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

First Sunday of Advent    
December 3, 2017   


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


                                     
                       

  
This Sunday after worship is our Advent Festival and Cookie Swap!! See details below.


Reflections for Worship ...  

Bible Text: Mark 13:24-37
 
The 13th chapter of Mark's Gospel has been termed "the little apocalypse," for it speaks of the sun being darkened, the moon not giving light, the stars falling from the heavens, etc. It's an ominous chapter; and then it turns toward the hope of the Human One, whom we know as Jesus coming in clouds with great power and glory. Mark addressed a first-century community of Christians facing persecution and urged them to endure suffering for the hopes of Jesus' imminent return. In our day we hope for relief from the suffering and persecution in our time. We wait. We watch. We are alert in our waiting, filling our time with Godly pursuits.
 
Rev. Kristin Philipson will be preaching on this first Sunday in Advent. Kristin and her family are here from Toronto, Canada. Kristin earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta and her M.Div. from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. She is currently on sabbatical from her staff position as the Minster of Children, Youth and Families at Rosedale United Church, and is working on her Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago. We welcome the Rev. Philipson to our pulpit this Sunday. 
 
 
-Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy  
 
 
Also on Sunday. . .

 
 This 1st Sunday of Advent brings us special seasonal music from our choir, soprano Kim Mendez-McLeish, as well as Linda Zoolalian on piano, April Cap on oboe and our choir.  
 
- Connie Washburn 

We will light the first candle of our Advent Wreath in worship this Sunday. We will be worshiping in our grand sanctuary for the next four weeks ( we suggest you wear a light sweater for warmth since our sanctuary tends to run cold). This is also Communion Sunday so we will be receiving donations for the Friends in Deed food pantry (non perishable food items) and taking up donations for our Good Samaritan Fund, a fund used for outreach beyond our community. Hope to see you on Sunday at 10 a.m.
 
After worship our Membership Ministry is hosting an Advent Festival and Cookie Swap. Bring 2-4 dozen cookies/baked goods to swap with others. Check in with Kevin Cordova-Brookey in the parlors with your baked goods.  If you have extra cookie tins please bring them. We will have some containers for the baked goods but more would be helpful. In addition we will have a few crafts for all ages and a catered lunch by El Pollo Loco (thank you Tara). Our children continue to practice each Sunday during church school for our Children's Christmas Pageant to be held on Sunday Dec. 17th during worship.  


Advent/Christmas preview of events. Save the dates! Details to come:
 
Sundays in church school - Pageant Prep each week
 
Thurs. Nov. 30th - Soup & Spirituality gathering at Pomeroy's house. 6:30-8:30 pm
 
Sun. Dec. 3rd. - Advent Festival/cookie swap
 
Sun. Dec. 10th - Posada during worship
 
Wed. Dec. 13th - FCC Open House - stop by the office for some lunch and holiday cheer with staff and Building Partners 11-1 
 
Thurs. Dec. 14th - Soup & Spirituality gathering at Pomeroy's house 6:30-8:30 pm
 
Sun. Dec. 17th - Children's Pageant/potluck
 
Sun. Dec. 24th - morning and 5 p.m. worship services; evening service followed by gathering in the parlors with food and drink
   
 


Worship Leaders  
Rev. Kristin Philipson 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy 
Rev. John H. Pomeroy  
Rev. Leo Lynch   
 
Ushers  
Aren Burd
Julie Burd
Peter Keller
Brian Brandenburg 
 
Liturgist  
Grace Torpoco  
 
Pianist & Music Director   
Connie Washburn   
Guest  Coordinator: Linda Zoolalian 
 
Church School Teachers
Pageant rehearsal for children and youth in Rm. 232 - the teachers are Krsyty Leckrone/Neva Orr.  
 
Church Nursery (for infants - K) :
Jaquelyne Rodriguez/Kyle Pomeroy
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
 


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...
Children's Christmas Pageant Info
Stewardship Update
FCC T-Shirts - order yours
Flower Chart Sign Up
Pasadena Master Chorale
     Lamplighter Outing
Updates: Pledge, Crop
    Walk Building Sale, Bad Weather
    Shelter
      

Children's Christmas Pageant - Dec. 17th
Plans are underway for our annual Pageant under the direction of Krysty Leckrone and musical director Connie Washburn. Through word and song it is a dramatic depiction of the Christmas Story. Rehearsals will take place on the three Sundays prior to the pageant (Nov. 26, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10). Please be in touch with Krysty Leckrone with any of your questions.We will have a potluck after worship that day; please sign up to bring food with Laura Kalayjian in the next few weeks.


       

Church T-shirts - order one today! 
 
 
 
I f we have 20 orders we will order a new batch of shirts - black with our Core Values listed: Spirituality, Hospitality, Justice. Please let Tara Barnard or Pastor Marlene know if you would like a children or adult size shirt. $10 children; $15 adults. Let's show our church pride at events by wearing our shirts.  
 
Flower Chart
 
 
 
 
We have the following openings to bring flower or "flour" for Sunday worship (Dates that are open: 12/3, 12/10,12/31). 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.
 
Lamplighter Group to Attend Pasadena Master Choral's Christmas Concert
Coordinator Regina Meyers has reserved 10 tickets so far to the event. You pay after you attend - see Regina for your ticket or reserve one on your own. Speak with Regina if you wish to go with a group from our church.



Saturday - December 9, 2017, 7:30pm
St Philip The Apostle Church
151 South Hill Avenue

Program Highlights:
Britten - Ceremony of Carols
Biebl - Ave Maria
Whitacre - Lux Aurumque
Paulus - The Road Home
... and some of your favorite traditional carols!

Presented to you on a Listen First, Then Give basis.
At the end of the concert, make a gift, as you are moved, as you are able
($25 suggested donation)
Reserve your seat today at pasadenamasterchorale.org since we are expected to sell out!

Pledge Update for 2018
We continue to receive pledges for 2018 and urge each household to fill out pledge cards and hand them in. Our Budget Committee will be putting together the budget in the next few weeks for us to review in January and our pledged income is a significant part of our budget. If you have any questions please speak to Vice Moderator Randy VanDeventer who is Chair of Budget; or speak with bookkeeper Celina McHugh or Treasurer Barb Bonzo for information about your current or future pledge. Many thanks to all who are working to complete their 2017 pledges.
 
 
CROP Walk Update
We received a letter thanking us for the $1125 that FCC raised at this year's CROP Walk. Overall $26,058 was raised and 1,000 canned goods were received to help local food pantries. Many thanks to all who walked and sponsored others this year!
 

 
 
Update on the sale of our building
 
Since the vote on Nov. 5th to sell the building, Carl Whidden, our realtor, has met nearly every business day with Cal-Coast, the buyer, at the church.  Cal-Coast has sent the earnest money deposit to escrow and has brought in their architects, designers, contractors, and also an official from the historical society to evaluate the building for historical landmark status and to determine which rooms are going to be designated historical. Cal-Coast still needs to complete a review for permission to build in certain locations, an environmental study and several additional city requirements. Their intent is to turn the building into a hotel. 
                       
In addition to Carl's work, several staff and leaders at FCC (Carl, Elizabeth, Sallie, Celina, and Grace) have supplied over 20 different documents needed to move the process forward. Progress is being made. We are pleased to report that all is well. We will continue to keep you posted on the sale. We will continue to reside in our building through 2018.
 
                        - Moderator Elizabeth Lanski
 
Bad Weather Shelter Update
We have been informed that the Bad Weather Shelter will be open two months this year - January and February. We will attend the planning meeting this month and select two dates for our folks to prepare the meal. Details will be forthcoming after that. Thanks to Discipleship Ministry for coordinating this effort.

BWS 2f Feb 13 BWS Feb 2g