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| The Christian Caller February 3, 2017 |
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Julie's Jar
~Can People Blossom?~
There is a very long tradition of reading the Bible daily through a schedule of readings called the Daily Office. The reading for the morning of Feb. 1, included Psalm 72. It's a royal psalm, exhorting the king to "defend the cause of the poor people, give deliverance to the needy," among other justice making activities. The psalm expresses hope in the success and good fame of the king and his genuine care for the weakest in his kingdom.
One of the expressed hopes is this: "may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field." What are the conditions that make it possible for people to blossom?
The current conditions of most cities in the world, including our own country, provide conditions that are more like a toxic soup of pollution and stress. Plant life doesn't do well when the soil in which it grows and the water it takes in is laced with toxic substances that leach into the ground and settle from the sky. People life is the same. Plant life doesn't do well when the sun is crowded out and there is inadequate space to grow. People life is the same. Plant life doesn't do well when it is choked out by concrete and asphalt. People life is the same.
Rural, country life is not possible in the city, but healthful living is. Industry, transportation and more continue to be allotted a pass for the sake of the proverbial bottom line. In 1994, John Elkington coined the phrase, "the triple bottom line": profit, people, planet. All these must be held in balance in order to sustain all three.
In 1952, an estimated 4000 Londoners died because of a toxic fog that blanketed the city for 5 days. The combination of fog, soot from coal burning industry, emissions from railroad and vehicles was deadly. Fortunately, nations have slowly been working to make the air we breathe less toxic. It gives me pause to wonder why there isn't more urgency to make the air we breathe not simply less toxic, but more healthy given we know how much it costs in terms of health care, let alone the heart ache.
The frame the psalmist gives us is that people should blossom, even in the city. We don't get a pass on providing each other a safe place to live because it happens to be in the city. FCC Pomona planted over 20 trees on our campus to provide food for hungry people AND to mitigate air pollution. It's a small step and one we celebrate. We are also committed to working with other people who value human life to make our communities healthier places to live, so all people can blossom in the city.
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Emergency Appeal: U.S. Refugee Resettlement
In response to the January 27 Executive Order, CWS will continue to provide critical support services for refugees already arrived to the United States; provide legal assistance through offices nationwide to help those refugee families who have been separated because of the order; and implement and expand local-level organizing and communications support to fight the discriminatory ban at the grassroots level, and help convey the message to elected officials that these actions cannot stand.
Thank you for your generous donation in support of these efforts.
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Coming Soon to a Lent Season Near You
Do you wish there was more compassion in the world? Do you want to respond with more compassion to other people, even when you're frustrated?
The Way of Jesus isn't easy, but it is possible and it's a way of compassion. During the season of Lent a number of small groups will gather to read and discuss
The Way of Jesus: Compassion in Practice. It is a practical guide with stories and practices to help us gain more confidence in walking this way of Jesus.
Please indicate which days and times you are available to participate so we can plan to gather groups in ways that fit the diverse schedules of our congregation and friends. Contact the church office to let us know which of the following days/times work for you.
- Sunday after worship: light lunch with the possibility of several groups meeting
- Mid-week daytime - specify days that work for you.
- Mid-week evening - specify evenings that work for you.
- Other
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"Our House" House Meeting
Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
ICON Homeless Strategy Meeting
Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Our ICON Core Team is organizing another house meeting with current and former residents of Our House emergency shelter. This time, a few leaders from other ICON institutions will join us. This is the next step in developing an ICON Homeless Strategy. There are many different organizations, including Hope Partners, that serve people who are without housing. Shouldn't we simply help them? It's not an either/or matter. ICON brings a skill set often not employed: organizing. This is building relational power so something can be done more systemically. For instance, how will new zoning laws that are to be proposed in the spring impact accessibility to affordable housing? It's not glamourous, headline catching work like a one-time event that feeds thousands of people, but it will have a longer lasting impact. Both are important.
We are excited and encourage by the gathering of interested leaders from across ICON to begin building the relational power to figure out how ICON can contribute to the common good for people who are without adequate shelter.
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DID YOU HEAR?
We have a great prayer conference planned! Don't miss this great opportunity to reconnect with your sisters, learn new and innovative prayer practices and be filled by the word! I hope to see you all soon. February 11, 2017 at First Christian Church of Riverside.
Register now at http://www.disciplespswr.org/disciples-women-1
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Coming up
TUESDAY, February 7th
Elders Meeting, 7pm
WEDNESDAY, Febrary 8th
Logos, 5:30pm
Program Cabinet Meeting, 7pm
THURSDAY, February 9th
Choir, 7pm
SATURDAY, February 11th
Norma Puntney Memorial, 9:30am
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CHURCH CALENDAR
**=Non-Church Activity
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If someone should be added to this list, please let the church
February
- 16th ~ Ron Gorsuch
- 17th ~ Michelle Murillo
- 18th ~ Beth Thies
- 22nd ~ Hilda Faulkner
- 26th ~ Angelique Lazier
- 26th ~ Ryan McCallister
- 27th ~ Hazel Goss
We'd love to wish you a happy anniversary here in The Caller!
If you would like to have your anniversary listed,
contact the church office.
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| CELEBRATIONS AND PRAYER CONCERNS 
We join together in prayer for our community and our world. Please let us know if you would like to add someone to the list or if someone should be removed. We review the list quarterly and will give you a call if it is unclear if someone should stay on the list. Please let us know if someone has inadvertently been removed. |
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HOMEBOUND & convalescing
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Hilda Faulkner
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Janice Newborn
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Lois & Rhodes Thompson
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Bob & Jackie McCallister
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ONGOING PRAYERS
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Elizabeth Akin
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Sue Hunter
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Jose Mendiola
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Lucy Hyde
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Carolyn McKee
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Laura Zivnak
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Ed Ross
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Bret Wiley
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Cindy Koskan
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Ron & Martha Gorsuch
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Tim Reed
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Stan Adams
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Diana Tillinger
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Nicole Brooks Rios
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Sandy Toppen
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Harry Pearson
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Nelson Mann
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Lorraine Rogers
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Kovacs Family
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Robin Priede
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Phil Smith
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China & Seth Isler
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The Charlie Weaver Family
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Annette Anderson
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Eloise Williams
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Jake, Marie, & Elaine Tillinger
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Evelyn Lepire & Family
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Gary Paulson
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Nancy DeWolf & Family
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Shirley Ewing & Family
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Martin & Kathleen Strudwick & Family
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About First Christian Church Pomona
We are an active, informed, progressive Christian community worshiping and serving in Pomona, CA. Our congregation is a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Denomination.
All are welcome to worship, take Communion and serve the world with us.
| Join Us for Bible Study:
9 am Sunday |
Join Us for Worship: 10 am Sunday |
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