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| T O U C H S T O N E - A M i d W e e k B u l l e t i n |
Third Sunday After Epiphany
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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Lu, Aren, and Marlene worked on the local Habitat build this week. See below for information on how to sign up and work.
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Reflection for Worship . . .
Scripture: Book of Jonah
"Throw Me Overboard!"
This Bible text only shows up in the Revised Common Lectionary (a three year cycle of readings from the Bible that is used in many churches including ours), only two times. It is such a short and powerful story that I can't resist preaching on it this week. Tucked into the last part of the Hebrew Bible between Obadiah and Micah, Jonah is only a three chapter book; hard to imagine if you google utube versions of songs and skits on Jonah and you will find a huge selection! See below for a utube version of Louis Armstrong singing a Jonah and the Whale song that he recorded of this and other spirituals.
Jonah's entire book can be read aloud in under 7 minutes - and I invite you to do so before Sunday! It is such a rich little book packed with rich imagery and important teachings and questions for us all, such as - why did God choose Jonah to go to Ninevah? What does the whale represent in our lives? What does our prayer look like when we are in great despair? What group of people would we be angry at if God chose us to minister among? Jonah is far from a perfect prophet and yet God's unrelenting call to use his gifts to help others is a fascinatingly modern tale. I urge you to read the story, ponder the text and come join us in church on Sunday for worship as we explore these themes.
- Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Also on Sunday
Neva and Jeff will be leading the church school combined class this Sunday.
Council will meet after coffee hour in the East Parlor to go over financials and approve monthly checks. Connie will have a Children's choir practice directly after worship in the chapel.
At 3 p.m. in La Canada, the Rev. Kyle Sears will be installed as their settled pastor. Rev. Marlene Pomeroy is preaching the installation service and all are welcome to attend and support an area pastor. Rev. Sears preached at our Area Ash Wednesday service last year.
In preparation to sing in the
Jan. 28
worship service, the next two Sundays (
Jan. 14 and 21
) the children will rehearse directly after the church service. If you have any questions, please direct them to Connie Washburn, Music Director.
Opportunities for Service:
Needed items for Bad Weather Shelter: Socks, umbrellas, disposable pouches, twin size sheets, and all sizes of men's underwear and undershirts are urgently needed. Please bring to church and we will transport to FID. Many thanks!!
See below for articles related to a local Habitat build site, Union Station meals and the Bad Weather Shelter dates coming up. See article below for 2018 LA Women's March.
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Pianist & Music Director
Combined class for elementary & youth class - teachers are: Neva Orr/Jeff Tyler.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
:
Jaquelyne Rodriguez and Lu Burd
Nursery opens at 9 :15 a.m. for early birds and then everyone comes to worship at 10:00 and stays through the Children's Time and then heads to the nursery with caregivers and parents.
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Nina Kung
Sermon Podcast:
D
id you miss a worship service and want to hear the sermon? Please visit uccpasadena.org and select 'podcasts' from the menu on top of the home page or click below
Mon. - Thurs.
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Lunch Hours
Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax. # 626.795.0698
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2018 February
2018 March
Google Calendar
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In this Edition . . .
In Memory of Ann Appley
Lent offerings - Church School Plans for Lent, Adult Book study
Opportunities for Service - Bad Weather Shelter, Union Station, Habitat Build
Women's March LA
Rev. Kyle Sears Installation
Budget Update and Forum
Announcement of Winter Business Meeting
La Casa de Maria Cancellation
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In Memory Of Ann Appley
One of our long term and very beloved church members has died this week. Ann was surrounded by her children and family members the last few days while being comforted by hospice care at Pilgrim Place. Ann had a long history of involvement in our church and served in many capacities, including chairing peace and justice committees and events and serving as our Church Moderator. She was committed to tirelessly working for justice for all. Her family will be planning a memorial service for her some time in the future. Condolences may be sent to her daughter Anne Cohen. Her address is in the church directory or you may call Nina in the church office. Anne Cohen has also posted pictures and more on her Facebook page.
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Lenten Offerings 2018
On
February 14th the season of Lent begins! We will be the host for the Area Ash Wednesday Worship Service this year. Rev. Kristin Philipson will be our preacher and we will also involve pastors and Members in Discernment (candidates for ministry in the UCC) in the service. We will begin with a potluck in our parlors at 6:00 p.m. A combined choir will practice at 6:30 and then worship will commence at 7:00 in our sanctuary. Connie Washburn will be planning and leading the music for the evening.
We have selected the book
Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron as a community book for our church to read during Lent! Copies will be made available after worship in the next few weeks and we will have sign ups for small groups to gather and discuss the themes. It is a modern tale for someone in a faith crisis, set against the story of St. Francis from the early 1200's. Makoto Fujumura, artist and author says of him, "Ian Cron paves for us a path of grace, humility, and ultimate joy, even through our 'ground zero' darkness. This is a life-changing work. I now find myself 'chasing Francis' in my life as well as in my art."
Our Church School Teachers are planning several special events and outings during Lent (Feb. 14 through April 1st) for our children and youth. These will include: a building tour and luncheon with Jeff Tyler, Cookie baking fund-raiser to support a Lenten outreach offering, a Palm Sunday egg hunt and picnic in a local park, and a very special outing after Easter if we reach our fund-raising goal of $200 (all of which will be sent to an organization which the children shall select). Look for updates in our Touchstone each week. Thank you teachers for organizing such interesting and fun activities!!
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Opportunities for Service
Bad Weather Shelter - Bob Rinck has stepped up and agreed to provide the meal for our first BWS meal which is scheduled for Saturday Jan. 27th! Please sign up with John Gamber Thompson and get your Hep A shot in advance of the 27th! We will prepare the meal, set out cots, check folks in and help folks have a clean, safe place to sleep that evening. Thank you Bob!!!!
Union Station - we serve the meal the first Sunday of each month in teams. The Beta team will be serving on Monday Feb. 5th. We always need subs and extra hands. Please contact Nina in the church office if you can assist.
Habitat for Humanity - a few FCC folks are trying to go a few days each month for the local build right underneath the Colorado bridge called the Desiderio Homes Construction.
If you want to join them, you must sign up online at
https://sgvhabitat.volunteermatrix.com/e
Once you get to the site you can register as a New Volunteer. After you've registered, go back into the Volunteer Matrix, find the date you're interested in, locate the Desiderio Homes (Construction) line item and pick a time slot. Lu Burd can assist you with signing up!
Elizabeth Lanski and Lu Burd will be working next on Wednesday Jan. 31st from 8-11:30 a.m., if you're interested in joining them.
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Join us for the 2nd Women's March LA:
Who: Women, men, children
When: Saturday, January 20, 2018
Time: The kick-off is at 10 AM & the event is from 10 - 4,
Although we can come back at any time.
Where: The March goes from Pershing Square in LA, 532 S
Olive Street, to LA City Hall, 200 N. Spring Street.
FCC members and friends are invited to meet in the Los Robles church parking lot at 8:00am on Saturday, the 20th. We will walk to the Metro Station on Union and take the train together down to the march in Los Angeles. For those who attended the 2017 march, the experience lifted our spirits. It was inspirational and one of the high points of the entire year. 750,000 people peacefully converged in Los Angeles to march and stand together to celebrate our human diversity and witness for social justice. Please contact the church office and/or Sue Miele if you are planning to join the march.
Click here for more information.
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The Central Association of the
Southern California Nevada Conference of the
United Church of Christ
Joyfully invites you to the Service of Installation
for
Rev. Kyle Sears
Sunday, January 21, 2018
3:00 P.M.
at
La Cañada Congregational Church
1200 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada, CA 91011
Reception to Follow the Service
Please RSVP to
Red stoles and robes
An offering will be taken to assist with scholarships for seminary students who are in the discernment process with Central Association and seminary debt forgiveness for authorized ministers in Central Association. Please make checks payable to "Central Association-UCC."
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Announcement of Budget Forum and Winter Business Meeting 2018
Our Budget Committee is working hard to put together a budget for our review for this year. As you can imagine, with the impending sale it is a bit more complicated and detailed than in past years! Please plan to come to a forum on Sunday Jan. 28th after worship to hear the proposed budget for your review and input; that will then be voted on Sunday Feb. 4th at the Annual Winter Business Meeting.
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WINTER BUSINESS MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
We will have our Winter Business Meeting on Sunday, February 4, 2018 following worship. We will begin with a potluck brunch at 11:15 AM and our business items will include: the approval of minutes from Spring 2017 Business meeting and a Treasurer's Report
. All members are encouraged to attend the meeting in the East parlor. Please bring healthy finger food to share.
Childcare will be available till 1:00 PM in our church nursery. Older children may relax
in our youth room.
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2018 Flower Chart
We have many openings to bring flower or "flour" for Sunday worship. If you sign up and give Nina $40 a beautiful live bouquet will be ordered for you. Or you may opt for the "flour" option which means that your $40 donation will be sent to a local hunger organization (LA Regional Food Bank) in your name and our wheat display will be on the altar. Please let Nina know when you sign up which option you would like.
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La Casa de Maria Women's Retreat Cancelled for May 4-6
We did receive notice that the retreat center is closed for all retreats until further notice as they dig out from the destruction from rain and mudslides this past month.
Our Women's Retreat is cancelled as of now and Marlene will look into another site for us to use this year.
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