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


Tenth Sunday After Pentecost   
August 13, 2017  

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


                                     
                       

  

Summer's pleasures...

"Happy is the [one] who, like Ulysses, has made a fine voyage, or has won the Golden Fleece, and then returns, experienced and knowledgeable, to spend the rest of [his/her] life among family."
Adapted from quote by Joachim Du Bellay
1522-1560 C. E. 

Reflections for Worship . . .  

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
 
This week we hear the beginning of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. The 17 year old favorite son of his father... who inspires murderous jealousy from his 11 older brothers. Joseph is the dreamer whose life takes interesting twists and turns. It's a compelling tale that is as old as time. We will explore this story and also discover how God uses even the most dysfunctional of families to bring about new life in the world! Join us in our lovely chapel for music and prayers and preaching this Sunday. Vocalists Megan Alle and Cami Brown will provide varied styles of music this Sunday. Hope to see you at 10 a.m.
 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy 


Also this Sunday:
We are scheduled to have an usher meeting/thank you lunch this Sunday after coffee hour. If you have not yet RSVP'd, please contact Pastor Marlene ASAP at [email protected] so that we know if we have a quorum for our meeting. 
 

Several Ways to Get More Involved:

Join a Union Station meal team.  
 
Bring food to church for Friends in Deed food pantry.  
Sing with the church choir this fall. See Connie.   
Join the next Habitat Build.
Learn about becoming more welcoming to immigrants. 
Buy a ticket to the Fall Jazz event to support Friends in Deed.  
Visit folks who are housebound or recovering.   
 
Contact any of our pastors for more information on how to get involved in any of these!   
   

 
Worship Leaders 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy  
Rev. John H. Pomeroy  
Rev. Andy Schwiebert 

Ushers
 
Thom Meyers
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox       
 
Liturgist  
TBA                
 
Pianist   &  Music Director 
Connie Washburn 
 
Church School Teachers
F or summer we have a single church school class for children and youth in the youth lounge - the teachers for this week are Andy Schwiebert/TBA.)
 
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

Like us on Facebook

 
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In this Edition...

Continued Summer Happenings!! 
Small Group on Spiritual Practices  
2 Tickets left for Hollywood Bowl Aug. 27th
Save the Dates for Upcoming FID Events
Friends In Deed 'Jazz on the Green'  
From our church members:
    Upcoming Shows & News - J. Lanski
    Article about rent hikes for seniors and  
    disabled tenants 

Summer Happenings Continue! 
 
 
Join us for any or all of our planned activities:  

Every Other Wednesday Small Group on Mudhouse Sabbath (on Jewish Spiritual Practices) starting July 19th led by Pastor Andy. See article below for details 
 
Sunday Aug. 27th Hollywood Bowl Picnic and Concert. Please contact Pastor Marlene to make arrangements to pick up your tickets to see Pink Martini in concert.  The concert starts at 7 p.m. and we will be picnicking ahead of time starting around 5 p.m. (at the tables just past the first entrance to the left before you go up the first escalator. Marlene and Lu will secure tables for us) Bring food to share! Speak with Pastor Marlene for more info. 
Check out their eclectic style in these two links. www.youtube.com/watch
 
 
Small Group on Spiritual Practices

Many of the topics of our recent small groups have been focused on social justice issues. We also recognize the need to ground ourselves in our daily and weekly spiritual practices to sustain us, whether in our work for social justice or in dealing with the daily challenges of life. 
You are invited to spend time with a small group as we work through a book on spiritual practices entitled,  Mudhouse Sabbath: an Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline (study edition) by Lauren F. Winner. The author is a convert to Christianity and has
deep roots in Judaism, so the book is a reflection on the best of Jewish
spiritual practices that might also be life-giving for Christians.

We will try out these spiritual practices together over 4 sessions beginning
Wednesday July 19th, meeting every other Wednesday  
evening from 6:30-8. Please let Andy know if you are interested.

-Rev. Andy Schwiebert 
  

Save the Dates for Upcoming Friends in Deed events:
 

Thursday Aug. 24th for the Annual Meeting and barbecue to be held at the FID location (corner of Los Robles and Washington)

Annual Fund Raising Event at the Historic Castle Green Hotel featuring the jazz trio performing that evening: Mr. John Pisano, Mr. Gene Bertoncini, and Mr. John Leftwich, Rev. Donna Byrns, recent past Executive Director of Friends in Deed will be one of the three honorees this year. Tickets are $99 each and all proceeds support the work of FID. See article below.
 
Friends in Deed is a non-profit that serves the poor and homeless in Pasadena. It is one of our outreach partners that we support through our church both financially and with volunteer hours. FID oversees the Bad Weather Shelter, the Women's Room, the Food Pantry and many other services. Check out their website at http://friendsindeedpas.org to learn more about their current programs and activities. We are pleased to be in relationship with this fine organization.
 
 


September 27, 2017
Castle Green
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
An evening of live music, cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, and silent auction

We are pleased to have a jazz trio performing, Mr. John Pisano, Mr. Gene Bertoncini, and Mr. John Leftwich. These gentlemen have been bringing jazz to the world for over a half century. 

John Pisano is a straight-ahead jazz guitarist who has recorded and toured the globe with artists such as Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Burt Bacharach, Natalie Cole, Peggy Lee (for whom he conducted the Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Diana Krall, Sergio Mendes, Manhattan Transfer, and many others. For more about Mr. Pisano, visitjohnpisano.com 

Gene Bertoncini is one of the pre-eminent jazz guitarists active today. His fluid technique and lyricism have won him international praise and accolades as the "Segovia of jazz." An eloquent and versatile improviser, Mr. Bertoncini has been heard with an extraordinary range of jazz greats, including performances and recordings with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, and Paul Desmond among others, as well as such distinguished singers as Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Vic Damone, and Eydie Gorme. For more about Mr. Bertoncini, visit genebertoncini.com

John Leftwich is a classical guitarist who has performed with a wide variety of musical luminaries, including Tierney Sutton, Rickie Lee Jones, Chet Baker, Mel Torme, and Hubert Laws. In addition, his music has been featured in commercials, as well as numerous movies.

Tickets available now, click here.
For more information, check out the Jazz page. 
 
Upcoming Shows and News - Jennifer Lanski

Dear Friends and Colleagues,  
I am pleased to announce a few upcoming opportunities to see my work.
 
First, I have one drawing from my "Famous Places" series (in which I draw people photographing at famous places) at the LA Artcore Brewery Annex Gallery now through August 27. The opening reception is this Sunday, August 6 from 1 to 3 pm. I plan to be there from about 1:30 to 2:30 if you would like to join me. There are about 50 pieces in this group show; I do not know what the others are.
 
Relevant info: 
"LA Artcore 3rd Annual Online Competition and Exhibition"  (a misleading title since the jurying process was online, but the show is only viewable in person)

LA Artcore Brewery Annex Gallery
650A South Avenue 21
Los Angeles CA 90031
Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday, 12-5 pm

Second, I will also have one drawing (a different one) from my "Famous Places" series at the Brand Library & Art Center Gallery from  September 16 through November 3. The opening reception is  Saturday, September 16 from   7 to 10 pm. (Originally the opening was going to be from   6 to 9 pm, so if the times change again I will let you know.) I plan to be there around   7:30  for an hour or so if you would like to join me. There are about 80 pieces in this group show; I do not know what the others are.

Brand Library & Art Center Gallery  
1601 W. Mountain St.  
Glendale CA 91201
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 11 am-8 pm; Friday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm
   
Third , I have recently put some of the drawings from my  series  "Time/Temperature  ( Every Day in 2014 ) " on my website. Check them out  here  if you want.
   
Finally , y ou may also be interested in my subscriptionART project,  which is   now in its 5th year . Go to  my website  for more information or to join.
   
And as always, feel free to email me with any questions, and please pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested.

-Jennifer 

 
 
STOP RENT HIKES ON SENIOR CITIZENS AND DISABLED TENANTS RESIDING IN LOS ANGELES AUTHORITY APARTMENTS.
 
Although the City of Los Angeles has Rent Control, the LA Housing Authority owned buildings are exempt. Last year in at least one such building the Housing Authority tried to raise rents by 32-58%. This was fought by tenants and the LA Renters Union. Results were temporary and now it has to be done again. Anastacia will have our petition available this Sunday, Aug 13th for LA residents to sign. A full copy (click  here) of the petitions content will be available in the office. (If we don't succeed many tenants will become homeless.)
 
Thanks for your support.
 
-Anastacia Stewart