Rev. Christy Newton installed as our new Pastor!

On October 13th, we at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Vallejo officially welcomed Rev. Dr. Christy Newton as our settled Pastor in a very special Installation Service.  Many guests were in attendance including our region's Transitional Interim Minister, Rev. Mary Jacobs who delivered the Installation Message titled, "Setting the Tone."  Also participating in the service were a number of other guests from around the region and several members of the church.  In all there were 16 ordained ministers in attendance to celebrate with us and Christy.  During the service, all those present took part in a moving "laying on of hands" ceremony where we prayed for and blessed Christy, this church, this community and the service we look forward to doing together.
 
After the service, most of those who came to the worship stayed for a wonderful reception featuring an endless buffet of tasty treats.  It was a great time for old friends to catch up and for the church to continue celebrating the start of Christy's ministry with us.  A big thank you to all those who helped make both the service and the reception such special occasions.  What a wonderful and blessed day it was!

Click Here for more pictures of the Installation Service.

UPDATE:  Click Here for a story in the Vallejo Times Herald about Christy starting her ministry with us.

Our Stewardship effort offers us a chance to reflect.

As part of our Fall Stewardship effort, members of the church have been asked to share reflections about what the church means to them each week in October and November.  For the first in this series of Stewardship Moments, John Grose shared the following poem, taking the congregation on a journey while we took a deep breath and reflected on why we are here:

Breath in – It’s Free, but it comes with a cost.
Freedom is free, but it comes with a cost.
Love should be freely given, but it comes with a cost.
This church is free, but it comes with a cost too.
We may come or go as we please, perhaps never to return – we are free to do so.
The church and all she stands for is here due to the Grace of God and the stewardship of her people.
She stands here as a beacon of Freedom.
She has stood in the community as a voice against war and violence.
She has stood as a champion for LGBT human rights.
As a voice for all creatures great and small.
As a voice for the hungry and homeless.
As a voice of reconciliation between the human races.
As a voice for the cure for cancer.
As a voice for interfaith dialogue.
We stand here in your Church Lord, as witnesses of the Risen Christ.
Here stands your Church Lord doing your will.
We are your people, stewards of this church and your creation.
We are called into your service – to keep your movement going forward!  In Jesus' name!
For all this Grace in Christ – Freedom comes with a cost.

Special Study Coming.

Beginning Sunday, we will be starting a special study titled "Social Justice, Prophetic Ministry, and Everyday People."  Through the study we will be exploring the topic of living out our "calling to fulfill" as everyday people and exploring social justice and prophetic ministry in accordance with and/or discordance with everyday life and times.  There will be three sessions of the class, October 6th, October 27th and November 3rd.  Plan to stay after worship for this special study and remember to bring a bag lunch.