News from First Congregational Church of Pasadena, UCC

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

Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. , chapel

January 22, 2012

Reflections for Sunday Worship . . .

Our text in worship this week is the story of Jesus calling forth followers from the demands and the routine of their daily work. Even if the writers of the Gospel of Mark are using extreme shorthand in these accounts, the text asks us to consider what would cause each of us to drop what we are doing and follow - a person, a relationship, a cause, a new way of life?! In a sermon entitled "A Sense of Urgency" we will consider whether our life in church is too comfortable and whether we have "domesticated" or watered down our relationship with God. Come and join us for worship in the Chapel this Sunday at 10AM. Our Pre K/Kindergarten class will meet in the parlors during worship this week and our Church School children and youth will work on our February 5th celebration of Ms. Phillips' 50th anniversary in our congregation. After worship there is a meeting for parents of Youth in the church to share plans about upcoming events.

Rev. John H. Pomeroy

Sunday morning:

The Pre K/K class will meet in the east parlor this week (they did not meet last week) with Shannon Anderson and Marlene Pomeroy leading this mini class before they head to the nursery.

Roberta, Grace and Jeff T. will have a combined class with the elementary and youth in room 232.

11:15 a.m. Christian Nurture Meeting, co-pastors' office

11:30 Youth parent meeting with Rev. Schwiebert

1 p.m. Aspire Worship in Alden

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"I'll play it first and tell you what it is later."

-Miles Davis

Sunbeams, A Book of Quotations

"Sense of Urgency"

Mark 1: 16-20

Worship Leaders:

Rev. John H. Pomeroy

Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy

Ushers:

Judi Tyler

Nate Lewis

Amelia & Michael Rivera

Liturgist:

Stacy Thomas

Acolyte:

Sandy Grant

Organist and Music Director:
Andrew Whitenack

Church School Teachers:

Pre K/KClass with Shannon Anderson & Marlene Pomeroy

Combined Class with

Roberta White

Grace Rinck

Jeff Tyler

Nina Kung

fccnina@yahoo.com

Visit us at:

uccpasadena.org

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Calendar

2012 January Google Calendar

2012 January Calendar Wizard

Budget/Stewardship Update

Many thanks again for those of you who continue to make year-end pledges for 2011 (date your checks Dec. 31, 2011 for tax purposes) and to turn in pledges for 2012. We have heard from almost everybody and your contributions are helping the Budget Committee as it finalizes the 2012 budget. It has been a tough year with the economy, building income and investments. We are so grateful that those of you who are able have continued to keep up with your giving. Please plan to attend the Budget presentation at a Forum on Saturday Feb. 4th from 10-11 a.m. to hear the details of the budget. We will vote on the budget at our Winter business meeting on Sunday Feb. 12th.

Yoga on Saturdays at 9 a.m.

Come join others as we move and stretch and do yoga together from 9-10:10 a.m. in our west parlor. The class presumes some yoga knowledge but can be for strong beginners as well as intermediate students. Bring a mat, blanket and $10 donation and join us the Saturdays in January. We will continue if there is interest. It is taught by Rev. Marlene Pomeroy who is a certified yoga instructor.

We will celebrate 50 years of Irene Phillips!!

Can you believe it - Mrs. Phillips has been raising our babies and running our church nursery for 50 years now. That deserves a celebration!!! We will have one on Sunday Feb. 5th from 11:30- 1:00 in our east parlor. The nursery will not be staffed after 11:30 on that day so all adults and children can join in the fun. Please plan to attend and bring a card with some memories of your child (or you!) in our nursery. We will be taking up an offering on her behalf - Mrs. Phillips is still deciding what she wants to offering to go towards!!! We will let you know in the next few weeks about that piece.

Lent is just around the corner

Our annual Lenten journey to Easter begins in just a month now. We will begin the season of Lent by cooking up some pancakes for our Shrove celebration on Sunday Feb. 19th at 9 a.m. Join us! Then on Wednesday Feb. 22nd we will host five area UCC churches for an Ash Wednesday potluck at 6 p.m. with worship to follow in our sanctuary at 7 p.m.

Jake is working on some small groups for Lent that will meet following worship on a few Sundays. More details about the groups will be forthcoming. How will you observe the season this year?

Security Update

Due to increased street traffic and folks wandering through our building, we put together a Security Committee to think through how to make our building safer. Glenn McLea, Sallie McNair, Jeff Tyler, Bob Rinck and Marlene Pomeroy met last week and outlined a number of measures we plan to employ in the next few months. One of the new changes is to have a security guard on the first floor during Sunday worship and at all big church events when the building is open and full of folks. The guard will be near the nursery and monitoring folks who come in. If you encounter anybody acting strangely or in a threatening manner, please let the guard know. The other items that we are working on are: locking the bathrooms on the upstairs and mezzanine floors, as well as making sure our exterior doors are secure and the building is monitored more regularly. We will keep you posted on the work that we are doing. - Marlene

Pastor Andy returns from Tampa for Young Clergy Development Program

Last year I was selected as one of 15 clergy in their 20s and 30s for a program called Target 2030. This program, run by our denomination's (United Church of Christ) Pension Boards, aims to support and develop leaders for the next generation of ministry. I was in Tampa January 8-14 for a week of curriculum focused on "Family Systems" theory to strengthen my ability to navigate interpersonal dynamics in the congregational setting. It was an awesome learning experience and opportunity to network and build relationships with other younger clergy from around the country. I will be in the same cohort for the next 4 years. -Andy Schwiebert

Youth to lead Bad Weather Shelter service day on 1/21

On Saturday January 21st, FCC youth are scheduled to help prepare and serve a meal for the hungry and prepare cots for the homeless at 5-8:30PM. Parents please confirm youth participation with Andy.

Youth/Parent Meeting Sunday January 22nd at 11:15-12:15
On Sunday January 22nd after worship from 11:15-12:15, youth and one parent are asked to gather to discuss Summer 2012 trip ideas and other upcoming youth programming. Please plan to join us in the youth lounge on the 2nd floor.

COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION IN PARENTING:

a book discussion for parents on Saturday February 11th at 3-5PM

Looking for new ideas on how to deal with your child's anger or his or her unwillingness to follow rules? Frustrated and tired of punishment? We'll discuss some communication tools from the book Non-Violent Communication: a Language of Life, by Marshall B. Rosenberg. Participants will discuss 3 chapters (please read in advance) and we'll split into two groups (i.e. parents of teens or of younger kids) for further reflection.

Space will be limited to 12 participants. Please share with friends (this is for FCC and (a)Spire parents and is open to the community). Light refreshments will be provided. Childcare will not be available. Books can be ordered online or in the FCC office (ask Nina) by 2/1. The church office has an audio version (on CD) that can be borrowed at Nina's desk.

Youth Winter Retreat Feb 18-20 (President's Day Weekend)

FCC Youth are invited to join Andy and another adult counselor as we meet up with youth and adults from the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena to their retreat center in the mountains near Big Bear. This is the same camp we visited last year and last year there was PLENTY of great snow. The theme is "I have been chosen" and there will be plenty of fun activities and games and some time for reflection and learning. The camp is two nights and includes 6 meals; we'll leave at noon on Saturday (eat lunch before coming!), then will return around 2PM on Monday (President's Day).