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| Rev. Dr. Julie Roberts-Fronk, Pastor Rev. Mike Fronk, Pastor The Christian Caller May 19, 2017 |
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From Your Pastors
There is an orienting principle that can guide us in these times fraught with easy anger and blame. It is the orienting principle preached and lived by Jesus; love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. As I skim re-posted articles on Facebook, letters to the editor and more, the desire to blame and shame is evident.
Our congregation has grown our capacity for hospitality: the kind that Abraham demonstrated when he fed strangers, the kind Jesus demonstrated when he ate with outsiders. We haven't arrived, but we are growing in that direction. Every time we participate in the blame and shame of the world around us, we diminish our capacity to be Christ's hospitality in our time.
Another orienting principle is "whenever you did it to the least of these, you did it to me." If our words and actions inhibit the well-being of people living on the margins of society, we inhibit the well-being of Christ. The way of Jesus is the way of compassion. The compassion of Christ begins from a place of love, not fear.
As we live in these times of fearfulness, anger and blame, we would do well to ask ourselves these questions before we speak or act. Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
Peace, Mike and Julie
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News from your General Board
The General Board approved a number of actions at its May meeting.
1. Change the name of women's scholarship fund to "Camp/Retreatscholarships"
(This fund is the result of hosting refreshments at the opera performances. Originally the funds were to be used for sending women to Quadrennial. Quadrennial is no longer happening. This action broadens the scope of the use of these funds.)
2. Allocated $2,000 from women's scholarship fund for children/youth of FCC Pomona attending summer camp at Loch Leven. Invite congregation to consider supporting children/youth at camp through an individual donation to the church.
3. Agreed to receive a ministerial intern. Courtney Armento from Claremont School of Theology will do her field placement with us beginning in the Fall of 2017. She is a member of Del Haven Christian Church.
4. A congregational meeting was set for June 25th after worship for elections.
5. General Assembly delegates were designated: Beth Parker and Werner Tillinger.
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A Message from Global Ministries
Dear Friends:
Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Matthew 13:8
 Recently a first-time donor to Global Ministries shared that he made his significant gift in support of missionary appointments because he was all about
planting seeds
. After a childhood of poverty and abuse, and a young adulthood of addiction and violence, he discovered his Christian faith in his mid-twenties, he joined a community of faith, and his life was transformed. Thirteen years later as a professional, he feels a call to
plant seeds of hope, of abundance in God's world through supporting mission personnel who, together with partner churches,
are
planting seeds of God's global mission around the world. We in Global Ministries are honored to join him on this faith journey of
planting seeds.
The historical churches planted by missionaries of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) continue to
plant seeds of hope around the world.
In 1848 the Disciples of Christ began their mission journey in what today is the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
planting seeds
of hope as they lived out good news of Jesus Christ with Congolese Christians. Today Congolese leaders guide the Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo (CDCC), the largest Disciple church of any country in the world. The CDCC now
plants seeds
of hope both through new church starts in the neighboring Republic of Congo, and also through caring action for the spiritual, economic, and social needs of the Congolese people.
Our congregation supports Global Ministries. $10,000 is designated this year to plant seeds of hope.
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"All Creation Joins to Sing"
A Reflection on Psalm 148
Rev. Carol Devine, Minister Green Chalice
The choir at my home church used to have a tenor singer who had a great, strong voice.Everyone could always hear him -- because he sang so loud. He sang every song as if he was singing a solo - a loud solo. He did not listen to the other tenors to blend in or for the other parts or for any other voices. He did not seem to even follow the choir director's directions. His voice was beautiful but a choir's sound is most beautiful when all the voices blend together. In the best choirs, everyone listens to each other and follows the direction of the conductor.
Humankind has been operating as if we are singing loudly alone in the shower. We sing praise to God as if we are the only ones offering praise. We live our comfortable lives and go from our temperature controlled homes to our garage and get in our temperature controlled cars.
Psalm 148 invites us to join with all of creation in one great chorus of praise, not as the conductor, not as a solo, not in unison and not written by us. We have been invited to be part of the choir, to join our voices in a beautiful harmonious song of Praise. We have been invited to sing a song written by God at the beginning of creation. We are invited to be part of a choir conducted and directed by God.
When we take control and do things our way - 16,306 species become endangered and their songs of pain and lament go all but ignored. When we do things our way, there is over-fishing and over-hunting, habitat destruction and climate change that all threaten the existence of one in five species.
And when a species becomes extinct, that creature's role in the ecosystem is lost and the wisdom that creature could impart is gone forever. And when a species becomes extinct the particular way it glorified God by its very existence is lost forever - its voice in the praise choir is silenced.
Scripture reminds us that God told Job to go to animals for wisdom, "Ask the beasts, and let them teach you; and the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you" (12.7). For our wellbeing and the wellbeing of the world, we must listen to the creatures. Paul says, "All creation groans." We must stop singing so loudly as if we are alone in the shower. We must be quiet and listen to the blues of creation.
The psalm's call to praise demonstrates to us God's commitment to be reconciled to creation - all of creation. God invites us to remember our interconnectedness and to learn from the beasts and the birds of the heavens - to learn humility, to learn that our position is not as creator but as part of creation. Praise is thus a liturgical action that turns us away from ourselves and toward God.
Praising God acknowledges to ourselves, to others, and most importantly to God that life is a gift. Praise acknowledges and celebrates our place in creation so that as the creatures made in the image of God, we fully accept our own sacredness and acknowledge that with that comes great responsibility. We all have the same breath - the breath of God.
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A Message From Werner Tillinger
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The PSWR is hosting a regional Family Fishing Excursion on Monday, June 12, 2017 at 6:00am. Cost is $30 per person and is open to the entire region. They only have 40 spots available and want to encourage teenage youth groups, parents, youth leaders, pastors, and friends to come out for a day-long deep sea voyage. The $30 includes all supplies for the day, lunch, charter fee, and youth fishing license (not included if over 18 years old, must be purchased separately). The trip is chartered and sponsored by Friends of Rollo/Kids at Sea Organization - and we will sail in the Sport King boat out of L.A. Waterfront Sportfishing.
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You're invited...
Journey through Grief: Bereavement Support Group
Grief can be a lonely road. VITAS Healthcare® of the San Gabriel Cities is pleased to offer this group for adults seeking support after the loss of a loved one. We offer a safe environment where everyone can share feelings, discuss fears, learn about the grief process and gain strength for the journey. To provide the most benefit to the group, new members will not be permitted to join after the second meeting. These sessions are free and open to the community.
When: June 7th- July 12th
Wednesdays, 3:00pm-4:30pm
Where: First Christian Church
1751 N. Park Ave Pomona, CA 91768
RSVP: Space is limited. Please call, Erica Welty, Bereavement Services Manager @ 626.974.2045
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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
MAY
- 21st ~ Mary Bowman & Virginia Galleano
- 26th ~ Rosanne Montoya, Ken Mock, & Michele Wiley
- 28th ~ Chris Eckeard & Mike Fronk
- 31st ~ Ross Church
JUNE
- 3rd ~ Dave Thies
- 4th ~ Glendon Tudor
- 9th ~ Alexis Wiley
- 12th ~ Bob McCallister
- 19th ~ Don Bremer
- 25th ~ Julian Fisher
- 28th ~ Rhodes Thompson & Solomon Mollet
- 30th ~ Greg Sanders
JUNE 6th ~ Lois & Rhodes Thompson celebrate 64 years of marriage!
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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Gary Paulson
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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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Moore Family
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Robert Vazques
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Donna Ruddiman
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Connie Saenz
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Bascome Morris
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Annette Anderson
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Eloise Williams
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The Charlie Weaver Family
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Evelyn Lepire & Family
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Ross Family
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Jake, Marie, & Elaine Tillinger
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Mike White Family
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Kathy Lin Family
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Shirley Ewing & Family
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Joe Zivnak Family
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Yani Davis
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Paris Reed
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Wanda Sodoma
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Lily Lane
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John Miller
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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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