In this Edition . . .

 

-The Rev. Anne Cohen 

From the Rev. Anne Cohen -

Anne will be serving as our Sabbatical Coverage Pastor while the Pomeroys are away on their Sabbatical. Anne's first Sunday will be Mother's Day. She can best be reached these ways:  [email protected]  - or - cell # 626-394-9107. 

 

See below for her request for you to bring a photo of your mom on May 12th.

Photo of Your Mother

On Mothers' Day Sunday, May 12th, please bring a photo of your mother or someone who mothered you. We will display them during worship and share stories. - Anne

 

Over 22 choir members and their family members were able to gather at the pastors' house for a celebratory meal this past Sunday afternoon. Choir members and our Director Connie Washburn were thanked for all the outstanding music they bring to our church throughout the year. Many thanks for all their gifts. Choir Appreciation Sunday will be held on June 2nd and their last Sunday will be June 9th before choir takes a hiatus for the Summer.

 

Over $500 was collected at our combined FCC/FUMC Easter Worship Service and sent up to Friends in Deed for their continuing work.

 

About 10 FCC members were able to attend the recent Association Meeting of the Southern California Nevada Conference. As part of the meeting our church's 134 year history was highlighted and honored. Many thanks to Elizabeth Lanski for making the presentation (click here) on our behalf (with help from Ron White in composing the report!), and Roberta White and Lu Nguyen for pulling together some historical pictures and memorabilia to display during lunch. Several FCC folks will be serving in various capacities in the wider UCC denomination in the coming year, including: Andy Schwiebert, Leo Lynch, Stacy Thomas, and Randy VanDeventer. Marlene Pomeroy just rotated off Church and Ministry Section A after a decade of service. Randy is helping to lead worship at the SCNC Annual Gathering at Chapman University in June. Many thanks to FCC folks who are volunteering in the UCC beyond the local church.

Update on Rosa and her Family

FCC Pasadena has joined Neighborhood UU Church and others in Pasadena to surround them with our love and financial support. This is an update on her and her family:

 

The family of 5 is still looking for permanent housing - hoping to pay about $1500/mo. in the Madison Elementary school area. Rosa's girls are enrolled in school and Rosa is working through the legal system to file her papers and check in weekly with her Asylum status. Her application won't be filed until Dec. 2019 and then a hearing will be held after that.

 

There is now a volunteer coordinator at Neighborhood Church helping to connect folks with the family. Please contact Suzanne Smith at 323-333-1630 if you can volunteer or [email protected]

Needs include: driving the family to appointments, a Special Ed advocate to help with one of the children, someone to take the older kids to the park , donations of bilingual books or books in Spanish of chapter books.  

 

You may also contact Joey Bland who heads up our Discipleship Ministry for ideas about how we might support Rosa and her family.

 

There will be a Mother's Day Picnic/Potluck at Neighborhood Church this Sunday at 12:30 if you wish to stop by and meet the family at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd.  

 

 

I'm currently in the chorus for an upcoming world premiere opera at UCLA called Lost Childhood. It's about one man's story of hiding in plain sight to avoid death as a Polish Jew during WWII. Last quarter I sang my first role in another new work called Juana about the life of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a nun who challenged the Catholic Church during the Inquisition just by being a self-educated woman who was smarter and bolder than was thought to be appropriate for her station. 

 

In April I traveled across the country with the UCLA Chamber Singers to perform and record a new oratorio by Richard Danielpour called The Passion of Yeshua, the story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection as told by both the Christian and Jewish points of view. The composer grew up in a mixed religion family and had been working on this incredible opus for more than 30 yrs. Working with the Buffalo Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus to immortalize this work is now one of my favorite musical experiences to date. Maestra JoAnn Falletta was a joy to work with and world- renowned soloists such as LA's own Hila Flickman, J'Nae Bridges, Kenneth Overton, and Matthew Worth inspired us with their kindness and talent. The recording will be available through Naxos) and is Grammy eligible!! 

 

I am also preparing for my junior recital. I've worked with my teacher, Maria Fortuna Dean, to choose repertoire and plan a joint program with a colleague. It is June 1st at 4pm in Ostin Ensemble Room at UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music (which everyone is welcome to attend! Free event!!).

 

I have been offered an opportunity to sing for the LA Opera's celebration of Orpheus next year with both UCLA and through my alma mater, Pasadena City College. Things are still in the works there, but one of the pieces is currently being composed by Juhi Bansal, an amazing composer and professor of composition and musicianship at PCC. 

 

I'm very much looking forward to summer and what next year will bring! 

 Thank you for awarding me the scholarship last year. It really helped! 

I hope all the FCC folks are healthy and happy!!

 

Best,

Kim Mendez McLeish, 2018 Recipient

 

 

From Saya Linney

 

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a recipient of the FCC Pasadena Women's Scholarship last year, as this scholarship played a major role in helping me truly enjoy my time at UC Berkeley. Coming from a low income family, the financial aspect of college was the most pressing thing that I had to keep in mind when I was applying to college. When I learned that I was chosen for this scholarship, I felt incredibly honored, and I was also relieved to know that I had the support of the community as I went into college. Reflecting back on my year, I can say that this scholarship truly helped me come into my own and fully enjoy my college experience. Berkeley has become my second home, and I am so grateful to the scholarship committee and the community for helping me get here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 

Please feel free to email me if you need anything else! I have also attached some photos below. :) Thank you once again for everything!

 

Best regards,

Saya Linney, 2018 Recipient

 

 

From Alena DeVaughn 

 

Hi Grace!

I am doing well! Classes here at Stanford have been going pretty good so far.  I've been getting involved in the Black Student Union and the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship her on campus, and next year I hope to get involved with music hopefully. I am excited to be finished with my first year of college in a little bit over a month, so I can finally come back home to Pasadena for the summer :)

Thank you for checking in!

-Alena DeVaughn, 2018 Recipient

 

 

 

 

 

May 18 - Intimate Beethoven: Joy of Chamber Music

"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents." Beethoven

Beethoven: Ghost Trio, Op. 70

Beethoven: Piano Quartet, Op. 16

 

Members of Los Angeles Philharmonic:

Ingrid Chun, violinist

Minyoung Chang, violinist

Michael Larco, violist

David Garrett, cellist

Junko Ueno Garrett, pianist  

 

June 15 - Outdoor Jazz Concert featuring the Thursday Morning Little Big Band

A favorite from past seasons, the Thursday Morning Little Big Band returns for an open-air concert of classic jazz on the courtyard  in front of the church building.  

 

July 20 - Christmas in July: Aaron Shows, organist

There is so much great Christmas music - why not enjoy it mid-year? Always striving first to connect emotionally with audiences of every age through music, Aaron Shows' performances and compositions often bridge the traditional and modern.