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


   Ninth Sunday After Pentecost    
July 22, 2018    


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


                                     
                       

  
Seven FCC folks attended the Wild Goose Festival near Asheville, NC. See more pictures below.

Reflection for Worship. . .
 
Bible Verses
Leviticus 19:9-10
Deuteronomy 15:7-8;10-11
Luke 14:12-14
 
Because there are so very many passages in the Bible about helping others it is hard to select just one! I chose three to guide us this Sunday. This week we are focusing on justice-seeking, our third Core Value (we explored hospitality and spirituality the last few weeks). Justice is tied to fairness and respect for all of God's creation. It is linked to access for basic needs and freedom and we as followers of the Bible are taught over and over about the need to stand up, speak up and act to help others who do not have basic needs and dignity. It may mean reaping your harvest and leaving the gleanings for the "poor and alien" (Leviticus). It may be a call from God not to be "hard-hearted or tight-fisted" towards anyone among you who is in need (Deuteronomy). It may be about throwing a banquet and rather than inviting people of privilege to the meal, to gather the poor and marginalized who will never be able to return the favor (Luke). We do not have the luxury of ignoring those in need says our God. We are called to notice. We are called to respond. We will explore this idea on Sunday and I will share some stories and examples from the Wild Goose presentations. And the A/C will be on!! See you Sunday!
 
-Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
   
Also on Sunday:
 
We have a combined class for elementary and youth class - teachers are Pastor Jake/TBA.

Save the Dates:
 
Sunday July 29th - Planning meeting for Sept 8th.
All-Church Celebration

Friends In Deed Backpack Drive Distribution dates: Tues./Wed., July 31st and Aug. 1st. See article below and join us!

Saturday Aug. 4th - Women's Mini Retreat. See details below.
 
Saturday Aug. 18th we will have an
All-Church Pool Party at the Cordova-Brookey house in east Pasadena. More details will be forthcoming. Sponsored by our Membership Ministry.

Council Annual Summer Retreat: will be held at the Pomeroy house on Saturday Aug. 25th from 9-3.

Aid Africa Update: Sunday Aug. 26th: Peter Keller and Jeff Levison will be "back from their Aid Africa Ugandan trip" with stories to tell and pictures to share after worship.



Worship Leaders 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
 
Liturgist   
Kim Story    
 
Ushers
Judi Tyler
Dana Pell
Mary Camacho
Jeff Tyler

Pianist & Music Coordinator 
Connie Washburn

Church School Teachers  
Combined class for elementary & youth class - teachers are: Pastor Jake/TBA  

Church Nursery (for infants - K)
J. Rodriguez 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.   
 

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 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 . . .  
 
-Friends In Deed Annual Back-to-School Drive
-Women's Mini Retreat, Aug. 4th
-Summer Pool Party
-All Church Celebration Planned for Sept. 8th 
-Wild Goose Festival Pictures 

FRIENDS IN DEED
ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE!!
Please bring in supplies during the month of July
Our FCC youth and adults will be distributing backpacks July 31st and August 1st in shifts from 9:30-12 and 12-3 both days 
Please speak with Pastor Marlene if you wish to help us with this drive 
 
For our pantry clients, the Back-To-School Backpack and School Supply Drive is our most important event.  The start of a new school year is exciting, but it can also be scary and intimidating for kids that don't have the necessary backpack and school supplies.
Our families in the Friends In Deed community struggle to make ends meet every month. Bring on the new school year, new clothes and shoes for their ever growing children, fees for school programs and projects, and a backpack full of essential items, and a family's stress level can grow exponentially.  And, as we all know, kids compare themselves to other kids. So, our goal is to help them feel confident that they've got a nice back pack full of the supplies they need for a successful and enjoyable new school year. It's a privilege to help our Friends In Deed kids and their families this way.
Of course, we don't make this happen all by ourselves.   Every year, you, our Friends In Deed supporters, make the Back-to-School Backpack and School Supply Drive a big success. Last year we distributed more than 300 backpacks and we expect to do the same this year. Please join us in this effort!
 
Please avoid all red and all blue backpacks.
This is very important to us. Backpacks should be sturdy enough to handle the crazy amount of books kids heft around, especially our high school students. The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list is attached. We will fill them and begin distributing on Tuesday, July 31. If you have any questions, contact Tim at the Food Pantry ( [email protected] or 626-797-6072).
Thank you for helping us make sure the students, in our community, kick off the upcoming school year on the right foot.
     
FRIENDS IN DEED
ANNUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK AND SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE!!
Please deliver empty backpacks and any supplies to Friends In Deed, 
between Tuesday, July 24 and Friday, July 27.
Please avoid all
red and all blue backpacks. 
Backpacks should be sturdy enough to handle the crazy amount of books kids heft around, especially our high school students.
 
College ruled notebook paper (this is used more commonly than the "Wide-ruled" paper)
Wide ruled notebook paper (early grades will use this)
Spiral notebooks
Composition Notebooks, hardcover
Pens; red, blue and black
Pencils, including #2 yellow 6-sided for younger grades; mechanical pencils Erasers
Pencil-top Erasers
Copy paper (for printing on computer)
Zipper pouch for pens and pencils (3 holed to go in binders)
Dry Erase Markers
Colored Markers (NO Sharpies or Permanent Markers)
Highlighters, all colors
Colored Pencils
Sharpener for colored pencils (must hold shavings)
24 Colors Crayons (prefer Crayola Brand)
2 Pocket Folders (prefer poly folders)
Student scissors (such as Fiskar)
Rulers (metric & customary)
3" x 5" index cards
Glue Sticks (many schools prefer the sticks to bottles of glue)
3 Ring Binders - 1"- 3" (Prefer with Clear View pocket on front)
Tab Dividers for Binders
Tissue/Kleenex - small little packages that can easily fit into the backpack or school desk  


Women's Mini Retreat Aug. 4th
 
We will be having a Mini Women's Retreat Saturday Aug. 4th from 10-2 at Pastor Marlene's house. It will be a time of sharing together as in past retreats as well as some time to engage in SoulCollage led by Anne Cohen ; she describes it this way: A SoulCollage Deck is the story of you! SoulCollageĀ® is a process which begins as simple creative fun, but which suddenly may surprise and awaken you! Learn how to access your intuition and create an incredible deck of cards with deep personal meaning that will help you with life's questions. This is a multi-leveled, creative process which anyone can do. It is wonderful to have other people with whom to share the process.
 
Anne Cohen is a minister with the United Church of Christ, currently serving Mt. Hollywood UCC in the Los Feliz area. Anne uses SoulCollageĀ® to encourage individual and communal transformation in the churches she serves. In personal use, as a verbal person, this visual approach has opened new avenues for self-understanding, spiritual expression and the processing of events and emotions. It's an adventure!
 
Of course we will also have a chance to eat together. Please RSVP to Pastor Marlene at   [email protected] if you plan to attend so we can have supplies and space for you. The cost is $10 each to cover supplies for the SoulCollage. 

Summer Pool Party

Come join us at the Cordova-Brookey house for a summer pool party! Saturday Aug. 18th from 1-5 p.m. We will send more details closer to the event. This is for all ages.



Saturday Sept. 8th  date for our All Church Celebration in anticipation of leaving our building
 
We are planning a grand celebration of our time here in this building on Saturday September 8th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The planning committee is busily working on the details of the evening and invitations will be ready to go out later in July. Please mark your calendars and let anyone you know who might be interested in attending to save the date! If you have questions please ask Pastor Marlene. In addition to the event on Saturday, long-time member Jeff Tyler will be leading a building tour and telling stories after worship on Sunday Sept. 9th 
 
Revs. Marlene & Jake 

Wild Goose Festival