Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost    
October 20, 2019
Meeting at 500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Sunday Worship Service: 11:30 am, FUMC Chapel
Our Core Values: 
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
The Rev. Anne Cohen on her Ordination Day Sept. 27, 1987, surrounded by family members and friends.
Reflection for Worship. . .
Bible text: Luke 18:1-8
This Sunday we hear the story of the persistent widow who comes before an unrighteous judge asking for justice. The odds are stacked against this woman because she has so little power as a woman and as a widow. What she does have is persistence. She will not take no for an answer. This story is told as a reminder to pray and not lose heart, even when it appears that our prayers cannot be answered in the way that we hope. For this woman does get her justice from the uncaring judge. How much more will our loving God help orchestrate justice and answered prayers for us!

Join us for worship this Sunday as we explore this text. We will also honor the Rev. Anne Cohen who has served as a UCC minister for 32 years and touched many people with her loving heart and passion for justice. It is our pleasure to host a luncheon in her honor after worship. Please bring any cards for Anne to the luncheon.

Hope to see you Sunday!!!
-Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy


 Anne grew up in our church and attended seminary at the Claremont School of Theology. Ordained in 1987 at our church, Anne went on to serve at Pilgrim Pines, Occidental College as a chaplain, and many churches in the area. Having returned to her home church to cover the sabbatical of the Pomeroys over the Summer, Anne continues to make her church home here. There will be representatives from many of her former church settings at the event as well as colleagues from around the Conference. We looked forward to celebrating Anne.
 
Join Us For these Fall Events! Details will be forthcoming in future Touchstones.

Sat. Oct. 19th - Youth Fruit Pick 10:00-11:30 a.m. (details below)
FUMC Mozart Requiem Concert 7:30pm.
Sun. Oct. 20th - Rev. Anne Cohen's Retirement Party
following worship with catered luncheon.
Sun. Oct. 27th - Halloween Party and lunch following worship.
Sat. Nov. 2nd - Aid Africa Fund-Raiser on-site in Fellowship Hall
Sun. Nov. 3rd - Pasadena CROP Hunger Walk
Sat. Nov. 9th Parenting book discussion (see details below)

From Connie, our Music Director: As we look forward to October 19, the glorious Mozart Requiem will be brought to life by several local church choirs, including members of FCC UCC choir joining the FUMC choir in the FUMC sanctuary. We hope you’ll join us this Saturday!

Halloween Party!
On Sunday Oct. 27 th Membership Ministry will have an intergenerational Halloween Party after worship. We will have some activities and games, a costume contest as well as pizza and salads. Please let Elizabeth Lanski know if you can bring a salad or a dessert. Feel free to dress in costume for worship and the event. Come join us for some festive fun! Speak with Membership Co-Chairs Lu Burd or Kim Story if you can help out with the event.
Social Media Connections
Did you know that we have a Facebook (First Congregational Church of Pasadena, United Church of Christ) account and an Instagram (fccpasadena) church account? You will find weekly updates and inspirational articles that profile our church each week. Please pull up these accounts and follow us! Let’s get the word out about what great things we are doing here at FCC Pasadena.
 
Interested in a Spiritual Practices Group?
Are you looking for a faithful place to connect with others, quiet your mind and nurture your faith through mindful spiritual practices such as: breathing, restorative yoga, prayer, journaling, meditation, etc.? Please let Pastor Marlene know of your interest in attending a group such as this. It would be helpful for her to know what your particular needs are, how often you would plan to attend, and a couple of times during the week that you would be able to attend a 75 minute meeting at the church. If we have enough interest we will proceed with some dates this Fall. Contact Marlene via fccrevs@yahoo.com



Worship Leaders
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. John H. Pomeroy

Liturgist  
John Escherich
  
Ushers
Sandy Biehler
Bob Rinck
Kevin Cordova-Brookey


Pianist & Music Director
Connie Washburn

Church School
Combined class for elementary & youth Neva Orr/Grace Rinck are teachers in Room 302.
   
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
Kaye Jenkins & Lachlan Ashenmiller
     
This week everyone comes to the Chapel at 11:30am and stays through the Children's Time and then heads to the nursery with caregivers and parents. 

Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org

Sermon Podcast : 
  
Did 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 

Nina Kung  


Tracking Our Outreach Hours - send your hours and info to Pastor Marlene
Please remember that when you engage in outreach that is FCC related, please calculate the amount of time, people and money that is spent and send that info to Pastor Marlene; (For example, if 4 people serve Union Station for 3 hours each, send that info to Pastor Marlene along with the amount of money you spent on food.)

Let's see how many hours, people and funds we are offering. If you are part of a group, please have the leader send me an email. If you buy a bag of supplies for the FID Food Pantry, just send me the amount you spent and how long you shopped. How many hours of outreach can we offer to those beyond us???
Stewardship


Fall Stewardship Season: Following in the Way of Jesus

Over the next few weeks we will be hearing from several folks in worship about their involvement in the life and ministry of our church. We will also receive letters from our Moderator Randy VanDeventer and our Co-Pastors Marlene and Jake Pomeroy, in preparation to receive your pledge cards on Sunday Nov. 10th This year we are asking each member to re-commit to the life and ministry of our church for 2020. Let us know what you want to be involved with in the coming year. Help us shape the ministry of this church to your areas of interest! We will also ask each member to make a financial commitment to the life of our church. Both your participation and donation is necessary for us to be a vibrant church community.







Outreach Grants Deadline is November 1st.
See Grant Application below and encourage people to apply.
Several weeks ago we called a special church business meeting to approve our Outreach Grants proposal. Applications are available at the end of this article for folks to use to apply.

Here is a synopsis of the process:

With the sale of our building the Budget Committee and Church Council considered setting aside $100,000 of 2019 income for Outreach Projects, in addition to our usual allocations for Union Station, Friends In Deed and other activities. There was considerable support for this idea at the Budget Forum but also a little reluctance to commit to a significant new program without first setting some guidelines. While the new $100,000 outreach budget line was not actually in the final budget approved at the Winter Business Meeting, the Church Council initially approved three projects in line with our mission and vision:

·       Offering five month’s direct support, with the Neighborhood Church on Orange Grove, of $1,000 a month to a woman and her four children who came from Honduras in the caravan at our border and resettled in Pasadena.
·       A $10,000 contribution to our own Women's Scholarship Fund that allowed us to offer increased scholarship amounts this year.
·       A $5,000 contribution to the Jackson Elementary Dual Language STEM Science Camp on Catalina Island that made it possible for 15 fifth grade students to attend who otherwise would have had to skip the trip due to a lack of funding.

In May, an Outreach Grants Committee comprised of Bevin Ashenmiller, Brian Cordova-Brookey, Elizabeth Lanski, Lu Nguyen, Carolyn Olney, and Roberta White was formed. They have worked diligently to develop a process for outreach grants, establishing sources of funding and parameters for the use of those funds, defining types of grants, crafting an application and review process, setting areas of priority, selection criteria, exclusions, and assessment and oversight.

A Forum was held Sunday September 15th to share the plan for awarding grants and to answer questions about the process. This Sunday September 22nd we will voted to affirm the guidelines. Paper or E-copies are available from Nina in the church office.

We are currently receiving applications so that we may fund additional outreach projects before the close of 2019 and start soliciting 2020 grant applications.

-Elizabeth Lanski, Chair
Outreach Grants Committee
Grant Applications
Parenting Book and Discussion on
Bless This Mess
Parenting Discussion Planned

Being a parent is an incredible journey and one that does not need to be done without support and encouragement!   Join us as we discuss the book Bless This Mess and parenting on Saturday Nov. 9th (NEW DATE)at 4:00 in the 2nd floor FUMC Youth Lounge.

The book is written by a UCC Pastor and a Child Psychologist and has some very thoughtful insights about parenting along with a lot of stories and support. What makes it so special is that it approaches parenting from a progressive Christian perspective! We will use the book as a jumping-off point to discuss our own experiences of parenting. The cost of the book is $13.50 each.
 
Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus, Oct. 31, 1-3pm

You are invited to join All Saints Church, Matthew 25/Mateo 25, and Sojourners for an afternoon discussion with Jim Wallis and
Alexia Salvatierra on
Christ in Crises: Why we Need to Reclaim Jesus.

Jim Wallis: President and Founder, Sojourners, and Author, Christ in Crisis: Why We Need to Reclaim Jesus.
Rev. Dr. Alexia Saltvatierra: Author, Faith-rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World.
CROP HUNGER WALK
November 3, 2019
Join us as we walk to raise awareness and raise funds to help fight hunger in our community and across the world! Sunday November 3rd at St. Elizabeth’s in Altadena is the date and place - bring a sign, a dog or a young person to share the walk with you! Normal start time is 1-1:30 and walkers can choose different routes according to your strength and time allotment. If you cannot walk, please sponsor someone from our church - the link here will lead you directly to our church's registration page…thanks to Church World Service for all their work and outreach.

Location: St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church, 1879 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, 12 Noon registration begins, 1:30 the 5K loop walk begins

Here is the link that will take you directly to our FCC Pasadena Team site to make your donation. There will also be packets you can use to collect money via cash.
Walk for Water - A Clean Water Fundraiser - October 12
Several FCC folks joined others on a Walk for Water to support clean water in Uganda. Sponsored by Aid Africa, all proceeds go towards building wells in local villages. See aidafrica.net for more information.
Altar Flowers -- Only Four More Sundays Available 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 fccmonina@gmail.com . The cost is $40.

Nov. 24 and Dec. 1, 15, & 29 are available. Thanks to all who have already donated!

(We offer a reminder that altar flowers donation are not tax-deductible.)
We worship at 11:30 a.m. at the Chapel of First Methodist Church every Sunday.
We are the First Congregational Church
of Pasadena,
United Church of Christ
500 E. Colorado Blvd.,
Pasadena, CA 91101
Telephone: (626) 795-0696
OFFICE HOURS:
Mon to Thurs
9AM – 5:30PM
Lunch Hour:
12 – 1:30PM