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

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany     
February 4, 2018    


Our Core Values: 
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
                      


                                     
                       

  
One Book Together for Lent.
Purchase a copy Sunday; sign up to attend a small group discussion. Details below.

 
Reflection for Worship . . .

"Where To?!"
Mark 1:29-39
 
Our text in worship this week is an account of Jesus healing a number of persons with various diseases and casting out demons who "recognize" him as the Messiah. Jesus retreats to pray and the disciples come to find him, and his response to the growing demand for healing others is to make a choice to continue a journey to neighboring towns to proclaim his understanding of God and heal persons elsewhere. As we face a period of transition and perhaps making some choices about the ministry of our own community, we will consider where we are called as a church. Most of us come to church for healing and renewal - and also to ask for direction in our lives. Where can we serve in our community of Pasadena and Los Angeles - what might change look like for us and for our future? Come join us on Sunday for worship at 10AM in our Chapel!
 
  -- Rev. John H. Pomeroy


Also on Sunday
 
We will have our Winter Business Meeting this following worship. We will begin with a potluck brunch at 11:15 AM and our business items will include: the approval of minutes from June 4, 2017 Spring Business meeting, a year-end report for 2017, updates from our leaders on our ministry, the sale of our building and the 2018 budget to be approved . All members are encouraged to attend the meeting in the East parlor. Please bring healthy finger food to share and drop off to staff in kitchen before worship so they can prepare it for us.
 
Childcare will be available during the meeting in our church nursery. Older children may relax in our youth room.

Copies of the book Chasing Francis will be for sale for $10 each. Sign-ups for small group meetings in homes to discuss the book will also be available.   

Opportunities for Service:

Thanks to all who donated money or items for Bad Weather Shelter folks. Pastor Marlene dropped off the first load to FID. Items still needed are: socks, umbrellas, disposable pouches, twin size sheets, and all sizes of men's underwear and undershirts. 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.   



Worship Leaders 
Rev. John H. Pomeroy        
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
   
Liturgist
 
Sue Miele   
 
 
   
  
Pianist & Music Director 
Connie Washburn  
 
Church School Teachers
Combined class for elementary & youth class - teachers are: Grace Rinck and Neva Orr.  
 
Church Nursery (for infants - K) :
Jaquelyne Rodriguez and Lachlan Ashenmiller 
 
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.   
 

Nina Kung   
Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org
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
 

 
 
Office Hours
 
  Mon. - Thurs.
 
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
 
Lunch Hours
 
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
  
Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax. # 626.795.0698

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2018 February 
2018 March
Google Calendar
In this Edition . . . 
  
Lent offerings - Church School Plans for Lent, Adult Book study
Opportunities for Service - Bad Weather Shelter, Union Station, Habitat Build
Flower Chart sign up
 

 
Lenten Offerings 2018
cross3.jpg  
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 are available for $10 each after worship in the next few weeks and we will have sign ups for small groups to gather and discuss the themes. Thank you to those who have offered their homes for us this year! 
The book is a modern tale for someone in a faith crisis, set against the story of St. Francis from the early 1200's.

From the book:  "Francis was a Catholic, an evangelical street preacher, a radical social activist, a contemplative who devoted hours to prayer, a mystic who had direct encounters with God and someone who worshipped with all the enthusiasm and spontaneity of a Pentecostal. He was a wonderful integration of all the theological streams we have today..." 
 
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!!

Union Station, Bad Weather Shelter and Habitat for Humanity
 
  Union Station - we serve the meal the first Sunday of each month in teams. The Bravo 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.
Union Station 2017

  Bad Weather Shelter- Our next date to serve is Saturday Feb. 24th. Details will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.


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
  habitat april 28, 2012
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!
 

                        2018 Flower Chart  
 
memory_box_flowers.jpg
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.