A Letter from ACC Candidate Pastor Celeste Fields

I am honored to be the candidate for settled pastor at Arlington Community Church, UCC! As I said to Faith Abel in one of our many emails, “Look what God has done!” I wasn’t exactly looking for a call when ACC was brought to my attention. But once I read your profile, I knew that I belonged with you all. I am filled with excitement and nervousness. The nervousness speaks to the importance of this work we will do together in the Church.

A little about me...

I came to California in April of 2019 from the East Coast. I drove over 5,000 miles in a conversion van that I turned into a camper. I drove right into a blizzard which was headed my way from Nebraska. I put the peddle to the metal, hands at ten and two, escaping the snow, sleet, high winds, and ice finding my way to sunny California after ten days of driving. The moment I crossed the border from Arizona, I felt something shift within me. I had this feeling that I was home and that everything in my life was going to change. I was going to be okay! I feel and see this happening every day I live in the Bay Area. I know this is happening with my candidacy at ACC as well. Although I have left some precious little people behind, I am home.

I look forward to vacation when I visit my two grown children, Christian and Briana, who is the mother of my three grandchildren. Jonathan is the oldest at 11, Jordyn is 8 and my granddaughter Elise Summer is two. I have two stepsons I helped raise with my former partner. Jacob and Adam, who are 23 and 20 years old are my loves. I have various adult children who have come into my life through the years and call me mom or nana. I like to say that I am the mother of the world. J I love children and they seem to like me as well.

I have a passion for healthy eating, food insecurity, and teaching people how to manage their health through their diet. I believe everything our body needs is found in nature or can be grown in our back yard...depending on zoning. I enjoy hiking the many trails in the Bay, riding my bicycle on the street, on bike paths, and on my trainer in the living room if the sky is filled with smoke. I recently started lifting weights again at the gym, and I am working on losing the last 30 or so pounds of my weight loss journey. I have lost about 130lbs since April 2017. I am looking forward to maintenance, so I have more freedom with food.

I enjoy teaching racial justice and serving on the Committee on Ministry Section B in the conference. I care for the earth by keeping my carbon footprint as low as possible and taking part in spontaneous cleanup activities around the Bay. This is the short list. I look forward to sharing more, especially about the motorcycle photo, and getting to know you all soon.

Many blessings as we begin our journey together,

Pastor Celeste

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor: October 22, 2021

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor

Rev. Barbara K. Peronteau

Thoughts from the Pastor…

Every year the Sierra Pacific Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America holds a retreat in the Fall for pastors, and their families. They call this the Professional Leaders Conference (PLC). The venue alternates every year between “The Tides” at Monterey and Olympic Village at Palisades Tahoe. This was the year to be in the mountains.

On the way up, somewhere between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level, we had the thrill of driving through a snow squall. Once we got off the interstate, I found it romantic driving toward the “lodge” with the snow gently falling through the pine trees and quietly laying on the ground. It was like something right out of a Hallmark movie.

The theme of the event was about wellness and wholeness. The times in which we are living are stressful. I could go through the litany, but we already know the context in which we live. Now what? The facilitator at the Monday evening workshop asked us what nourishes us. What nourishes you? For me, the question came out of left field. I had to think about it. I’m still thinking. What nourishes me? That Monday evening my answer was reading theology. I am in a Luther Reading Group that meets once a month. Reading the scripture for Sunday and taking a deep dive into the text is nourishing. I get enjoyment detailing my car and decorating the apartment. In these stressful times remind yourself what nourishes you and what brings you joy. Do that.

Tuesday was sort of a hodge-podge of this and that. I found the best part of the day was being with friends laughing and catching up with each other. I became aware of how important community and connection really is, even for us introverts.

Wednesday was mostly about body movements - lessons I wasn’t expecting. The first workshop was about experiencing gravity from the ground. There were some elements of Yoga involved with this. The instructor had us lie down on our backs on the floor. I was amazed how the earth was pulling my tension out simply by laying still and flat on my back. I liked it. There were a few other techniques I found helpful and even enjoyable. I was nourishing my body.

The next workshop was about how to do worship movements without pain. Trust me, it’s a thing. The class was small and would soon evolve into a discussion about our bodies being sacred space even though we have been given the opposite message by family and culture. “You’re too fat, you’re female and don’t belong in the pulpit, you’re too queer. You’re not good enough.” Always and constantly God says our bodies are sacred space. Each of us are loved and awesome.

The third workshop was about Restorative Breathing. Among other things, we learned how to curl forward while seated and slowly and intentionally curl back up. Everyone heard my neck snap, crack, and pop. Not just one snap, crack, and a pop. Lots. We found out there is something called the “backpack.” It’s that knot where the neck, shoulders, and back meet. It’s called the “backpack” because that’s where we carry all our stuff. Stretching, curling, body movements, laughing, and finding those things that nourish us are helpful in taking off our “backpack.”

Finally, the PLC ended with worship on Thursday morning. Worship, too, is nourishing. Take care of body and soul. By then, it was time to leave.  The chicken sandwiches and the bar-b-que chips from the Shell station on the way out were also nourishing. It was good to get away and it was good to come home. I always find home a nourishing place.

Wholeness and wellness,

~ Pastor Barbara

Introducing Rev. Dr. Celestine Fields Candidate for Settled Ministry at ACC

Introducing Rev. Dr. Celestine Fields

Candidate for Settled Ministry at ACC

By ACC Search Committee

Rev. Dr. Celestine Fields

Summary of Qualifications

Pastor Celeste (as she prefers to be known) is an ordained minister with full standing in the United Church of Christ. She was ordained in 2013.  She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2013. She earned her Doctorate in Ministry from the same institution in 2021.

Pastor Celeste participated in the Chatauqua Institute as a clergy participant in a New Clergy training on Anti-Racism in 2015. She earned a six-month certificate in Applied Positive Psychology in March 2017 and completed 16 hours of Appreciative Inquiry in January 2017 and 14 hours in Appreciative Inquiry in Transitional Ministry, January 2017. Pastor Celeste has also served as a co-facilitator in Racial Justice Training several times in 2020 and 2021.

In her career, Pastor Celeste has been an Interim Minister, Pastor, National/International Chaplain, Pulpit and Supply Pastor, volunteer fellow, founding pastor and Outreach Minister.

Conclusions Drawn From On-Line Interview and References

Pastor Celeste’s enthusiasm for ministry and church work in the UCC is palpable. She is not afraid to step out in faith to follow where she feels called. She values the covenantal nature of the UCC, emphasizing that the “bottom up” policy is a good fit for her. (She says one of the areas she likes to study is church polity!) She interprets the command to love God and her neighbor with all her heart, mind, and soul to include reaching out in interfaith dialogue. She calls the church to be relevant to today’s issues and problems and feels that is how churches will grow in a society increasingly unchurched.

Pastor Celeste is very conscious of the challenges facing her in an almost all-white church, and of the challenges facing the congregation in calling a black pastor. She wrote her dissertation on the subject. She included her training in Applied Positive Psychology as a means of meeting that challenge. She says in her profile, “I hear the frustration of my White siblings, ’We can’t ever get it right,’ and ‘We don’t know what to do.’ It’s time to do the work together. No more guilt or shame! Amen.” She feels called to be a black pastor in a mostly white church.

Pastor Celeste is an excellent preacher. She relies on God’s Word and storytelling to create a prophetic message. She has a powerful voice, both in volume and meaning.

We spent some time discussing the role of music in the church. Pastor Celeste agrees that music is vital to the church and appreciates both hymns and more contemporary music. She sounded delighted by existence of the ACC Ensemble.

The search committee found Pastor Celeste to be down to earth and easy to talk to. We have the sense that she will be a good pastoral care provider, and her references bear that out.

Why Celeste Fields would be a good fit for ACC

Pastor Celeste’s dissertation raised some red flags about calling a black pastor to a mostly white church, but Pastor Celeste put these to rest in her on-line interview. Instead, the Committee believes her race will be a particular asset to ACC. ACC has a strong background in social justice work, which thrilled Pastor Celeste. We want to live that commitment in our leadership as well as our outreach. She will be a strong Pastoral Care provider for our aging congregation, and her enthusiasm will buoy those who continue to be active in the ministries of the church.

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor: October 15, 2021

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor

Rev. Barbara K. Peronteau

Thoughts from the Pastor…

One night I’m trying to go to sleep. My mind won’t calm down but it’s already going on 11 pm and if I don’t start now, I’ll be awake until 2 or 3. I start poking around for a movie. Something to take my mind off whatever is rolling around in there. I check out Netflix, YouTube, Amazon. I finally settled on what seemed to be, at first glance, a really not so good indie flick called “Chasing Bullitt” on Peacock.  When I think of what a “B Movie” would be, this would be it.

Ostensibly, the movie is about Steve McQueen’s search for the Mustang he drove in the quirky 1968 neo-noir action thriller “Bullitt,” which despite being a “critical and box office smash” takes about three viewings before anyone can understand the plot.  The center piece of the film, of course, is the famous chase scene between the Mustang and the Dodge Charger through the hilly streets of San Francisco. For sure, a chase scene for the ages!

Surprisingly, I found “Chasing Bullitt” to be layered with meaning and metaphor that went deeper and beyond Steve McQueen simply looking for “the car”. The first metaphor was probably the actor who portrayed Steve McQueen, Andre Brooks. I never heard of Andre Brooks. There were times in the movie when he looked uncannily just like Steve McQueen. It’s as if McQueen wasn’t actually himself but there he was.  The movie takes place in 1971, after the successful “Bullitt” and the flop, “Le Mans.” As portrayed in the movie, McQueen is not in a good place in his life. He’s floundering. His marriage is on the rocks. He’s unfocused without direction. Like he wasn’t himself, but there he was.    

After driving his car in circles (another metaphor) at a raceway in the Arizona desert, McQueen tells his manager to find “the car.”  It’s as if McQueen can’t get his life together until he gets “the car.” He then takes off for a journey through the desert.

Then there’s “the car” that Warner Brothers sold to someone who worked at the studio. “The car” McQueen is looking for, of course, is the one he drove in “Bullitt,” a Dark Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT 390 with a 4 speed manual transmission. That’s the one he doesn’t have. It’s the one he wants. The car he drives around in circles and through the desert is a blue 1967 Boss 302 prototype with an automatic. So not Steve McQueen. It was a gift from the studio. It has the look but It’s not what he wants. He wants “the car.”

As he drives through the desert, a great metaphor, for rediscovering oneself, God, meaning, direction, purpose, McQueen reflects about his life, his marriage, how he screwed up and blamed his wife. He thinks about his past and how he was orphaned and was bullied and abused by his uncle. He arrives in Los Angeles at the address of the last known owner of the original 1968 Bullitt Mustang. The one he wants. He pulls up behind a teenager working under the hood of a white 1968 Dodge Charger. More movie references. More metaphors.

McQueen notices the bruising on the kid’s face. They’re from his foster-dad. McQueen goes to the house to talk with the guy he thinks has the 1968 Dark Highland Green Mustang. The guy doesn’t have it. He sold it. It’s probably in New Jersey by now.

I admit, I didn’t understand the movie until the end when it all made sense. McQueen leaves the man’s house, sees the foster-dad bullying the teenager. McQueen clobbers the foster-dad (not recommended) and tells him to stop (recommended), or he has McQueen to deal with. As McQueen walks into the sunset, he tosses the keys to the blue Mustang to the kid and says, “Here, it’s yours.”.

From there, the real Steve McQueen would get involved with United Artists, join Dustin Hoffman in “Papillion” and star in “The Getaway.”  That’s when it came to me. Sometimes we are in the wrong car and need to go on a desert journey of our own to rediscover who we are and where we’re going, and that we are in the wrong car. Sometimes we just need to toss the keys and walk into the sunset toward another day filled with new promises and new hopes.

May the road rise up to meet you and your gears always shift smoothly,

~ Pastor Barbara

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor: October 8, 2021

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor

Rev. Barbara K. Peronteau

Thoughts from the Pastor…

At the moment, my thoughts are filled with the upcoming schedule of events for October and November in the worship life of Arlington Community Church. The easy breezy months of Summer have come and gone. As the Season of Pentecost begins to wind down, it does so with a flurry of activity.  

 This week, Sunday, October 10, we are getting creative with The Rich Man from the Gospel of Mark and Fiddler on the Roof. Our own Tim Murphy and Joe Pratt will be preforming “If I Were a Rich Man.” I’m sure Joe makes a great Tevye! My message will combine the thoughts of Tevye, the Disciples, and Jesus.

 Next week, October 17, is my Sunday off from preaching. I will be leading the service as Lauren Hotchkiss will be bringing us the message through the music of Taize. It is also Jubilee USA Network Sunday. I have woven the two themes of Taize and Jubilee together.

 October 24, the ACC Ensemble will be with us, as we also celebrate Stewardship Sunday and the many ways we can live generously.

 Reformation Sunday is October 31. On October 30, 1517, the faith of Western Europe was Roman Catholic. On October 31, after Martin Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany all that changed. We are part of that change as we listen and respond to our “Still Speaking God.” My sermon that day will be about what it took for Martin Luther to say “Here I stand” and the utter conviction of faith the Hungarian Reformed pastors had in the face of imprisonment and life as galley slaves.

 November 1, a Monday, is All Saints Day. That means we celebrate All Saints Day on Sunday, November 7 when we remember our dead and those who came before us. The opening Hymn that day will be For All the Saints. I hope I can get through it with out crying. Some may know this day as “felize dia de Todos los Santos” or “dia de los Muertos.” It is also Communion Sunday. A very good day to celebrate both.

 You will definitely not want to miss November 14 as it is a very important day in the life of Arlington Community Church. I will not be here as this is the day the Pastoral Candidate will lead worship and deliver the Call Sermon. After the service you will be invited to vote whether you want that person as your settled pastor going forward. Our musical guest, Kathryn Hobbs, will be playing “Meditation” by Massenet for our Special Music, and will also join with the Choir as they sing “The Lord’s Prayer” for the Offertory.

 Thanksgiving Sunday, Reign of Christ, and the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) all fall on the same day, Sunday, November 21. It will be the first of three Sundays where we will begin taking the collection for the North Richmond Christmas Fund.  You will also be given the chance to give to Neighbors in Need (NIN). A busy Sunday indeed. You will certainly want to be here to see how I will weave all these themes together.  The hymns of gathering and thanksgiving will be included in the tapestry of worship.

 Drum roll please! After we gather for Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones, the new year in the Christian calendar begins Sunday, November 28 with the First Sunday of Advent as we head toward Bethlehem for the Birth of the Christ Child among our midst. 

 If I’ve missed anything watch this space.

 Peace, Joy, and Wonder on our Christian Journey,

 ~ Pastor Barbara

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor: October 1, 2021

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor

Rev. Barbara K. Peronteau

Thoughts from the Pastor…

So, I’m on Geary St. on my way home from the Inner Richmond District in San Francisco. Had I known the traffic troubles ahead, I would have turned west on Geary, right on Park Presidio, and head over the Golden Gate Bridge, which is always a big thrill for me. Maybe I should have asked Siri. But nope, not this time. I’m travelling toward the thick of the city.

As I approach Japantown, I hit every single red light. I steer the Mustang into the left lane and – red light! When the light turns green, I goose the engine to get ahead of the traffic and – red light! Again. And then again all over again. Frustrating. Breathe.

Just before the right turn on Gough at Cathedral Hill someone in a brown SUV pulls out in front of me only to turn right a block later. Heading down the hill, a white Toyota pickup wedges its way in front of me, as if I don’t exist. I’m thinking about the Golden Gate Bridge again.

As I’m turning left on Golden Gate Ave, I realize I am in a relationship with all these people. Sometimes that happens when I’m on a major road trip to somewhere else. I pick up a travel buddy. I remember heading to Coudersport, Pennsylvania to preach at my friend’s Presbyterian Church. On Route 15, just south of Williamsport, I pulled up next to a red Camaro from the mid ‘80s. We stayed with each other making our way through Williamsport. As 15 widens into a four-lane highway snaking northward we opened up our throttles racing our way through the Alleghany Mountains. When I got tired of going over 95 MPH the Camaro blew by me. Though I ended the relationship somewhere south of Rt 6, I will always cherish our time together. 

Anyway, back in San Francisco, I’m approaching Market Street on Hyde. The left lane is closed. Of course it is! It’s my turn to wedge in front of someone else now. Hey, we’re all in the same relationship here!

Crossing Market, I look west. Dad used to work in the Western Furniture Exchange and Merchandise Mart about two blocks up. My mind always floods with memories. Talk about relationship! As I approach the entrance to get on the Bay Bridge, I wonder why the Ninth St. exit dumps you off on Eighth St. At the Mercedes Benz place, the traffic clogs up again. My new mantra is that I am in relationship with all these folks. Whether they know it or not, I know it.

In the United Church of Christ, we call this being in Covenant. We are in Covenant with God, each other, and people we don’t even know yet. We are in co-partnership with God as we work together to be the church. Just as Jesus took Jairus’ daughter and the boy with seizures by the hand and raised them up to new life, so too does Jesus take us by the hand, bringing us safely home from our journeys of the day to eat and rest. As the dawn breaks, we arise to the gift of a new day. We are the Church, and we have places to go and things to do, no matter how congested the traffic gets.

 Peace and Happy Motoring,

 ~ Pr. Barbara

Council Summary for September, 2021

Council Summary for September, 2021

 The ACC Council has already met twice this month with possibly one more meeting to go. Our finances have stabilized considerably since the months of the pandemic when we were not renting space in the building and the schools were closed or working with seriously diminished enrollment.  We are pleased that the schools are now paying full rent and we pray that enrollment continues to grow.  Jacob is now renting out space in the building with careful consideration of our Covid-19 protection protocols.

 At our regular meeting last Thursday Sept 18, we spent the bulk of the time focused on the proposal for Settled Minister.  First, we discussed again the benefits of having a fulltime minister – along with looking at our finances for salary and benefits.  We voted to affirm our interest in hiring a fulltime minister, then shifted to hearing from the Search Committee’s reports on the qualifications of the Candidate they recommend.  In our large Zoom meeting, we heard from each of the six members of the committee regarding interviews with individuals who wrote recommendations, interviews with the candidate, and we had a discussion with questions and answers. With positive excitement and prayerful consideration, the Council Approved passing the candidate on to the Congregation for Approval. The Council unanimously recommends this candidate as an excellent choice for ACC, fitting our needs and our hopes for the future. 

 Tuesday this week we had a follow up meeting to finish some of the housekeeping business from our Thursday agenda and move forward to plan the details of a compensation package for a full time minister.  The work continues working closely with the candidate to establish that needs are being met.  Once we have established our agreement on the Letter of Call (Including compensation), we will begin to share with you information about the candidate.  In the meantime, PLEASE SAVE THE DATE:  Sunday, November 14th when the Candidate will lead worship.  That worship service will be followed directly by a Congregational Meeting to Vote whether to approve this candidate for full time Settled Ministry at ACC.

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor: September 24, 2021

Thoughts from Our Bridge Pastor

Rev. Barbara K. Peronteau

Thoughts from the Pastor…

My thoughts about the question for “Theology on Tap” (Friday, October 1 at 4 PM on Zoom) germinated from Julie Stokstad’s sermon on September 12th.  Julie spoke about Wisdom as a feminine aspect of God. This got me thinking. We talk about the Triune God; Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit has been understood as the feminine Sophia. Proverbs tells us that Wisdom was at the beginning of creation and was that very breath God sent forth to create creation out of the existing chaos.

Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge is all part of Wisdom, a feminine aspect of who we understand as God. This got me thinking. What if the question for “Theology on Tap” would be “How might expansive language for God change our faith and lives?”

One of the experiences I had with my sojourn with the Lutherans, is their liturgical prayers ended with, “…In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.” Okay, fine. But every time? Isn’t Jesus so much more than “Savior and Lord?” What does this do to us when our image of God is limited? I would usually change the language to something more relevant and, well, expansive, for example, “The Holy One who calms the storms of our lives,” or “The One who makes all things new.”

I remember reading something explaining how God can also be referred to as a rock, and a mother hen (both being Biblical images.) The question was, as I remember, “Isn’t it great to know that God can be thought of as a rock or a mother hen?” Well, no. What is comforting is that amid anxiety fueled fear and uncertainty God is there; God is my hand hold, my toe hold, my foundation, my cornerstone.  God is also the One who gathers and comforts us in our aloneness, our disconnectedness, and when we feel ‘out there.’

I use my Lutheran experience as an example. How many names do we personally use for God? I might have maybe five go-to-names. Creating a liturgy every week helps me imagine a more expansive list of names of God. Some of us might understand God as Father and Lord. Okay, fine, but isn’t God more than that? God of Creation, Ground of my being, and Liberator.

There is something called “Holy Envy.” Holy envy is when we observe a ritual or gesture another faith tradition does that is not in our own tradition, but that we might appreciate. Muslims, for example, have a set of beads, much like a Rosary, called a “subhah.” The subhah comes in strings of 25, 33, or 100 beads. Once a day a faithful Muslim counts out and says the 100 names Muslims have for God. I like the discipline. I like the expansive list of names. By the way, the name Christians in the Middle East use for God is Allah, because that’s the Arabic name for the English word for God.

My question for “Theology on Tap” then, is “How might expansive language for God change our faith and lives?”

Peace and Wonder,

 ~ Pastor Barbara

Black Wealth Builders Update: September, 2021

Black Wealth Builders Update

 The Black Wealth Builders Fund, formerly known as the Black Homeownership Reparations Fund, is continuing to flourish at the Richmond Community Foundation.

 The fund stands at over $169,000 today. The California Association of Realtors has pledged another $50,000, which will bring us well over $200,000. We are so grateful to all at ACC and in the broader community who contributed to our fund.

 We are busy now getting the money into the community. We have made strong connections with Richmond Neighborhood Housing Services, Community Housing Development Corporation, and Guild Mortgage. Since our loans will be “layered” with a larger package, it is taking some time (and a lot of paperwork) to get our money to Black homebuyers. But we are hopeful we will make our first loans before the end of the year.

 We are gladly still accepting donations to this important cause. You can donate directly by sending a check to the Richmond Community Foundation, 3260 Blume Dr., Suite 110, Richmond, CA 94806. Indicate Black Wealth Builders Fund in the memo line. Or you can donate online: https://www.giveffect.com/campaigns/17536-black-wealth-builder-s-fund

 More information on the fund and its importance can be found on ACC’s website

 --Susan Russell

Faith Formation Team is Looking for New Members!

Faith Formation Team is Looking for New Members!

 The Faith Formation Team is looking for two or three more team members. Please consider joining us!

 What do we do? We brainstorm events to offer to the church and then make them happen - events to inspire us, to expand our spiritual lives, to educate us, and to learn from each other. One of the joys of being on this team is working closely with the Pastor.

 For instance, events from past and present:

•      Theatre parties to Berkeley Rep (to see “The Bible“ and “Becky, Nurse of Salem”) with food/drink/good talk afterwards at a local restaurant.

•      Wise Hearts, a support group that meets to share the joys and challenges of aging and retirement.

•      The biopic of writer Toni Morrison shown at a Sunday luncheon open to the public, and a reading/study of one of her stories, for Black History Month.

•      Lenten Devotionals written by ACC Members.

•      Bible study, currently Lectio Divina.

•      Poetry readings by ACC members and others (currently Poetry Hour).

•      Theology on Tap…aka conversations with the Pastor at the Junket (or via Zoom)

•      Spiritual Journeys series (interviews with ACC Members)

We have ideas for more events (e.g., an Advent retreat, starting another Wise Hearts group, etc.), but we need a few more Faith Formation Team members to make these things happen, and to re-charge the batteries of the current team. 

  If you’re interested, please talk to Pastor Barbara, either Eleanor or Nick Crump, or Helen Winters. You would be welcome to join a meeting to see if this fun team is for you.