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

   Second Sunday of Advent   
December 9, 2018   



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


             
                       

  
Our Christmas Pageant is in four parts this year, one part each Sunday in Advent in worship!


Reflection for Worship. . .

The Rumor of Hope
Luke 1: 57-60, 67-69

This Sunday we continue to read stories surrounding the birth of Jesus; stories that are rich in symbolism and wisdom. The second Sunday in Advent we hear the parallel story of Mary's cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with child by her husband Zechariah. Zechariah was a priest and was schooled in the ways of the the temple. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were considered to be righteous, faithful people. Their story of the naming of their baby (who would become to the world John the Baptist), is rich with meaning. All around Jesus are signs of new life, transformation, hope and trust in God. You are invited to come to worship in our Sanctuary this Sunday and enter into the story and experience of Advent. We will also see and hear the second of four parts in our Christmas Pageant put on by our church school children.
 
Hope to see you Sunday!
-Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
 
This Sunday we will also celebrate the
20 year ministry at FCC with our Co-Pastors Jake and Marlene. The celebration will include a luncheon after worship in our parlors. Come! Enjoy! Celebrate the gifts and grace, and presence of God in our church community!
 
Also This Week -

We collect the Christmas Fund this Sunday, one of five denominational offerings each year in the United Church of Christ.  This fund offers retirement support to clergy and licensed ministers that have served in places where no provision was made for retirement benefits.  While the church makes a commitment to carry ministry to all kinds of persons in all kinds of communities, we also want those who serve to find support when they no longer serve in full time ministry.  There will be an offering envelope stapled in your bulletin this Sunday and we invite you to give as you are able to this important fund.


Pledge Update: We have now received 21 pledges for for 2019. Budget committee respectfully asks you to turn in your pledge cards this week if possible so they can put together a budget for 2019. You may turn in a pledge card Sunday, OR email Treasurer Barb Bonzo at [email protected] Many thanks to all who have turned in pledge cards!
 
Shoes Have Been Delivered!
Many thanks to Nina Kung who delivered two overflowing boxes of shoes to the local NIKE store to be turned into playground surface, etc.
 
Save the Dates:
Our Bad Weather Shelter dates for 2019 are Saturday January 19th and Sunday February 17th. Please email the pastors or tell Joey Bland if you can help us serve a meal and set out cots on either of those dates. 12-16 people are needed each night.
 
Outreach Work:
Sunday is the last date to contribute to the gifts that we will be purchasing for kids/youth signed up through Friends in Deed. Please give any donations to Pastor Marlene Sunday.
 
Also, we need 4-6 adults to help us on Saturday
Dec. 15th from 10am-2pm (adults only on this date) to sort all the gifts in preparation for distribution. We also need youth/adults to help with the distribution on Sunday Dec. 16th from 11:30-4 (ish). We can do shifts if needed. Please let Lu Burd or Pastor Marlene know about those. Thanks for helping us help others this season!
   
     
Our Transition Continues
   
Staff and church members continue to sort and pack rooms in the building in preparation for our move in December/January. Several church folks have stepped up to help and things are getting packed up!  If you see Elizabeth Lanski (Archives), Bettie Teel (choir room), Lu Burd (nursery), Teachers (Room 232 classroom), Roberta White and Sue Miele (parlors/chapel/narthex/sanctuary) please add your thanks to them for their work. We will head to our new temporary home at the First United Methodist Church on 500 East Colorado here in Pasadena starting Sunday Jan. 27th in a combined worship service with FUMC in their sanctuary at 10:00AM. On Sunday Feb. 3rd we will worship on our own in the FUMC Chapel at our new time of 11:30AM.  
 
We need to leave our church nursery and our Co-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 late December and early January. Pastors Marlene and Jake will make their office available starting Dec. 27th. Our nursery will be shifted to 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.
 
Our offices and first floor have been full of workers this week as they are bringing in internet for the college that will be renting space in the building.  Thanks to Nina and staff for their patience through this transition. 
 
In addition, Sallie and several of her staff have put up our Christmas decorations: the beautiful wreaths on the outside doors, Christmas trees in our narthex and sanctuary, and some swags in our sanctuary. Many thanks to Sallie and staff!  
 
Second of Two Tours Planned for our new interim church home
 
We had one tour of FUMC and will have a second one if folks are interested. Please let one of the pastors know of your interest. The next scheduled date for one is  Sunday Dec. 16th for a group tour. It is 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!
   


Worship Leaders 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy 
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
 
Liturgist 
Anastacia Stewart     
   
Ushers  
Ron White
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox
 
Pianist & Music Director 
Connie Washburn

Advent Wreathlighting
FCC Staff 

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.   
 

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 . . .
    
-Rose Bowl Tickets and Pancake Breakfast at FUMC 
-Youth Fall Outreach Happenings 
-Save the Dates!  
-Children and Youth to Sponsor four Children   
-Christmas Flower Request Form  

Rose Bowls Tickets and Pancake Breakfast at  
First United Methodist Church New Year Day

On New Year's Day our new home at FUMC has offered us reserved seats in front of their church (folding chairs set up between the sidewalk and Colorado) for $25 each. We have 40 seats set aside for us. Please let Pastor Marlene in writing - either email or a note on Sunday - if you would like a ticket. Please give her a check made out to FCC Pasadena marked "Rose Bowl Parade." The deadline is Dec. 15th to reserve a seat.
 
FUMC makes a pancake breakfast each year. If you would like to help cook, let Pastor Marlene know. They set up and cook VERY EARLY, but there is also a lot of fellowship. You may also cook and then head outside to watch the parade. Pancake breakfast cost is around $9.95 and you pay at the door. There is also access to bathrooms!!
 
 
Youth Outreach Work

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.
 
Other upcoming projects will include:, putting together care packages for Ronald McDonald House, sponsoring a family for Christmas 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.
 

 
                                               Save the Dates!
Our Children's Christmas Pageant will take place over 4 Sundays this year. Each of the Sundays in Advent we will profile a piece of the story in word, story and song. Connie is working with the children to offer music each week and the teachers are arranging each piece of the story. Come and join us for the Christmas Pageant in four parts this year!!
 
Sun. Dec. 9th
Second Sunday in Advent. Focus on Angels.
Lunch in parlors to honor the 20th Anniversary of our Co-Pastors Jake and Marlene Pomeroy
 
Saturday Dec. 15th
Adults needed to sort and prep gifts to be handed out to kids. Please see Pastor Marlene if you can help. Many hands are needed!
 
Sun. Dec. 16th
Third Sunday in Advent. Focus on Shepherds.
Our 2nd FUMC tour will take place today - folks can walk or drive over at 11:50AM for this tour.
 
Sun. Dec. 23rd
Fourth Sunday in Advent. Focus on the birth of Jesus and the Kings. Enhanced coffee hour to follow worship.
 
Monday Dec. 24th
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service at 6PM in our Sanctuary ( Please let everyone know of the time!!) Wassail Bowl and fellowship to follow in our parlors.
christmas-header.jpg
 
Children and Youth to Sponsor Four Children Through Friends In Deed
 
We have received the names of four children who we will be buying gifts for this year. If you would like to donate money or Target gift cards, please give them to a teacher or Pastor Marlene in the next two weeks. Our children/youth will buy gifts the week before Dec. 15th. We need about $300 to buy all the gifts.

 
Christmas Flower Request Form

Please help our sanctuary look glorious with a display of poinsettias. You may purchase one or more plants in honor or memory of a loved one. We will list all remembered persons in our Christmas Eve bulletin.
 
Your name _____________________________________________________
 
In honor of ____________________________________________________
 
In memory of __________________________________________________
 
Number of poinsettias ______$8.50 each
 
Please make check payable to First Congregational Church of Pasadena
 
Poinsettias will be displayed Dec. 19th - 24th. You may take your plant home after the Christmas Eve worship service.