Sunday School's Lenten Mission Begins!

Lent is here, that means Heifer Project at FUMC!

The Sunday School's annual Lenten mission to raise funds for Heifer International is underway.

Heifer sends live animals to people in need around the world.  Live chickens give eggs, goats give milk and the gift keeps on giving.  Help support the Sunday School mission in the coming weeks.  Watch for youth announcements about Bessie and Bossy.

Special Heifer Challenge:  The pastors have challenged us to collect $1,000 in straight donations.  When we reach $500, one of our pastors will come as a pig to worship.  When we reach $1,000, a second pastor will come as a pig to worship.  Look for the Portia the Heifer Pig box during coffee hour.  On 2/26, we collected $125 toward our goal.  Help us get to $500 on March 4.

Sunday, March 4
8:45 AM:Heifer Project kick-off breakfast. Parents and children of all ages come to the Fellowship Hall to learn more about the work of Heifer International, our Lenten Sunday School mission effort led by our Sunday School classes. Youth will share the story! (Children will then go to Sunday School classes about 9:15.)

March 11
Heifer Project Sales during Coffee Hour:  Bake/craft sales by Sunday School Grades 2-4 with Grades 2-4 doing children's mission moment in worship.

March  18
Heifer Project Sales during Coffee Hour:  Bake/craft sales by Sunday School Grades PreK-4 with Grades PreK-1 doing mission moment in worship.

March 25
Heifer Project Sales during Coffee Hour:  Bake/craft sales by Grades 5-6 with Grades 5-6 doing mission moment in worship.  Watch for a special Sunday School presentation during coffee hour.

April 1

Palm Sunday- Children rehearse during (some of) Sunday School hour for Easter performance
10:00- Children process into worship waving Palm fronds after worship youth sponsored Egg Hunt party in cloister (NOTE change of location)  

April 8 Easter

Children’s Choirs sing Introit; Children adorn the Resurrection Cross during worship 

Special Note: You can begin Heifer project contributions this Sunday in the Fellowship hall. Look for the Portia Pig box! With each $500 one of your pastors will come as a pig to worship!!!

Docent Tours at First Church

Docent Tours will be available after Worship on the third Sunday of each Month.

The Arts Committee docents of First United Methodist Church will be available to provide brief sanctuary and chapel tours on a regular basis after worship on the third Sunday of each month beginning March 18th.  

The March tours will begin  following the Azusa Pacific University Men's Chorale concert which immediately follows the Sunday service.

Tours will begin at the back of the sanctuary (at the north end) following the end of worship. Look for one of our friendly docents who will be ready to answer any of your questions regarding the rich and storied history and architecture of our church. 

Don't forget to stop by the angel Lenten exhibit in coffee hour following the service and concert.

Three Free Organ Concerts in Pasadena

THREE PASADENA CHURCHES BEGIN FREE PIPE-ORGAN SERIES

PASADENA, February 10, 2012 — Three Pasadena churches and their organists will join forces for “Pipe Organs Inspire” - free-admission organ concerts on March 17, March 31 and April 14 in the Playhouse District of downtown Pasadena.
 

The series will begin March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 500 East Colorado Blvd. The second concert will be March 31 at 7:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 80 Oakland St. The series will conclude on April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, 585 East Colorado Blvd.

Each of the church’s organists — Ae-Kyong Kim (FUMC), David Wolfe (FCCS) and Timothy Howard (PPC) — will perform on all three programs, playing music selected especially for the particular instrument. All concerts will be free of admission charges; voluntary offerings will be taken at each event.

“Our goal,” says Todd Alan, series coordinator, “was for our churches to collaborate in a unique way that would offer high-quality programs for the community and beyond, giving people a chance to hear three magnificent instruments in churches that they may never have considered entering before.”

MARCH 17 — First United Methodist Church, Pasadena

Host organist: Ae-Kyong Kim

Ae-Kyong Kim has been organist at FUMC since 2003 and served in similar positions at Wilshire United Methodist Church, Immanuel Presbyterian Church and L.A. Open Door Presbyterian Church. A native of Seoul, she holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in organ performance from USC where she also studied choral conducting.

Kim’s selections on the March 17 concert will be Mozart’s Fantasy in F Minor, K. 608, and three movements from Charles-Marie Widor’s Symphony No. 6. On the program, Wolfe will play music by J.S. Bach and Clarence Mader and Howard will perform music by Mendelssohn and Buxtehude.

FUMC’s organ was originally built in 1923 by the E.M. Skinner Co. It was remodeled in 1955 by Aeolian-Skinner and in 1974 by Manuel Rosales. It has four manuals and 65 ranks of pipes.

MARCH 31 — First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pasadena

Host organist: David Wolfe

David Wolfe held his first church organist position at the age of 13. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Music from Fresno State and then went to Europe, where he studied under Parisian organist Daniel Roth and received the Konzertreife (Performer’s Certificate) in Organ at the Musikhochschule des Saarlandes in Saarbrücken, Germany. Upon his return to the United States, Wolfe completed the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance, with specializations in Organ, Counterpoint, Music History and Jazz Studies at University of Southern California.

On the March 31 program, Wolfe will play music by Gaston Litaize and Maurice Duruflé and César Franck’s Chorale No. 1 in E Major. Kim will perform music by J.S. Bach and Alexandre Guilmant, while Howard will play selections by George Thalben-Ball, Seth Bingham and Herbert Howells.

The organ at First Church of Christ Scientist, Pasadena, was originally built by Murray Harris Co. in 1909, then remodeled by Schantz Organs in 1964 and Kenneth Simpson in 1967. It contains three manuals, 48 stops and 51 ranks of pipes.

APRIL 14 — PasadenaPresbyterian Church

Host organist: Timothy Howard

Timothy Howard has been organist at Pasadena Presbyterian Church for six years and Director of Music for the past four. Prior to coming to Pasadena Presbyterian, he was associate organist-choirmaster at All Saints Church, Pasadena, for 13 years. He is also a lecturer in music at Cal State Northridge and head of the school’s organ program.

Howard holds a Doctor of Music Arts degree, with honors, from USC and also has degrees from Westminster Choir College and Biola University. In addition to being a noted organist and conductor, he has composed organ scores for the silent films “Nosferatu,” “From the Manger to the Cross,” and “The Life and Passion of  Jesus Christ” and other works.

On April 14, Howard will play J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B Minor, BWV 544, and the final three movements of Louis Vierne’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 42, No. 2. Kim will play music by Marcel Dupré and Wolfe will perform selections by Widor and Olivier Messiaen.

PPC’s organ was originally built by Murray Harris Co. in 1908. A new organ, incorporating some of Harris’ work, was begun by Aeolian-Skinner Co. in 1947 and completed in 1961. Subsequent remodeling was undertaken by Casavant Frères Ltée. in 1979 and Schantz Organ Co. in 2003. The organ now has four manuals with 111 ranks of pipes, making it one of the larger instruments in Southern California.

More information on the series can be found online at www.pipeorgansinspire.com or by calling Bob Thomas at 323/257-3817.

ECPAC - Friends in Deed Annual Meeting

by Pam Marx

ECPAC and Friends in Deed Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held at First United Methodist Church Pasadena on February 16th at 6 PM.

FUMC Pasadena hosts the ECPAC/Friends in Deed annual meeting to share important information about ECPAC's programs and progress.  The purpose of Friends In Deed is to provide basic services to improve the quality of life for low income and homeless people.  Friends In Deed facilitates religious and community partnerships to provide coordinated and effective social service to those in need.

An outreach of Pasadena area congregations, Friends In Deed has established relationships within the religious community, with other community agencies, business and local government.

Member churches are asked to send three members to attend the meeting and vote, but interested members of the community are welcome to attend as well.  There will be light food provided.

When:
Thursday, February 16th at 6:00 PM at
First United Methodist Church of Pasadena
500 E. Colorado Blvd. 
Pasadena, Ca. 91101

For more information about ECPAC
For more information about First United Methodist Church


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Three Pipe Organ Recitals in Pasadena in March and April

Three Pasadena Churches
Three Extraordinary Organists
Three Unique Pipe Organ Recitals

Pipe Organs Inspire - Three Organ Recital.

March 17 at First United Methodist Church
March 31 at First Church of Christ, Scientist
April 14 at Pasadena Presbyterian Church

Each program begins at 7:30 PM

Organists Ae-Kyong Kim, David K. Wolfe and Timothy Howard will perform at each recital offering a unique opportunity to hear each on their “home” organ and on two other excellent instruments.

As each organs represent very dif­ferent approach to organ construction, the repertoire for each pro­gram has been carefully selected to maximize each in­stru­ment’s strengths and tonal attributes.

Each program is FREE and open to the public
with your Free Will Offering.

March 17 2012
First United Methodist Church
500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca 91101

March 31, 2012
First Church of Christ, Scientist Pasadena
80 Oakland Street
Pasadena, CA 91101

April 14, 2012
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
585 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, CA 91101

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The Art of Fugue at First Church March 6th

The Art of Fugue by J. S. Bach at First Church

Tuesday, March 6th, 7:30 PM
at
First United Methodist Church
500 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101

"The governing idea of the work is an exploration in depth of the contrapuntal possibilities inherent in a single musical subject."
- Christoph Wolff, eminent Bach specialist.

"The Art of Fugue is the last of Bach's great monothematic cycles. Often characterized as the "greatest," such a designation demeans aspects of monothematicism unique to the other three: the Musical Offering, Goldberg Variations, and canonic variations on Vom Himmel hoch. Whereas the Art of Fugue manifests its greatness in thematic transformation and fugue, the Musical Offering and Vom Himmel hoch demonstrate the rigors of canon, while the Goldberg develops a variety of keyboard styles unified by two-part form and bass line."
- Sojurn

Performed by the Brass Quintets from:
Azusa Pacific University School of Music
Colburn Conservatory of Music
California Institute of the Arts
California State University, Long Beach
University of Southern California

This event is FREE and open to the public with your
free will offering in support of the FUMC Friends of Music program.

For more information, please contact Cheri Cole at 909-262-6837 or by email at tptgirl@aol.com

Sunday School Mission Cupcake Sale

Sunday, February 12th at Coffee Hour look for FUMC children's Valentines Cupcake Sale!

The Sunday school children invite you to purchase a cupcake treat during coffee hour this Sunday, February 12th, to support ECPAC/Friends in Deed, which is one of our local community partners serving the homeless in Pasadena. 

ECPAC runs a local Pasadena food pantry, a women's room for homeless women and the bad weather shelter program.  Please come out and support our children in this fundraiser for this important work.

- Pam Marx

Eugene Onegin in Pasadena

The lyrical opera Eugene Onegin comes to First Church in Pasadena.

Sunday, March 11th, 2012, at 7:00 PM - The musical genius of Tchaikovsky adds lyrical vibrancy and tragic poignancy to Pushkin’s classic novel in verse Eugene Onegin. Pushkin is the most loved and revered Russian poet and Tchaikovsky, the most lyrical of Russian composers. 

Eugene Onegin tells the story of a young man who foolishly rejects the love of a sensitive, romantically naive girl; then provokes a senseless argument with his best friend – both of which he comes to deeply regret.

Music Director Brian Farrell will lead a cast of talented opera singers in this performance.

Eugene Onegin
Sunday, March 11th at 7:00 PM
First United Methodist Church
500 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA.

This encore concert is free, sponsored by the Music Department of First United Methodist Church. A tax-deductible, free will offering will be taken to support the church’s Music Ministries.

Image - Eugene Onegin and Vladimir Lensky's duel 1899, by artist Ilya Repin

Haiti Mission Trip 2012 info meeting.

Missions, Peace & Justice to hold a special HAITI VOLUNTEERS IN MISSION INTEREST MEETING

January 12^th marked the second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake that devastated an entire country. There is still so much work to be done in helping to rebuild the homes and lives of the people of Haiti.

First United Methodist Church Missions, Peace & Justice Committee will be sponsoring our long awaited 2012 Mission Trip to Haiti and will hold an interest meeting on February 7th at 6:30pm in the FELLOWSHIP HALL. We are looking for anyone willing to serve: carpenters, contractors, engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, cooks; there is something for everyone.

This meeting is open to anyone interested in supporting the trip and/or going to Haiti.   Come find out how you can support our FUMC Team!

If you would like more information, please see Rev. Allison Mark or Jessica Ardo, MPJ Chair.

PLEASE PASS THE WORD ON TO OTHERS IN YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.