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

Our Core Values are: 
Spiritual Growth. Welcome. Justice-seeking



  
 

        
                   August 14, 2016   
                                             
                       

  


55 folks enjoyed enjoyed swimming, eating and watching a movie at our 2nd Annual Summer "Dive-In" at the home of the Weltmans
 

Reflections on Sunday Worship . . .

"When You're Called to Pick a Side"
Scripture: Luke 12: 49-56
 
In this well-known scripture we learn that Jesus came not to bring peace but to cause division. A family of five will have three against two, fathers against sons and mothers against their daughters and so on. It's a disturbing, confusing text in that Jesus also calls us to sow peace-- "blessed are the peacemakers," right?

But I believe Jesus is saying that in following his Way, we will be inevitably called to take a stand for what we believe to be right and just;, rather than merely parrot the values and beliefs of our familial alliances, political alliances or other associations. Jesus taught that it is INEVITABLE that our faith will be the cause of conflict. Fun, right?! 

In addition to me sharing a few brief words, we will also welcome two guest speakers talking briefly about how they have been called to take a stand for their faith-- a moral stand for economic justice. 

This summer in addition to my 3/4 position with FCC and (a)Spire, I have worked 1/4 time for Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), coordinating their Young Religious Leaders Fellowship (YRLF) program. Two of our eight Fellows, David Kim and Andrea Perez, will be speaking about their efforts to bring religious leaders together in support of working people in order to improve wages, benefits and working conditions. Both have been working on campaigns supporting low-wage workers and grocery workers in Southern California with the goal to allow these workers to meet life's basic needs. These two young people have come to appreciate that doing this work inherently involves conflict; confronting injustice.

-Rev. Andy Schwiebert


For more information, visit aspireucc.org.



Worship Leaders:
Rev. Andy Schwiebert
Rev. John H. Pomeroy 
 
Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy
Ushers :
Ron White    
Kathie Arscott
Jeff Levison
Jim Maddox      

Liturgist
Brian Cordova-Brookey    

Pianist & Music Coordinator
Connie Washburn
 
Summer Church School Teachers:
Combined Church School class Josh Ashenmiller/Jake Pomeroy in the youth room.  
   
Church Nursery (for infants - K):
Will Brookey, Jacquelyne Rodriguez, and Mrs. Phillips      

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  
[email protected]

Visit us at:  uccpasadena.org 

Sermon podcast:



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

We close at lunch 
12 - 1:30 p.m.

 
Tel. # 626.795.0696
Fax # 626.795.0698

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What is Highlighted in this Touchstone?


- From Andrew Whitenack
-Small Group on Coates Book Continues
-"Wine" Together about Troubling Times: Unite to Make a Difference
- Thanks FCC, from Orlando
-CROP Walk Nov. 6th
-Picnic at Waltman's
-'Wine' Together about our Troubling Times
- New Church Directory available
 

From Andrew Whitenack

I regret to inform the congregation of my decision to resign as Organist and Music Director at First Congregational UCC effective August 31, 2016. Having begun accompanying youth and adult choirs when I was 15 at the Southern Baptist Church where I grew up, followed immediately by early salaried positions in Virginia for 5 years, continuing 10 more years in Ohio and cumlminating with 20 fantastic years here at FCC, I have decided to take a break indefinitely from an employed church position. The nearing retirement of my direct supervisor puts my focus on assuming  more responsibilities at my regular full-time position at Alfred Music as Director of Purchasing. Physically I feel that I am unable to continue to maintain my full-time position and also give enough quality time and energy to my church job and choir responsibilities as they deserve.  On her last TV show, Carol Burnett said "change is growth and it's classier to leave before you are asked to" and I agree. Now is the time for me to reduce some of my responsibilities before the new choir season starts in September. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone over these past 20 years and we have had fun and fellowship together along with spiritually moving worship services. Going forward, feel free to keep in touch via email, phone or snail mail if only to say 'Hi.' Thank you for the great memories and most importantly, your support and friendship. I will miss you all.
 
With warmest regards,

Andrew Whitenack


Small Group on Coates Book Continues

A group of 12 people met 8/3 for the 2nd time to discuss the book 
Between the World and Me by Te-Nehisi Coates. It is a book written in the form of a letter from a black man to his 15 year-old son, about being a black man in America, in light of recent public attention on police killings of unarmed black men. We met for the first time a few weeks back and had healthy conversations about racism in America and how we respond as people of faith. We meet again tonight 8/10 and then for the final time on Wednesday August 31st. Talk with Andy Schwiebert, Bettie Teel and group participants to hear how our conversations have been so far.


 

 
CROP Hunger Walk - November 6th

Dear friends at First Congregational Church,
 
Thanks so much for your support of Church World Service through the Pasadena CROP Hunger Walk! Each step you took last year has had exponential positive impact over the last 12 months...you walked alongside women in the South American Gran Chaco as they promoted sustainable water projects, you walked alongside neighbors in the Gran Chaco who visited these projects and are now using those techniques to build their own water systems, and you walked alongside CWS's staff in Haiti as they use the successes from the Gran Chaco to overcome similar local  challenges (read the details here). When you walked, a whole system of poverty changed. When you walked, we moved towards abundance!

This fall's walk will continue to change lives...and you can get a jump start on that right now! By visiting www.crophungerwalk.org/pasadenaca, you can register yourself and your church, find the 2016 date and location of the walk, find information on the recruiter rally or open house, download resources, and share the link with others who want to join you in your donation!
 
Thanks for all that you do to end hunger and poverty, locally and globally, one step at a time!
 
 
Amber Blake
Community Engagement Specialist, West
Church World Service
PO Box 31053
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 503-468-6220
Skype:  ablakecws
Email:  [email protected] 
 
 


PICNIC AT THE WELTMAN'S


 



"Wine"Together about our Troubling Times: Unite to Make a Difference




New Church Directory Available
 
Nina has updated our Church Directory for all members and close friends of FCC.  You may pick up your copy with Nina in the church office. If you wish to have an electronic copy please contact Nina via email [email protected]

Many thanks to Nina for updating our directory!!