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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 |
Second Sunday After Epiphany
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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Reflection for Worship . . .
Fearful or wonderful?
Psalm 139
In our text for worship this week, the writer thanks God for being "fearfully and wonderfully made". Why fearfully? For some writers, our fear is a sign of our understanding of and respect for the power of God - the One who Creates also has the power to destroy. Somehow this psalm feels much more compassionate and personal than that kind of theology - the writer assumes that God knows us so intimately that we are self-conscious about our flaws, our mistakes and our transgressions. In a sermon entitled "Fearful or Wonderful?", we will consider together how our view of ourselves and our sense of God are intertwined in a life of faith. Are you afraid of God's call, or purpose, or work as somehow at cross purposes to your own thriving or success? Are you free to claim how wonderful you are, created in the image of God and given life in a universe full of possibilities and freedom? Come join us as we ask how these questions might change the way we approach our day to day choices! We worship in the Chapel at
10AM each
Sunday and invite you to bring a friend to meet us!
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
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.
Reminder of Holiday Monday
Our church office will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
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: Jeff Tyler/Roberta White.
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 . . .
-FCC Folks doing local Habitat Build
-Women's March LA
-Updates: Pledges, Bad Weather Shelter
-Progress on Sale of Building
-Flower Chart Sign Up
-La Casa de Maria - flood update
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Join an FCC Small Group Working on a Local Habitat Build!
A few folks have been working on the local Habitat build near the Colorado Bridge (called the Desiderio Homes Construction). If you want to join them, you must sign up online at
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.
Elizabeth Lanski and Lu Burd will be working Wednesday Jan. 31st from 8-11:30 a.m., if you're interested in joining them.
Lu, Aren Burd and Marlene Pomeroy are all working on Wed. Jan. 17th from 12-3:30 as well.
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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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Pledges for 2018
Our Budget Committee is working to put together a budget for 2018. If you are a pledger and have not turned in your pledge for 2018, Varnell Lewis will be contacting you to clarify your pledge status. You may also email Barb Bonzo
[email protected]
or Celina our bookkeeper
[email protected]
with your pledge. We must have something in writing for it to be an official pledge. Many many thanks for all who have submitted their pledges and especially those who have increased their pledges to cover expenses for 2018.
Bad Weather Shelter Update
Sat. Jan. 27th and Sat. Feb. 24th are our dates
The Bad Weather Shelter (BWS) will be open two months this year - January and February. John Gamber-Thompson and Pastor Marlene attended the planning meeting and selected two dates for our church to serve the meal. We will have sign up sheets in early January. Due to the Health Department rules there are new guidelines that we must observe this year. The most critical ones for us to know in advance are that all volunteers must have had a Hepatitis A vaccination within the past 20 years. You will be asked sign a form stating that before you can serve. Also, all food must be prepared on sight - no home cooked food may be brought in. That means we must either prepare the food or bring in packaged food from a grocery store. We are asked to strictly observe these new regulations; otherwise the BWS could risk being shut down. Once we have a Captain planning the meal for each of our dates we will ask for helpers. In addition we may be asked to purchase some kitchen items needed for the meals - stay tuned for the specifc requests. Thanks to Discipleship Ministry for coordinating this effort. And thanks to all of you who fund these meals through your giving!
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Progress Report on the Building Sale
Carl Whidden, our realtor, has been working closely with Cal-Coast (the buyer) and Sallie McNair since the sale contract was signed in early November. Cal-Coast has brought in a number of architects, investors, interested hotel chains and two construction companies to advise them and estimate building costs on possible changes required by the city in their original building plans and designs.
In late November the California Attorney General's Office unexpectedly requested a review of the entire transaction regarding the sale of our building. On December 15, they "approved without objection" the process, which cleared the way for Cal-Coast's 45 day due diligence period to begin December 18.
Cal-Coast immediately conducted a seismic test for the building and is proceeding with an environmental test, soil test, asbestos test, and any and all other contractual tests and inspections to satisfy the buyer, the city and the Historical Landmark Board. The various inspections will run a total of $50,000 to $70,000, an indication of Cal-Coast's commitment to the project.
The due diligence period is the most critical part of any transaction. This is the process during which any major structural or environmental problem would be raised and addressed. The due diligence period is now expected to close on or before February 2 and escrow to close on or before February 18.
I am happy to talk with any about this, should you have any questions or concerns.
-Elizabeth Lanski, Moderator
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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 May 4th-6th - update on flood damage
We have reserved rooms for our Mostly-Annual FCC Women's Retreat!! This year we are going the first weekend in May - a gorgeous time to be at the retreat center. Pastor Marlene will be collecting deposits and reservations starting in the next few weeks, but mark your calendars for a weekend away to replenish, renew and restore with others in your faith community . Please contact her directly if interested for prices, rooms, etc.
NOTE: I checked their facebook account and they sustained damage and loss to some of their buildings. I will be in touch with them as to the status of our retreat in May. Picture here is the mud that is currently in the La Casa chapel.
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