Still catching up on sermons: Last Sunday's sermon: Pastor Jeanne preaching Wrestling with God; and seminarian in care Michelle Freeman preached Trusting God is the Smartest Thing to Do the week before, on August 22.

Some technical issues still being worked out getting the more recent sermons uploaded:

Pastor Jeanne's July 4th sermon: Are We There Yet? is here

Music Ministry survey

Please take a few minutes to complete a Music Ministry survey. What blesses you about the music at First Congo? What do you want to see more of?

The Roundabout Way

Our Interim Pastor, Rev. Jeanne Loveless preaches her first sermon at First Congo this Sunday (Pride Sunday), June 27. It's called The Roundabout Way. Don't miss it!

Update: Listen to it here

We have an Interim Pastor!

Announcing our new Interim Pastor

 

As you all know, the Board, through an Interim Search Committee, has been looking for an Interim Pastor to help us through this transition time. The role of an Interim is very specific: they are to not only provide us with preaching, pastoral care, and management, but also help us as a congregation to learn who we are, and where we are going, and help us find the right permanent Senior Pastor to call. In addition, we have looked for someone who can help us find ways toward financial sustainability. For FCCO, an interim is likely to serve from 12 to 18 months.

Because of the specific nature of this position, and the short duration, the hiring decision for this was made by the Board. There was congregational input at varied points along the way - input at congregational meetings into what qualities we were looking for in an interim, 2 at-large congregational members on the search committee, as well as congregational members at the board meeting when the recommendation of the search committee was brought to the board.  This is distinctly different than the process for the permanent Senior Pastor, which will be a longer, more drawn out process, with a final vote by the congregation.

The search committee interviewed two candidates. The board is pleased and excited to announce that we have chosen to hire Sara Jean Loveless (she goes as Jeanne) as our new Interim Pastor. Here are some things that the search committee found in its selection process, from her profile, interview and references:

Jeanne:

· Is authentic and spirit-led

· Has a warm, calm, grounded presence

· Laughs easily and gracefully

· Is articulate and candid

Jeanne is called to the special ministry that is being an Interim Pastor, and she has had special training for Interim Pastors. She is a strong, animated preacher, articulate and skillful. She is a strategic thinker who can help us implement effective systems. She has had experience in cultivating wise financial decisions that lead to a balanced budget. She will work collaboratively with lay leaders to promote a healthy church with effective boundaries, clear communication, minimal drama and manageable conflicts.

She is familiar with, and comfortable in intercultural settings. She understands issues of white privilege, and she actively engaged her communities (congregation, denomination) on Proposition 8, at some personal cost.

We are thankful that God has led her to us - the search committee felt that Jeanne was a great fit for First Congo, and the Board agreed. Her exact start date with us is still being determined.
Jeanne will worship with us on Sunday June 6th, and be present to meet the congregation after the service and at the potluck.

Peace,
Michelle Murrain, FCCO Moderator

Tomorrow after the Worship Service

Sunday, January 10
1:15-3:15pm
Children, Youth, and Families Room for our first communal discernment event in the Visioning and Restructuring Process

What are our priorities as a faith community? Who are we called to be, as a part of the Body of Christ?

According to the Gospel of Mark, Jesus appears after his resurrection to the remaining eleven disciples and gives them a commission that is commonly understood to be the mission of the church: "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation" (Mark 16: 15). The good news is that the "reign of God is at hand," that the long-anticipated, loving, compassionate, just rule of God has now broken through into human history. Although that reign has not yet come in its fullness (and we don't know when it will), it has begun to begin, so to speak, and the church is charged with making that known.

How do we at First Congregational Church of Oakland carry out this commission? How do we proclaim the good news of the in-breaking realm of God to Oakland and beyond?

Prior to her sabbatical, Pastor Lynice shared with the board of trustees her sense that we, as a congregation, have not yet gotten clear on our answer to that question. She also shared her longing for us to focus more intently on answering it.

In response to this urging, the board commissioned a Visioning and Restructuring Committee to design and initiate a congregational conversation and discernment process regarding our vision for ministry and the organizational structures that will best support that vision, including the role of the pastor.

The committee will also be charged with refining the ideas that emerge from that process and making suggestions for their implementation. During the course of this discernment process, the outcomes of the congregational processes and the Committee's refinement of them will go to the Board and Pastor for consideration of feasibility, fiscal and legal issues, etc. Any revisions by the Pastor and/or Board will be presented to the congregation to inform its continuing discernment.

The committee will develop a variety of mechanisms through which you can have input into this process. The first will take place in a congregational conversation on Sunday, January 10 from 1:15-3:15. Please mark your calendars now so that you'll be sure to be available for this conversation.

Members of the Visioning and Restructuring committee include the chairs of each ministry area (Grant Kinney in community care; Allison Kenny in Children, Youth, and Families; Nichola Torbett in spiritual formation; Kirsten Swenson in administration; Webb Mealy in worship; Monica Parker in music; and Marcia Lovelace in prophetic public witness); members of the Board of Trustees (Soo Hyun Han, Tony Lewis, and Lolita Ratchford), and three additional members of the congregation (Suzette Duncan, Carol Robison, and Roland Stringfellow).

Please direct any questions or concerns to the committee via its chair, Carol Robison. She can be reached at mango916@comcast.net.

Christmas Eve at First Congo!

Dear FCCO Members and Friends,
 

Come join us for a wonderful musical Christmas Eve celebration for the whole family. We'll have lessons and carols and special music and childrens' poems and movement. Lasts from 7:00pm to 8:20pm. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors-or reach out to someone that you miss from church that you haven't seen in a while. 

Everyone should invite someone. 

Those of you who like to bake, bring cookies or a pie or cake to share after the service!

Peace and blessings,

FCCO Worship Leaders