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
 


   
 
        
                   January  24. 2016   
                      
                      
                       

  

Reflections on Sunday Worship ....
 
Time to Let Go
Luke 4:14-21
 
Our text in worship this week is the story of Jesus returning to Nazareth and speaking briefly in the temple, announcing that he has come to teach and heal, fulfilling a prophetic role presented in the Hebrew scriptures (Isaiah).  For the writers of Luke, this is an opportunity to set aside descriptions of Jesus that may have been circulating, even after his crucifixion and death, of Jesus as merely a healer or a young rabbi.  The Gospels want to proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah and not some other religious figure - the writers are asking their audience and us to let go of other ideas or frameworks we might have for Jesus' ministry.  In a sermon entitled "Time to Let Go", we will consider the role of "letting go" of assumptions, experiences and ideas in our faith.  What are we holding onto that might prevent us from seeing, experiencing or receiving God's love and grace? Come and join us for worship at 10AM in the chapel!
                                                                                                                                         Rev. John H. Pomeroy
 
 
Thank You!
 
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Andy Schwiebert, Allison Mark, Nina, Sallie, Church Council members and other volunteers who took on additional responsibilities and work while we were away on medical/family leave in November and December of 2015.  An important part of Marlene's recovery has been made possible by the space and calm afforded to us both in this leave time.  We both recognize that there may be some disappointment and frustration with tasks that have been left undone or projects that have been delayed.  We appreciate everyone's patience and grace during this past two months.                                                                                                                       -The Pomeroys     

                 
Also on Sunday:

This Sunday we will officially say goodbye to the Anderson family who is heading off to Shanghai next week!! Please plan to come and celebrate this family who offered so much to our church life over the past 7 years!!
 
Church School teachers for the younger class are: Neva Orr/Jeff Tyler teaching in Room 232. Andy Schwiebert/TBA will be teaching the youth class in the library.
 
Ordination for Carolyn Olney

The time has arrived for us to honor and celebrate Carolyn Olney this Saturday Jan. 23rd in our chapel at 4:00 p.m. We hope you are able to attend. This is the culmination of several years of preparation and training by Carolyn. Carolyn is working as a chaplain with Kaiser Permanente. Details of the day are below:
 
If you are coming to help set up or sing in the choir the building will be open for us starting at 2:00 p.m. We DO have University Club parking for the event. Please do not park in the Los Robles lot - our gymnastics building partners will be using that lot all day. You may park in the Walnut lot or the University Club lot.
 
We are able to provide childcare from 4-6 p.m. for your young children in our nursery. It would be helpful to have some idea of how many children we have coming so please RSVP to Marlene at fccrevs@yahoo.com if possible.
 
We have a Hawaiian theme for the reception in our parlors after the service. If you have not already signed up for food, please be in contact with Grace Rinck. When you arrive, please drop off your food to our staff in the kitchen.
 


   
For more information visit aspireucc.org.
 
Worship Leaders:
Rev. John H. Pomeroy
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Rev. Andy Schwiebert
Rev. Leo Lynch

Ushers: 
Judi Tyler
Dana Pell
Mary Camacho
Brian Weltman

Liturgist: 
Roberta White

Organist & Music Director
Andrew Whitenack

Church School Teachers:
Younger class  with Neva Orr/Jeff tyler teaching in Room 232. Youth class with Andy Schwiebert/TBA in 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  9 AM - 5:30 PM

We close for lunch
12 - 1:30 PM

Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698

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Lent/Ash Wednesday

Lent is early this year - it begins on Wednesday Feb. 10th. We will offer an Ash Wednesday area service with other UCC churches to be held at the Glendale UCC church this year. Rev. Anne Cohen, pastor of the Mt. Hollywood UCC church is the organizer of the event. We will gather at 6 p.m. for a shared supper and then have worship at 7p.m. Please speak with Andy Whitenack if you wish to sing in the combined choir. Please let Marlene know if you can be one of two people to bring a soup in a crock pot.
 
Membership is in the process of organizing a pancake brunch to follow worship on Sunday Feb. 7th. Details will be forthcoming!

Youth Winter Camp Feb 13-15: Sign Up Soon!

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 Niņo 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 as soon as we have them.
Dear Aid Africa Friends,

Our staff in Uganda tries to repair five broken boreholes every month. It's important to them and they've set that goal as a top priority. 
Why? 

Because 80% of communicable diseases are water born. People get sick and die from drinking unclean water. 

Aid Africa is stopping that!
We need your help.

You can get all the information and forms you need at: http://www.aidafrica.net/walk-for-water/

Our event is sponsored by the Crescenta Canada Rotary Club.

You can walk or sponsor another walker and you'll get a t-shirt for participating. You can have a walk in your community. It's pretty easy. Ask us how! 

Peter Keller
Executive Director
Aid Africa
+256-788-060-602 - Uganda Cell

National Youth Event Orlando July 26-30, 2016

Registration opens January 20th for the National Youth Event happening this summer in Orlando Florida. FCC Youth are invited to go and we have some new scholarship funds available to make it affordable for all who attend. If your youth are even remotely considering, please check out this link to learn more about the agenda for the event: http://nye.uccpages.org/

There will be worship, discussion on faith and ethics, social justice activities and LOTS of fun time at one or more of the Disney parks. The group will be staying at the Coronado Springs Resort & Conference center; it'll be about 4000 youth and family members from UCC churches around the country. Please let me (Andy) know if your youth are interested and I will get you more information as it becomes available. So far youth and adults (and some families) from First Congregational Church of Long Beach, UCC and Manhattan Beach Community Church (UCC) will be going.