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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 |
10:00 a.m. FCC Worship in the chapel
Third Sunday of Advent
Our Core Values are:
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking
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December 11, 2016
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Reflections on Sunday Worship . . .
Luke 1:39-56
Mary has made her mark on the history of Christianity. She is the mother of Jesus, bearer of the Christ child; the feminine ideal. But do we really know this Mary? Do we know the woman who sings this song? The Magnficat, taken from the first word of the Latin text "my soul magnifies," is a song of liberation. Simple and direct; eloquent and poetic, the song sings of God's powerful love and of God's significant acts of justice and mercy to those who are considered by the world to be lowly. Franciscan Richard Rohr observes that Mary highlights the three "impediments of the coming reign of God... power, prestige, and possessions." (Seasons curriculum) We will listen to Mary's story anew this Sunday in worship and reflect with her on these impediments for fully embodying the renewing and transforming love of God in and through our lives.
This Sunday in worship we will hear the music of guest organist Linda Zoolalian. Linda's playing will fill the gorgeous sanctuary with a Christmas medley for the prelude and a selection from Handel's Messiah for the postlude. We will also be treated to a J.S. Bach piece from our choir and hear the beautiful "Breath of Heaven" with soloist Kim Mendez. Many thanks for our Interim Director Connie Washburn for selecting and setting up the music this week. Connie will be practicing music for the Pageant with the children from 10:00-10:20 in the chapel - parents, please drop off your children in the chapel! Hope to see you all on Sunday
-Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
The children will meet with Connie in the Chapel to practice music for the pageant from 10:00-10:20. In addition,
directly after worship, we will call to order a "vote only" meeting of the congregation so that members can fill out and turn in a ballot on the proposed loan and our year-to-date spending from the Capital Improvement Trust Fund. Sample ballots will be available ahead of time for review; remember our Bylaws make no provisions for absentee voting, so come to the Special Meeting and cast your ballot.
In addition, Discipleship Ministry is working on offering a justice oriented Las Posadas celebration beginning in our parlors after worship /vote. Los Posadas is Spanish for "lodgings" or "accommodations," referring to a nine-day celebration in Mexico (and elsewhere) based on lessons about the Christian faith modeled after the search of Mary and Joseph for a place to stay on their way to Jerusalem for the census - each day or stop on the journey involves song, food and a lesson about our faith. Come join us for some simple songs, snacks and a chance to learn about and take action on a justice issue important to our congregation! Our stations will likely be on the first floor of our building, so our journey will be accessible to all!
Outreach Opportunities this Month:
We continue to collect
men's clothes and shoes for men who are being discharged from County USC hospital. Please bring your items to the church office and Dr. Laura Kalayjian will take them in for us. Thanks so much! Click
here for more info.
Our first
Bad Weather Shelter date this year is Saturday
December 17th from 5-9 p.m. Please sign up with Regina Meyers and join this group in serving a meal and laying out the cots for folks at the Church of the Covenant. We have two more dates after the first of the year.
Help us Sponsor a Family
and folks at Friend in Deed - with the help of Rev. Schwiebert we have a family we are supporting during this Christmas season. They are a family of three children and a mom and dad who are settling in from Honduras. Aspire ministry sent over a truckload of used nursery toys, tables, and children's books to this family of 5. If you send in donations or gift cards, a few of us will shop on your behalf and put together gift baskets for the family. If you wish to do your own shopping, speak with Marlene about their wish lists and sizes, etc. Thank you in advance for helping us support another family.
Friends in Deed can always use protein foods, cereal, and gift cards for $15 and $20. Just bring to church each week and give to the church school teaches who are filling and Advent box with the kids each week. Thanks for helping us help others during this Christmas season!
Pledge Update for 2017:
We have now received 30 pledges for $133,426.00 (last year our pledging was $167,000). If you could please send in your pledge to Barbara Bonzo (you can also email her with your amount), that would help the Budget Committee do their work preparing for 2017. Many thanks to all who have turned in their pledges and for those of you who are finishing up your 2016 giving! It all contributes to the work and ministry of our church.
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Kathie Arscottl
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox
Guest Organist & Music Coordinator
Before worship the children will meet with Connie in the Chapel to practice music for the pageant from 10:00-10:20.
Church Nursery (for infants - K)
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Mrs. Phillips, Jaquelyne Rodriguez, and Serena Van.
Nursery opens at 9 a.m. for early birds and then everyone comes to worship at 10:00 and stays through the Children's Time and then children return to the nursery.
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Nina Kung
Sermon Podcast:
D
id you miss the gospel or homily? Please visit uccpasadena.org and select 'podcasts' from the menu on top of the home page or click below
http://uccpasadena.podomatic.com/
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Thursday
9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
We close at lunch
12 - 1:30 p.m.
Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698
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Included in this edition:
Outreach opportunities this Month
Pledge Update for 2017
Christmas Poinsettia Form
Christmas Schedule
Friends in Deed New Executive Director Rabbi Josh Grater
Aid Africa Scholarship and Summer Trip 2017
Being the Church in Practical Ways
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Advent/Christmas Schedule
Dec. 11th 3rd Sunday in Advent - worship in sanctuary. Children's Pageant practice
10:00-10:20 NOTE TIME.
Special Church meeting/followed by Las Posadas after worship. Rev. Marlene Pomeroy preaching.
7:00 p.m.
Pasadena Master Chorale's production of the Messiah in our beautiful sanctuary. See their website for more info. Free will offering in lieu of tickets.
http://www.pasadenamasterchorale.org/ for more information
Thursday Dec. 15th Church Office Open House - for members and Building partners. Stop in for some cheer and a nibble with us!!! All are welcome.
Dec. 18th 4th Sunday in Advent - worship in sanctuary with our Children's Pageant as a special feature. A potluck lunch in our parlors will follow worship that day. Please let Laura Kalayjian know what you can bring for the potluck. Church School children lighting the Advent wreath.
Dec. 23rd Youth are invited to join visits to long term FCC members and friends, to bring some Christmas love and build inter-generational relationships. Please contact Nina or Marlene if your youth can take part or if you would like to suggest someone to receive a visit from our young people.
Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Carols at 5 p.m. (note time change this year) in our sanctuary. There is
no nursery for this service. The nursery may be opened for any parents who need to take their children there for a break. A wassail bowl and reception will take place in our parlors following the service. You may take home your purchased poinsettias after the service. Rinck family lighting the Advent wreath.
Dec. 25th Christmas Day Worship in our chapel - an intimate affair with a "best slipper and pajamas" contest, cocoa, and cinnamon buns for those who come for this Christmas morning 10 a.m. service. Lots of Christmas singing and a festive atmosphere. Connie and Pastor Marlene in charge of merrymaking! NOTE: we will NOT have church school or a nursery this day so all ages welcome for this brief and joyful service!!
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Friends In Deed
Rev. Donna Byrns has stepped down as the Executive Director of Friends in Deed. Over the past three years, Rev. Donna has stabilized this wonderful organization and developed new programs with her staff. FID will miss her leadership, though Donna is staying on very part time to continue in a few areas of interest. Friends in Deed welcomes Rabbi Joshua Grater as the Executive Director position starting January 3, 2017. Click
here for Rabbi Grater's bio.
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You are Invited to go to Uganda July 2017! See below for Scholarship offered.
 We are offering a trip for one FCC/((a)Spire member to travel  to Uganda with Aid Africa next summer. You will see beautiful Uganda, meet the amazing Aid Africa staff and participate in their projects in the rural communities; visit the source of the Nile, go on a safari through a national park, and enjoy scenic side trips to waterfalls and local shopping. We sent Meagan VanDeventer on the tour last summer and she had a wonderful time. Ask her to tell you all about it.
If you are a member of our church
(male or female) you are already eligible to take advantage of this great opportunity.
The Women's Legacy Fund Aid Africa Uganda Trip Fellowship provides $2,650 toward the cost of the trip.
A short Application must be submitted by January 15, 2017. Additional information about the trip, what you'll need and other costs can be found in the soon-to-be-updated Travel Brochure and the Visitors & Volunteers Tour Guide. If you have any questions about Aid Africa or this opportunity to travel to Uganda, ask Peter Keller, Irene Keller, Meagan VanDeventer, or Elizabeth Lanski.
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 Lederhosen and Lei Baby Shower - save the date!!
 As many of you know, our pastor Andy Schwiebert and his wife Alli Mark are expecting their second child in February. We are hosting a baby shower for them on
Saturday Jan. 7th at 4:30 in our parlors. More details will be forthcoming. Coordinators are Lu Burd and Pastor Marlene. (The theme reflects that cultural influences and background of the parents!)
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Being the Church in Practical Ways
In light of increased incidents of folks being harassed in our country, we as your pastoral staff are looking to pass along suggestions for ho
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we can continue to be the loving, welcoming, intentional, justice-seeking people of faith that we are called to be. Please see ideas below and in the coming weeks that we are passing on to you. As always, take what works and leave the rest. - Pastors Andy, Jake and Marlene.
If you follow this link, there are four persons from the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) that share what would be helpful to them in their work for social justice - what it would look like to be an ally in a time of discrimination and violence.
Rev. Molly Phinney Baskette, UCC pastor and author of Real Good Church, is now at the First Congregational Church, UCC in Berkeley, CA. She invites us to show our solidarity with persons around us in our lives who may need support...
Wear a safety pin visibly on your clothing to show that you are trying to be a safe person in a time of turmoil and challenge - if asked, let persons know that you are a part of the UCC and that your faith calls you to stand in the way of discrimination and violence.
Sit next to persons on the bus or train who wear a hijab
Ask persons who identify as veterans about their service
Believe the story if a survivor of sexual violence shares with you
When asked, let persons know that our church welcomes LGBTQ persons as beautiful and beloved of God
Accompany persons who feel unsafe to their car or bus stop after a meeting
Learn why refugees are seeking shelter and safety in our country
When appropriate, introduce yourself to a person with a visible disability, without assuming they need help
Notice what persons of color around you at work say and experience
Listen if persons share that they are tired, afraid, anxious and in need of support
Contact a friend at church or your pastor if you want to talk about your experiences trying to be an ally
Consider signing onto this
Sanctuary pledge that our UCC Immigration and Refugee coordinator Noel Anderson has put together with Rev. Alison Harrington (Southside Presbterian Church in Tucson) and Groundswell.
It is for individuals to sign, and also could be something that our congregation could decide to join and actively participate in. After all, FCC was part of the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s and actually housed a refugee family in our building and supported them through difficult times. Given the renewed campaign promises shared in the past few days, immigrants and refugees and Muslims are all living in a heightened state of fear, and many could even face deportation in the near future.
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