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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-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
November 11, 2018
Honoring Veterans and Their Family
Our Core Values:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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FCC hosted the Annual Aid Africa Fund-Raiser on Saturday! See article below. Thanks to Peter and Irene Keller (shown above) for their leadership and commitment leading this non-profit!
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Reflection for Worship. . .
Put In Everything!
Today we honor brave men and women who have served and are presently serving in our Armed Services. We often ascribe to them as having given everything. As a Veteran, having deployed 5 times, I have often thought that statement was a bit much. But when I attempt to count up the cost, I'm not so sure. The many years of holidays, birthdays and anniversaries missed, one-of opportunities away from loved ones -missed child's first step or not being near to console them when their dream was crushed, not being near a parent or lover when they needed a gentle embrace after receiving devastating news or celebrate with them on an exciting opportunity.
What would you give up to enlist in God's army? How faithful would you be to battle for those who had no voice? Those who could not pay for your services nor ascertain its value? Those who were too greedy and had more than enough? What sacrifice would you make for these?
In our scripture reading, Jesus was watching people putting money in the treasury. He saw people giving large sums. He also noticed the offering of a poor woman, stating those with 'much' gave out of their abundance. But she gave out of her poverty. She put in everything she had.
What would Christ ascribe to your offering? (Mark 12:38-44)
-Rev. Leo Lynch
Also This Week
Veterans Forum with Leo Lynch from Iraq service, Jim Maddox from service in Vietnam, and Anderson Pollard, a Pasadena World War II Veteran.
Nov. 11th
Transition Update
We will continue to update you on the upcoming transition and move to the First United Methodist Church in early 2019. Please read the articles carefully as we are updating them as we have new information. If you miss an article you can always go to our website and click on the touchstone for the prior week and catch up! We will also make updates in worship.
We have had several meetings with the new owner of our building and now have a timeline of when we need to leave our building. Pastor Marlene and our Building Manager Sallie are coordinating and working with those who have agreed to do some of the sorting and decision-making. If you would like to help out some of the folks who are sorting and/or packing, please let Marlene or Sallie know. Once the sorting is done and the decisions are made regarding what we are not taking or storing, FCC folks are encouraged to make requests for certain items they wish to have. Please send them to Sallie in writing so she can collate and pass along. We will need to buy a few pieces of furniture for the new offices so if you wish to make a small donation for an item, we will put it in the new office fund!
Roberta White and Sue Miele will be looking over the furniture and items in the parlors, chapel, kitchen, narthex and sanctuary in the next few weeks.
We need to vacate our church nursery and our Pastor's office by the end of the day on Dec. 26th. Large portions of our building will be leased by the Providence Christian College and they will be renovating and moving in during the month of December and early January. Pastors Marlene and Jake will make their office available starting Dec. 27th. Our nursery will be downsized and will meet in the youth room from Dec. 30th through the month of January. Our church school children will be meeting in Nina's office area between Christmas and the end of January.
Two Tours Planned for our new interim church home
Save the dates of Sunday Nov. 25th and Sunday Dec. 16th for a group tour of the First United Methodist church just two blocks away on Colorado Blvd. We will head over around 11:50 after worship/coffee hour to have a tour of our new worship space and offices. More info to come - plan to come and see our new space on either date!
Sunday Nov. 18th
Stewardship Sunday and Thanksgiving Feast after worship! See article below.
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Rev. Leo Lynch, Preaching
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox
Pianist & Music Director
Combined class for elementary & youth - teacher are Roberta White/Neva Orr.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
J. Rodriguez and TBA
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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In this Edition . . .
-Stewardship Message from Elizabeth
-Aid Africa 'Empty Bowls' Pictures and thank you from Kellers
-CROP WALK Picture
-Annual FCC Thanksgiving Dinner, Nov. 18th
-Youth Fall Outreach Happenings
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Stewardship Message from Elizabeth Lanski
This is the first of several Stewardship Witnesses that we will be hearing from in the Touchstone and during worship for the next few weeks. The "In-Gathering" of pledges will take place on Sunday Nov. 18th. You will receive a pledge card next week.
I'm still pinching myself to be sure I'm awake and haven't been dreaming about the sale of our building and repayment of all our debts. What a wonderful and exciting time to be part of the First Congregational Church in Pasadena! We get to decide how to best shepherd and to utilize our abundance. We have the freedom explore opportunities and new ways to live out our mission.
What you and I give toward the work of the church is still important. Even with our endowments replenished, we still need to support the church. Our congregation cannot live by endowments alone, nor should we want to. Our church is not our endowments. Our church is the people in it and it is known by what we do. Your personal giving is a reflection of your commitment to our church community and to furthering God's work in the world. Your personal involvement in the congregation's activities and decision-making helps makes our community thrive.
Be an active part of the new and improved FCC! Please join me and renew, or even increase, your support of our community in this exciting time of change and discernment as we move to a new home.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Lanski
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Aid Africa "Empty Bowls"
We had a wonderful time at our own Fall Celebration. Gracious open armed thank yous to all the people who donated soups, table runners, salads, hors d'oeuvres,
wine and beer. Thank you for the generosity of spirit and amazing hard work of the church staff in all the set up and tear down of tables, chairs.Thank you to our church members who spoke from their hearts to bring what Aid Africa is doing to the hearts of you all.
There was a high positive energy from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m
Please let it be known that the church staff kept working with clean up well after we left.
And thanks to our entire congregation for everyone of you who constantly support us in what we do in the Gulu district of Uganda.
We received an amazing gift from the whole congregation supporting us and loving us.
We made over $5,500 to continue the projects of Aid Africa, seeing the very poor people of northern Uganda.
Warm regards,
Irene and Peter Keller
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Pasadena CROP Walk
Ten FCC adults, one child and 2 dogs were able to walk the Pasadena CROP Walk this year. Thanks to all who sponsored our walkers! And thanks to our walkers pictured above! They walked the full 5K up and down hills (!) We came in third overall in fund-raising - rumor has it that it was @ $2000. Funds collected are distributed to local and international agencies that address hunger relief.
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YOU ARE INVITED TO THE FCC ANNUAL THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION
Mark your calendars for November 18th to attend
the final FCC Thanksgiving Feast
in our current building
You, your family and friends are invited to attend the Annual FCC Thanksgiving Feast in the church parlors mid-day on Sunday, November 18. For almost fifty years FCC has held a Thanksgiving Feast for our church community on the Sunday prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. The worship service will be held in our beautiful Sanctuary and Connie Washburn has special music planned for that day. We will have coffee time in the east parlor and then our feast will be served at 11:45 am in the other parlors. Judi Tyler will be doing a Thanksgiving craft for the children after the meal, so parents can continue socializing.
The event gives everyone a chance to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal and spend relaxed time together over good food and company. We serve a turkey dinner, with stuffing, gravy, rolls, cranberries and beverages. The complete the meal please bring a vegetable, salad or dessert to serve 8. Kim Story will be taking reservations and signups for food after church on Sundays, November 4 and 11. You can also make a reservation with Nina at the church office.
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Youth Outreach Work and Confirmation
Here are our pictures of our hard working and fun morning together doing the work God calls us to do! Thanks to our adults and youth for helping out.
Our next outreach date is Sat. Nov. 17th at Friends in Deed from 9-11 a.m.
Other upcoming projects will include:, 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.
Also for Youth - 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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