HILLCREST PARTNERING WITH TRINITY CENTER:March 15th-21st
Hillcrest’s Food Room, under the umbrella of the Outreach Ministry, will be making Breakfast Bags to be given out to the homeless who come to Trinity Center in Walnut Creek for help. Trinity Center gives out 300 Breakfast Bags each week.We are asking for your help. We need to buy what goes into each bag….
Ash Wednesday Worship
2-17-2021 Virtual worship recording for the Ash Wednesday worship service, worship bulletin and summary.
Ash Wednesday Service Feb 17
Lent is just around the corner!! A special online Ash Wednesday worship service will post at 8:00 a.m. and Zoom gatherings for Holy Communion will take place at Noon and 7:00p.m.
Anti-Racism Series: ICCCC Implicit Bias Training
This Sunday, January 31st from 2:30 to 5:00 pm ICCCC’s Elected Council invites others to join in an online extended ImplicitBias Training with Fresh “Lev” White. Registration in advance for this ZOOM meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkdu6ppj8rHdEZEFozhMyk4oMv4vUwSjfm After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Interfaith-Council-Anti_Racism_-UCCC-Implicit-Bias-Training_2021_Jan_31Download
Faith & Race !!
Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm by Zoom Read and discuss “Pre-Post Racial America: Stories from the Front Lines” by Rev. Sandhya Rani Jha. The book provides real peoples’ experiences with race issues and their faith, while offering examples of construction community action with deep biblical truths and deeply held beliefs. Rev. Jha will join us for…
Kidz’ Sunday School
Virtual Sunday School for Kidz 1:30 pm by ZoomContact Allison at lokixoc@gmail.com for more information
Advent Bible Study Series
Christian Education for Adults “Advent Bible Study” Led by Rev Laura and Rev Fred December: 2, 9,and 16 Wednesdays, 4 p.m. via ZOOM
Sugarplum Workshops
Nov 22 1:30 &3:00 Advent Wreath Making Crafts -Kidz &Adults Dec 13 1:30 Christmas Cooking Workshop Contact us for details
UCC Congregations for Mental Health Webinar
UCC Congregations for Mental Health Fall 2020 Webinar In Partnership with the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the UCC November 13-14, 2020 Mental health conditions are common everywhere, including in our churches. People are dealing with a variety of mental health and substance use challenges every day. Due to stigma, many people may be reluctant to either…
Interfaith Election Healing Services
For this election day and the whole of election week, services available each evening through the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. Register in advance for these meetings.
Prayers for Voters and Poll Workers
An opportunity to worship and reflect on election-eve, Monday Nov. 2. Note that the time is 4 p.m. pacific time. We pray for the safety of all voters and poll workers. We pray for our nation and all within our nation. Please register ahead of time.
4 pm Wednesdays Adult Education
Christian Education for Adults “White Privilege–Let’s Talk” Wednesdays, 4 p.m. via ZOOM Adult Ed meets Wednesdays at 4 p.m. via ZOOM. Our overall topic is “The Universal Christ” and we will continue our exploration of cosmic and down-to-earth questions through video, which we watch together, and discussion. Information about how to join through ZOOM is…
3-14-2020 5:30 pm Pasta Dinner
COVID-19 Cancellation! Pasta Dinner/ Spaghetti Feed Varied pastas and sauces in the pasta bar March 14th 5:30 pm Fellowship Hall 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill CA All are Welcome $20.00 for All you Can Eat Kids are Free Auction and Raffle with Prizes Join Us for the Fun!!!
2-26-20 12 Noon & 7 pm —— Ash Wednesday Worship
Hillcrest Church February 26th, 2020 12 Noon & 7pm 404 Gregory Ln. Pleasant Hill CA For More Information Call 925-689-8260 Email: hillcrestucc@att.net Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. Hillcrest is an Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ.
2-22-2020 4pm Rockin’ Organ Concert
A Rockin’ Organ Concert Saturday Feb. 22 @ 4 p.m. Hillcrest Church UCC 404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Virtuoso organist, Friedemann Stihler, is on a brief tour of the Bay Area, doing what he does best—a great concert including tremendous classical organ works as well as “rockin’” ones, like his “Mozart in New Orleans” and…
Fri Feb 7, 6 pm Movie & Pizza
Movie and Pizza Fellowship Friday, Feb 7, 2020 6 pm Hillcrest Church Fellowship Hall 404 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill In Recognition of Black History Month, Learn about Harriet Tubman, 19th Century American abolitionist, political activist and “conductor”. Want More Info???? Call the Church Office M-F 9-Noon 925-689-8260
Pre-Post Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines
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Message from Rev. Fred
Senior Minister
Stones in the Temple of God
As I write, MLK Day has just passed and it is the afternoon of Inauguration Day. Many things are in my heart and mind. I want to share one image, or set of images, having to do with building.
Just a little over 1,900 centuries before Martin Luther King, Jr., a preacher named Ignatius wrote a letter from jail. He was the bishop of Syria within the still-new Christian church and had been imprisoned by the empire for his faith. In his letter, Ignatius pictured the people of God as ones defined and “kindled” by “love.” And he continues, “You are as stones of the temple of [God].” What’s more, “You are then all fellow travelers, and carry with you God, and the temple.”
Along with the love that is so core to our Christian faith and that Ignatius knew so well, the imagery of building and buildings was clearly important and dear to him. He had been arrested, taken away from his people and ministry, and carted off to the imperial city for trial. He was concerned for the future of his church and for all churches. And yet he knew and felt and prayed that the love and caring to which he had been called would not stop. And not only that it would not stop, but that it would continue to build. And it would…through people. People are the stones that build God’s temple, house God’s presence, and share God’s love in the world!
Just about 160 years ago, Abraham Lincoln stood in front of the not-yet-completed capitol dome in our nation’s capitol building and used similar language to that of Ignatius. The building must continue and it must ever go on. When we stop building with and for love and peace, then who and what are we?
Sisters and brothers of Hillcrest—here’s to the Spirit of love alive among us and alive among anyone and everyone of any faith and no faith. Let us at Hillcrest ever be about leading the way in showing people what love alive in the world looks like. Like Ignatius says, we are living stones in the temple of God.
Let it be so, O God, let it be so.
Blessings,
Rev. Fred