Learn about the Methodist Church

The next New Member Inquirer’s Class at First United Methodist Church of Pasadena is coming Sunday, September 30; from 11:30 am.-2:00 pm.

This class is ideal for those considering membership in the Methodist Church or simply seeking more information about the United Methodist Church.

This session is designed to offer opportunity to connect with the pastors and key persons in the church representing our many ministries and fellowship opportunities.  We will review United Methodist beliefs and organization, and the meaning of membership.  All are invited. 

We will join together, beginning with lunch, in the Church Lounge, downstairs in the Education building off of Green Street. There will be signs to guide you. 

Childcare will be available as needed with your RSVP.  Please email Rev. Debbie Gara at dgara@fumcpasadena.org or call the Church Office at 626.796.0157.

Change the World Pasadena Bible Study

CHANGE THE WORLD:  OUR CALL TO SERVE

featuring

Dr. Marjorie Suchocki & Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir,

Leaders in Mission at FUMC & Old-Fashioned Methodist Potluck

Sunday Evenings - October 14 through November 11

Starting at 5:30 in the Church Lounge 

 

SpiritSeekers' fall series of speakers and panels could not be more "Methodist."  Each session will begin with an old fashioned potluck and end with a call to service.  Bring a dish to share (can anyone find that recipe for green jello salad?) and stay for an inspiring celebration of what it means to be a Christian disciple in the 21st Century.  Dr. Suchocki and Dr. Slessarev-Jamir will describe the scriptural, theological, and ethical bases for discipleship.  Members of FUMC and the local community will share details of their work in mission here and now.  

Dr. Marjorie Suchocki kicks off the series on Sunday, October 14, with her talk titled "Discipleship:  Inside/Outside."  Dr. Suchocki's professional career brought her to Claremont School of Theology in 1990, where she served as Professor of Theology, and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean.  In 2001, she became a Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies in Claremont, and many of her numerous publications focus on Process Theology.  Dr. Suchocki has also offered her time and talents to the National Council of Churches, Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church, and as a resource for local churches and pastoral groups throughout the United States.

On Sunday, October 21, your friends will describe how to answer the call to serve at FUMC with Adopt-a-Social Worker, the Prayer Quilt Ministry, Shepherds, Sky Meadows Camp, Social Services, Union Station Sunday Meals,  and  in other capacities, including small group leaders.

The program on Sunday, October 28, shifts the focus to how to serve in the Pasadena community, highlighting ECPAC's Women's Room and Cold Weather Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Learning Works, the Muir High School Farm, the Prison Ministry, and the newly formed Pasadena Mission Area Project.

The Sunday, November 4, panel focuses on how to serve in this country and in the world.  Panel members will highlight numerous opportunities for mission under Volunteers in Mission (VIM) and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), including Project Tariro in Zimbabwe, Burning Churches, and US Disaster Response.  We'll also welcome home FUMC's mission to Haiti.

Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir, professor of Ethics, Politics and Society at Claremont School of Theology, will wrap up the series on Sunday, November 11th with her talk "Acting Prophetically at Home and Abroad."  She worked as a union and community organizer in Washington, D.C., and Chicago before starting graduate work.  Dr. Slessarev-Jamir's recent book Prophetic Activism:  Progressive Religious Justice Movements in Contemporary America (NYU Press, 2011), highlights the scriptural roots of congregational community organizing for worker justice, immigrant rights, peacemaking and reconciliation, and global anti-poverty and debt relief.

Childcare is provided as requested, please contact the church office at 626-796-0157 to request.

Welcome Bishop Carcano

Sunday, September 23, 2012 First United Methodist Church of Pasadena.

Celebrating the Assignment of Bishop Minerva Carcaño to the Los Angeles Area of
The United Methodist Church.

Welcome Bishop Carcaño

Dedicating the ministry of Bishop Minerva Carcaño, the installation,
Scripture reading, and sermon. Bishop Minerva Carcaño, preaching.

"What a joy, and how it touches and moves my heart that you would come."

~ Bishop Minerva Carcaño ~

September Messenger

The September Messenger is here!

You can find the September Messenger online at the FUMC Pasadena website.
In this issue...
Welcome to the new Bishop of Cal-Pac
Family Camp Update
Make a Difference Day
Camp Sky Meadows Work Camp
My Last Wishes...booklet
Change the World : Our Call to Serve
Spiritseekers Enough Series
Disciple Bible Study 2 
New Member Inquirer's Class
and lots more...



 
Download your copy from the First United Methodist Church website.

Save the World - Our Call to Serve

SAVE THE WORLD:  OUR CALL TO SERVE
Sunday Evenings - October 14 through November 11; 5:30 PM in the Church Lounge.
Leaders: Dr. Marjorie Suchocki & Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir,
Leaders in Mission at FUMC & Old-fashioned Methodist Potluck.
     What could be more Methodist than service and potlucks? This five-week series sponsored by SpiritSeekers offers both.  Each session will begin with a potluck in the original sense of the term.  Bring a dish to share and stay for an inspiring celebration of what it means to serve.
     Dr. Marjories Suchocki kicks off the series on Sunday, October 14, with reflections on what it means to be a Christian disciple in the 21st Century.   Her professional career brought her to Claremont School of Theology in 1990, where she served as Professor of Theology, and Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean.  In 2001, Dr. Suchocki became a Co-Director of the Center for Process Studies in Claremont, and many of her numerous publications focus on Process Theology.  Dr. Suchocki has also offered her time and talents to the National Council of Churches, Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church, and as a resource for local churches and pastoral groups throughout the United States.
     On Sunday, October 21, your friends will describe how to answer the call to serve at FUMC with Adopt-a-Social Worker, the Prayer Quilt Ministry, Shepherds, Sky Meadows Camp, Social Services, Union Station Sunday Meals,  and  in other capacities, including small group leaders.
     The program on Sunday, October 28, shifts the focus to how to serve in the Pasadena community, highlighting ECPAC’s Women’s Room and Cold Weather Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Learning Works, the Muir High School Farm, the Prison Ministry, and the newly formed Pasadena Mission Area Project.
     The Sunday, November 4, panel focuses on how to serve in this country and in the world.  Panel members will highlight numerous opportunities for mission under Volunteers in Mission (VIM) and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), including Project Tariro in Zimbabwe, Burning Churches, and US Disaster Response.  We’ll also welcome home FUMC’s mission to Haiti.
     Dr. Helene Slessarev-Jamir, professor of Ethics, Politics and Society at Claremont School of Theology, will wrap up the series on Sunday, November 11th.   She worked as a union and community organizer in Washington, D.C., and Chicago before starting graduate work.  Dr. Slessarev-Jamir’s recent book “Prophetic Activism:  Progressive Religious Justice Movements in Contemporary America” (NYU Press, 2011), highlights the scriptural roots of congregational community organizing for worker justice, immigrant rights, peacemaking and reconciliation, and global anti-poverty and debt relief.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW
 
Childcare is provided when needed.  Please contact the church office at 626-796-0157 to arrange in advance.

Volunteers in Mission HAITI Team dates

Interested in attending a Mission to Haiti in October? 

The FUMC Pasadena is preparing for our October 22-30, 2012, Mission Trip to Haiti with several key training events in September.

The team’s next Prep Session covering Cultural Sensitivity and Traveling Abroad will be held on Wednesday, September 12, at 7pm in the Church Lounge. If you are interested in how we are preparing for our journey, please join us!

On September 23 at 4pm, ANYONE who is interested in being trained to work with UMVIM, United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, is invited to attend a special training with Heather Wilson, our Western Jurisdiction UMVIM Trainer.  

For more information on any of the activities above or how you can interact with UMVIM, please contact Jessica Ardo, the FUMC Pasadena Missions Peace and Justice Committee Chair by email at jessardo@gmail.com.

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!