Current & Upcoming Events
Bible Study
Bible study will be held focusing on the lectionary texts that will be used for preaching the following Sunday. The Bible study will be led either by Pastor Jeanyne or Pastor Rick, depending on who is preaching that Sunday. These sessions may also include interesting book discussions. No prior knowledge of the Bible is required. Bring your Bible and be willing to roll up your sleeves to dig into the texts. Open to everyone. Dates to be announced.
Celebrating Peace with the Music of the Beatles
Come join us and sign along at 10:00am on Sunday, September 19, 2010!
First Food Sunday
Our next scheduled First Food Sunday is September 5, 2010. On the first Sunday of each month, we collect non-perishable food items for those in need in our community. The items are collected during the offering portion of the worship service.
Did you know . . .?
1,000,000 Hungry Orange County Neighbors
In 2008-2009, 890,000 people were at risk for hunger at some point every month in Orange County. Today, estimates exceed 1,000,000. [CAPOC 2008 - 2009 Community Action Plan]
Foodstamps: Orange County & Neighbors
There was a 52% increase in Orange County residents and an 81% increase in San Bernardino residents receiving food stamps. [Increase period 2007-2009 US Dept of Agriculture]
The State of California enrolls half of those eligible for food stamps in Los Angeles . . . a proportion lower than any other State in the United States.
Orange County: land of plenty?
The Orange County 211 Hotline helpline experienced a 67% increase in requests for food referrals. [Reported in October 2009]
Our Hungry Children in Orange County
31% (190,000) of low income households experience hunger at least once a day. 37.7% of those experiencing hunger are children. [Orange County Nutrition Profile, California Food Policy Advocates 2008]
Rebecca Circle
Rebecca Circle meets every second Thursday of the month at 11:30am in Fellowship Hall.
Upcoming Preaching Themes
Each Sunday looks at a fundamental and enduring value and what each means for our lives. Bible texts will be chosen accordingly. Pastors Jeanyne and Rick will focus their sermons and design the worship service around various themes over the next few months:
September: “We Can Work It Out”
September 5: Pastor JeanyneSeptember 12: Pastor Rick
September 19: Pastors Jeanyne & Rick
September 26: Pastor Rick
“Living the Mission” Sundays
Throughout the year, BCUCC gives its support to several areas of Christian concern. To lift these up, we will focus on a different church program each time there is a month with five Sundays.
January 31, 2010: Homelessness (Shelter Program)
May 30, 2010: Hunger (First Food Sundays)
August 29, 2010: Children (Human trafficking, children’s offerings, children’s Sabbath)
October 31, 2010: Climate Change (landscape project, green program)
August 29, 2010: “Living the Mission” Sunday: Children (Human trafficking, children's offerings, children's Sabbath)
Human Trafficking ~
This August, look for information & how you can get involved:
Victims of human trafficking are denied their God-given identity. Addressing human trafficking is a matter of justice.
Did you think we abolished slavery? Wrong. Slavery is flourishing. Human trafficking is a criminal business that profits from enslaving people for sexual servitude and forced labor. It is the second largest and fastest growing criminal enterprise worldwide.
Statistics:
- 12.5 Million slaves worldwide (80% women and children; 50% children)
- At least 100,000 American minors are sex slaves (sold by pimps)
- 14,500-17,500 people brought in from other countries as slaves each year
- 200,000 American children are at high risk for trafficking into the sex industry each year
Sources:
The Polaris Project www.polarisproject.org and California Against Slavery: http://www.californiaagainstslavery.org
Protecting Trafficking Victims in the Era of Immigration Enforcement:
There are victims involved in Human Trafficking…they are not participants in this criminal activity. With all the ‘get tough on illegal immigration’ victims of human trafficking may have greater fear and hopelessness.
‘There are many fundamental differences between the crimes of human trafficking and human smuggling. Both are entirely separate Federal crimes in the U.S. Most notably, smuggling is a crime against a country’s borders, whereas human trafficking is a crime against a person. Also, while smuggling requires illegal border crossing, human trafficking involves commercial sex acts or labor or services that are induced through force, fraud, or coercion.’
Source: The Polaris Project
Support organizations taking a stand against human trafficking:
The Underground Railroad was started by a few people who cared enough to take action! Organizations like the Polaris Project and California against Slavery are making a difference in today’s fight against modern slavery. Making a financial donation, a gift of time, goods, or services, or helping to raise awareness are some of the things collectively that help victims everyday.
- California Against Slavery www.californiaagainstslavery
- The Polaris Project www.polarisproject.org
- Not for Sale http://www.notforsalecampaign.org
- Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force www.egovlink.com/ochumantrafficking