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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 |
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Third Sunday After Epiphany
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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January 22, 2017
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Amon, Nathaniel, Juliet, and
Andy went up to Pilgrim Pines for an inspiring winter camp. See article and pictures below.
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Reflections on Sunday Worship . . .
Matthew 4:12-23
What gets you off the couch and out the door? Needs? Wants? Duty? Fear? It's always good to note what it takes to get us involved and moving. For many of us the rhetoric of the election season and the threats and degradation made to and about certain groups of people has challenged us to get off the couch and out the door this Saturday to join in a March. The purpose of the March is a public witness to the new administration about what we hold dear - basic rights for all; respect and justice for women and people of color and those of different religious backgrounds; profound compassion for all who are in our country. If you look up the Women's March on the internet it will talk about standing together in solidarity for the protection of rights, safety, health and our families and that recognizing diversity as a strength. Read the entire mission statement at womensmarchla.org and decide if you wish to join an FCC group who is gathering on Saturday morning. See article below for more information.
In our text today the arrest and imprisonment of John the Baptist is the event that pushed Jesus into the public arena to preach and teach and heal. That was the impetus for him to gather disciples to work with him to bring about change and transformation of people in his time.
As people of faith today, what makes you want to get "off the couch" and into the public arena to get involved? Our text is all about being called by God and invites some pondering on our part. Maybe we will see you at the March... or at church on Sunday. Or at another upcoming event. You are welcome and invited to participate as God calls you.
- Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Update on Our Building Loan
This week the Cornerstone Fund received the final Opinion of Counsel from our attorney, verifying important information about our status as a church, our officers and the details of the loan itself. The final loan documents are being prepared and next week we should be able to close on the loan. Remember this loan from the UCC Cornerstone Fund will pay off our current SBA loan and provide important funds for urgent repairs that were identified in our building inspection report this July.
We continue to collect
men's clothes and shoes for men who are being discharged from County USC hospital. Please bring your items to the church office and Dr. Laura Kalayjian will take them in for us. Thanks so much! Click
here for more info.
Friends in Deed can always use protein foods, cereal, and gift cards for $15 and $20. Just bring to church each week and give to the church school teachers.
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Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Rev.Marlene W. Pomeroy
Dana Pell
Mary Csmacho
Brian Weltman
Liturgist
Pianist & Music Coordinator
Elemetary class with Roberta/TBA in room 232. Youth class with Pastor Andy.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
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Mrs. Phillips, Jaquelyne Rodriguez & Serena Van.
Nursery opens at 9 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 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
http://uccpasadena.podomatic.com/
ABBREVIATED OFFICE HOURS
JAN. 19, 23, 24, 25 & 26
10:00 - 12:00 PM
Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698
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Included in this edition:
Looking Ahead...
Pre-Order a Church T.-shirt
Looking for a Constructive, Faithful Way to Spend ...
Women's March in Pasadena & L.A. on January 21st
Rev. Sam Pullen's Installation
Small Group White Privilege
Budget Forum Feb.5
Winter Business Meeting Feb 12th
Music Director Search Committee Update
Looking Ahead to Ash Wednesday, March 1st
Youth Return from Camp
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Looking Ahead...
Save these dates:
Feb. 5th - Budget Forum for 2017 budget to be presented
Feb. 4th and 18th - Bad Weather Shelter Dates
Sunday Jan. 22nd - 3:00 p.m. Rev. Sam Pullen's Service of Installation
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Shirts have arrived. You are invited to pick one up on Sunday, or swing by Thursday night and pick one up and make a sign to carry on Saturday if you are going to the March. There are men's and women's sizes. We have ordered 40 to start; we can always order more if we run out so come and take a look! Shirts will be available Sunday as well. Celebrate our church's ministry by ordering a shirt for a friend! Price is between $10-$13 each.
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Looking for a constructive, faithful way to spend inauguration day?
Join Andy Schwiebert (plus Allison and Kaira!) along with Beau Wammack (former Aspire music director) and his church to
pray and help send a message of solidarity with Muslims at a Mosque on North Lake Avenue on Friday 1/20 at 12:45 PM
or Rev. Timothy Murphy to do the same at the Islamic Center of Southern California. See below, as well as
this flyer.
"Then they came for me...."
Progressive Christians Pray in Solidarity with Muslims at Mosques
Inauguration Day, 1/20, 12:45 pm
Progressive Christians Uniting is mobilizing its network in solidarity and support for Muslims by attending mosques for
Friday juma'a prayer on Inauguration Day, 1/20.
PCU will participate in an interfaith demonstration of solidarity and support at the Islamic Center of Southern California at 434 S Vermont in LA at
12:45. Members of First Congregational Church of LA will be present for juma'a prayers, as well. Contact: Rev. Timothy Murphy,
revtimothymurphy@gmail.com
First Congregational Church of Pasadena, Northland Village Church, the Level Ground fellowship, and Pasadena-area progressive Christians will make a solidarity visit to Masjid Al-Taqwa mosque, 2181 N. Lake Avenue, Altadena. Contact: Beau Wammack,
bwammack@gmail.com
Pasadena and Los Angeles Women's Marches Jan. 21st, 2017
Saturday January 21, 2017 at 8:00 AM
100 N Garfield Ave., Pasadena
Wear you FCC t-shirt and park in the Los Robles lot Saturday morning at 7:45 am to walk over to City Hall together. If you wish you can continue on to the L.A. march via train on the Gold line to Pershing Square.
From Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, women are uniting at marches and rallies to stand together in solidarity for the protection of their rights, safety, health, and their families. Women's March Pasadena recognize and affirm that vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of the country and the community. The Pasadena Women's Rally in the Rotunda affirms that women's rights are human rights... "We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us. We support the movements that reflect our multiple and intersecting identities. We call on all people of good conscience to help unify our communities and ensure that women have parity and equity at all levels of our society. Join us!" Then, following the Rally on the Rotunda, march to the nearby Gold Line and head down to Los Angeles to join in the march from Pershing Square to LA City Hall and back again.
WOMEN'S MARCH LOS ANGELES
JANUARY 21, 2017: Downtown Los Angeles
Gather at 9:00 a.m. Walk begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. from Pershing Square
The Women's March is a national movement to unify and empower everyone who stands for human rights, civil liberties, and social justice for all.
We march to support and inspire each other and the nation to celebrate, honor and protect our diversity, freedom and human rights. We gather in community to find healing and strength through civility, and compassion. This is a non-partisan march. We welcome all people to join us as we unite locally and
nationally
, on January 21, 2017, to stand together in justice, respect and inclusion for all. This is only the beginning...
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Sam Pullen Installation on Sunday January 22nd
You are cordially invited to attend Sam Pullen's installation as the settled pastor of the Los Alamitos United Church of Christ on Sunday Janaury 22nd at 3PM. Jake Pomeroy is preaching the installation sermon and others from our Association are involved with the service - come join us for a time of celebration and affirmation for Sam's work in the ministry.
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. Samuel Pullen
Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 3 P.M.
"CELEBRATING GOD'S INCLUSIVE LOVE"
Click here for more information
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Small Group On White Privilege
On Thursday January 26th from 6:30-8:30PM our small group discussion of the book Waking Up White by Debby Irving continues at the home of the Pomeroys. Light supper will be served - please let Jake Pomeroy know that you will attend so we can plan for food properly!
Music Director Search Committee Update
The committee is moving ahead with its process and representatives will meet with our choir members on
Sunday Jan. 29th after worship for their input. If you are a member of the choir you should have received several questions to ponder ahead of time. Pastor Jake and Search Committee member Bob Rinck will be facilitate the conversation with you in the choir room.
Budget Forum February 5th
The Budget Task Force continues to put together a budget for 2017 for the church. If you are able to pledge and have not done so, please contact the church office for a pledge card or email our treasurer Barb Bonzo and let her know your plans as soon as possible. On Sunday February 5th after worship, the Task Force will present the draft budget and invite comment and questions from the congregation - we meet to approve the Budget on Sunday February 12th after worship. All members are welcome to attend.
Winter Business Meeting
Come join us on Sunday February 12th after worship for our Winter Business Meeting. The Budget Task Force will present the budget for 2017 for our approval, we will hear updates from our Treasurer, and hear reports from our Pastors on the ministry of our church. Please bring a dish to share - food dropped off in the kitchen that Sunday will be placed on tables by our custodians so we may eat while we meet!
Looking Ahead to Ash Wednesday March 1st
Lent begins on
March 1st this year and we will observe it by gathering with several other area churches for an Ash Wednesday worship service. It will be held at the L.A. Filipino American UCC Church in Eagle Rock. A potluck will be held at 6 p.m. with the service starting at 7 p.m.
The new pastor of the La Canada Church, Kyle Sears, will be the preacher for the evening.
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Youth Return from Fun, Inspiring Winter Camp
This past weekend 3 FCC youth and myself (A
ndy Schwiebert) went up to Pilgrim Pines, a camp near Yucaipa/Redlands owned by our Southern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ. There, we joined youth and adults from several congregations around our conference including Claremont, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Los Altos, Bayshore, San Bernardino, Covina, Riverside, Redlands, Montebello and many more. In total, there were about 80 youth and 20 counselors.
The theme for the week was "Uncharted Territory" and keynote speakers were the Revs John Forrest Douglas from FCC Long Beach and Lee Yates from Covina Community UCC. Our youth ate, played, worshipped and explored together. They enjoyed a hike to the snow, as conversations about controversial topics, arts and crafts, and volleyball. We went up on Friday afternoon and returned on Monday at 12. We hope to return with youth to Pilgrim Pines one week this summer, so stay tuned for proposed dates.
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