July 2007

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July 26, 2007

II Samuel 11:1-5

Summer is a great time to go to movies and rent the ones we missed in the theatres. There are so many interesting characters and stories to see on screen. Through this visual medium of storytelling, we get a chance to live inside the skin of another person for a few hours and imagine what their lives are like. The Bible also has some fantastic stories and characters. They aren't usually as well-developed as characters we find on screen or in a novel. With biblical characters we are invited to fill in the gaps and imagine what their lives and challenges are like. I've decided for my next two preaching texts to pick some colorful characters in scripture; characters that perhaps need to be looked at with fresh eyes. My first character is Bathsheba -- wife of Uriah the Hittite, then the wife of King David, and ultimately the mother of King Solomon. She is so often defined by the men in her life. Even in I Kings we hear about David, "David had done what was right in the eyes of God and had not failed to keep any of God's commands all the days of his life - except in the case of Uriah the Hittite." No mention of Bathsheba being wronged, only her husband Uriah.

Come with me to re-explore the story of Bathsheba this Sunday as we look at a colorful woman in biblical history who was a powerful mother, Queen and woman. Hope to see you in church on Sunday! Bible Study meets at 9:00 a.m. in the library and there is nursery for young children starting at 9:00 and a multi-graded church school for older elementary and middle school children and youth. Following worship we will be discussing the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. If you plan to attend the luncheon, please RSVP to the church office by Friday so that we can provide lunch for you. The cost is $6 and will be salads and zucchini bread provided by Green Street Caf�.

The Rev. Marlene W. Pomeroy

Those greeting you this Sunday are: Glenn & Daniela McLea
The liturgist is: Nate Lewis
The ushers are: Avis Hinks, Nate Lewis, Robert Rinck, Andy Romine, Judi Tyler
Acolyte is: Tang Annis

Opportunities for fellowship and service this week are:

Our New Directions group which spends time imagining new ideas for our church community will meet Wednesday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the parlor. New folks are always invited to this ongoing conversation.

Our FCC Dinner Club will be eating out at the French Restaurant Taix this Saturday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. Please call the office for more information and RSVP to the Kellers or the Meyers.

A group from church is planning to attend the Stephen Sondheim musical review, "Putting It Together" on Friday, August 3 at 8:00 p.m. The group price for tickets is $15 each. Please RSVP to Alice or Mel Smith by this weekend to reserve a ticket.

We have been invited to help out with some UCC families who are trying to attend Family Camp at Pilgrim Pines in August. There are 80 folks from two of our UCC Latino outreach churches (Nueva Vida in Chula Vista and Immanuel Latino Fellowship in North Hollywood) who need help with the camp fees. Many of the families hoping to attend are new UCC folks from low-incomes households and going to camp would be a burden financially for them. We are invited to join Gary Roberts, Conference Associate for Church Development & Renewal, and member of the Altadena Community Church, to help sponsor a camper. Any amount is appreciated. Please send your check directly to Altadena with "Latino Camp" on the subject line. You may also give a check to one of our pastors this Sunday to be passed along. Please make your checks out to "Altadena Community Church."

Finally, Nate Lewis is putting together teams of people to help serve at Union Station this coming year. Please see the Union Station Team Proposal for more information and sign up to serve meals with others from our church. We have been doing this outreach ministry for the past 19 years under the direction of Irene and Peter Keller. We hope you will join us in continuing this important ministry to those in Pasadena who need a healthy meal.

July 17, 2007

"Optical Illusions and the Meanings of Things
- or -
How Eye Sees It"

Luke 10:38-42

The Jesus of the Gospels has been known to chastise his would-be followers for fulfilling traditional social expectations. A young man wanting to bury his parents is told to let the dead bury the dead and get with the discipling program. In the text for this Sunday, Jesus tells Martha that her concern for house-keeping duties is only a distraction from her new role as a student and disciple -- something Mary has already grasped. How dumb can Martha be? How offensive is this verbal interaction between supposed friends?

But is that the point of the story? That Jesus was the kind of guy who scolded people for their lack of flexibility and limited vision? Or can we move on from literal interpretation to literary and theological perspectives? Is this an allegory or object lesson or moralistic play or Midrash? Do Mary and Martha represent particular points of view or courses of action or kinds of personality or political parties? Does this story have any implications for our ever so modern lives? Do we, when presented with alternative options or opinions, step outside our habits and decide to do and see things differently? Or does it take a crisis to open our eyes?

I'll tell you what My Eye Sees -- and then you tell me how Your Eye Sees It!

The greeters on Sunday are: Varnell and Nate Lewis
Acolyte: Moriah Star Vega
The ushers greeting you are: Avis Hinks, Robert Rinck, Andy Romine and Judi Tyler

See you Sunday,
Anne (Cohen)

July 12, 2007

"Passionate For A Cause"

A few weeks ago I was fortunate to attend the Synod in the City, in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a great gathering of folks who were passionate for Christ. This was clearly seen in the various kinds of smaller breakout groups. The energy that held them together was almost unbelievable. They were there not only to celebrate their 50th birthday but to listen collectively to what God was now saying. Their main focus was simply to get a clearer understand of how and when to address the immediate human concerns the way God wanted them to.

This gathering was noted by the mayor of Hartford as the largest of its kind. I now propose a question; were we the only ones listening? And where are the voices of others?

When Jesus addressed a gathering by the lake, in gospel according to Matthew (13 chapter), he described some of the prophets as longing to see but do not see and others as wanting to hear what you hear and not hearing.

God is still speaking this very day. Look around and witness how others feverishly address various issue such as immigration, global warming, family values, global economics, the growing number on poverty or even, the made in America label. Every group lobbies to be heard.

Are you listening? Where is your platform? ...Are you still there?...

The greeters on Sunday are Peter & Irene Keller.
The acolyte is Terry Martin.
The ushers greeting you are Sandy Biehler, Lurline Brown, Angie Schnapp, and Mel Smith.

The Rev. Leo Lynch

July 3, 2007

While in Hartford, Connecticut at the 50th anniversary UCC General Synod, I had three choices of what kind of shirt to wear each day. Since I was there working for the Cornerstone Fund of the United Church of Christ, I normally would wear a shirt with their logo. When those shirts ran out, I could wear my regular UCC shirts - with the name and logo for our denomination. As an alternative, I could wear a Still Speaking shirt - with the comma and the quote from Gracie Allen, though I don't normally wear bright red or black that often. For a week I was uncomfortably aware that I was part of a large group of Christians who were having a convention - and I prayed that those who met me would have good associations with the logos I wore on my chest!

This Sunday our text is Luke 10:1-11 where Jesus commissions his followers and gives them instructions for how to spread the Gospel. In a sermon entitled "Any Takers?" we will consider the difference between being a disciple and an apostle - between being a learner and one who is sent out in God's name. Clearly we are called to nurture our own faith as well as share what we know about God - how are we to find the balance? How are we to grow the church in the meantime? Come join us for worship in the Chapel at 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, July 4 join church folks for fireworks at Almansor Park in Alhambra. Gather from 4:00 p.m. onwards at the walking path facing the golf course on the east side of the park at 800 S. Almansor St. in Alhambra. Call Thom and Regina Meyers with questions. All are welcome.

On Saturday, July 7 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. volunteers are invited to help with painting and clean up at the Habitat for Humanity project on 900 E. Palmer in Glendale. Jake Pomeroy plans to attend for most of the work day - call or e-mail him if you are interested in volunteering.

This Sunday after worship we are privileged to have another Faith Sharing Forum from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. - Cherryl Weaver will share a reflection that was a part of the Lenten Meditation that she wrote for the booklet we shared with Altadena Community Church this past February. Come and join us for a time of sharing and discussion in the parlors.

The Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches invites donations of non-perishable protein foodstuffs for their food pantry this month - in the middle of summer donations often drop off significantly - peanut butter, beans, cans of soups with meat are welcome. ECPAC also offers summer camping experiences for youth in need in the Pasadena area - their cost for providing this summer break for youth (at the Circle V Camp in Santa Barbara, a St. Vincent De Paul facility) is $250 per camper. If you are able, you are invited to give to ECPAC this summer to help defray the cost of those camping experiences.

Christian Nurture and Membership Ministry will meet this coming Tuesday, July 10 for Common Ministry Meeting (Discipleship and Worship are not meeting). The Building Ministry will meet Tuesday, July 17 at 4:30 p.m. in the church office - a change from their earlier scheduled date. Dates for your family calendar: book discussion on Three Cups of Tea after worship on July 29; church night out at the Sondheim Musical at the San Gabriel Playhouse on Friday, August 3; Forum on General Synod after worship on Sunday, August 12.

The Rev. John W. Pomeroy