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


Fifth Sunday After Easter
  

Our Core Values: 
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
                      


                 May 14, 2017                     
                       

  
La Casa 2017
La Casa



Eleven FCC women shared a beautiful weekend together at La Casa de Maria at our Annual Women's Retreat! Our theme was Cultivating Balance in Our Lives.





Reflections on Worship . . .         
 
"The Rejected Stone" 
I Peter 2:4-10

In this short letter we hear imagery of Jesus being the "cornerstone." We also hear language about what it means to be the household of God. It is not a social club but a spiritual household with God as the head of the household and Jesus as the cornerstone. We are called to be one body in this spiritual household and Jesus is the standard of how we should conduct ourselves. Even though the image of us being a chosen race, a royal priesthood implies a special rank or status, the fact is that Jesus' message was always one of inclusivity and acceptance of all - and most especially the outcast and the marginalized. There is no elitism in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will explore this on Sunday as we also honor and celebrate our moms! As is our custom we will honor our own mothers and those who have acted as surrogate mothers to us in our church community. So, bring your mom and join us for worship. The Children's Choir will be singing a special song in honor of Mother's Day and Kim and Gerald will be featured soloists this week. Join us for a special day of honoring moms and women!

- Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
 
Also on Sunday: 
 
Children who are singing are asked to arrive at 9:15 for a final rehearsal. Please be in touch with Connie if you have questions about the music.
 
Canned goods for Friends in Deed:

You are invited to bring in non-perishable food items any Sunday to be delivered to the FID food pantry. We typically put the basket out on Communion Sundays which are the first Sunday of the month, but you may bring your food items any Sunday. Thanks in advance for helping us help others! 
 
 
Looking Ahead: 
 
We will have our Spring Business Meeting on Sunday June 4th after worship. Details about the content of the meeting will be publicized in the next few weeks. All Chairpersons and officers who are writing Annual Reports are asked to get them to Nina by Thursday May 18th.  
    
 
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.



 
Worship Leaders  
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy    
Rev. John H. Pomeroy 
Rev. Andy Schwiebert  
       
Ushers 
Thom Meyers
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox    
  
Liturgist
Judi Tyler            
 
Pianist   &  Music Director 
Connie Washburn 
 
Church School Teachers
Elementary class with Krysty Leckrone/Grace Rinck in room 232. Youth class with Andy Schwiebert in the youth room.  
 
Church Nursery (for infants - K) :
Jaquelyne Rodriguez  &  Serena Van.  
 
Nursery opens at 9 :15 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.  

Nina Kung   
Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org

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...
FCC Women's Scholarship Fund and Tea
Irene Phillip's Celebration
Lamplighter's Events, May 12 & May 21
Mayor's Prayer Breakfast 
Summer Hollywood Bowl Outing Scheduled
Birthing Kit Assembly
Irene & Peter's 70th Birthday Celebration
Pilgrim Pines Summer Camp 
  

FCC Women's Scholarship Fund and Tea Saturday May 20th, 4:00 p.m.

We continue to accept RSVP's for our Spring Tea. Please invite a friend (or 2) and send in your response cards now!!! We are going to have a fabulous event on the 20th - with music from Connie and guests, wonderful food, and of course the recipients of our 2017 scholarship. Your Scholarship Selection Committee (Grace Rinck, Krysty Leckrone, Mary Camacho, Bettie Teel and Pastor Marlene) have selected the recipients for this year and we are very excited to reveal them to you at the Tea. Now is the time for you to let us know if you would like to donate to this important scholarship. The more money we have, the more we can award to well deserving women. If you would like to make a donation to this scholarship fund, please speak to Chairperson Grace Rinck or send a check to Nina in the church office designated for the Women's Scholarship Fund.  Through this scholarship we continue offering support to women pursuing higher education.
 

 
Irene Phillips Celebration and Retirement Party!!

Irene Phillips Irene Phillips Please plan to attend celebration of Irene Phillips and her 55 years of service on Sunday May 21st in worship and at a luncheon afterwards. Irene has faithfully served as our Nursery Director since 1962 and we want to celebrate her! John Gamber-Thompson, Lu Burd and Pastor Marlene are organizing the event. Please see John to sign up to bring food or call Nina in the church office. We also urge everyone to attend and bring a card for Ms. Irene that includes a picture of her and your child and maybe a favorite memory. A letter is going out this week with details about the event and your participation in a "love offering." The deadline to submit money for the love offering is May 15th so we have time to write a check!!!  
Two Lamplighters Events - May 12 at 8:00 p.m. and May 21st, 7:30 p.m. 
 
All are invited.  Concerts appear to be our theme this year.  Let's try this both!

On May 12th at the First Church of Nazarene in Pasadena at 8:00 p.m.Admission is free and features music from Brahms, Massanet, Tchaikowsky and Beethoven and featuring Young Artist Competition winner Rufus Bordal.
   
The second event is Cry Peace at the Eagle Rock Covenant Church 1649 Yosemite Dr. at 7:30 p.m. on May 21st.  Eugene Carvajal, our soloist, is performing with the Nova Vocal Ensemble this evening.Tickets are $11 online and $15 at the door. 
Where shall we eat out?   Please call Thom and Regina to let us know you are coming to either event.  
 
 
Pasadena Mayor's Prayer Breakfast      
Revs. Andy Schwiebert and Marlene Pomeroy attended the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast this past week at the Pasadena Convention Center. Marlene delivered the invocation and food blessing at the morning event that was attended by over 400 people. Friends in Deed sponsored the event and their work was highlighted. In addition to hearing from Mayor Tornek and the new Executive Director of FID Rabbi Joshua Grater, we also heard a stirring keynote address by John E. Kobara who works for the California Community Foundation. Mr. Kobara shared with us his family history of parents and grandparents being taken into the Japanese Internment camps in Arizona. His was a stirring testimony to resilience and hope. The 45th Annual Mayor's Prayer Breakfast will take place next May and we hope others from FCC will join us next year.  
Mayor's Breakfast 2017 May Mayor's Breakfast 2017 May  
 
Summer Hollywood Bowl Outing Scheduled!

Membership Ministry has selected the date of Sunday Aug. 27th for our Summer Outing to hear Pink Martini. They are an eclectic group of performers and musicians and are not to be missed! The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and our discounted group tickets at $25 each. See Lu Burd or Pastor Marlene to sign up and pre-pay for your tickets. We have 25 seats together in section L-1 and will plan to picnic together before the event. You must include $25 with your reservations. Any unused tickets will be released July 10th so get your tickets soon!


Birthing Kit Assembly

Aid Africa is having its annual Birthing Kit Assembly day on June 3rd this year and the location is in Glendale! Remember that getting sponsors is of utmost importance. Irene can give you a card to honor your Mother's. It is a wonderful Mother's Day gift to save a Mom and her newborn infant. Please support this effort with your money and your time. 

 
 
You're invited to
Peter & Irene's 70th Birthday Party
All are Welcome!


 
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).
   
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!