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


   Fifth Sunday of Lent     
April 7, 2019    
Now Meeting at 500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Sunday Worship Service: 11:30 am, Chapel

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


             
                       

  
Elizabeth and Anastacia are two of the eight volunteers from church that helped assemble nearly 1,000 birthing kits for Northern Uganda, helping in a small way to reduce the infant mortality rate there



Reflection for Worship. . .
 

What Money Can't Buy
John 12:1-8


Our text for this Sunday is a brief description of Mary anointing Jesus with rare perfume and Judas challenging her judgment.  The writers are trying to warn their community that even sensible practices like saving money and serving the poor can be "idols" that distract us from the presence of God. Challenging words to be sure - we think of both service and good judgment with money as bringing us closer to God.  In a reflection entitled  "What Money Can't Buy"  we will consider the warning against idolatry here in this text - and look at those sensible and compassionate practices that may distract us from listening to God's voice in our midst!  Join us in the Chapel at 11:30AM for worship this Sunday!

Rev. John H. Pomeroy

 
Church School  
will be led by Krysty Leckrone and Roberta White this Sunday in our main office space on the 3rd floor - room 302 at the top of the stairs. The Church School class and teachers will be heading to Target on Sunday to purchase items for the Ronald McDonald House baskets. Parents, please sign the permission slip that Krysty Leckrone will have on Sunday as you arrive in worship.
 
Krysty and Roberta will be accepting donations to purchase items for the Easter Baskets. 

 
Also this Sunday:

To complement our "Passacaglia of Praise" choral anthem this week, we welcome guest cellist April Guthrie. Also in the service is a Baroque style vocal duet from our own Pam and Alice, and a contemporary solo from guest vocalist Jen Haydn-Jones.  Thanks Connie and choir for all your work!

After worship please grab your coffee and join Marlene if you are attending the Women's Retreat in Joshua Tree. She will let you know the room we will be meeting in on Sunday.
 
 
 Save the Dates:

Women's Scholarship applications due April 7th. See info below and urge women to apply! Applications available on our website uccpasadena.org and in the church office. 
 
April 14th
Palm Sunday picnic in the park and Easter Basket assembly for Ronald McDonald House. See below for details of what to donate.
  
April 27th
Friends in Deed Food Pantry stocking 9-11a.m. Corner of Los Robles and Washington. 
 
May 4th
Central Association Spring Meeting featuring our church's history at the Altadena Community Church. More info in article below.

May 9th Pasadena Mayor's Prayer Breakfast 7:30-9:00 a.m. Please contact Pastor Marlene if you wish to sit at a sponsored table with FCC and FUMC folks.
 
May 11th Women's Scholarship Tea
Invitations are going out soon! The time is 4:00 p.m. Save the date!





Worship Leaders 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy 
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
 
Liturgist  
Sue Miele
 
Ushers
Aren Burd   
Julie Burd 
Peter Keller 
Brian Brandenburg   

Pianist & Music Director 
Connie Washburn

Church School Teaachers
Combined class led by Krysty Leckrone/Roberta White upstairs in Room 302. 
 
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
Lachlan Ashenmiller & Kaye Jenkins 
        
This week everyone comes to the Chapel at 11:30 a.m. 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 . . .
 
-Women's Scholarship Application Package 2019
-Lenten Dates for your Calendar
-Outreach Guidelines Under Consideration 
-Altar Flowers Sign Up 
-Lilies & Tulips Request Form  
-2019 Women's Retreat Planned for April 26-28th  
-Central Association Spring Meeting
-Pasadena Mayor's Breakfast 
Women's Scholarship Application Package 2019
is ready for distribution!


First Congregational Church of Pasadena, UCC Pasadena Area Women's Scholarship applications are due this week.   Here is the link to the Scholarship Application Package 2019. Another link to the Reference Statement About the Applicant. Please urge area women of all ages to apply! Completed applications must be turned in by April 7th.
scholarship 2019

Lenten Dates
 
 
Sun. April 14th - Palm Sunday Worship at 11:30AM at church, and then a picnic and egg hunt in Grant Park. A new feature this year is that we are buying and putting together Easter Baskets for kids and youth from the Ronald McDonald House. More details will be forthcoming but we are putting together about 20 baskets. Lu Nguyen is coordinating this and she is collecting the following:
coloring books, crayons, puzzles, board games and healthy snacks as well as Target gift cards of $10-20 each. We will assemble the baskets at the park so please bring your items in the next few weeks. Lu will be purchasing the baskets. Speak with her if you have questions.
 
Kevin Cordova-Brookey is heading up the potluck for the event. Please be in touch with him about what you can bring for the potluck lunch.  
 
Thank you Membership Ministry for organizing another wonderful event for us! (Lu Nguyen, Kim Story, Tara Bernard, Kevin Cordova-Brookey and Pastor Marlene) 
 
 
See pictures of the park facilities below which is 1 mile from church and has reserved tables, shade and bathrooms...
 
 
 
Thursday April 18th  - Maundy Thursday Supper and Worship Service 6:00 p.m. supper and 7:00 p.m. worship at church - details coming!  
 
Sun. April 21th
- COMBINED FCC/FUMC EASTER SERVICE at 10:00 a.m.!!  
9:00 - 9:45 a.m. gather on the front lawn to enjoy breakfast together and help assemble our living cross (bring fresh flowers to adorn the cross). The worship service will be held at 10 a.m. and we will share music with our choirs and enjoy organ music and a brass music for. FUMC offers a ham luncheon after the service for any interested folks for about $10 each. More info to come!
easter-rabbit-header.jpg  

 Outreach Guidelines Under Consideration
 
At our Winter Business Meeting our congregation voted to set aside $100,000 for outreach, in addition to increasing our OCWM contribution to the UCC.  The Church Council has voted to fund three projects to date, while at the same time inviting an ad hoc committee to consider a draft of some outreach funding guidelines to govern our giving going forward.  Council will soon ask this group to gather, consider a draft of guidelines and return a final draft to Council.  Then those guidelines will be presented to the congregation for review and comment.  Remember these projects are funded by income from our investments, not from pledged income, loose offering or our reserves. 
 
In the meantime it is important to know that our church is actively giving from our resources to projects and persons in need in our area.  We are sending $1,000 per month for one year to the Neighborhood Church on Orange Grove in direct support of a woman and her four children who have come from Honduras in the caravan at our border and have resettled in Pasadena. Together with other area churches we are supporting the ongoing work of offering legal services, housing, medical care and work to this mother and her family fleeing violence in her homeland.  When it is safe to do so, we will share more about her history, identity and her needs during resettlement. We hope to have opportunities to offer help directly to the family as well.  
 
Council also approved a $10,000 contribution to our own Women's Scholarship Fund which has allowed the fund to offer increased scholarship amounts this year.  Don't forget to come and support the Women's Scholarship Tea here at church on Saturday May 11th. Invitations will be going out in the next week. 
 
Also, the Council has approved a $5,000 contribution to the Jackson Elementary Dual Language STEM Science Camp on Catalina Island for two nights and three days this month.  Our contribution will help make it possible for 15 fifth grade students to attend who otherwise would have had to skip the trip due to a lack of funding.
 
Each of these projects are consistent with our values as a church and also fall within the guidelines of monies that we have received from a trust where the church has been named a beneficiary. When we share our financial resources with others in the community we build relationships with others and show that we put compassion and faith ahead of building our wealth. 
   

 
Will you offer flowers for our worship one Sunday?  
 
flowers for Bea
 
There are many Sundays still available for altar flower donations for 2019. Sign up to remember/honor someone or event! The Flower Chart is located by the entrance in FUMC Chapel or you can contact Nina at the Church Office 626.795.0696 or email her at [email protected] Thanks to all who have already donated! 
 

Lilies and Tulips Request Form

Please provide information for your Easter flowers for our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 21st.

Name __________________________________________________

In honor of ______________________________________________

In memory of ____________________________________________

Number of Lilies [email protected] each     Number of Tulips ______$8.50

Payment must accompany order. Make check out to First Congregational Church and designate for Easter flowers. You may take home your flowers after the Easter service.


2019 Women's Retreat Planned For April 26-28th

Joshua Tree


Please give your designated amount to Pastor Marlene for the retreat. We will meet after worship this Sunday April 7th to go over retreat details. The desert is in bloom with all the rain this year, so this will be both a beautiful and meaningful time to reflect and build relationship with one another.
 


Central Association Spring Meeting
FCC Pasadena to be Honored for our history
Roberta White is bringing some memorabilia and Elizabeth Lanski will make a short presentation of our history at the meeting.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
8:30am Registration
9:00am Program

Altadena Community Church UCC
943 E. Altadena Drive
Altadena, CA 91001

how are the children
Marcia Hoffman
626.940.7497



 
Note: FCC folks may park in the FUMC lot and walk over to the breakfast!


Dear FID Community,
 
We had some positive moments this week, in a variety of ways:
  • Outreach workers Najwa and Scott are finalizing paperwork to move another client, an elderly man with several ailments, into the same place Ms. Synthia moved into last week.
  • We finally have secured our keynote speaker for the Mayor's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast! We are excited that Dr. Thomas Rosenbaum, President of Caltech, will be with us on May 9 speaking on the theme of "Faith and Science." Invitations will be arriving in the mail shortly.
  • The Women's Room Case Manager, Denisse, worked with the Street Outreach Team to place two of our TWR ladies, one of them a senior with significant disabilities, in a motel for the next few weeks - thanks to Measure H funding.
  • Staff and board are working hard on our 125th Anniversary Campaign, along with developing a solid strategic plan and fundraising plan to accompany it. Stay tuned for the big launch in May!
 
We also had some difficult, and not-so-positive, moments this week in a variety of ways:
 
  • Monica, our HPP Manager, is fielding an overwhelming number of calls from people facing eviction, desperate to not lose their home and become homeless. People are often crying and begging for help. Sometimes she can help them, but so many people don't meet the necessary requirements. She often spends a long time on the phone with people, particularly single moms, counseling and consoling, trying to offer hope, even if she can't offer help.
  • With the Bad Weather Shelter now closed for the season, seeing people on the streets in the rain and cold, including many of our clients and guests, is a painful and a challenging part of the work we do - and the volunteering you all do. We will continue to offer our love, support and assistance, even though we can't offer the emergency shelter any longer.
  • A few altercations between women in TWR have been upsetting for guests, volunteers and staff. To see women we know and love - often not taking their medications -- act in such violent and angry ways is really hard. Sometimes we are forced to take measures for safety, often needing to ask them to leave for the day or even needing to call 911 - and that hurts. Thanks for all the patience and compassion shown this week.
We are doing our best to care for the human beings - people with souls and lives and histories - that come to FID. Positive or negative, we are here. Your support, of time and treasure, make it all possible. Thank you!
 
Blessings and have a nice weekend,
 
Rabbi Joshua
 
        
   
PS. 125th Anniversary Fun Fact: on June 28, 1894, the US established the Labor Day holiday for federal employees! Another institution with which we celebrate 125 years of existence.  
 
As always, we can only operate with your help!