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| 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 |
Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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Join us in your costume on Sunday October 28th for worship and lunch with activities
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Reflection for Worship. . .
Unplanned Change
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
We learned two weeks ago in our lesson that Job is not simply a symbol of human suffering and the incredibly difficult challenge of staying in relationship with the sacred when our lives are so challenging...Job is meant to be an icon of both human struggle and faith. We may focus on the struggle - but the writers in scripture are pointing to the faith - stick with God and surrender our own ideas, plans and arguments as the "right" ones - and we will find nurture and fulfillment in our relationship with God. In a sermon entitled "Unplanned Change" we will consider the closing text in Job, where Job's humility - not his triumph - leads to a peaceful and prosperous close to his life. We are faced with a tough question in this text - is this about us, or really about God - where the "this" can be whatever we are working on - moving, ministry or our lives! Come join us for worship in the Chapel at 10AM this Sunday!
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Also on Sunday:
Please join us after worship in the East Parlor for a Forum hosted by Church Council. Staff, Council, our realtor and members of our Scouting Committee will explain the process used to find our temporary home and the next steps in our transition - all are welcome!
Transition Update
(The text below was sent to members on Thursday as a letter as well)
We are pleased to announce that our Church Council has carefully reviewed, and signed, a two-year lease for worship and office space within a nearby Pasadena church. This follows months of work searching for a space to lease or purchase by our Staff, our realtor Carl Whidden and our Scouting Committee. Our new home developed out of a conversation between Marlene Pomeroy and the Senior Pastor of our host congregation in May of this year. Our FCC By-Laws state that Church Council has the authority to act on behalf of the congregation between regularly scheduled congregational meetings, unless calling a pastor, buying or selling real property, using more than a certain percentage of the Capital Improvement Trust Fund or changing our By-Laws.
Council invites members to attend a Forum this Sunday following worship at 11:15AM in the East Parlor to hear more about the lease and our host congregation. Members of staff and Council will be present, along with our realtor Carl Whidden, our Building liaison Sallie, and members of our Scout Committee to answer questions about this new chapter in the life of our church. While leasing space, we will continue to have conversations about what kind of space we are looking for, what budget we feel is reasonable for our search and what alternative spaces we may be willing to consider in Pasadena.
Persons in leadership here understand very well that persons in our congregation may not be aware of all the work that has been involved in our search, and we are all aware that this transition brings with it hopes, concerns and feelings for us all. We are all invited to put our faith not only in God, but also in the gifts and integrity of the leadership of this church, that has shown time and again over the past several years that openness, dedication, hard work and integrity will continue to nurture the life and work of this congregation.
Please join us in thanking all who have helped us to reach this point in our transition - and come join us this Sunday if you are able, for a time of thanksgiving, celebration and sharing.
Randy Vandeventer, Moderator John and Marlene Pomeroy, Co-Pastors
Used Athletic Shoe Drive Continues:
We now have overflowing boxes in the church office and in the chapel each Sunday to receive your used and old athletic shoes! Any brand or type may be donated. Please keep bringing them and the church school children will drop them off to the local NIKE store where they will be sent to be transformed into playgrounds, running tracks, turf fields, etc.
any brand of shoe is accepted but they are unable to use sandals, dress shoes, boots or shoes with metal cleats/spikes.
Thanks for bringing in your old shoes to be repurposed!!
Aid Africa Fund-Raiser Sign-Up
We continue to have sign ups sheets on Sunday for folks to help bring food for the Nov. 3rd Fund-raiser. See details below. Cost is $60 per FCC member - but you can bring two for the price of one if your second person is a non FCC person unfamiliar with Aid Africa!
CD's of the Sept. 8th Celebration are available Suggested donation is $5. See Nina during the week or one of the pastors on Sunday for your copy. There is also a link to the event on the home page of our website
uccpasadena.org
Save the Dates:
Through Nov. 3rd Level Ground Festival Continues
FCC is sponsoring the Level Ground Festival which is being held for the next two weeks. See details of events below.
Oct. 21st
Building Tour will be rescheduled!
Saturday Oct. 27 9-11AM
Our Youth will stock shelves for the Friends in Deed Food Pantr
y
Sunday Oct. 28th Annual Halloween Party and
 Festivities following worship. Membership will provide the luncheon food and activities (including a cake walk and costume contest). You just have to
show up and wear a costume of your choice (or not!).
Saturday Nov. 3rd Aid Africa Annual Empty Bowls Fund-Raiser 5:00-8:00 p.m. in our church parlors. See below for further details.
Saturday Nov. 4th Pasadena CROP Walk. See below for more details.
Sunday Nov. 18th
Stewardship Sunday and Thanksgiving Feast after worship!
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Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Robert Rinck
Kevin Cordova-Brookey
Pianist & Music Director
Combined class for elementary & youth - teacher are Neva Orr/Jeff Tyler.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
Adi Paokhomai and Lachlan Ashenmiller
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.
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Nina Kung
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
Mon. - Thurs.
9 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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October
November
December
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In this Edition . . .
-Youth Fall Outreach Happenings
-5th Annual Level Ground Festival
-Aid Africa Fall Fundraiser Nov. 3rd
-UCC: Hurricanes & Disaster Relief
-CD Copies of the Sept. 8th Program
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Youth Happenings for this Fall - Outreach Work and Confirmation
We have outreach outings this Fall for our middle and high school youth. Our hope is to offer two events each month. Please let us know if your youth can attend.
Our continuing project is collecting used sport shoes each week for recycling. The next outing to Friends in Deed food pantry is
Saturday Oct. 27th from 9-11am.
Our outings/projects will include: an athletic shoe drive to re-purpose old athletic shoes (see boxes in the church office and chapel for your drop-off), volunteering at Club 21, putting together care packages for Ronald McDonald House, sponsoring a family for the holiday through Friends in Deed, and visiting members of our church. The Youth Outreach Planning Committee is: Lu Burd, Meagan VanDeventer, Jeff Tyler, Neva Orr and Pastor Marlene.
Pastor Marlene will be in touch with parents of all 7th-12th graders in the next few weeks about their interest in a Confirmation Class. Confirmation is a time for young people to learn about the traditions of the Church and God/Jesus/Holy Spirit, explore their faith, and determine if they would like to be confirmed. Pastor Marlene will be in touch with parents in the next few weeks to find a time for an initial meeting. Parents may also be in touch with Marlene with any questions. Pastor Marlene will also be recruiting sponsors for our youth.
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5th Annual Level Ground Festival Oct. 5th-Nov. 3rd, 2018
There will be five events as part of this festival which is an arts cooperative that provides creative access to diverse artists and audiences. This year there will be a
stand-up comedy show and three other projects which explore the intersection of queer identity, body image, and the nature of self. Our FCC Lambda group and our Church have
donated $750 to help sponsor this year's event. Info can be obtained at
levelground.org/festival. All events are free; there will be an opportunity to donate when you reserve tickets if you wish.
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Aid Africa "Empty Bowls"
At an "Empty Bowls" dinner, you get a beautiful hand-crafted bowl for your dinner and then you get to take it home with you.
The fundraising dinner is
Saturday November 3rd here at FCC from 5-8PM. We'll have some auction items and some entertainment. We'll have some of our previous visitors to Uganda speak briefly about their memories of Aid Africa.
Please join us! Bring friends! Bring children! Just
click here to go to our web site to buy tickets. If you live too far away, you're still welcome to make a donation. The work we do depends on your generosity.
Please speak to Joey Bland, chairperson of our Discipleship Ministry, or Peter/Irene Keller for more information.
Thanks!
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Dear Friends in Christ,
Hurricanes and disaster events keep coming. You are responding through UCC Disaster Ministries to the needs of people affected by 2018 hurricanes within the United States and around the world.
The UCC's 2018 Hurricane Recovery Appeal puts you at the heart of the response to 2018 hurricanes now and in long-term recovery.
Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida panhandle on October 10th as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 155 mph. The winds and rain continued across Georgia and the Carolinas with widespread flooding. These areas were impacted last month by Hurricane Florence.
Hurricane Florence roared ashore in the Carolinas in September. Communities experienced mass flooding. The environmental and economic impacts of the storm's damage are vast.
Super Typhoon Mangkhut (AKA Ompong) devastated parts of the Philippines and wreaked havoc in Hong Kong, China and other parts of Asia.
VOLUNTEER
Your service is needed now in Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Florida, recovering from 2017 hurricanes. Your service will be needed in long-term recovery in the Carolinas and Florida. Bookmark
UCC Disaster Ministries Volunteer page
for details.
One hundred percent of UCC disaster relief funds are used for direct service to individuals and communities, and rehabilitation programming. In addition, many employers match donations for disaster relief efforts. Check
here
to see if your employer is one of them.
Make a secure online donation, or mail your gift made payable to the United Church of Christ:
700 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Memo: 2018 Hurricane Relief
Stay up to date on the UCC response to hurricanes and other disaster events: Visit our disaster
website. Follow us on
Facebook
for updates.
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CD Copies of the Sept. 8th Program
Nina has made us copies of the Sept. 8th program and they will be available for anyone to pick up starting this Sunday. The suggested donation is $5 for the 80 minute CD. Many thanks to David our audio engineer for taping the event and for Nina for making copies for us! You may also listen to the entire program by using the link on the home page of our church website:
uccpasadena.org
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Save the Date - Nov. 4th - CROP Walk
 Come join us in walking to support hunger relief and the development work of Church World Service on Sunday afternoon November 4th from 1-3PM at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church 1879 North Lake Ave. Altadena 91001. Parking is at Westminster Presbyterian Church, right next door!
You may sponsor a walker, register to walk online (say that you are walking with FCC) or we have packets to hand out on Sunday mornings when you come to church.
See Joey Bland, Chair of Discipleship or Jake Pomeroy for details - there is a 5K loop or a simpler 1 mile walk and children and friendly dogs are invited!
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