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
 


   
 
        
                   March 6, 2016   
                      
                      
                       

  
Several FCC and (a)Spire members participated in the Aid Africa Walk for Water last weekend.

Reflections on Sunday Worship ....

Fairness or Love?
Luke 15: 11-32
 
Our text for worship this week is the well-known story of the Prodigal Son - a story of struggle, reconciliation and celebration.  Clearly it is also a story of frustration, disappointment and anger for the "other" son who is dumbfounded by the father's willingness to welcome the son who has - at least in the past - behaved so badly.  In a reflection entitled "Fairness or Love?" we will consider the condition of the other brother and how his experience compares to what we face, as persons of faith, when we are asked to offer compassion to others.  When we work hard to be a good person and do the right thing, it is very hard to see others who may not have taken such care with their lives receive support, care and even forgiveness when we are faced with our own ongoing struggles.  What is the faithful response? Join us for worship in the Chapel at 10AM - all are welcome!
                                                                                                 -Rev. John H. Pomeroy
 
 
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
 
This Sunday, March 6th, we will receive one of the five denominational offerings of the year for the UCC - One Great Hour of Sharing!  There are many individual stories that tell the whole story of this offering in the UCC...
 
Ahmad, a shy young man who recently arrived with his family from Syria, enjoys class with his friends. They are enrolled in an electronics repair program sponsored by the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) in Beirut, Lebanon. The Educational Center of DSPR offers other programs where students can learn skills. Ahmad's stylish haircut is courtesy of students in the hair salon classes. Ahmad's future is uncertain, at best. His grandparents have been forced to leave their home three times since fleeing their home in Palestine, in 1948. They cannot go home to Syria, and it is unclear if they will be able to stay in their new home country due to the stress on Lebanon's infrastructure. As it stands, few opportunities exist for housing, employment or schooling for newly arrived refugees. For now, Ahmad and his family are safe. Through the DSPR, he and other refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, have access to food, medical attention, clean water, and education. One Great Hour of Sharing, United Church of Christ (UCC) supports DSPR through partnership with Global Ministries. Support of refugees is vital as more of the world's people live forcibly displaced from their homes than at any time in the past century. In 2014, gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, UCC totaled more than $2.2 million with an additional $1.4 million given for worldwide disaster relief efforts.
 
Please give generously this Sunday!

 
Also This Weekend

Roberta White and Krysty Leckrone will be teaching the elementary class. Youth class will meet with Jeff Tyler in the east parlor.  

We will be having a Coffee Celebration this Sunday during coffee hour!! A chance for us to reaffirm our commitment to buying and serving Fair Trade Coffee at all FCC events, an opportunity for folks to purchase bags of coffee that we will serve throughout the year, OR a chance for you to drop off bags of coffee that you are welcome to purchase on your own (many stores carry Fair Trade coffee). We need both decaf and regular ground coffee. Many thanks to all who are bringing goodies for us to eat this Sunday as we drink our coffee!!

Also, the unveiling of our newly renovated Youth Room will take place on Sunday. The "old library" has been turned into our "New Youth Room," so come and check it out!! You will recall that we offered our second floor youth room to one of our building partners. That meant that we needed a new dedicated room for our youth to gather. The old library is nicely situated on the first floor and is a perfect fit. Thanks to funds from our Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the work of our building manager Sallie Mc Nair (in consultation with Andy Schwiebert and Jeff Tyler), she made the renovation happen!! 


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


Ushers :
Aren Burd
Julie Burd
Peter Keller
Brian Brandenburg

Liturgist
Cindy Speakman

Pianist & Music Coordinator
Connie Washburn

Church School Teachers:
Elementary class with  Roberta White/Krysty Leckrone in Room 232. Youth class with Jeff Tyler in the east parlor.

Church Nursery (for infants - Pre-K):
Mrs. Irene 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. 

Nina Kung  
fccmonina@gmail.com

Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org 

Sermon podcast:


Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

We close for lunch
12 - 1:30 PM

Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698

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Lenten Small Group is Meeting!

The first meeting of our Lenten small group (that may extend beyond Easter) was held. The next meeting will be Wednesday March 9th at 7 p.m. in our church nursery. We are reading An Altar in the World by Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor. Marlene has an extra copy (for $11 or whatever you can donate) or you can pick one up at your local library!! Feel free to join us. We plan to meet about every two weeks for discussion and prayer together.


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Children's Choir Update


Our Children's Choir will be singing in worship again on Palm Sunday, which is Sunday, March 20th in our sanctuary. The children will be practicing Sunday, March 6th after worship, Sunday, March 13th from 10-10:20, and then before worship on March 20th. Parents, be in communication with Connie Washburn for more information!!
 


Save the Date for All-Church Camp in the Fall

Our Membership Ministry has selected the weekend of October 14-16th for our All Church Camp!! We have reserved cabins and safari tents and will be publicizing this over the next few months. You must call directly and reserve your spot and pay only one night. The second night must be paid as you arrive in October. So, check your calendar, grab a friend or two and plan to join us!!! We are just above the heated pool and a short walk to the store and a hike to the beautiful beach. The more the merrier! 



Easter Lilies & Tulips Request Form
First Congregational Church of Pasadena, UCC
2016
Please provide information for your Easter flowers for our Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, March 27th.
 
Name________________________________________________________________
 
In honor of____________________________________________________________
 
In memory  of _________________________________________________________
 
Number of Lilies _____@$8.00     Number of Tulips  ___@$8.00
 
Payment must accompany order.  Make check to First Congregational Church and designate for Easter flowers.  You may take your flowers home after the Easter service.
 
Flower purchases are not tax-deductible and will not show up on your church statement for tax purposes.
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