jamestown settlement. They have also seen statues dedicated to iconic people such as Martin Luther King, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln. They have also toured incredible Museums like the new Smithsonian African American Museum of History, the Holocaust Museum, and the Museum Of The Bible.  The Youth and Adult Chaperones are so excited to bring back the knowledge and experiences they have had back to our Region and to their individual local churches. Please keep our Youth and Adults in your prayers for continued learning!

Loch Leven: Dedicated to Your Safety

by Sloan Hamilton, Camp Manager at Loch Leven

While we wait on the official ValleyFire update, I wanted to share some thoughts on the rescue of the Thai soccer team (AMEN) and one of the ways that story hits “home.”

A fair topic of conversation around the rescue has been about how “reckless” it was that the boys went in the cave and that coach allowed it.

At Loch Leven, we have a small group of trained staff, but most of our groups (PSWR and others) rely on volunteers. One of the points we stress with campers and volunteers is that what may be safe for some, may not be safe for all. Also, an activity one volunteer may be comfortable monitoring and keeping safe, another may choose to stop altogether because they aren’t (a good pillow fight is my example here). I can easily imagine a couple of those soccer players being very comfortable going in and out of the caves, and maybe others weren’t sure. Maybe coach said, “here is ok, but not there” and then 8 of 11 boys went that way anyway. Have you ever tried to stop that kind of momentum?! I can easily imagine coach shrugging and following the boys deeper in the cave saying, “ok, but only for a minute.”

We need to celebrate his commitment to keeping those kids inspired and alive “once the damage was done.” You’re a hero, Coach, even with your mistakes.

Recently at Loch Leven, campers told me they went on a hike a found a rope swing. They were very excited. (We have a rope swing on camp – a regulated activity – but this was not that). As a kid, I would have been ALL OVER THAT! As Camp Manager, I made a face that clearly indicated I was about to rain on this parade. “Don’t worry” one of them said, “we checked it out; it was safe!” As much as I love that they knew safety was my concern for them, I couldn’t help myself. “Phew! So what criteria did you use? What the rope static or dynamic? What is it rated? How many hours has it been hanging there? How many participants have used it? How many hard falls has it experienced? Was the area in contact with the tree protected with a cambium saver? Who tied the knot? What type of knot did they use? What was the radius of clearance?” (And I’m not even trained to run our own ropes programs). The campers shook their heads, laughed at me, and left to tell their story to someone who could celebrate with them. I understand. I can take it.

At camp, we are responsible for ALL the children, some of whom I have never met. Parents are trusting us to care at the level they do and yet we don’t know all the parents either. Groups of campers are easily susceptible to “monkey see, monkey do”, peer pressure, etc. How many of those Thai kids’ parents would have been right there exploring the caves and how many parents would never have let their child within 20 feet? At camp, keeping kids safe sometimes comes at the expense of spontaneous play. We have many entities and organizations who help us figure out how to do this, how to balance it all. Our staff goes through continuing education and trainings throughout the year. We check and double check and try to make the right decision every time. Obviously, we have great groups of smart, dedicated, volunteers helping with programs – we couldn’t do it without them.

Sloan Hamilton, Camp Manager at Loch Leven

Today, though, with the rescue of the last Thai soccer player and the #ValleyFire a few miles away, I am feeling very fortunate for the dedicated, trained, safety-minded professional staff we have caring in a way we cannot expect of kids themselves or of volunteers, yet a way every camper and person who loves them needs us to.

REGIONAL MINISTER SEARCH: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

The search process for the new Regional Minister of the Pacific Southwest Region (PSWR) is in full swing. Our next Regional Minister will take the helm in the fall of 2019. This article will explain the process and the timeline that we, as the Regional Minister Search Committee, are following and will let you know how and when you can help us discern the person God is calling to this place for a time such as this.

We are at an important point in our process, and that is gathering information from the members of the PSWR that will be used to develop a Regional Profile and Regional Minister position description. These documents will be sent to all people interested in applying for the position. We are currently meeting with various committees and ministry groups of the Region. AND NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

There are two ways you can provide input. First we are holding listening sessions in select congregations throughout the region which are open to all. See the list below for locations and dates of these listening sessions. Second, we have posted an online survey for individuals to complete https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSWR_Search.

We sincerely hope you will attend one of listening sessions and/or complete the online survey.  This is your opportunity to express your views about the current and future direction of the PSWR, what you would like to see in our next Regional Minister, and how your own church is doing at this time.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Church of the Valley
6565 Vesper Ave, Van Nuys, California 91411
(English and Spanish)

Wednesday, July 18, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
First Christian Church, Riverside / Iglesia Nueva Vida
4055 Jurupa Ave, Riverside, CA 92506
(English and Spanish)

Thursday, July 19, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
First Christian Church, Santa Barbara
1915 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101
(English)

Sunday: July 22, 2018, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
First Christian Church, Fullerton / Casa de Oración
109 E Wilshire Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832
(English and Spanish)

Saturday: July 28, 2018, 10 AM – Noon
Abundant Life Christian Church
3500 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90007
(English)

 Sunday: July 29, 2018, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Wilshire Korean Christian Church
3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #101, Los Angeles, CA 90010
(English and Korean)

Sunday: August 5, 2018, 1:00 - 2:30 pm
University Christian Church
3900 Cleveland Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(English and Spanish)

For those of you who like to see all the details, our search process is following the “Manual for Regional Search Committees Seeking a Regional Minister In the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)” that was written by the College of Regional Ministers and approved by the National Church in 2017. Here is a brief timeline of our process:

To close, in recognition of the central role God plays in our process, our Committee has committed to be in prayer with each other every Thursday at 7:00pm. Regardless of where we are physically located, this prayer time spiritually bonds us. We invite you to join us in this prayer life.  

In gratitude and prayerful thanksgiving to our Living God…
The PSWR Regional Minister Search Committee

2018-2019 Regional Minister Search Committee (Top photo L-R): Tom Perring, Larry Morris, Carol Warsaw, Lydia Yang, Joi Robinson, Louise Sloan-Goben, Cathy Perring, Ben Bohren, Rogelio Martinez, Ed Ramolete. (Bottom row, L-R): Janette Jara, Judy Hong, Rip Rippetoe, Shobie Lopez 

MILE MARKER #103: COURAGE

By Revs. Don Dewey and Susan Gonzales-Dewey, Co-Regional Ministers

In 1964, Grammy Hall of Fame songwriter Bob Dylan released the hit song: “The Times They Are A Changin'" in response to the unrest sweeping the country at that time. In this present turbulent time, where there seems to be an ever increasing polarization and a growing absence of basic civility, Dylan’s song appears to be relevant again for a new era of challenge and change.

As we prepare for our upcoming Regional Assembly, there is always so much excitement leading up to our time together as a Regional family. Every year we have the opportunity to come together for a time of worship, learning, fellowship and inspiration to strengthen our individual as well collective ministry as Disciples of Christ.

This year is no different. However, because of this growing divisiveness in our nation that seems to be undermining our basic values and creating fear and discord in every sector of our communities, our call as Disciples to be a community of wholeness in a fragmented world is needed more than ever. 

Therefore, our Regional Assembly planning team has chosen as our theme: COURAGE, based on two important scriptures: Micah 6:8 and Mathew 5:13-16. We believe as followers of Jesus Christ that we are called to be courageous in giving witness through our lives and our words of what it means to live as a beloved human family. We need to be courageous in lifting up the values of love, compassion, justice and peace so that we can be active participants in God’s redemptive mission in the world.

To guide us in this important conversation the team has broken down our theme into four key areas which will be the focus of our worship and keynotes: Courage to Listen, Courage to Change, Courage to Speak and Courage to Act.

We are thrilled to announce that two of our keynote speakers this year will the Rev. Dr. William Barbour, Disciples of Christ leader for the new Poor Peoples Campaign and the Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)! These two powerful voices will be addressing our Assembly on what it means to be courageous as we seek to follow in the way of Jesus. Read more about our keynote speakers.

This Regional Assembly will be our last assembly as your Regional Ministers and so we look forward to this opportunity to gather with you one more time and celebrate both the challenges and the changes in the ministry we have done together. We pray that this will be a time in which we can all be inspired to face the future with courage and hope as we answer our call to be salt and light in the world, living humbly, seeking righteousness, and doing justice.

Yes, the times, they are a changin’!

Together on the journey,
Don and Susan
Your Regional Ministers

Reflections on Albergue Las Memorias

There’s an HIV shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, that brings me close to Jesus. Our Global Missions partner, Albergue Las Memorias, is an amazing place of men, women, and children who live in community caring for one another. When people first arrive, they are often quite ill, given a bed, and nursed back to health by other residents. Once they are restored to health they do the same for the next incoming folks.

Church groups can see biblical stories come with every visit. Prodigal drug users are welcomed back “home,” given blankets, food, love, and encouragement. Physical bodies are resurrected with their first steps down the hallway and out of the infirmary. Modern “lepers” whom family members and society have abandoned are held and touched. And Jesus can be seen in about 100 faces hanging out, eating meals, and providing healing and acceptance.

There are many emotions that come about in a typical visit. This past week, some of us from the Irvine and Tehachapi UCC arrived and offered our usual “spa” day. We washed feet, rubbed on lotion, and provided massages to residents, beginning with those most ill. People in the tuberculosis unit nearly always die and sadly, there is about one death per week. The residents and those of us who visit, try to provide some amount of comfort to the bedridden. Then we offer up the same acts of service, including facials, to the ambulatory residents and we paint little girls fingernails bright and sparkly. It is an afternoon of healing touch and joy.

Sometimes we play games or do crafts and get to know their stories. Beautiful and bright eight year-old, Maria, (not her real name, all other names have been changed as well) enjoyed arts and crafts and shared some hugs. This little girl’s dad held two university degrees, but he died from a heroin overdose. Look out world, Maria, is going to take you by storm, thanks to the love and care she gets living at the shelter with her little half-sister, “Mary.”

During our visit, we were happy to hear that 20-something, “Isabel,” found a husband and no longer lives at the shelter. She was discovered positive for HIV as a young girl, but nobody knows why. Her parents were afraid of HIV and they dropped her off, never to see her again. The residents cared for her and made sure her beau was worthy of her hand.

There are as many unique stories as there are people at this mission partner of ours. Beautiful trans-female, “Joanna,” was shunned by her father and previously affected by self-hatred. Now, Joanna is no longer willing to be a street worker. She has dignity and self-worth and feels the love of God.

Several of the residents have suffered strokes related to their addictions, HIV and health status, and they are mostly paralyzed on one side of their body. They didn’t think they could manage making paper flowers, with only one good hand, but wanted to throw a great fiesta for their retiring DOC missionary, Jerri Handy. So, some of the guys paired up and together used pairs of two good hands to make flowers. One of the men, “Juan,” who has lost a leg, speaks six languages, only he can’t speak any of them since his stroke. Instead, he writes in multiple languages on his wipe-off board. He wrote about his deep appreciation for all that Jerri has meant to Las Memorias.

During Jerri’s nearly four year tenure, churches have visited and some, especially those at the Irvine UCC, have provided funds and assistance to build a whole new dormitory for residents. It was blessed during the going away fiesta. Jerri also leaves behind an furnished apartment for visiting missionaries and pastors plus an active 12-step healing program she began for residents. She has touched many lives and any church would benefit by inviting her to come and tell them about this incredible place.

Certainly, Jesus was there with us, amongst the outcasts, the sick, the poor, the living and the dying. If you wish to see Jesus, it seems easy at this place, where children enjoy a piñata on one side of the dining hall and someone else is slipping into death in the adjacent infirmary. We who visited, got to share our blessings, touch and be touched, and intensely experience being disciples of Christ.

Contact Irvine UCC or Rev. Nancy Bacon in Tehachapi if your church would like to learn more, then go! Find Jesus!