Touchstone for

August 31, 2025

Welcome Back

to School!

Welcome Back to School to all our children, youth, teachers and administrators. We have high hopes for renewal in Altadena/Pasadena for the coming year. As for FCC, our Church Council is seeking an Interim Minister for this transition. Rev. Scott Furukawa and Rev. Anne Cohen will be preaching and leading worship until the Interim arrives.

We hope to see you in the days and weeks ahead as we meet the changes and challenges of our community and beyond. See below for service opportunities such as the Friends in Deed Food Pantry, Union Station meals, reports from Outreach Grant Recipients, and other important news and events in the life of our church.

“Caring for others in Pasadena and beyond since 1885.”

Sunday August 31st

Scripture Reading

Luke 14:1, 12-24

Reflection

“Most Unlikely Guests for Dinner”

Food was the most divisive issue facing early churches. It’s no surprise that the reference to food, meals, and banquets are mentioned throughout Luke’s Gospel. During Jesus’ day, who you ate with was a big deal. Come join us on Sunday as we explore how sharing a simple meal with a stranger can change lives, and we can catch a glimpse of the reign of God.

Rev. Scott Furukawa

Music from Connie

On this late summer Sunday we will hear praise offerings from Grace, Jenna, & Gerald.

Then Helen Gamber-Thompson will send us off with her summer song.

We hope to see you there.

Connie Washburn, Music Director

P.S. If you like World Jazz, this Friday is your chance to hear a concert with some of the musicians we’ve heard in our services…Damon, Kenton, and Felipe. What a great opportunity!

Also on Sunday August 31st

Liturgist: TBA

Zoom staff: Kim Story * Usher: John Gamber-Thompson

NOTE: Anne can now view Signup Genius. We are in need of volunteers for Sundays through the end of the year.

If you sign up, get a reminder notice or remember that you have duties on any Sunday coming up, please let Anne know.

Many thanks!

Summer Childcare/time with youth: After the Time With Children, children and youth will go with staff for activities and games in the Bride’s Room, just adjacent to the chapel, and then will re-join us for coffee hour in the Fellowship Hall.

If you are a Zoom worshipper, you will be able to access the Bulletin through a link when you log onto Zoom on Sunday. (See link at bottom of Touchstone.)

Announcing a

Congregational Meeting

On Sunday September 7, 2025, we will hold a short Congregational Meeting after worship to vote on our 2025 Outreach Grant Recipients. (Zoom attendees can vote from Zoom.) Please plan to stay briefly following the awesome Postlude.

Thank you,

Jeff Tyler, Moderator, and Your Church Council

Celebrating Steps toward Citizenship

Griselda Canturero, custodian at our former church building, was celebrated last Sunday at an ad hoc lunch. After coming to this country 41 years ago, and starting this Citizenship application 10 years ago, she has received her permanent U.S. Residency card. Citizenship will follow automatically in 5 years.

Current Staff and Preaching Arrangements

The Rev. Anne Cohen is currently serving 10 hrs./week as Acting Office Associate. She is serving an additional 5 hrs./week as a Staff Coordinator offering support for our staff.

Our Church Council is in the process of bringing in an Interim Minister whose skills will include: leading worship, preaching, providing interim guidance, as well as offering pastoral care to, and interacting with, the rest of our members and staff. A zoom interview was held Monday evening with one candidate.

The Rev. Scott Furukawa and the Rev. Anne Cohen are leading worship, preaching and are available on Sundays after worship for pastoral interactions with folks. The Rev. Carolyn Olney is assisting with Pastoral Care.

Direct questions to our Moderator Jeff Tyler and the Church Council.

Current Preaching Schedule:

August 31 - Rev. Scott Furukawa

September 7 - Rev. Anne Cohen

September 14 - Rev. Anne Cohen

September 21 - Rev. Scott Furukawa

September 28 - Rev. Scott Furukawa

October 5 - Rev. Anne Gardner (guest)

This schedule will be added to or changed once an Interim Minister is selected.

Got some youth news? Send along to Anne Cohen in the office for her to share. We love to see all our youth and young adults succeed in various endeavors.

Events of Interest from our Southern California Nevada Conference Newsletter

Interfaith Learning Opportunity

This month CLUE is hosting two workshops as part of the Revolutionary Nonviolent Activism series, rooted in the legacy of Rev. James Lawson—civil rights icon and pioneer of nonviolent resistance. Whether you're standing with workers, protesting unjust policies, or applying nonviolent principles in everyday life, these sessions offer perspectives and practical tools for action. Aug 24 - Nonviolence in the Jewish Tradition has already occurred. Please click the link below to register for this remaining, free, in person session.

Sat, Aug 30 - Interfaith Perspective on Nonviolence (LB)

AI DATA CENTERS...

Emerging threats demand emerging strategies. The rise of AI data centers has been a driver in the rise in power demand and increasing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Moreover, the advanced cooling systems required by these data centers necessitate high levels of water consumption which can have serious ecological consequences, especially in places of water scarcity. Finally, the technological components of AI data centers require the extracting of rare earth minerals in addition to generating enormous amounts of electronic waste. The justice concerns intertwined with these issues are many when one considers the racial and economic disparities in bearing the cost of everything from increased utility bills to the harms of climate change. To address what is at stake and point us toward emerging strategies, we will hear from Anthony Rogers-Wright from the Black Hive of Movement for Black Lives, Nayyirah Shariff from Flint Rising, Wanda Mosley from Black Voters Matter, and Lindsay Harper from Arm in Arm. Even if you cannot make our scheduled time of Wednesday, September 10 at 1 pm ET/10 am PT, still sign-up, and we will send you a recording afterward. Register now!

Women's Retreat - Rest is Resistance November 14th-16th

First Congregational Church of Long Beach is hosting a Women's Retreat this fall at Pilgrim Pines and would like to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to attend. This year’s theme, Rest Is Resistance — inspired by the work of Tricia Hersey — invites us to slow down and truly rest as we reconnect with nature, with one another, and with ourselves. Together, we’ll engage Hersey’s insights and explore how holy rest helps us reject the demands of hustle culture, renew our inner connection to the Divine, and discover sustainable rhythms we can carry with us when we return home.

You can attend for the whole weekend or Saturday only. Scholarships are available.

Retreat Details at a Glance:

When: November 14–16, 2025

Where: Pilgrim Pines Camp, Oak Glen, CA

Cost: $190 Friday-Sunday

$95 Saturday Only

Registration deadline: October 19

Questions? Email Rev. Wally Hoeger at whoeger@firstchurchlb.org

Outreach Grants

Every year our church supports local organizations through Outreach Grants. To share what they are doing with these grants we will share links for two 2024 grantees in each of the next few Touchstones. Be prepared to be excited about the good things happening in the Pasadena area.

Door of Hope – to support their Transitional Housing Program that offers food, shelter and comprehensive services that help families successfully transition into permanent housing. Supportive services are offered to families that include case management, financial counseling, and job and career services.

Door of Hope Report

Pasadena Educational Foundation – to support the staff and supplies for the Black Living History Museum for students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 in the Pasadena Unified School District. Their report along with a short video has specific information about this year’s program.

Pasadena Education Foundation Report

Nurture Your Body & Soul

These are ongoing ways to participate in hands-on outreach work and things that nurture your spirit.

Join us! Details below.

1. SoulCollage® is a practice that helps us express our inner life by using images from magazines, photos, the internet and more. It is deeply intuitive as you put together certain images that you are drawn to. Join us for creativity and community each month. Learn more at https://soulcollage.com/

The next SoulCollage® workshop is Sat. August 30, 10:00 a.m - 12:00p.m. in person and remotely. Contact leader Rev. Anne for questions or to be added to the monthly email list: acohen99@sbcglobal.net

2. We continue to offer occasional Table Gatherings modeling after Jesus who gathered with folks around tables to share food and drink. We invite folks to open their homes/yards for a meal. It’s a chance to have a potluck together, connect, and catch up on a meaningful level.

If you wish to host one, please reach out to our Membership Chairperson Josh Ashenmiller at jashenmiller@gmail.com

Tangible Ways To Support Community Outreach

Here are some hands-on ways to get involved with helping others.

-Friends in Deed-

Lu Burd who coordinates our outreach with Friends in Deed is in touch with them about additional volunteer needs. We currently stock shelves on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 2:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. Please contact coordinator Lu Burd at luburd@gmail.com if you want to volunteer.

-Union Station Homeless Services-

We have been serving meals monthly for decades. We prep and serve a meal the 1st Monday for nine months each year. If you are interested in being on a team or subbing, please contact Lu Burd at luburd@gmail.com

New Emails for Church Staff

In order to streamline operations for FCCUCC Pasadena, Mary Camacho has created a domain for us. All our files can be stored here. Each staff person can have a generic email rather than use personal email for church business. As they are created (e.g. Minister@, Treasurer@) we will post them here.

Bookkeeper, Arcel Clementson:

bookkeeper@uccpasadena.org

Office Associate, Anne Cohen currently:

churchoffice@uccpasadena.org

Please add these to your contacts and use them as much as possible for church business. This will ease future transitions!

Upcoming Events for your Calendar

August 30: SoulCollage(R)

September 7: Congregational Meeting re 2025 Grants

September 9: Church Council Meeting (zoom)

September 27: SoulCollage(R)

October 7: Church Council Meeting (zoom)

October 12: Outreach Grant Recipients Luncheon

Pasadena CROP Walk at FUMC

October 19: Rise Against Hunger with FUMC & Islamic Ctr

October 25: SoulCollage(R)

October 26: Halloween Party

November 4: Church Council Meeting (zoom)

November 9: Baked Potato Bar

November 16: FUMC Women's Tea

November 22: SoulCollage(R)

November 30: Advent Festival

December 2: Church Council Meeting (zoom)

December 13: SoulCollage(R)

December 24: Christmas Eve Service

More about each event as we get closer!

Sermon Podcast:

Did you miss a worship service and want to hear the sermon? Please visit uccpasadena.org and select 'podcasts' from the menu on top of the home page or click below

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/uccpasadena