Southern California Nevada Conference Board Takes Stand for Sanctuary

On Jan 21st, the Board of Directors of the Southern California Nevada Conference (SCNC) of the United Church of Christ voted to become a "Sanctuary" board, and is recommending to both the Annual Gathering in June and to the churches in our conference to consider declaring sanctuary for immigrants and refugees, along with a variety of possible actions to follow. Since election day, the number of congregations around the country declaring themselves "Sanctuary" congregations jumped from 400 to 800. This response to the anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy proposals of the new US President is an effort to offer support and protection to one of the most vulnerable populations in the country. This bold statement by the Conference board is the first of its kind in the UCC and follows the Los Angeles Diocese of the Episcopal Church declaring itself a "Sanctuary Diocese" at their meeting on December 3, 2016. Both the FCC Discipleship Ministry and Council have begun discussing various options for our congregation and will offer opportunities to discuss them in community.

 

 

 

 

Cooking and serving a hot meal to persons in need is an important part of the ministry of our church! The Alpha Team needs a new volunteer to cook and clean at Union Station (412 South Raymond) three times a year - present members of the team include Jeff Tyler and Regina Meyers, with Barbara Klein and Jim Maddox helping regularly. We serve the first Monday of the month in January, May and September each year - we begin at 6PM and are usually done by 9PM. If you would like to help us, or know someone who could support this team, please call Nina in the church office at (626) 795-0696.

 

This past   Sunday  our Discipleship Ministry team met to discuss recent events we have led as well as upcoming events and opportunities for our congregation to serve and act in the way of Jesus. 

 

We celebrated the "Las Posadas" educational event we led for the congregation back in December.

 

Discipleship will be reviewing our  Union Station  teams (we currently have four teams of between 4-6 people plus a pool of a handful of designated "substitutes".  If you are looking for a place to serve the homeless, this is a great way to plug in. Let John Gamber-Thomson know you wish to be added to a team and we will get you plugged in. Each team prepares and serves a meal 3 times a year to a group of between 30-60 people.

 

Discipleship will be recruiting volunteers from our church and beyond to prepare a  meal at the Bad Weather Shelter, which is "weather-activated" (only open when temperatures go below a certain threshold or there is rain). FCC had a great group of 15-20 people serve a meal, setting up cots and checking folks into the shelter back in December. The next meal will be served this   Saturday February 4th  at   5-9PM. Please let John know if you can come. We will also be serving a meal at the Bad Weather Shelter   on Saturday   February 18th. 

 

The Discipleship team also discussed the idea of reaffirming our congregation's long tradition and commitment to offering sanctuary, as we did in the mid 1980s to Central American refugees. We plan to bring a speaker to a forum at FCC on 2/19 and begin a small group study with the book  Our God is Undocumented during Lent. The book was written by the pastor of our neighboring church, Rev. Matthew Colwell at Knox Presbyterian Church. During the 4 session small group we also hope to incorporate a couple of "field trips" to places like the detention facility downtown where immigrants are held, and the Filipino Migrant Center, the Pasadena Job Center (Day Laborers) and elsewhere.

 

We also discussed a "Sacred Resistance and Sanctuary Pledge" (circulated by Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) and ways our congregation and its members might plug into regional and national efforts to resist federal policies and practices that target immigrants, Muslims and other vulnerable groups.

-Rev. Andy Schwiebert

A group of FCC women will be headed up to the beautiful La Casa de Maria retreat center the first weekend in May. The retreats have typically been a wonderful way to unwind together, reconnect with new and established friends, do some art, have some conversation, do some yoga, walk, listen, pray, take a nap, etc. We have two different housing options - a dorm style room with 5 meals for $190 each and a private double room with 5 meals for $265 each. We have reserved the 10 person Casa Teresita and have the option of a few more double rooms but no guarantee of extra rooms. So, if you are interested, please let Marlene know ASAP and give her your $100 non-refundable deposit ASAP! Thanks to all who have indicated your interested - you are on the list and confirmed! Please give Marlene your deposit in the next few weeks. Note: breastfeeding babies are welcome according to La Casa policy. Join us for a wonderful time away in a life-giving setting. - Marlene

 

Friends in Deed Food Pantry - Cereal Drive! 
The Church School Children will be collecting cereal boxes again this year to fill the FID Food Pantry shelves with yummy cereal!! So, when you do your grocery shopping, grab a few boxes of your favorite cereal and bring them to church each week starting now! The teachers and children will count them and get them delivered on our behalf! Imagine going to a food pantry and finding your favorite breakfast cereal - wow!!!

 

 

 

MAINTENANCE: Mayflower Hall- sewer pipe leak at NW corner- a metal bracket and heavy duty clamps were needed to limit pipe movement caused by the heavy rains from roof drain and other flowing water.

 

PLUMBING: Men's Mezzanine Restroom- a 2 inch leaking pipe was cut and rethreaded above the duct work at entry area

CARPENTRY: 3rd Floor Entry Doors (#322 & Alden Hall) were reinforced and

 

BOILER:  the howling burner switched was worn out and needed replacing, other adjustments on boiler were made

 

ROOF:  drain and gutter lines inspected