Volunteer Service Teams
Our teams offer people the opportunity to volunteer and give back to our community... and have fun while doing it! If you are interested in volunteering on any of these teams, please contact us.
Adopt-a-Highway
Leader: Michael Acosta
Description: This team is also known as the "Loving the Highway Adoptive Care Committee". Volunteers (18 and older) meet on the second Saturday of the month at the Park & Ride lot (Highways 32 and 99), from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., to clean up Highway 32 from Fir Street to Bruce Road.
Bookkeeping
Leader: Robert L. Pace
Description: Bob Pace, an accounting consultant and QuickBooks Pro advisor, is currently inVesting his time, talent and energy as our bookkeeper.
Bookstore
Leader: Joan Sill
Description: Bookstore volunteers are essential to the successful operation of the ROOM FOR THOUGHT bookstore. Volunteers staff the bookstore after each Sunday service to handle sales.
Building Maintenance
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Leader: Eileen Lahey Description: To follow...
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Church Web Site
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Leader: Reverend Kathy Fernandes Description: This team is responsible for the planning, implementation, and maintenance of our church web site. If you would like to participate or if you have any suggestions, please contact us.
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Discovery Classes
Leader: Sandy Gohlke
Description: This four-week class is for those who are new to our teaching or those who want to re-connect. It gives an overview of Religious Science through weekly lectures, shows The Story of Ernest Holmes in historic photographs, and gives class members a chance to get to know others through small group interaction. Some of the topics covered are "What is Spiritual Mind Treatment and How To Use It", "The Law of Circulation and How to Use It", and "What we Believe About Heaven, Hell, Jesus, and Our True Nature".
Ernest Holmes, founder of the Science of Mind, writes, "There is a Power in the Universe for good and I can use it." Through discovery you will come to see more and more that the Power he is referring to is right where you are. The class is a wonderful place to meet like-minded people enjoying discussion and refreshments. It's informative, fun and there's no charge!
Flowers
Leader: Kathryn Wright
Description: Each Sunday the pulpit is decorated with beautiful flowers arranged by different members of our church. Those flower arrangements are then raffled off at the bookstore during fellowship hour after church.
Greeters & Ushers
Leader: Lynn Busby
Description: This team rotates serving on Sunday to greet people with a smile as they come in the doors, give out programs, and assist in directing people as needed.
Healing Ministry
Leader: Sandy Gohlke/Marion Welton
Description: When special requests for prayer treatment are put into the healing chest, that request is assigned a number. The Healing Ministry then calls on practitioners to do prayer treatment for that numbered request for two weeks. Treatment is based on what was requested by the requestor.
Homeless Shelter Cooking Team
Leader: Hazel Carter
Description: This team meets the first Thursday and third Monday of the month at 4 p.m., to prepare a simple meal for the Chico homeless.
Kosmic Kids and Tweens
Leader: John Boyle
Description: Our Kosmic Kids, ages 5-9, and Tweens, (10-12 year olds) meet in the Youth and Family Services building across the parking lot. We use the adopted International Centers for Spiritual Living curriculum, supplemented by service projects, music, and special holiday activities.
Lighting and Sound
Leader: Eileen Lahey
Description: This team provides proper lighting and sound for each of our two Sunday lessons.In addition, lessons are recorded on cassette tapes which are available after each service as well as on digital MP3 which is available on our website.
Living Green Team
Leader: Rick Mazzucchi
Description: We now have a Living Green Team made up of volunteers from our church community focused
on raising the consciousness of good stewardship for God's creation. You need not be green with envy as we are actively seeking more members. Come join us in helping to make the world a greener place.
Membership
Leader: Kristen Wilson
Description: The membership team is responsible for growth and retention of the church membership. They greet visitors and provide information to newcomers, organize membership drives, and coordinate events that tie into membership including recognition of new members, discovery classes and social opportunities.
Music
Leader: Larry Sill
Description: Music is a vital and vibrant part of our church experience. Choir, WomanSong and other special groups contribute to our music program. Choir rehearses at the Church, 7 to 9 p.m. each Thursday evening (September through May). Come join the fun!
Nursery
Leader: John Boyle
Description: We provide excellent care both services for infants to preschool children (4 years old.) Parents are welcome to bring their youngest to the nursery room adjacent to the sanctuary.
Salvation Army Cooking Teams
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Leader: Hal Howard Description: This team meets the first and third Sundays of the month, from 3 to 6 p.m., to cook a meal and serve it as a ministry from our church.
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Social Team
Leader: Toni Campbell
Description: Volunteers team up each week to provide wonderful food for the social hour following every Sunday service. They arrive early to help set up with their team and stay afterwards to help with clean-up. Volunteers commit to one Sunday monthly and their efforts are appreciated by the entire congregation.
Special Events/Fundraisers
Leader: Varies
Description: Special Events are carefully selected by the ministers and are advertised in the bi-monthly newsletter, the e-bulletin and weekly Sunday programs. A flyer is generally available that tells about the workshop and the person who is presenting it. The goal for the workshops is to enrich the lives of those attending. Tools to use on a daily basis are usually given which help to expand a greater awareness of one's spiritual magnificence. This is done by inviting well-known people who have written a book or have successfully created a workshop that causes an experience of expanding a consciousness of the Divine within the individuals.
Spiritual Practitioners
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Leader: Reverend Kathy Fernandes Description: Reverend Kathy coordinates our trained practitioners to serve where ever spiritual mind treatment, our form of affirmative prayer, is needed. Practitioners serve in the following ways: Healing Ministry, Sunday One Minute Miracles, Practitioner On Duty, holding the High Watch, and offering prayer to those who request their services. Practitioners regularly pray for the church, its members, staff, ministers and programs.
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Staff Ministers
Leader: Reverend Duchess Dale
Description: The staff ministers of the Chico New Thought Center for Spiritual Living have completed at least 5 years training of Religious Science accredited class work, completed the Science of Mind 400 Intensive training and passed an oral exam before a panel of three ordained ministers. The staff minister may apply for the non-salaried position with a Religious Science Church, serving a specific assignment to be determined by the pastor or pastoral team. Areas of responsibilities could be Minister of Youth Education, Pastoral Care, Director of Practitioners, etc. All staff ministers may receive pay for counseling, conducting weddings, funerals and christenings, as well as teaching accredited Science of Mind classes under the supervision of the Pastor. The staff minister is licensed annually on approval of the pastor and is eligible for consideration for ordination upon completion of certain criteria.
The staff minister must live in the community and be a regular, active participant and member in the church.
Teen Group
Leader: Rev. Teri Lerch
Description: Our Teens, ages 13 to 18, meet in the Youth and Family Services building from 11:30 to 1:00. Each meeting begins with personal sharing, followed by a workshop to promote spiritual and personal growth. Meetings are facilitated by our Youth Advisors: Rev. Teri Lerch, Bruce Davidow, Megan Yamada-Bryant and Erica Mendoza. Our teens also attend ICSL's summer and winter seminars for teens as well as workshops for Northern California youth groups each fall and winter. These activities are wonderful ways for our teens to connect with others on the spiritual path. Service is another value our program supports. Teens participate in annual service projects for our local and global communities.
Youth Church
Leader: John Boyle
Description: The Chico New Thought Center for Spiritual Living offers programs for ages infant to 18 years. All of our activities serve to facilitate the personal and spiritual growth of our youngest. From learning spiritual principles to music to community service, our children come to understand that the Divine Love of God is who they truly are. And what a difference this awareness makes in the lives of your youth!
