Labor of Love was anything but work

How does one summarize a week that felt like a miracle? 

I guess by saying that the FUMC Pasadena “Labor of Love” VBS summer camp this year was a miracle.

Miracles are the things that happen that seem to be acts of God and are “amazing, extraordinary or unexpected.” Yes, that was pretty much what VBS was this year. But, this does not happen without everyone involved having a spirit of full, enthusiastic participation and giving; then it all builds on itself and by the end of the week...you  have a house nearly completed that every child has helped build!

60 children, many from the community and 40+ staff (youth to seniors) came together for our week of joy and constructed a playhouse for Ronald McDonald house in Pasadena, thanks to the incredible design and directing of Karen Hanselman. 

The entire staff was excellent, engaged and enthusiastic.  We sang, prayed, snacked, had recreation and water play, donated offering  money to Habitat and School supplies and backpacks to foster children. Our talented church musicians.  Mark and Holly Goldstein composed songs just for us, and we spent quality conversation time with a family living in a Habitat house. Pasadena Star news came to cover our ‘Construction Zone and put FUMC Pasadena VBS on the front page on Saturday July 14.

This is just a sampling of our incredible week. WE LOVE VBS, and we are so Blessed to share in this Ministry with so many at FUMC Pasadena!

Open Door Sunday - July 15

Open Door Sunday is coming July 15th at FUMC Pasadena 

The FUMC Pasadena Arts Committee invites you to Open Door Sunday - a mid day event featuring food, music and art in the Colorado Blvd., patio following worship on July 15 from 11 to 12:30pm. 

Our goal is to meet and get to know our neighbors and live our creed of "open heart, open mind, open door!"  We encourage everyone to bring family and friends to help us welcome the community and introduce them to our inviting church.

Artwork displayed will come from our members and from class given by our very own congregation.

Music by the Jazz Afro beat ensemble Earthcake will on hand as will a number of children's activities such as face painting and a sanctuary scavenger hunt for families.  Docent tours of the nearly 100 year old historic church will also be made available.

Following the Open Door celebration, be sure to stay for the Arnel DePano performance at 1pm.

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Open Door Sunday is Coming

The Arts Committee, of FUMC Pasadena, is hosting an Open Door Sunday picnic with music and art in the Colorado patio following worship, at 11:30, on July 15th, 2012.

Pamela Marx, the Arts Committee chair who organized this event, said that the goal of Open Doors Sunday is "to show the vibrancy of our church to our neighbors through our creed of 'open heart, open mind, open doors.'  The event invites us to bring friends and welcome the community to an art show around the theme of 'open doors' and 'welcome.'"

We invite all First Church members to bring an artwork for display that morning.  Some of the art we will show comes from the sketch class, led by John Evans, and the Sunday School art classes, led by Lisa and Nicole Saint.

We ask that members bring potluck side dishes like salads and casseroles.  Hot Dogs will be provided. 

We encourage all those in attendance to “picnic” on the patio.  This Sunday coincides with our VBS celebration Sunday and we hope our Vacation Bible School families and newcomers will join in.  Music will be performed by the jazz/Afro-beat ensemble Earthcake, and there will be children’s activities, face painting and a sanctuary scavenger hunt. Docent tours of the church will also be available. 

We hope you can join us for this very special Open Doors picnic!

UMC Family Night at Dodger Stadium in August

The 30th Annual United Methodist Family Night at Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers
vs.
Chicago Cubs!

Friday, August 3, 2012
7:10pm

Discount Ticket Price: $17

 

PLUS - every ticket includes $5 in Dodger Dollars for food and merchandise

PLUS - Every ticket includes $2 to benefit the Cal-Pac Summer Camp Program

PLUS - For United Methodist ticket holders only - receive a FREE LA Dodger blanket

 (One blanket per ticket - only available if picked up at the Conference Center)

PLUS - 4 kids from our group will be eligible to take the field with a Dodger Player!!

PLUS - Free fireworks show after the game!

Contact Rev. Allison Mark for tickets.

Rent-a-Youth

Rent-a-Youth returns to FUMC Pasadena! 

Have you been putting off those spring cleaning projects? Don’t have the time or the energy? Well we have a solution to your problem! 

Hire a First United Methodist Church Youth to do the work for you. 

You will be helping our youth to earn money for their choir tour and you will be helping yourself by being able to get the work you need done - done! 

It’s a win win situation for everyone! 

Hired youth earn $10.00 an hour, usually working in teams of  two at a time, unless it’s a one person job such as babysitting or the like. 

So if you have yard work, housework, babysitting, or any other kind of work, call Nancy Elrod, the First Church Rent-a-Youth Coordinator, at 626-798-2564, or the Church Office for more information. 

Support the youth of our church today!