Kai Hodges Installed At The Market Streethttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Kai-Hodges.jpeg1200707Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
October 29- Kai Hodges was installed as the new associate pastor of the Market Street Adventist Church.
The service was moving and overflowing with deep emotions. Pastor Kai expressed gratitude to her family, her senior pastor Edwin Brown, and the congregation for the opportunity to serve God’s people.
According to Rudy Peters, coordinator of African American ministries, “I believe Market Street Church has found the right person at the right time for the assignment. It was heartwarming to see the youth conducting the entire service and pledge their support to God and their new youth pastor.”
No Props? No Problemhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Santa-rosa-Comp.jpg1200621Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
December 9- After being shut down for two years because of the pandemic, the Santa Rosa church had its 23rd annual nativity program.
Traditionally cars would drive through the parking lot and see the live scenes with back drops setting the location and mood. However, time and the elements deteriorated the backdrop scenes over the years.
Not to be held back, the church decided to continue the event as a walk-through, keeping it alive and creating opportunities for a personal connection with their festive neighbors.
Attendees were escorted on foot in small groups through the church annexes and rooms where members dressed in costumes made up the manger, wise men, and other scenes from the story of Jesus.
According to one member, “When it was cars driving through, we rarely made personal contact, but I’ve been able to talk to many people tonight. It has been much more relational.”
Brad Gienger, pastor explained, “Conversations with attendees showed us that we (our church) have been part of neighborhood family Christmas traditions for years! Repeat customers! That realization showed us that it’s time to connect relationally with those friends.”
Gienger concluded by saying, “From what we experienced this year we are reviewing the entire event; from the quality of production, to reach and connection to the community.”
Back From The Ashes With A Winhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Redwood-Comp.jpg1200675Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
December 9- Redwood Academy celebrated the opening of its new gymnasium by hosting a basketball game. The former gym was burned along with the school during the Santa Rosa Tubbs fire in 2017.
According to Lisa Paulson, principal, “Redwood has so much to offer our community, excellent education, our food farm program, and now our gymnasium with events lined up one after another. We are so blessed and ecstatic to have it ready!”
Receiving their occupancy permit on December 6, they promptly had their first basketball practice on Wednesday in preparation for a game on Friday. And play they did! The 7th and 8th-grade boys battled back from a 12-point deficit to win their game against a local undefeated team.
According to Matthew Beehler, financial chair, and coach, “We were definitely the underdogs in this game, so winning 42 to 38 may have been sparked by being on our new home court.”
Paulson concluded, “It’s been an extraordinary week, the end of a long wait. Winning this game was a great way to inaugurate our shiny new home.”
<em>Featured in Northern Lights, December 15, 2022</em>
Momanga New Pastor At Tracyhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/momangacomp.jpg1200675Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
November 5- Lizeth Momanga was installed as pastor at the Tracy church.
Before “Pastor Liz” settled in Tracy, she circled the world as a guest speaker in places like Venezuela, Kenya, and the Philippines. She planted a church of 25 in rural Alaska and produced daily live devotionals for the local radio station.
She says her passion is to “demonstrate God’s saving grace and love to the world through the living and preaching of the gospel.”
Lizeth earned her Master of Divinity in 2022 from Andrews University and shares her life with her husband, Richard.
Scotts Valley Cantata Thrills Communityhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/scotscomp.jpg1200623nccsadminnccsadminhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b4dec890e987b80064e272ab1a0b05af?s=96&d=mm&r=g
December 4- The Scott Valley church performed a Christmas Cantata titled Christmas Presence.
Over 100 attendees crowded the rural chapel. Bob Mason, district pastor said, “I am so pleased with our church’s community engagement. The sanctuary was packed with members and community attending and participating!”
Some of those attending included several Greek Orthodox nuns from a local convent. Mason continued, “I would say at least 80% of attendees were from other denominations, and many smiles, expressions of joy, and appreciation were heard during the program and the following reception. One blessed attendee said, “I enjoyed the Christmas Cantata last night! It was neat to see so many churches under your roof to worship God!”
Intentional Opportunities in Andersonhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AnderonComp1.jpg1200626nccsadminnccsadminhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b4dec890e987b80064e272ab1a0b05af?s=96&d=mm&r=g
It has been a year of spiritual and relational growth for the Anderson church, and they are preparing for what comes next.
One intentional opportunity involved a lively and excited group of Adventurer Club members, their parents, friends, and other supporters from the Anderson church participating in the annual parade and Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Anderson on a Sunday evening. This annual event has been the centerpiece of the holiday season in the city of Anderson for decades, and this year saw a near-record turnout.
The Adventurer Club children were featured on the main stage, where they beautifully and confidently sang several familiar Christmas carols. Perhaps the most exciting thing for the kids was riding in the parade on a beautiful light-covered float. The kids sang and waved as they rode the parade route along with many other floats and lighted cars. –More to come—
25 Countries In A Single Churchhttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/IntlDay-Comp.jpg20001125Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Capitol City church did two community-relevant events in the span of two weeks:
First, they provided a cooling center for the community amidst a heatwave. Then on September 10, the church held its annual international day church service and potluck.
Members and guests representing twenty-five nations were dressed in colorful attire from their respective countries. The potluck dinner was akin to an international bizarre with ethnic foods from the Caribbean, Eastern and Western Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
According to one attendee, “I was blown away by the friendliness of the staff and all the diverse clothing of their home countries. The food was phenomenal, and I can’t wait for next year.”
Carol Herbert, mission council leader said, “This year’s international day was one of our best celebrations. We received so many compliments on how great everything was, from the program and the set-up to the food. Praise God!”
Oakland Ministries Gain New Buildinghttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/corecomp.jpg1911993Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
November 12- The C.O.R.E. (Community, Outreach, Resources, and Education) celebrated its grand opening at the Market Street church in Oakland.
The purpose of this facility is for ministry and service to the surrounding community.
At the opening ceremony Vanessa Russell, founder and executive director of Love Never Fails said, “I am looking forward to a continued partnership with the church through The C.O.R.E.” Adriana Preciado of Western Service Workers Association said, “I am excited about building more unity and solidarity amongst the people of Oakland.”
Other notable attendees included church members; Virgil Childs, Pacific Union Conference vice president for black ministries; and leaders of the Oakland community.
According to Theresa Patterson, director of The C.O.R.E at Market Street, “We are looking forward to working with our neighbors and agency partners to spread the love of Jesus Christ!”
A Call To Sore Arms… And Backshttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/comservcomp1.jpg20001125Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
November 14- was the conference office’s quarterly community service day.
Most of the office staff, directors, and leadership met at Mahany Park in Roseville to help revitalize and beautify the park. The day had three main jobs: painting two equipment sheds, planting approximately twenty-five shrubs and flowers, and spreading 130 cubic yards of forest mulch in the flower beds.
According to Ken Miller site director, and assistant to the director of communication and development, “A 130-yard pile of mulch is equivalent to a full-sized Greyhound bus!”
Workers shoveled the ground cover into two-wheeled garden carts and moved material to flower beds around the two-acre parking lot.
By 2:30 pm, all the flowers were in the ground, the painting was done, and the mulch was distributed. Marc Woodson, president exclaimed, “I am so proud of our conference staff and their hard work today. They exhibited our core values of passionate hard work and a servant’s heart, and I saw many acts of kindness. Many hands indeed make light work.”
Denise Brummund, accountant clerk said, “I was so amazed at how much fun we had with each other and the amount of work we accomplished.”
Brian Castelluccio, Roseville Parks, Recreation & Libraries Superintendent wrote, “Your team jumped right in and I was blown away by how efficient they were. Mahany Regional Park looks refreshed, and we are already receiving great compliments. You have a great group of people working there.”
Acts Of Kindnesshttps://nccsda.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ChicoComp.jpg1908993Ken MillerKen Millerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3312de0a6ac11bed6f94a82593d43da3?s=96&d=mm&r=g
On October 7, students from Chico Oaks school served their community in unique ways.
Each class team chose an act of kindness for someone in their community.
The kindergarten class collected donations for the Butte Humane Society and delivered them to the animals. Students in first and second grade gave out flowers and appreciation letters around the neighborhood. Third and fourth graders picked up trash, and grades fifth to eighth cleaned up a local park and wrote letters to local veterans.
Principal Leslie Bartsch said, “These types of service opportunities set Adventist education apart from the rest. When academics and acts of service show love to our neighbors, we can foster an atmosphere of quality instruction and spiritual growth.”