By posted by Joy Davis
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United Church of Christ’s 2026 Justice and Local Church Ministries grants

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Applications for the United Church of Christ’s 2026 Justice and Local Church Ministries grants are now open. These grants are designed to support the mission and ministry of local congregations. The application deadline is September 15, 2026. One significant update this year is the increased CASA grant award. Grantees will receive $25,000 per year in years one and two and may be eligible for an additional $25,000 per year in years three and four through matching funds. I encourage congregations with innovative ministry ideas and community-focused initiatives to explore this opportunity and consider applying. The application for the CASA grant is also…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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Have You Heard? Independence Day Reflections

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By Rev. Dr. Davena L. Creer-Jones, Conference Minister Today as I sit on my porch in deep prayer and reflection on this 4th of July Independence Day, I can’t help but think of what life was like 250 years ago in real time. Sure, history books, movies, documentaries, loved ones tell the stories of past times. But to live in, through and to survive is an entirely different thing. One of the stories my great-grandmother Lille Mae (born 1889) shared with me about black folk in her day was that they didn’t have to be connected by blood to be…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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FAITH COMMUNITIES: JOIN THE KEEP COAL OUT OF THE EAST BAY CAMPAIGN

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The Trump administration’s announcement of $75 million in federal funding to build a massive coal export terminal at the foot of the Bay Bridge in West Oakland has re-ignited one of the most important environmental justice fights in our region. If built, the terminal would send two mile-long coal trains per day through the rail corridors of Martinez, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, and West Oakland — exposing our most vulnerable neighbors to coal dust and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and premature death. There is no safe level of exposure. The communities along this route…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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I Love Taiwan Immersion Trip

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            On June 30, four young adults from Chinese Congregational UCC in San Francisco began their journey to Taiwan to participate in the I Love Taiwan Immersion Trip, hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. Luke, Jennifer, Andy, and Elizabeth will be in Taiwan from July 2 to July 16. During this two-week program, they will meet young people from around the world, learn from the life and witness of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, and visit local churches in the Tainan Presbytery, which is one of NCNC’s Global Partnership partners. They will also have the opportunity…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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Songs in the Key Of Resistance

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Songs in the Key of Resistance has officially released a new movement music album! The self-titled debut record features cultural workers from across the nation lifting their voices to let you know you are not alone! No están solos! The artists and cultural organizers who are part of Songs in the Key of Resistance are rooted in the living tradition of movement music, lifting up songs born from struggle, survival, joy, and collective dreaming. This album was made possible through the vision, commitment, and powerful artistry of the musicians, vocalists, and cultural organizers who believe in the power of song…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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God’s Corner: Rebuilding Trust, Collaboration, and Relational Health in the Local Church

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 by Rev. Sven Verbeet Many churches today are not struggling because of a lack of faith or commitment, but because trust has slowly eroded over time. When trust weakens, collaboration suffers, and faithful people can begin operating from anxiety, guardedness, or exhaustion rather than shared purpose and joy. At St. John’s, we have learned that rebuilding trust is not primarily about solving conflict or launching new programs. It requires tending to the relational and spiritual health of the church: how disappointment is handled, how conflict is addressed, and how unresolved pain is carried over time. As Nehemiah discovered while rebuilding…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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Pride Month: Living God’s Love Out Loud

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By MeLinda LaViene Each June, communities across the nation celebrate Pride Month, honoring the history, resilience, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other LGBTQIA+ people. For many, Pride is a celebration of identity, community, and liberation. For the church, it is also an opportunity to reflect on God's expansive love and our call to embody that love in the world. The Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ joins with congregations and communities in celebrating Pride Month as a reminder that every person is created in the image of God and beloved beyond measure.…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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Journey for Justice: Walking Our Faith in Action

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As we approach World Refugee Day on June 20, United Church of Christ congregations are invited to put faith into motion through Journey for Justice, a flexible, faith-centered fundraising challenge from Church World Service. Inspired by the 42.5 million refugees worldwide, participants commit to a “42.5 challenge”—walking, biking, or moving in ways that fit their lives—while raising funds to support refugees and displaced families both globally and here in the U.S.  Grounded in Jesus’ call to “welcome the stranger” (Matthew 25:35), Journey for Justice offers a tangible way to live out our faith beyond the pews. Funds raised provide critical support—from emergency shelter…
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By posted by Joy Davis
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Have You Heard? May Is #SexEdForAll Month!

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By Rev. Lauren Jewett Join Us in partnership with the UCC Our Whole Lives Curriculum in Fighting for the Sex Education All Young People Need and Deserve In 2026, the fight for sex education is more urgent than ever. Join us as we celebrate May as Sex Ed for All Month and voice our commitment to a world where all young people—no matter who they are or where they live—get the sex education they deserve. Sex education is under attack by well-funded, organized groups that seek to strip young people of their right to knowledge and bodily autonomy. From book bans to curriculum…
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