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Touchstone
for
The Third Sunday
of Lent
March 8, 2026
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On Saturday, March 7, Daylight Savings Begins. Be sure to reset your clocks before going to sleep.
Spring forward one hour!
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Welcome to First Congregational U.C.C. in Pasadena
"Spirituality, Justice, Welcome"
Our "Interim" Minister, Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice, is here as our partner in searching for a new "Installed" Minister. She will lead us through history and identity work, delve into the values and skills we hope to find in our new person. Meanwhile, we hope to see all of you in the days and weeks ahead as we meet the changes and challenges of our community, country and beyond. See below for worship details, service opportunities such as local Protests, stocking shelves at the Food Pantry, preparing Union Station meals, and upcoming events like our History Workshop.
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“Caring for others in Pasadena and beyond since 1885."
"Open and Affirming" since 1993.
A "Just Peace" and "Sanctuary" Church.
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NOTE: Don't miss a thing! If the Touchstone is longer than a few pages, there will be this note at the bottom of your email:
"[Message clipped] View entire message". If you click on that note you will be able to see the entire Touchstone online.
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Third Sunday of Lent * March 8, 2026
Scripture Readings
New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)
Exodus 17:5-7
5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
John 4:5-15
5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)[a 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Reflection
“Splash!”
This third Sunday in Lent we consider how God sustains us in weary seasons - how we may discover rivers in the desert and water in the wilderness. Are you thirsty? Come be refreshed!
Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
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Baptism of Caleb Komin: Rev.Scott Furukawa
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Liturgist: John Gamber-Thompson
Zoom: Kim Story
Ushers: Ron White, Jeff Levison, James Maddox
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Music from Connie
We celebrate Jesus’ love and Caleb’s baptism
with various sorts of water music!
We hope to see you Sunday.
Connie Washburn
| | If you are a Zoom worshipper, you will be able to access the Bulletin through a link when you log onto Zoom on Sunday. The worship link is near the bottom of this Touchstone. | | |
Church School
Jesus Welcomes All and Loves All
(Matthew 5:14-6:34; Mark 10:13–17)
Theme: Jesus includes everyone, especially those left out and those who are hardest to love..
Justice Tie-In: Radical inclusion.
Resources: Growing in God’s Love; A Story Bible (GGL)
Jesus Blesses the Children, p. 340
I Wonder; Exploring God’s Grand Story (IW)
What Jesus Said, p. 126
Strictly NO Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
Drama & Art: Create a "Welcome Table"; decorate name cards for everyone God loves, naming broad categories (immigrants, hungry folks, babies) and specific people.
Join Krysty and Michael this Sunday.
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Worship Partners 2026
March 7: Daylight Savings Begins (evening)
Spring forward one hour
March 8: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
Liturgist: John Gamber-Thompson
Zoom: Kim Story
Ushers: Ron White, Jeff Levison, James Maddox
Baptism of Caleb Komin: Rev.Scott Furukawa
March 15: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
Liturgist: Cheryl Farrell
Zoom: Anne Cohen * Usher: Sandra Biehler
March 22: Pulpit Supply: Rev. Scott Furukawa
Liturgist: Elizabeth Lanski
Zoom: Michael Hutchinson * Usher: Jeff Tyler
March 29: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice * PALM SUNDAY
Liturgist: Kim Story
Zoom: Jeff Levison * Ushers: Lu Burd and John Gamber-Thompson
April 5: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice * EASTER
Liturgist: Bettie Teel
Zoom: Wesly Moore * Usher: Aren Burd
April 12: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
Liturgist: Cheryl Farrell
Zoom: John Gamber-Thompson
Ushers: Ron White, Jeff Levison, James Maddox
April 19: Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
Liturgist: Josh Ashenmiller
Zoom: Kim Story * Usher: Sandra Biehler
April 26: Pulpit Supply: tba
Liturgist: Allan Rohlfs
Zoom: tba * Usher: Jeff Tyler
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Lenten Spiritual Practice
As a follow up to Sunday's sermon about Abraham, perhaps include in your prayer each day, "Where have I been blessed? How have I been a blessing?"
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2026 Easter Lilies Order Form
Please help the Chapel look glorious with the purchase of one or more plants in honor or memory of a loved one. We will list all remembered persons in our Easter bulletin.
Dedications must be emailed to Anne at: churchoffice@uccpasadena.org no later than Monday March 30th to be included in the Easter bulletin.
Click image to the left to download an Order Form.
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HISTORY WORKSHOP
After Worship * Sunday March 15, 2026 * Light Lunch
Part of our Interim Work
Understanding the history of our Church is essential to the interim process. It allows us to see patterns (for better or for worse), see our current church culture in context, take what we need or love from the past -
but leave the rest.
On March 15th after worship we will have a light lunch and delve into an exploration of what brought us to this time and place.
It will be fun, revelatory, healing, helpful in finding the right new minister(s).
Rev. Sandy and Rev. Anne will co-lead this process.
See you there!!!
P.S. Our centennial history of the church, Kept by Grace, was created in 1986.
If you have an update written since then, please let us know!!
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Women's Scholarship Time is Here!
Access the Application on
the church website.
Link is below.
Deadline is March 31st
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Book Study for Lent
Sacred Self-Care:
Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves
by Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes
The Season of Lent is here. In these tumultuous times, not to mention this season of transition in our own congregation, spiritual and emotional self-care are necessary. We are invited to read this book and later in Lent, after worship, we can have a check-in conversation about how we are all doing.
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Join San Gabriel Foothills Indivisible
Every Saturday
11:00–1:00 PM
Colorado Blvd & Fair Oaks, Pasadena
ICE must be held Accountable for their Illegal, Inhuman, and Unconstitutional Actions.
Congress Must Act – and Do Their Job: Oversight, Accountability, and Real Consequences.
Bring Your Voice! Bring your Signs! Bring a Friend.
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"No Kings 3.0"
Saturday * March 28
Save the Date!!
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Nurture Your Body & Soul
These are ongoing ways to participate in things that nurture your spirit.
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 this Saturday, March 7, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m. in person and on Zoom. Contact facilitator Rev. Anne for questions or to be added to the monthly email list: acohen99@sbcglobal.net
For an album of cards made by this group go to: Cards
Future SoulCollage® Retreat Dates in 2026
All Saturdays 10am-12pm
March 7, April 25, May 23, June 27
(Because Anne is out of town February 28 and because of the recently scheduling of the "No Kings 3.0" Protest on March 28, we are combining Feb/Mar events.)
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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
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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 in the Food Pantry on the
2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month
from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please contact Lu at luburd@gmail.com
if you want to volunteer.
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Union Station Homeless Services
We have been serving meals monthly at Union Station in Pasadena for decades. We prep and serve dinner the 1st Monday for nine months each year. (We donate a Smart & Final gift card for January, May and September.)
If you are interested in being on a team or subbing, please contact Lu Burd at luburd@gmail.com
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Volunteer in the FUMC
Community Pantry
Volunteering is a wonderful way to participate in the ministry of First United Methodist Church and give back to the community. One of our most impactful services is our Community Pantry.
The pantry is open every Tuesday from
10 a.m. to noon
@ 500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Our volunteers typically serve between 40 to 50 of our neighbors here in Pasadena who are experiencing food insecurities. It would not be possible to help so many people without our dedicated volunteers.
There are a number of ways you can help with the mission of the pantry.
- Hand out food on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. until noon.
- Run our coffee cart and chat with our clients during distribution.
- Reset our pantry inventory on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
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Share your ideas: If you see an opportunity to help in a different way, share your ideas with our pantry manager: Suzi Lohr
Click HERE to sign up for a volunteer slot.
No experience volunteering is required. We will help you learn all you need to know. Volunteering at the pantry is a rewarding experience and a blessing to those who benefit from your generosity.
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Current Staff 2026
The Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice is our Interim Minister for a year at 3/4 time.
The Rev. Carolyn Olney will continue to partner with Rev. Sandy for Pastoral Care.
The Rev. Anne Cohen will continue to serve as Acting Office Associate.
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When possible please use the church email account for Rev. Sandy:
sandytice@uccpasadena.org
(note that there is no ‘dot’ between Sandy and Tice).
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Upcoming Events for your Calendar
March 7: SoulCollage® (10am-12)
March 7: Daylight Savings Begins (evening)
March 8: Baptism of Caleb Komin (11:30am)
March 10: Church Council (7pm Zoom)
March 12: Food Pantry Volunteers (2-3:30pm)
March 15: HISTORY WORKSHOP (Interim Work)
March 22-28: Rev. Sandy away
March 26: Food Pantry Volunteers (2-3:30pm)
March 28: NO KINGS PROTEST (time tba)
March 29: Palm Sunday Festival
March 31: Women's Scholarship Deadline
April 5: Easter Sunday
April 6: Prep and Serve Dinner at Union Station
April 9: Food Pantry Volunteers (2-3:30pm)
April 14: Church Council (7pm Zoom)
April 23: Food Pantry Volunteers (2-3:30pm)
April 24-30: Rev. Sandy away
April 25: SoulCollage® (10am-12)
May 2: Women's Scholarship Tea (Midday)
May 12: Church Council (7pm Zoom)
May 23: SoulCollage® (10am-12)
May 25-31: Rev. Sandy away
May 31: Celebrate GRADS!
June 7: Spring Business Meeting (after worship)
in the lounge beyond the kitchen
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Previous Sunday
A Zoom recording of the March 1st Worship Service can be found at the link to the right. Passcode: nY?7^P=2
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Sunday Worship Zoom Link
You are invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting Sunday mornings at 11:30a.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada).
A link to the worship bulletin will be available in the chat after you log on.
Join Zoom Worship
https://zoom.us/j/94621786057?pwd=YncmXYBX006gfBTBPuYP6HVSOBdeI2.1
Meeting ID: 946 2178 6057
Passcode: 982594
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Office Hours
Rev. Dr. Sandy Tice
Sandy is typically in the office from
9am-1pm on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
Please email Sandy at
sandytice@uccpasadena.org
You may also leave a message at 626.795.0696
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Office Hours
Sallie McNair
Sallie is typically in the office from
8am-12pm on
Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Please email Sallie at salliefcc@yahoo.com
for more specific hours.
You may also leave a message at 626.795.0696
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Office Hours
Anne Cohen
Anne is typically in the office from
9am-1pm on
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Please email Anne at churchoffice@uccpasadena.org
You may also leave a message
at 626.795.0696
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We worship at 11:30 a.m.
in the Chapel of First Methodist Church each Sunday and also via Zoom.
We are the First Congregational Church
of Pasadena,
United Church of Christ
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Our offices are located
upstairs at
500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Telephone: (626) 795-0696
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