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

FCC/(a)Spire Christmas Eve Service in sanctuary at 7 P.M.

Wassail Bowl and Reception in parlors after worship

10:00 a.m. FCC Worship in the chapel, 12/27

December 24-27, 2015

Christmas Pageant 2015!

Reflections on Sunday Worship ....

"New Territory"

Lessons and Carols

On Christmas Eve we will hear readings from the Gospels about the Birth of Christ and sing carols in celebration. Come and join us in the Sanctuary at 7PM for a joint service with Aspire including time for our children and music from Andrew Whitenack, Beau Wammack and our Chancel Choir. In a brief reflection entitled "New Territory" we will consider how the grace we are offered in the Birth of Christ translates into the work and relationships of our lives. After worship join us for a time with newcomers, family and friends in the church parlors - our reception includes a Wassail Bowl, cookies and even some healthy snacks! Parking will be available in the University Club lot adjacent to the church.

On Sunday December 27th we will worship in the Chapel at 10AM - all are invited to wear Christmas slippers, pajamas or a flannel shirt and participate in our holiday sharing during worship. In a reflection entitled "Home Alone" we will consider the story of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem without his parents (Luke 2:41-52) and compare his journey of faith to our own. Connie Washburn will be with us to offer music and after worship we will have hot cocoa and cinnamon buns as a special treat during coffee hour. A fun Sunday to bring a family member or friend...

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to each of you from our church staff and volunteer leadership!

Rev. John H. Pomeroy

A Short Testament

by Anne Porter

Whatever harm I may have done

In all my life in all your wide creation

If I cannot repair it

I beg you to repair it,

And then there are all the wounded

The poor the deaf the lonely and the old

Whom I have roughly dismissed

As if I were not one of them.

Where I have wronged them by it

And cannot make amends

I ask you

To comfort them to overflowing,

And where there are lives I may have withered around me,

Or lives of strangers far or near

That I've destroyed in blind complicity,

And if I cannot find them

Or have no way to serve them,

Remember them. I beg you to remember them

When winter is over

And all your unimaginable promises

Burst into song on death's bare branches.

"A Short Testament" by Anne Porter from Living Things. © Zoland Books, 2006. Reprinted with permission.

For more information visit aspireucc.org.

Worship Leaders:

Rev. John H. Pomeroy

Rev. Andy Schwiebert

Ushers:

Judi Tyler

Dana Pell

Mary Camacho

Brian Weltman

Liturgist:

Willetta Helene

Organist & Music Director

Andrew Whitenack

Pianist & Music Coordinator

Connie Washburn

Church School Teachers:

No Church School on Dec. 27th. Church school will resume 1/3/16.

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. The nursery is open on Christmas Eve but not staffed - it is offered as a quiet place for children and parents who do not wish to stay in worship.

Nina Kung

fccmonina@gmail.com

Visit us at: uccpasadena.org

Sermon podcast:

http://uccpasadena.podomatic.com/

Church Office Closed for the Holidays Next Week

January 4, 2016 - Office Re-opens at 9:00am

Tel. # 626.795.0696

Fax # 626.795.0698

*****************

2016 January

Google Calendar

Google Wizard

2016 February

Google Calendar

Google Wizard

A Note of Thanks

I am very grateful for all the care and support I have received during my recovery from surgery - cards, food, housecleaning and especially the time to heal. I miss everyone and miss being present during our Advent and Christmas celebrations! It is great to see our programs and ministry going so well with everyone's hard work, and I look forward to returning to work sometime in January once I am healed. Again, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your support!

Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy

Holiday Church Office Hours

Nina will be away on vacation and our church office will be closed beginning at noon on Thursday December 24th and will re-open on Monday January 4th. Sallie McNair will be in the building on Tuesday and Wednesday December 29th and 30th to allow Building partners access to their mail.

Volunteer Opportunity

Discipleship Ministry invites you to help us serve this year at the Bad Weather Shelter. If the weather is cold and/or rainy we are scheduled to set out cots, blankets and cook/serve a meal at the Covenant Church just above the freeway on Lake Ave. on Saturday January 16th. We need 12-15 persons and begin about 5PM and end with clean up by 9PM.

Please contact John Gamber Thompson, Chair of Discipleship, to let us know if you can help - his contact info is in the church directory.

Ordination of Carolyn Olney
Please join us on Saturday, January 23, 2016 in Carolyn's Ordination at FCC. See invitation below:

Youth Winter Camp Feb 13-16: Signups Begin in January

Youth (and youth parents, please help) SAVE THE DATE! Our youth have joined forces with youth from the First United Methodist Church of Pasadena in the past for their winter camp (when Allison Mark was there). This year we have been invited to join their youth and adults again (sorry, no Allison Mark!) for winter camp (Camp Sky Meadows) near Big Bear over the Presidents'/Valentine's Day weekend, and with El Niño it's likely to be a a lot of snowy fun. The cost will be $75 per youth, but we will have some scholarship funds available upon request. Let Andy know soon if you are interested, and we will get signup forms out in early January.

Aspire Planning Continues

On January 9th the Aspire community will spend time in half-day retreat planning small groups, service events and outreach and friend-raising activities for 2016. We are expecting a fun, creative, unorthodox and life-giving year ahead. If you have not already made a pledge in support of Aspire in 2016 but would like to, please see the attached pledge form and talk with Andy Schwiebert if you have any questions. The changes to Aspire programming in 2016 (i.e. eliminating weekly worship and refocusing energy on small groups and service events, cutting staff) will be discussed at another opportunity as part of the 2016 FCC budget process culminating in a vote at our congregation's Winter Business meeting on February 7.

Youth Visit Long Time Members at Christmas

This past Tuesday 2 of our youth teamed up with Lu Burd and Andy Schwiebert to deliver some Christmas love to some beloved long-time FCC members. It was a great way for our youth to get to know each of these folks and spread a little Christmas cheer. In all the group visited 4 homes.

FCC/Aspire Folks are Invited to go to Uganda July 2016!

We are offering trips for two FCC/(s)Spire folks 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/

If you are a member of our church you are already eligible to take advantage of this great opportunity.

A short Application should be submitted by January 15, 2016. Additional information about the trip, what you'll need and other costs can be found in the 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 or Elizabeth Lanski. This is sponsred by the Women's Legacy Fund Aid Africa Uganda Trip Fellowship" ($2650) along with a generous donor.