Attention all District 8 youth leaders!

B.J. Barlow, Regional Staff for Youth Ministries, is systematically meeting with each District of PSWR congregations to discuss the needs of our youth and how PSWR congregations can meet those needs. The next meeting is for youth leaders and mentors from District 8 churches:

Pacific Beach Christian Church
Casa de Oracion, San Diego
First Christian Church of Oceanside
United Church of the Valley
Primera Iglesia Cristiana de Vista
Missiongathering Christian Church
University Christian Church
Vista La Mesa Christian Church
Clairemont Christian Church
Iglesia Fe, Esperanza y Amor Christian Church
Torrey Pines Christian Church

District 8, join us for this vital time of brainstorming and dreaming!

Regional Assembly 2014 pictures are up!

Regional Assembly was an incredible time of togetherness and celebration! Thank you to First Christian Church Garden Grove for your over-and-above hospitality. Thank you to those who put in time and hard work to ensure every aspect of Regional Assembly 2014 was meaningful---worship participants, workshop leaders, planning committee, attendees. We are grateful to walk in light and love together with you!

Pictures from the Assembly are up on Facebook. Go check them out and tag yourself!

Moral Injury and Soul Repair Conference, January 29-30, 2015

The PSWR is excited to announce Moral Injury and Soul Repair: A Conference taking place January 29-30, 2015 at First United Methodist Church San Diego (2111 Camino Del Rio S, San Diego, CA). 

This event is sponsored in partnership with:

-First United Methodist Church, San Diego
-Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
-Soul Repair Center at Brite Divinity School
-United Church of Christ
-VA San Diego Health Care System.

Registration for the event opens December 1. All are invited to attend.

Click to download the promotional flier. 

You're Invited: GLAD-PSWR Biennial Gathering is Saturday, October 4

The GLAD-PSWR Biennial Gathering is Saturday, October 4th at Church of the Foothills (19211 Dodge Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705). 

Hospitality Hour is 5PM-6PM and dinner will begin at 6:15. Rev. Dr. Mark Johnston will be the keynote speaker. The event is $20. RSVP via email in advance; pay at the door. Download the flyer for more information and share the invitation with your congregation, friends and family!

Join the movement of GLAD and widen the welcome to all! 

The PSWR Responds to Creation Care Crisis

From Cheri Metier, CIS Mission Project Consultant - Creation Care

On Saturday, September 13 a number of clergy and laity gathered for PSWR’s first Creation Care Conference. Those I spoke with hope that it will not be the last. This was one offering in the PSWR Stewardship Workshop series.

Rev. Dayna Kinkade (pastor, First Christian Church Orange) kept us spiritually focused throughout the day and brought soul-feeding meditations before and after each informational presentation. Dr. Kyle Brown from Cal-Poly Pomona’s Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies tested our knowledge on water needs and consumption. He used a term I hadn’t heard: "water footprint". Yes, we need to be mindful not only of our carbon footprint, but that of our water also. He challenged us to move our conservation efforts forward from our homes and congregations to regional and whole Church efforts towards responsible legislation. (A host of helpful resources for good earth stewardship can be found at California Interfaith Power and Light.) Allis Druffel, Southern California Outreach Director for Interfaith Power and Light shed light on congregations that are doing wonderful work in education, advocacy and building renovations that work towards leaving smaller negative impacts on God’s first gift to humanity, Creation.

Rev. Carol Devine from Green Chalice of Disciples Home Missions spoke to participants and shared the path towards becoming a Green Chalice Congregation.

photo by Robert Van Waarden, People's Climate March, NYC 

Cheri Metier and Rev. Lauren Buck Medeiros, Chaplain at Punahou School, together at the San Diego People's Climate March

This past weekend, thousands of people around the world marched to bring awareness to climate change and encourage world leaders to develop workable solutions to decreasing carbon emissions, brining clean water to all people and increasing clean energy sources. Although I couldn’t make it to New York where the national march was held, I was joined by Rev. Lauren Buck Medeiros from Hawaii and we lent our bodies and voices to a thousand others at the San Diego People’s Climate March. At the end of the march, several faith leaders representing six different religious traditions spoke to the marchers and affirmed that all religions are called to care for Creation. 

If you would like more resources, please email Cheri Metier.