This Saturday is a special event in the life of our church - we welcome Rev. Fred Plumer for another workshop with us on how we can continue to grow, change and flourish as a congregation!  Fred brings a wealth of experience from his time in the United Church of Christ and the history of his particular success in growing the Irvine United Congregational Church (UCC) from a start-up to over 350 members in that congregation at the time of his retirement two years ago.  Come join us from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, July 15th -- continental breakfast and full lunch are provided and there will be ample time to share and discuss your own experience of the church and your own ideas for change.  We will likely be in the air-conditioned Nursery for our gathering, trying to avoid the weekend heat that is predicted -- watch for signs as you park and come in the church.  Call our office if you have questions and Nina can help -- (626) 795-0696.
 
On Sunday Fred will be our guest preacher and will lead a Forum after worship on new developments in the life of progressive churches around the country.  Fred is currently the Director of The Center for Progressive Christianity (TCPC) and lives with his wife in Washington State.  Fred has visited a number of churches and is in touch with a variety of progressive organizations that are Christian, and he will help us keep us abreast of the latest movement in those circles during our time together.  Come and hear a fresh perspective on the larger Church and find nurture for yourself in our time of worship -- 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel.
 
Work continues on recovery after the fire of June 18th here at the church, though at a different pace this week.  With the locks changed, an initial walk-through and cleaning done, and Sallie (our Building Manager) and Thom (our Building Ministry chair) away for several days, the building has been quieter as we wait for estimates from our general contractor, and further policy information from our insurance carriers.  Building Partners are still doing their work -- some in the building, some at alternate locations; many meetings have continued, though most have had to shift their location to another place in the building.  Elevator reconstruction is still on hold, though we are optimistic that the work there can be finished soon.  Our weekday office schedule is back to normal and we will continue to worship on Sundays in the Chapel, as scheduled, for the remainder of the summer.
 
This week we received in the office a check and lovely letter from a woman who witnessed the fire at our church from her hotel room at the Westin Hotel across the street.  It turns out that she was the daughter of a pastor who served a large downtown church in Chicago over 50 years ago when a similar fire broke out at night and she and her family were forced to evacuate as the church burned -- melting organ pipes, closing the opening night of a church sponsored play and forcing nearly a year of renovation work.  She offered a check to help with our rebuilding work, but more than that, she offered her understanding and sympathy, knowing how such a fire can drain the energy and courage of a congregation when they are forced to regroup and rebuild.  Her letter was very moving to me, for it reminded me once again that we are not alone in the work of ministry.  Like us, there are many around us who are compassionate, caring and faithful -- many who are willing to help and to sympathize and to sacrifice something of their own comfort so that others may have something that they desperately need.  As we spend a weekend reflecting and working on our own progress as a congregation, I am thankful for this woman's reminder that we have one another -- stranger and friend -- as well as our God at our side as we reach out to do the work God intends for us to do here.

The Rev. John H. Pomeroy