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From the Southern California Nevada Conference UCC: Phil Jenkins and Topher Nichols; our interim pastor, Elizabeth Steele; from our congregation: Greg Muir, Brenda Hoschele, Robert Slocum, Bruce Jones, Don Kruszka, Carolyn Aranda, Cindy Hooper, Liz Haley, Peghi Webb, Lydia Zimmerman, Sara Oliver, Jan Thomsen, David Hill, Joe Meyer, Jill Rodriguez, Marty Steinman, Bill & Greta Lydecker, Stephanie Johnson, Keslinn Kohfeld-Stout, Jack & Bobbi Hulson, Margie Bell, Shay DeWeese, David & Dinah Campbell, Pete Bacon, Deborah Wells, Henry Lydecker, Mackenzie Hooper, Jacqueline Johnson, Rachel Robinson, Ben Robinson.

Phil and Topher were very helpful in conveying the broader picture of youth ministry and some alternative ways of going about it. Stay tuned!

- David Campbell

Co-Directors: Liz Haley & Jill Rodriguez
Music: Peghi Webb
Crafts: Pat Snelling
Recreation: Joe Meyer
Bible Storyteller: Nancy Hine
Snacks & Puppeteer: Brenda Hoschele
We are still in need of a few more hands!Please contact Lara, Liz or Jill to find out where help is still needed!Thank You!!

Bring your favorites girls & ladies (mothers, daughter, aunts, cousins, friends, etc)
and  join us for an afternoon of bead-azzling creativity & conversation!

 Saturday, May 3rd, 2:00 - 4:30

 
Not only will you enjoy good food & conversation with your family & friends, but you will also be able to purchase the beads of your choice to design a bracelet for your loved one.
 
Notes:

• If you are planning to attend, please RSVP if possible.  This helps us with food preparation.
• If you are doing the Relay for Life — there is still time!  This event is only about 2 1/2 hrs long!
• If you can help set-up and/or provide cupcakes, please let me know!
• If you have a husband or son, etc, who can help with clean-up, we’d sure appreciate it!

Sunday, April 20th
11:15 - Fireside Room

We will be in need of the following volunteers:

• Director/Assistant Director
• Assembly Leader:”Sam” the Lifeguard
• Assembly Leader:”Max” the Surfer
• Puppeteer:”Flame the Flamingo”
• Sound Waves Music Leader
• Bible Storyteller
• Bible Story Characters
• Rockin’ Rec Recreation Leader
• Beachcomber Crafts Craft Leader
• Snack Shack Snack Leader
• Mission Leader
• “Lifeguard” Group Leaders

Come check out this year’s program at our Planning Meeting on the 20th for more information!!

 First Congregational Church of Bakersfield is cooking up some really exciting activities!

 Hiking anyone?  All young adults are invited to join us on Sunday, October 7 for a leisurely 4 mile hike to the peak of Mt. Pinos (elevation 8831). This hike should take approximately 2.5 hours. Meet at First Congregational Church at 11:30 am to carpool up to the Frazier Park exit. Contact Nancy Bacon at 665-1699 if you are interested!  Donít forget to bring plenty of water!!!

Book discussion and African dinner!  Join us for a book discussion and authentic African dinner on Friday, November 9. Young adults should read ìA Long Way Gone:  Memoirs of a Boy Soldierî by Ishmael Beah.  The book can be found at Starbucks. Dinner will include Lupusi Abuntele (cooked greens and groundnut), Nashima (African cornmeal porridge), Bobotie (curried African meatloaf) and African vegetable soup.  Dinner will be at 6:30 pm at the home of Anna Jacobson and Brandon Pratt.  Please RSVP to Anna at (310) 740-7659 to get directions.

Habitat for Humanity Build at the Kern County Fair!  Young adults ages 16-30 are encouraged to join Habitat for Humanity for a house building project at the fairgrounds on Sunday, September 23 from 1-6 pm.  All participants will receive a free pass to the fair for their efforts!

As you can see, First Congregational Church has some exciting things happening for young adults!  Bring your friends!

If you have any questions, call Nancy Bacon at 665-1699.

See a slide show of VBS 2007 photos.
more…

Real Buddies  are ready to change the world and end global hunger and poverty???
and it’s possible!
 
Heifer International developed Read to Feed to promote literacy while giving students a way to set off a chain reaction of positive change around the world.
 
Children ask reading sponsors to help them raise money to buy gifts of livestock for impoverished families.
 
The idea is simple and it works.  Instead of providing families in need with a non-renewable source of food, Heifer International provides a “living loan” of an animal and the training to take care of it.
 
The family “repays” the living loan by passing on one or more of their gift animals’ offspring to another family in need.  And that family passes on more offspring???and so on???.and so on.  Just one gift animal can eventually transform an entire community!
 
Heifer International has been around for over 60 years and has helped well over four million impoverished families in 128 countries lift themselves out of poverty and achieve self-reliance.  Yes, this solutions really works!
 
We hope you will support these children’s efforts to “seize the day” by joining other children who are changing the world.  Contact any of these children to make a pledge to support them in this project!  You can pledge in any way you’d like.  Examples:  $0.25/chapter;  $0.50/hour;  $1/book; or $3/100 pages.
 
And, if your child or grandchild isn’t already participating, please contact Lara Norman-Kehe for information about how they can contribute, too.  Children and youth of all ages are encouraged to participate.