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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 In Lent
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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March 12, 2017
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Don't forget to set all of your clocks one hour ahead this Sunday, March 12!
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Reflections on Sunday Worship . . .
Scripture: John 3: 1-17
Sermon: A new (American) life, born of the Spirit.
What does it mean to be an American-- or an American citizen here in Los Angeles? Now, contrast that with another question-- what does it mean to be a non-citizen in America? And finally, what new insights are gained for an American, living abroad in another borderland-- in southern Mexico?
How about this question-- how do we make sense of our "American-ness" in light of our sense of call as Christians--- meaning, as Christ-followers? Nicodemus, a Pharisee who also takes Jesus seriously, comes to Jesus asking a similar question. What does it mean to be faithful-- to be a child of God, and ALSO part of THIS world? How does being a child of God, born of the Spirit-- change the way we behave in THIS world, in the here and now? How might the world be saved through us, the living body of Christ?
During Lent FCC preachers are spending time with the book by local Presbyterian Pastor Matthew Colwell,
Our God is Undocumented
. This Sunday Andy will be sharing stories from the Borderlands as highlighted in Colwell's book, which focuses on his friend and colleague Delle McCormick, with several shared experiences that shed light on the call to a life of faith here in the borderlands.
-Rev. Andy Schwiebert
Also this Sunday:
The Women's Legacy Group will be meeting in the west parlor following worship to have their annual meeting and discuss funding for projects and activities this year. The Women's Legacy Group has funds from the earlier Women's Fellowship Group that met a few decades ago. All women in the church are welcome to attend the meeting and vote on the use of funds.
Join the Bell Ringers
Attention all folks who enjoy ringing bells! If you are a novice, or a veteran, and wish to join the ringers, please let us know! After the Easter season, our own choir member and director of the Burbank Community Band, Paulette Westphal, will be directing our bell choir in a
Sunday
of bells. The first rehearsal is
next Thursday
evening,
March 16
. You still have time to join! Please contact Paulette or Connie if you are interested or have questions.
Ideas for Lent
Some of you have wondered what you might do for the 40 days of Lent. There are many choices, but the real question is, what would make you feel closest to God and would help cultivate your love of another during the next 40 days? Our spiritual practices are meant to do both of those things. So as you decide what to "give up" or fast from, ask yourself how that fasting will result in your spiritual growth or generosity toward others. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving (caring for the poor) are the traditional categories of Lent. We invite you to select something to practice, write it down and post it where you can see it daily, and walk your Lenten path with great intention this year.
Here are some ideas that might inspire you:
Fasting - give up negative talk, give up an unhealthy food or activity, refrain from shopping or eating out, turn off your technology for a block of time each day or night and enjoy the company of others. etc. Don't feel denial but rather revel in the enjoyment of doing something differently.
Prayer - commit to 5 minutes of daily meditation or prayer. Make a list of people you intend to pray for throughout Lent. Find a book of prayers and read one intentionally each day. Write down 3 things you are grateful for each day and give thanks to God for those things. Pick a psalm or two and recite it daily till you memorize it.
Almsgiving - bring cereal boxes and canned protein to church for Friends in Deed food pantry. Clean out your closet and bring used men's clothes to the office to be given to homeless men being released from County Hospital. Come with us on the Water Walk on March 25th and be intentional about your water use. Reach out to someone who is in need and offer your time to them once a week. Volunteer to serve a meal for Union Station on Monday March 6th, or Monday April 3rd and join a permanent team.
We are gathering boxes of cereal all Spring for Friends in Deed food pantry. Please bring in boxes to worship each week.
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Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox
Thom Meyers
Liturgist
Elementary class with Krysty Leckrone/Grace Rinck
in room 232. Youth class with Jake Pomeroy in youth room.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
:
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/
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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In this Edition...
Women's Legacy Group
Join the Bell Ringers
Ideas for Lent
Lenten Small Group on Immigration
Union Station team needs a new member
Walk for Water, Mar. 25th
La Casa de Maria retreat details
Lamplighters Event
Membership Ministry Dates
FCC Women's Scholarship Tea Info
Pasadena Area Women's Scholarship
A Requiem Tapestry
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During Lent: a small group is reflecting on the immigrant experience...
 Immigrants and refugees have been the focus of much of our recent national political debates, policy proposals and executive orders. Our faith is an important resource in the debate about immigration practices and policy. Biblical tradition and Christian history are rich with discussion and clear mandates concerning strangers, aliens and migrant people. To help us explore this topic and grow in our commitment to our faith and justice, we will spend time with a book entitled Our God is Undocumented: Biblical Faith & Immigrant Justice by Matthew Colwell and Ched Myers. Matthew is pastor at Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, and Ched is an author, biblical scholar and activist in Ventura County. This book is a mixture of Biblical reflections on questions concerning immigrants and case studies of local Christian practitioners working for immigrant rights.
Dates: Wednesdays
March 8 & 22 and
April 5 & 12 at
7-8:30PM
We plan to visit 2-3 local organizations serving immigrant communities, tentatively on
Saturday 3/18 and 4/1. Visits will include the Pasadena Job Center (run by National Day Laborers Organizing Network), and possibly the Filipino Worker Center or the downtown detention facility for immigrants
ALL ARE WELCOME To Join our Visit to Pasadena Job Center on 3/18
ALL are welcome to join us on
Saturday 3/18
from 3-5 as we visit the Pasadena Job Center together with people from faith communities and organizations across Pasadena to explore ways we might offer support and solidarity. See the flyer,
here.
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Union Station Volunteer Needed
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Irene, Brian & Lu at Union Station |
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.
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Walk for Water
 Our mission partner Aid Africa is holding their spring fundraiser to
 educate friends and supporters about those who have to walk miles for their water - and the need for us to offer our support to our brothers and sisters in Northern Uganda as they rebuild their economy and their lives after years of guerilla warfare in their land. You may walk or sponsor a walker - please see the flyer that is attached to the link below for more information!
A Clean Water Fundraiser
to benefit the Water Projects of Aid Africa
at 9am on Saturday, March 25, 2017
in Montrose, CA
Click
here for flyer
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Lamplighters Event - "An Evening with Mr Bean"
On
March 25th at 5:00 p.m. at Sue Miele's house, we will enjoy a potluck dinner together and then spend an evening in merry mayhem enjoying some of Mr. Bean's most memorable comic moments. Bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share. Contact Sue Miele or Bonnie Hughes.
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La Casa de Maria Women's Retreat is On!!
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2016 FCC Participants
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A group of FCC women will be headed up to the beautiful La Casa de Maria retreat center the first weekend in May. We have up to 5 additional spots for the retreat. Please let us know if you wish to join a group of us. The retreat is 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 housing options - a dorm style room with 5 meals for $190 each (one bed left) and a private double room with 5 meals for $265 each. So, if you are interested, please let Marlene know ASAP and give her your $100 non-refundable deposit ASAP! 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
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Membership Ministry
(Tara, Kim, Lu and Marlene) have identified several events to host for the next few months. Here are the dates - details to come!
Saturday March 25- we plan to support the Aid Africa Water Walk and host a picnic in Montrose Park after the walk. You may walk or just join us for the picnic.
Sunday April 9th - For Palm Sunday this year we will be taking our lunch and egg hunt to a local park after worship! Details will be unfolding but we will eat and play and dye eggs out on the sunshine this year.
Saturday May 13th - a mom's day out morning from 9-noon for mothers of older elementary children and youth. You may drop off your children at church and we will put together some mom's baskets, deliver them, have some lunch together and meet you back here at noon! Sign ups will be happening later on.
 Finally, we are looking at several dates and ideas for our annual Hollywood Bowl outing this summer. If you have a preference, please email or tell Lu or Marlene in the next few weeks. Your choices are narrowed to a couple of family friendly movies and one more adult targeted concert: Raiders of the Lost Ark movie on Sat. Aug. 5th; Harry Potter movie Sat. July 8th; or an adult evening of Pink Martini on Sun. July 27th. Let us know! We will reserve a block of tickets in the next few months.
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FCC Women's Scholarship Tea
You are all invited to attend our 2nd annual Women's Scholarship Tea on
Saturday May 20th in the afternoon in our parlors. We will be awarding a scholarship to a local woman (or women) . If you would like to make a donation to this important scholarship fund, please speak to Chairperson Grace Rinck. We awarded three gifts last year to three remarkable women and hope to continue offering support to women pursuing higher education. More details and the application deadline will be publicized in the next few weeks in case you know of any women who night be eligible. Mark your calendars now and save the date!!
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Pasadena Area Women's Scholarship
 A Pasadena Area Women's Scholarship is available annually in $500 to $1000 increments for any female who is currently enrolled or planning to enroll by Fall, 2017 at a college or trade/technical school at any level. This scholarship is sponsored by FCC Pasadena as part of its community outreach program, however church members are not eligible for selection.
Qualities to be considered by the Scholarship Committee are: goals, grades, financial need, college and/or community service and proximity to achieving degree objectives. Students are expected to enroll in at least nine (9) units per semester at the undergraduate level and at least six (6) units at the graduate or postgraduate level. Applicants must be current residents of the city of Pasadena or adjoining communities OR be enrolled by Fall of 2017 in a Pasadena college, university, technical or trade institution.
Blank printed applications are available in the FCC church office, 464 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101, on the church website:
www.uccpasadena.org (click on the icon on the left column on the home page), via email:
fccmonina@gmail.com or click
here. In addition to the application, two references are required, as well as a typed 1-2 page autobiography. If currently attending college or trade/technical school, applicants must submit a photocopy of their transcript. The deadline for submitting applications is
April 15, 2017. Scholarship awards will be announced on
May 15th and presented on
May 20th.
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A Requiem Tapestry
 This is a special concert this Sunday, March 12 at 3:00p.m. to honor Altadena Community
Church's Director, Wendy Caldwell's 25 years of ministry. The concert is free and should last about 2 hours.
Blessings,
Joe
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