First Congregational Church of Oakland
So, you're coming to our 150th Anniversary Expressive Arts Worship at 7pm tonight for great music, dance, mime, a craft show, and great company, right?

Okay, good. Now that we've got that straight...let the bidding begin! Our online silent auction to benefit FCCO has officially launched! You can bid on great services, fine art, gourmet food, etc. for yourself or for those on your holiday gift list, and all the proceeds will go to support your favorite multicultural, social justice oriented, arts-positive church.

To view the items, go to this link and click on the items that interest you. To bid, you will need to create an account, but don't worry. It only takes a second and asks for very minimal contact information (so that we can let you know when you've won!).

Then have at it! And if you want to guarantee that no one outbids you, click on the "buy now" option to pay the price that will reserve the item for you.

Payment will be due (cash or check made out to FCCO only) after December 10.

Please forward this to everyone you know in the Bay area! The more bidders, the more money we raise. We've set a goal of raising at least $2000 from this auction.

If you have any problems or questions, please let me know, and I'll do my best to get them resolved.



Thanks!



Nichola Torbett

Celebrate 150 Years of First Congo!

Update: advance tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets

Dear members and friends of FCCO,

We will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of First Congregational Church of Oakland with a powerful expressive arts worship, a craft fair and reception on Friday evening, November 19, starting at 7pm, and we really want you to join us in celebrating "150 Years Toward Justice." Worship will be led by some of the best choirs, singers, liturgical dancers, and mimes in the Bay area, including East Bay Anointed Voices and Sista Monica Parker. We will be reaching out to sister churches and organizations to invite them to worship with us.

For advance tickets contact Angel Starr at angeloftheeastbay@gmail.com, 510-938-4913, or Loren at lorenzini@juno.com , 510-625-1209.

Contact Angel if you want to place an ad for your business in our event program. We'll have informational packets available at the church that you can pick up with the sizes, cost, etc.

And join us for some holiday creativity on November 7th (this coming Sunday)after church in the Children, Youth and Families room. We'll be decorating salt-dough ornaments and creating other ornaments from old Christmas cards and other reused materials to sell as part of the craft fair. If you are interested in donating hand-made crafts to be sold at the craft fair, please get in touch with Dawn Raymond at (510)625-1209.

Have fun and help create community.

Blessing,
Carol Robison

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