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
1:00 p.m. (a)Spire Worship, Alden Hall

  
 
        
                   September 20, 2015   
            

                       

  

(a)Spire Ministry serves a meal in the park.
See article below.


Reflections on Sunday Worship ....


James 3:13-4:10 Mark 9:30-37
 
This week the two lectionary passages we are focusing on come from the New Testament. The first is a story of the disciples discussing what it means to be great. The letter from James to the churches outside of Israel. In our text this week James discusses what wisdom is and what it means to be in friendship with the world versus friendship with God. These stories teach us about ourselves and what it means to be a person of faith. These are important reminders and correctives that often contrast to what we see around us in social media. The values of the Bible are often in contrast to the values of society. For people of faith, we are called to be wise and contrary to the world!! See you Sunday in worship! Starts at 10:00.   - Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
 
Also this Sunday
Our church school classes will be led by Roberta White/Neva Orr elementary age class and Andy Schwiebert/TBAfor youth class.
 
After worship and coffee hour, the Worship Ministry is hosting a luncheon on the east parlor for Ushers. Please RSVP to Bettie/Carolyn Olney after Thursday since Nina is out of the office on Fridays.
 
 - Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy


Also this Sunday . . .

We welcome back our regular Church School Teacher!!! Many thanks to Neva, Roberta, Grace and Krysty for being willing to teach the elementary age children's class again this year! And many thanks to Andy S., Jake and Jeff T. for teaching the youth class again. How can you support them? Please speak with Marlene about being an assistant once every 4-6 weeks. You won't have any prep to do and it will be a chance for you to get to know our wonderful children and youth!!! In addition our Safe Church policy requires us to have two adults when working with any children or youth so we really need your help complying with this poli


   
(a)Spire event below; Meal in the Park on 9/13. 
 
Worship Leaders:
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy, preaching
Ushers: 
Sandy Biehler
Cindy Speakman
Robert Rinck
Kevin Cordova-Brookey

Liturgist: 
Rev. Stacy Thomas

Organist and Music Director:
Andrew Whitenack

Church School Teachers:
This Sunday Roberta White/Neva Orr will be teaching the elementary age class in Rm. 232 and Andy Schwiebert/TBA will be teaching the youth class the library. 

Church Nursery (for infants - Pre-K):
Our nursery is staffed with at least two adults every Sunday. It opens at 9 a.m. for early birds and then everyone comes to worship at 10:00 and stay through the Children's Time and then return to the nursery.
 

Nina Kung  
fccmonina@gmail.com

Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org 

Sermon podcast:


Office Hours

Mon-Thurs  9AM - 5:30PM

  We close for lunch 
12 - 1:30PM

Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698

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Celebrating Our Ushers and Greeters


To show our appreciation for our Ushers and Greeters, the Worship Committee is hosting a luncheon on Sunday, September 20th after church service in the Parlors for ushers, greeters and their spouses/partners. Ushering is a very important aspect of our Worship service as ushers and greeters serve as ambassadors of our community of faith as well as helping our services run smoothly.
Eli Wilson, Jr. writes: "Ushers are the first people we encounter during a worship service; they meet us at the door. They ensure that we are welcomed and comfortable. Their smiling faces and pleasant demeanors set the atmosphere for our worship experience. However, they do more than show us to our seat or tend to the congregation during worship. They are more than the collectors of the offering during worship. The doorkeeper's position is that of a spiritual conduit. The doorkeeper is the first responder to the people's anticipation and expectations. Worshippers who are trying to make their way to be in the presence of God are affected by the first persons they see and the look on the faces of those persons."
 
During this meeting we will fellowship and eat wonderful food, and then review the procedures currently in place for usher duties.  We will also entertain your ideas on how we can further improve the ushering process.
  
We are looking forward to being with you on Sept. 20th! Please RSVP to Nina in the church office by Thursday Sept. 17th (the office is closed on Fridays) so that we know how much food to purchase.

Your Worship Ministry (Carolyn Olney, Bettie Teel, Ken Biery, Aren Burd, Marlene Pomeroy, Andrew Whitenack)

 
Fall Calendar Is Full!!!
 
Good news!  Our community is alive and well, offering worship, education, faith sharing, programs and outreach - and as a result, our fall calendar is full of meetings and events for us all! You may have noticed a flurry of activity and planning for all these wonderful offerings this fall. Please pace yourself and make sure you find a balance of "giving" and "receiving" at church!
 
If your Ministry or group in the church needs a date for a program or gathering, please be mindful that the church calendar is already full through Advent and Christmas.  The more we can avoid conflicts in scheduling and keep events open to all, the more likely we are to invite participation and develop our community. 
 
When you are searching for an open date after the New Year, contact Nina and pastoral staff as soon as possible with an email or call.  Once a week in staff meetings we coordinate calendar and will do our best to satisfy your request.  Remember some outside groups or ministry partners schedule events that we cannot control, or present their dates without much advance notice including Association meetings, Building Partner events, Pasadena city events, CROP walk, etc.
 
We appreciate your patience as we  work together to create space for everyone's ideas, plans, events, programs and requests!
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Lamplighter's Event - Hsi Lai Temple Tour 9/19

On Saturday, September 19th, The Lamplighters are hosting a tour and visit to the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple at 3456 Glenmark Drive, Hacienda Heights, 91745. (626)961-9697. The visit will include a vegetarian lunch, at a cost of $7 per person. The total cost for the tour and lunch is $10 per person. We will meet in the parking lot, at the Temple, at 11:00am. If you would like to meet at church, and car pool, please meet at the church parking lot by 10:15am. Click here for flyer.

Please RSVP to Cindy Speakman, at (626)292-1624, or dolphinlover827@yahoo.com, no later than September 9th, so reservations can be made. All are welcome to join this event, which should be interesting and educational, as well as enjoyable!

About the temple:
Hsi Lai Temple encompasses 15 acres and a floor area of 102,432 square feet. The temple's Ming (1268-1644 C. E.) and Ching (1644-1911 C.E.) dynasty architecture is faithful to the traditional style of buildings, gardens and statuary of traditional ancient Chinese monasteries. Hsi Lai means "coming to the West" and signifies the dedication of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order to spread the teachings of the Buddha to those in the West. Hsi Lai Temple was built to serve as a spiritual and cultural center for those interested in learning more about Buddhism and the Chinese culture. It is the idea of Venerable Master Hsing Yun to propagate "Humanistic Buddhism" and to create a Pure Land here on earth. Hsi Lai Temple is built to fulfill these goals in the United States. The temple's objectives are to nurture Buddhist missionaries through education, to propagate Buddhism through cultural activities, to benefit society through charitable program.


Fancy Afternoon Tea 9/26

Please join us on Saturday the 26th for Afternoon Tea in the Church Parlors.  This is our ONLY Major fundraiser for 2016!
If you cannot make it but would like to donate,  a donation can be made using the following website:  http://tiny.cc/ge8a2X 
 
RSVPs are appreciated.

In the 2000's we had the Rummage Sale 
In the 2010's we had the Auction and Bake Sale (all dates are approximated)
Join us on September 26, 2015 as we usher in our new simplified, dignified, "Fancy Afternoon Tea" Church fund raiser. (Click here to view the flyer)
There will be quiet, sophisticated, musical entertainment. 
There will be hot tea, cold tea, and other beverages and a cornucopia of fancy finger sandwiches and delectable treats
There will also be a silent auction & a special "White Elephant $5 lottery." 

If you have anything to contribute to the silent auction or white elephant raffle, please bring to the church office or contact Roberta White or Grace Rinck.  Especially appreciated are highfalutin' entertainment tickets, food & fine dining; sports cars, summer homes, and yachts (in good condition) are also welcome.    

 -Grace Rinck



Peace and Justice Sunday Welcomes Professor Najeeba Syeed 9/27


On Sunday September 27th, Professor Najeeba Syeed of Claremont School of Theology (CST) will join us to speak in worship about her peace-building work and share details about her projects at CST in a Forum after worship.

Please click on the this link to read her distinguished biography. 
This is hosted by our FCC Peace and Justice Committee.

FCC Youth to Take Park in Serving Meal in the Park with (a)Spire 10/8

FCC youth are invited to help serve a meal in Memorial Park on October 18th and to help pass out artwork supplies and create art together as part of our "healing through art" project. This meal is similar to the one that will be served this month on 9/13.
FALL EVENTS-- Save the dates!!
Many church folks are organizing terrific events for the fall. Details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks but here are the events:

Sept. 16 - Friends in Deed Fall Fund Raiser "Jazz on the Green" at historical Green Hotel
Sept. 19 - Lamplighter trip to Buddhist Temple
Sept. 20 - Usher Lunch
Sept. 26 - Fancy Afternoon Tea FCC fundraiser
Sept. 27 - Peace & Justice Sunday with guest preacher/forum leader Najeeba Said-Miller
Oct. 3 -    Council Retreat 9-1 Glendale UCC Church
Oct. 4 -    Visioning Forum for all church members (11:30-12:45)
Oct. 11 - Women's Circle 11:15-12:45
Oct. 17 -  Carolyn Olney's Ecclesiastical Council at Central Association Fall Meeting
Oct. 17 -  Aid Africa Fund Raiser in our parlors 5p.m.
Oct. 18 -  (a)Spire Meal in the Park
Oct. 25 -  FCC Halloween Party during and after church school/worship
Nov. 8  -  Pasadena CROP Walk 1 registration/2 walk
Nov. 22 - FCC Thanksgiving Feast/Alternative Christmas Market
Dec. 6 -   Advent Festival/lunch; (a)Spire Worship in the Park
Dec. 13 - Pasadena Master Chorale Christmas Concert in sanctuary (newly added!!)
Dec. 20 - Children's Christmas Pageant/Potluck 7 p.m.
(a)Spire Ministry serves a meal in the park

This past Sunday, September 13, (a)Spire ministry served 108 meals in Memorial Park. This was part of the "Meals in the Park" project for which (a)Spire raised $2280 in funds from outside our community through the new online fundraising website,   www.woodtothefire.org. Afterwards, those who wished  also enjoyed worship with a couple of songs, and shared stories of healing and recovery. One person shared his testimony on video. The group prepared the meals on Saturday. In addition to all the aspire hands involved, three  

 




                 





FCC folks pitched in significantly. Anastasia Stewart spent many hours helping prepare food and serve meals in the park. Barbara Klein also baked at least 120 cookies, and packed baggies of cookies with other goodies to share in the park. Carolyn Olney shared a story of healing in worship in the park.

The next two upcoming (a)Spire "Meals in the Park" that were funded by our online fundraising project will be October 18 and December 6.