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Our Conference Fall Meeting will take place on Saturday, October 26 10:00-11:30 AM.  We will worship together and then we will discuss our NCNC Conference draft budget for 2025 and vote on approving our 2025 budget.  This is a very important meeting, and all church delegates and ministers with standing are expected to register and attend, as well as any other interested folks. There is no registration fee; the meeting is online. A budget is much more than a spreadsheet with a lot of mysterious numbers in it.  The draft budget we will present is the work of countless hours…

I thought it was my idea–but I was wrong. It was already happening quietly in my church’s pews. People were seeking out psychedelics for healing from PTSD, depression and anxiety–or to experience spiritual growth and more intimate communication with God.  Six years ago I read Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind, What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence, about the decades of research demonstrating the efficacy of psychedelic medicine in treating a wide variety of substance abuse and mental health disorders.  Every once in a while, God whispers in my ear.…

Please join us as we install Rev. Davena Jones as our new Conference Minister on Saturday May 4, 2024 at City of Refuge UCC from 11 AM to 3 PM. Click title to see invitation. RSVP HERE  

Advent Blessings, Merry Christmas, and Happy Kwanza to you and your families. Praise the Lord! We made it.   Wow, where did the year go? It seems like January was just a few months ago. Collectively, as the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ (NCNCUCC), we have done some fantastic ministry together over the last twelve months. I am grateful for each of you and how you have shared your gifts, talents, time, and finances with the conference. Your conference staff, Associate Conference Minister- Rev. Dr. Celestine Fields, Conference Managing Administrator- MeLinda LaViene, Office Support- Joy Davis,…

The UCC Mental Health Network wishes you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year! While we hope that you all will stay safe, healthy, and joyous. We know that this year has generally been challenging for all of us, including those of us who live with mental health challenges, neurodiversity, and trauma. We have compiled a few tips and links to utilize as resources in navigating the holidays.     Tips for Coping and Staying Safe During the Holidays Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays – NAMI Blog Surviving Painful Holiday Emotions – NAMI Blog Avoiding Holiday Stressors:…

A new website resource is available growing out of the "Becoming a Church of Contemplatives in Action" Resolution that passed at the UCC General Synod 2021.  Lots of great resources for both congregations and Pastors!  https://www.contemplatives-in-action.org/ A group growing out of this Resolution meets monthly for rotating contemplative practices with different leaders each month.  The regular practices are the first Thursdays of the month at 2:30pm ET (11:30 AM PT). Our last monthly contemplative practice of 2023 is Thursday, December 7th at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Zoom link below.  Rev. Mark Suriano will lead a loving-kindness meditation, and Rev. Susie…

Bridging the Gap: Mental Health First Aid Training Among People of Faith Post-COVID, and in a world that moves at a relentless pace, mental health has become a critical concern affecting individuals from all walks of life. People of faith, in particular, continually find ourselves navigating in balance between mental health and spiritual well-being. Per the CDC, more than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness; over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness; about 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with…