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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 After Easter
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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April 23, 2017
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Alleluia! Christ is Risen and we celebrate with our living flower cross on Easter Morning.
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Reflections on Worship . . .
The story of the first Easter continues in John's Gospel. The disciples are fearful and huddled together in a private house. Jesus appears to them and offers them words of peace and comfort. He also showers them with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Thomas is famously absent from this appearance and desires his own encounter with the Risen Christ. A week later Jesus appears to them again and gives Thomas his wish. We would do well to remember that the empty tomb and the Risen Christ wasn't an immediately joyful and heartening time for the early disciples. Rather, it was a time of great confusion and fearfulness. The path of faith was not at all clear to those early followers, just as it is not always clear for us today. As we read these ancient stories we are invited to connect with times of fear and confusion in our own lives of faith and to ask as Thomas did for an encounter with the Living Christ! Hope to see you Sunday. We will be worshiping back in our chapel this week.
- Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Also on Sunday
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Yahweh's Yard Sale and Coffee Drive!
On
Sunday April 23rd (the Sunday after Easter) we will
 have an expanded coffee hour which will allow us to have another Yahweh's Yard Sale and Coffee Drive. How does it work? YOU scour your closets and garage for amazing items that you want to get rid of. You bring them to church and set up on the table and price them. If they sell, the proceeds go to the church general fund! Our suggestion is to bring just 1-2 items that will fetch between $25-$75. You are responsible for setting up and cleaning up your lovelies. Last time several folks were very happy with their new items.
The Coffee Drive is our semi-annual drive for you to either bring coffee (decaf or regular - must be fair-trade), buy bags from our Peace and Justice Table, OR make a donation and we will purchase coffee for you!
Ways to Get Involved!
Join a Union Station meal team - contact the church office or speak with a pastor.
Join our newly re-formed Bell Choir - speak with Connie Washburn.
We continue to accept cereal boxes and canned protein to be sent up to the Friends in Deed food pantry.
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Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Judi Tyler
Dana Pell
Mary Camacho
Liturgist
Elementary class with Neva Orr/Krysty Leckrone in room 232.
Youth class with Jeff Tyler in the youth room.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
:
Jaquelyne Rodriguez & tba
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...
White Ally Forum
Sanctuary Sabbath 4/30
Mayor's Prayer Breakfast
FCC Women's Scholarship Tea Info and date
Irene Phillip's Celebration
Looking ahead
Conference Dues Needed
Pilgrim Pines
La Casa de Maria retreat details
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White Ally Forum on Wednesday April 26th
 This past year our congregation has been involved with various efforts aimed at dialogue and action around dismantling racism. In response to shootings nationwide of unarmed Black men that stirred the hearts and conscience of our nation, last fall a small group at FCC spent time with the book Between the World and Me by Te-Nehisi Coates, and another small group met for several weeks to work through conversations around White Privilege, using Debra Irving's recent book Waking Up White.
Three weeks ago, FCC was approached by Pasadena community leader Brian Biery, to consider hosting an upcoming White Ally Forum (see attached flyer). Discipleship Ministry endorsed co-hosting the Forum, but we were unable to host the Forum because of a lack of available space here at FCC. Discipleship Ministry invites anyone who can to attend to join us for this important conversation, which will be held on Wednesday April 26 from 7-9PM at the Neighborhood UU Church on Orange Grove. Contact the church office or John Gamber Thompson if you have questions.
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FCC was invited by CLUE and other community organizations to take part in the upcoming Sanctuary Sabbath, a weekend to focus on how we might faithfully live out the biblical tradition of offering safety and protection to those facing persecution or being unjustly accused of a crime. We will host a guest speaker from the Pasadena Community Job Center who will share testimony about challenges facing immigrants. Between 7-12 congregations across Pasadena will take part.
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Friends In Deed Mayor's Prayer Breakfast
On Thursday May 4th the 44th Annual Pasadena Mayor's Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center. Starting at 7:30 a.m. folks will gather to hear speaker John E. Kobara, a nationally respected leader in leading innovative nonprofits and companies, Mayor Tornek and enjoy breakfast together. Tickets are $35 each and may be purchased online at friendsindeedpas.org or you may pick up information with Nina in the church office. Plan to join Pastor Marlene at this annual event. If we have enough people we can host an FCC table. Let Marlene know of your interest ASAP and join several hundred area folks at this event!!!
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FCC Women's Scholarship Tea - Invitations are being sent this week!
Many of you picked up your invitation on Easter Sunday. Others should be receiving theirs in the mail this week. ALL ARE 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. Through this scholarship we continue offering support to women pursuing higher education.
 
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Irene Phillips Celebration
 Save the date for a celebration of Irene Phillips and her 55 Years of Service. Plans are in the making for a grand celebration of Mrs. Phillips after church on
Sunday May 21st. Irene has faithfully served as our Nursery Director since 1962 and we want to celebrate her! John Gamber-Thompson and Pastor Marlene are organizing the event. Please see John to sign up to bring food. We also urge everyone to attend and bring a card for Ms. Irene that includes a picture of her and your child. More details will be coming but save the date and plan to attend!!
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Central Association Spring Meeting
Our Central Association Spring Meeting will be held on Saturday April 29th at the Altadena Community Church. It will feature a celebration of youth who attended the National Youth Event last summer (we sent youth with Pastor Andy), and a presentation on how churches can respond and work together to resist immigration deportations and support families who are split apart by deportation. Pastor Schwiebert will be the key presenter on the presentation on youth and immigration. Click on this link for more information and to register to attend and for lunch and childcare
http://www.scncucc.org/voices
Pastors and two delegates from each church are expected to attend each association meeting. Any other guests are encouraged to attend and stay in touch with the work of the wider UCC.
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Conference Dues Needed Now
 Next week we will all receive a letter from the church, asking us to donate to the work of our Southern California Nevada Conference and the Central Association of the United Church of Christ. These are our partners in ministry, providing education, worship, training, information, support and connection between our area UCC congregations. In addition, these staff members, clergy and friends help keep us in touch with the needs and the resources of the National Setting of our denomination, providing links to our national website and sharing the time and talent of national leaders and staff when they come to our part of the country! Help us all stay in covenant with our denomination - and show our support for the wonderful work of our partners in ministry in the UCC here by giving when you receive your letter - and thank you in advance!
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FCC Youth: Sign Up for Pilgrim Pines Summer Camp
Any junior high (6th grade thru 8th) or senior high (9th thru graduating 12th) who are interested in more information about attending, please contact Andy Schwiebert. We are organizing a group to go, most likely the 2nd week of July (though the 1st week is also a possibility). See the brochure here.
We are hoping to start a new tradition of young children and special needs adults attending Pilgrim Pines Camp the same week. Pastor Andy is working with our youth to decide if there is interest in either Week 1 (July 2-8) or Week 2 (July 9-15) at Pilgrim Pines. Andy is interested in volunteering to be at camp all week and we hope that many of our children, youth and special needs adults can all attend the same week! There are camps for those entering 1st-3th grade, 3rd-6th grade, 7th and 8th grade, 9th-H.S. graduate, and Pinesters camp for adults with special needs ages 26 and up the first two weeks. Please check out the information on the link listed below and think about attending. The cost is between $435-$475 depending on the ratios. We may also need drivers to drop off and pick up campers at the beginning and end of the week. Pilgrim Pines is now mostly volunteer run for the four weeks of summer camp so if you wish to volunteer, check out the information on the website as well. Now is the time to start signing up with friends to get your preferred spot!
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