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

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost   
October 15, 2017  

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


                                     
                       

  
We had a grand celebration last Sunday to say goodbye to Pastor Andy Schwiebert who has resigned in order to serve as the interim Co-Pastor at the Presbyterian Immanuel Church in Korea town. We wish Andy well as he embarks on his next ministerial call and will miss him dearly. Pictured above with his wife Rev. Allison and their two children.



Reflections for Worship ...
 
Bible Texts: Genesis 32:22-31 and Luke 18:1-8
 
In both of our passages this Sunday we hear of people wrestling with another. In the Genesis text Jacob is literally wrestling throughout the night; Jacob prevailed in the match, though he sustained a hip injury. In the Luke text a woman is wrestling with a judge for justice. She too prevails after repeatedly coming before him. Whether you relate to the physical wrestling match or the legal one, the message is clear  - that we must persevere at times in our lives! Giving up is not an option says these two Bible stories. Where in your life are you wrestling now, or where have you wrestled in the past? How did things turn out for you and where was God present for you throughout that struggle? These are some of the questions we will address on Sunday as we gather for worship. We hope you can join us!!!  
 
- Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
 
Also on Sunday
 
We will gather this week with a hymn sing at the beginning of our service so come early and bring your favorite hymn!!
 
Please sign up on Sunday to help out with our Halloween Party and Festival that is taking place on Sunday Oct. 22nd after worship. We need folks to bring food for a potluck as well as extra hands helping out with crafts and set up. The event is sponsored by our Membership Ministry (Kim, Kevin, Lu, Tara and Pastor Marlene)
 
After worship and coffee hour the ushers will have a luncheon and meeting in the East parlor. Please be in touch with Carolyn Olney or Bettie Teel is you are an usher and have not yet RSVP'd!


Several Ways to Get More Involved In Your Faith Community:

Join our Church Choir or Bell Choir! See Music Director Connie Washburn for more info.
 
Join a Union Station meal team - 1-2 folks are needed - see article below.
 
Bring food to church for Friends in Deed food pantry.
Join the next Habitat Build.
Learn about becoming more welcoming to immigrants. 
Visit folks who are housebound or recovering.  
Volunteer to be a liturgist or to help Nina in the office.   
 
Contact any of our pastors for more information on how to get involved in any of these!  The more we give... the more we receive! 

SAVE THESE DATES:
Sunday Nov. 19th Stewardship Sunday and Thanks giving Feast
Sunday Dec. 3rd Advent Festival and Cookie Swap
Sunday Dec. 17th Children's Christmas Pageant and potluck luncheon
 


Worship Leaders   
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy  
Rev. John Pomeroy  
 
Ushers
Sandy Biehler
Robert Rinck
Kevin Cordova-Brookey
 
Liturgist  
Brian Brandenburg 
 
Pianist & Music Coordinator   
Connie Washburn   
 
Church School Teachers
Combined church school class for children and youth in the youth room - the teachers are Roberta White and Krysty Leckrone.
 
(If we have enough youth, we will have a sermon talk-back time in the youth room after the sermon with one of the pastors.) 
.
 
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 service 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...

Special Honor for Rob Hughes 
Also in October 
Flower Chart Sign Up
Union Station Teams have Openings 
Housing Authority Responds to Petition! 
Rev. Andy Schwiebert is Leaving 
Central Association Fall Meeting 10/28  
Aid Africa Fall Celebration 11/04  

Special Honor for Rob Hughes
We offer our best wishes and support to Rob - see article below for details. 
Broadway Presbyterian Church,  
Sedalia, MO 

"Rob Hughes, the son of Don and Bonnie, grew up in this church and  is now a Presbyterian minister with a church in Missouri.  He has just been invited to offer the Invocation Prayer to Congress in D.C. on Thursday, November 16th to open the day's legislative session.  It is a very special honor."
 
-Bonnie & Don Hughes 

ALSO IN OCTOBER:

Usher Thank You Lunch and Meeting Sunday October 15th - to be held in the church parlors after worship.
 
Annual Halloween Festival and luncheon on Sunday October 22nd - costume contest, spooky crafts and more!
 
Picnic in the Park on Sunday Oct. 29th  - directly after worship at Farnsworth Park - up Lake Ave. above Altadena Drive at the corner of Lake and E. Mount Curve Ave. (not too far from the CROP Walk starting point for those walking). Lunch is provided by our Membership Ministry. Folks just need to bring a chair or a blanket and any sports equipment (frisbee, ball, etc.) 
CROP Walk - If you wish to donate on line you may do so at crophungerwalk.org and designate our church as the sponsoring organization. The walk begins at 1:30 from St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church at 1879 N. Lake Ave. You may arrive early to check in and hear some speakers rally the crowd. The walk is a 5k. 
   
Flower Chart
 
 
We have the following openings to bring flower or "flour" for Sunday worship
(Dates that are open: 11/26, 12/3, 12/10,12/24, 12/31). If you sign up and give Nina $40 a beautiful live bouquet will be ordered for you. Or you may opt for the "flour" option which means that your $40 donation will be sent to a local hunger organization (LA Regional Food Bank) in your name and our wheat display will be on the altar. Please let Nina know when you sign up which option you would like.
 
Union Station Team Needs Members (subs and team folks needed)

union station logo One of our primary ongoing outreach activities here at FCC is cooking and serving a monthly Union Station meal; folks at Union Station are participating in a program that helps support them moving from a life off the streets. We have been participating in this effort for several decades now. We thank all of you who have served on a team or have subbed!!  
 
Please contact Regina Meyers if you wish to join a team [email protected] or Nina in the church office at [email protected] 
 

Housing Authority Responds to Petition!
 
Anastacia Stewart invited persons in our church to sign a petition that would prevent dramatic rent hikes on city housing that would make such housing completely unaffordable for persons who currently live in those units. The Housing Authority is responding to concerns by seeking to convert such units to subsidized units that have Federal support and a new designation of residents with "very low income". This represents an important step in keeping current housing affordable for those who make less than $32,000 per year in Los Angeles. We received the attached letter in response to our support for this initiative - thanks to all at church who offered their support!
Letter attached here.

Rev. Andy Schwiebert is Leaving FCC
 
bio pic  
After serving FCC for over 8 years, Rev. Andy Schwiebert is leaving to serve as Interim Co-Pastor at Immanuel Presbyterian Church at 330 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010, #213.389.3191 beginning Sunday 10/15. See the attached letter, that was sent to members of our congregation.


                United Church of Christ

                 Central Association
                Southern California Nevada Conference

FALL MEETING
Saturday, October 28, 2017
at
Immanuel Latino Ministries, 1785 East 85th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90001
Rev. Haller Terrones, 626-329-7600

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
$5 per person plus $5 per person for lunch
Meeting begins at 9 a.m. followed by lunch at noon

Important highlights of our time together include:
1. Ecclesiastical Council to Welcome and Celebrate First Congregational Church of Los Angeles as a member church of the United Church of Christ

2. Voting on Association Bylaw updates, copies to be sent out SOON.

3. "Stop Separating Immigrant Families: Some actions we may take" will be our program, which is a follow-up to our spring meeting program, with Rev. Andrew Schwiebert again guiding us.

Please plan to carpool since parking will be limited

Please RSVP by October 21, 2017
Rev. Marcia Hoffman, Vice Moderator
Call or Text: 626.940.7497