LIFE IN THE MIDST OF NOT KNOWING - FIRSTUMCPASADENA FEBRUARY2020 - FIRSTPASADENA.ORG
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First UMC Pasadena February 2020
Life in the Midst of Not Knowing
Some have asked me if I know yet where God is leading us. My response is, “I
don’t, but please trust the process.” Some of you have told me that you don’t
know where you are going. You are facing uncertainty with your health, with your
job, with your relationships and with your future. These are uncertain times for
our church, for our world and for many of us personally.
When we find ourselves in places of uncertainty and disorientation it often stirs
our anxiety. Yet, the still small voice of God tells us not to be afraid. We read
Psalm 27:1 on Sunday, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold
of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
But how do we do that? Oswald Chamber says that “God does not exist to answer our prayers, but by
our prayers we come to discern the mind of God.” My prayer for us as a church and for each of us as
individuals is that God will calm our fears and help each of us and our church more clearly understand
where God is leading. The future is not for us to decide. It is for us to discern God’s leading. So how do
we discern?
Discernment is a process that exists within the midst of God’s creation among us. Here are some
thoughts about discernment shared by author Susan Beaumont.
1. God is self-revealing and yearns for a relationship with us.
2. God gives us choice, and the choices we make matter to God.
3. Discernment is a gift from God, mediated through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
4. Discernment is a discipline we practice.
5. The truths of God are revealed and tested within community. The community helps us test our
discernment.
6. Discernment unfolds in God’s time.
So, as we discern where God is leading us as a church, my prayer is that we can trust one another and
our leaders to listen for the voice of God among us. Please continue to pray for your leaders, your
pastors and your staff as together we seek alignment with God’s purpose for us and our church. Pray
earnestly that we might be led by the Holy Spirit into a new future.
Faithfully,
Will Reed, Pastor
First Friends 19th Annual Sweet Serenades Fundraiser
Friday, February 7, 2020 at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
First Friends would like to invite you to join them for a great evening of singing by their 2-year-
old, 3-year-old, and 4-year-old students as well as a Silent Auction baskets. Tickets will be sold
from the Day School office for $5.00 per person in advance and $7.00 at the door. All proceeds
from Sweet Serenades will go to help with the purchase of classroom supplies. Your heart will
be blessed by these precious children as they “serenade” us with their songs. We will have our
Silent Auction Baskets on display right outside of the Day School the week of Sweet Serenades
so you can start bidding on what you want! Our baskets will be:
*Bath & Body Works *Campfire Fun *Frozen *Fun in the Sun
*LOL Surprise *Paw Patrol *PJ Masks *Super Heroes
We will also have items to bid on from Raising Canes, Chick-fil-A, Gringo’s, Sally’s Sweets and
Urban Air, with items coming in daily. Thanks so very much for your support of this weekday
ministry of First UMC Pasadena! We are looking forward to seeing you on February 7.
Dan and Miriam would like to thank everyone for the support they have been shown as they
transition into their new roles leading the music for our Contemporary and Traditional services. They
thank Nikki for being a great mentor to them and will continue the community and excellence that
has always been a part of our worship services. Everyone is welcome to become a part of our music
ministry. Contemporary band rehearses Tuesday nights in the Sanctuary, and the Chancel Choir
rehearses Wednesday evenings in the Choir Room. Reading music is not a required skill. A willing
heart, and a joy to praise God through song is all that is required. If you play an instrument, there is
a place for you also! Contact Dan or Miriam to let them know what instrument you play and your skill
level and they will find a place for you to plug in. Feel free to drop in at any rehearsal and share your
gifts and talents.
Contact Information and Office Hours
Miriam Tello Dan Miner
MiriamTello@FirstPasadena.org DanielMiner@FirstPasadena.org
Director of Contemporary/Spanish Music Director of Traditional Music
Office Hours: Monday 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Office Hours: Wednesday Evenings
Tuesday 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
We look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday!
2019 Society of St. Stephen Report
Thank you, church family and friends for your generous support of the Society of St. Stephen. Our
food pantry and assistance office has served our community for almost 28 years.
Our office volunteers worked more than 624 hours in 2019. Additionally our volunteer grocery
shoppers spent many hours purchasing and supplying our pantry with needed items. Support of the
Society of St. Stephen in 2019 also included an estate donation, contributions from Sunday school
classes and donations made to the Pasadena Can-Do Food Drive. Thank you to the volunteers who
helped with the Food Drive so that our pantry remained a recipient of their collection.
2019 totals:
1,697 Total Households Helped
2,614 Adults Helped
2,172 Children Helped
1,520 Bags of Food Distributed ($38,000 value)
22,800 Pounds of food distributed
$6,826.64 Food purchased
$10,852.82 Rental Assistance Paid
$3,054.53 Reliant Energy assistance paid
$1,730.52 CenterPoint Energy assistance paid
$5,526.31 Pasadena water department assistance paid
$550.97 Loving and Caring paid
Total: $59,715.15
We have a team of people who take communion to church members that are unable
to attend worship due to mobility and health issues. If you know of a church member
who is unable to attend worship due to extenuating circumstances regarding their
health, and who might like to have communion brought to them, please let Pastor
Mireya know at MireyaMartinez@FirstPasadena.org and she will make arrangements.
Have you ever wondered what Ash Wednesday is all
about? Receiving the imposition of ashes is a beautiful,
meaningful, and powerful service and experience.
During Ash Wednesday services, we do two major
things: we confront our mortality and we confess our sin
before God. On this day, we consider sin and death in
the light of God’s redeeming love in Jesus Christ.
We will have two opportunities for you to receive the
imposition of ashes on February 26.
Mark your calendars:
Drive Thru Ashes
Noon-1:00 pm in the Front Parking Lot
Ash Wednesday Service
7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Join us as we take time to confess our sin and give
thanks for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Together,
we will “Repent, and believe the Gospel.”
This service will be conducted in English only.
Additionally, Pastor Mireya and J.T. LaRue will be doing the imposition of the ashes at BakerRipley at
10:00 am and Colonial Oaks at 3:00 pm. If you would like to join them in this experience, please
contact Pastor Mireya at MireyaMartinez@FirstPasadena.org.Town Hall Meeting
Sunday, February 9, 2020, 10:00 am | The Center
The First Pasadena Governing Board and the Exploration Team will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on
Sunday, February 9 at 10:00 am to provide updates to the congregation regarding various options for
our future. The meeting will be in The Center, our former Fellowship Hall, which has recently been
renovated by church member volunteers. All youth and adult church members and friends of First United
Methodist Church, Pasadena are encouraged to attend.
Worship/Sermon Series - Lent 2020
Lent is the time between Ash Wednesday and Easter. For many followers of Jesus Christ, it is time to
nurture our faith as we journey toward the joy of Easter. It is a time to prepare for Easter with a season of
penitence, fasting and prayer that we might be reminded once again of the mercy and forgiveness of God
proclaimed and shown to us by Jesus Christ. To put it simply, Lent is a “Journey” and an opportunity for
each of us to renew our dedication and commitment to Christ. Along that journey, we are invited to
examine ourselves in light of God’s grace. Our journey will bring us out of the struggles and difficulties of
life to the joy of resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Sunday, March 1, 2020 – Journey: Out of the Wilderness, Matthew 4:1-11
Sunday, March 8, 2020 – Journey: Out of our Darkness, John 3:1-17
Sunday, March 15, 2020 – Journey: Out of our Blindness, John 9:1-41
Sunday, March 22, 2020 – Journey: Out of our Past, John 4:5-42
Sunday, March 29, 2020 – Journey: Out of our Sorrow, John 11:1-45Envelope Fundraiser
Throughout the month of February, Nex/Gen Ministries is
raising funds for children and youth summer events through
an Envelope Fundraiser. On the wall in the North Atrium you
will find some brightly colored envelopes with a dollar value
printed on them. Supporters are invited to place that dollar
amount or more in the envelope and then place the envelope
into the offering plate during worship or in the wooden box to
the left of the Ministry Center.
The funds raised will go towards several events planned for
this summer including youth mission trips to U.M. ARMY and Big House. Both are wonderful mission
opportunities for our youth in high school and jr. high. The funds raised will also go towards children’s
events including this year’s Easter Egg Picnic and KidzNMotion. Last year our Envelope Fundraiser
raised over seven thousand dollars to support KidzNMotion. It made a huge difference in our ability
to reach over 150 students in the community. Thank you for your generosity!
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact J.T. LaRue at
JTLaRue@FirstPasadena.org.
Capital Campaign Update
Summary Report – December 2019
DEBT as of May 31, 2016 $2,309,007
as of December 31, 2016 $2,205,112
as of December 31, 2017 $1,411,916
as of December 31, 2018 $1,200,607
as of December 31, 2019 $1,132,226.42
Capital Campaign Commitments $1.5 million (Note 1)
Total Paid on Commitments through December 31, 2019 $1,214,876.09 (80.99%)
DEBT as of January 16, 2019 $1,126,449.12
REDUCTION in DEBT since May 31, 2016 $1,182,558.00
Capital Campaign Account as of December 31, 2019 $147,049.49 (Note 2)
Note 1 - In addition to signed capital campaign commitments of $1.42 million over three years (April 2017-March 2020), several church members and friends
are making regular contributions to debt reduction. Over three years these contributions will add over $100,000 to our campaign for an anticipated total
commitments and payments of over $1.5 million.
Note 2 – In November 2018, the Governing Board made a decision to pay only our current monthly obligation of principal and interest and place any
additional capital campaign funds collected in the existing restricted account. We will use that to pay principal on the note after the capital campaign is
completed in March 2020. The balance ($147,049.49) shown will provide for over two years of future principal payments. With this balance against our debt to
the bank, our liabilities are below $1 million for the first time in over 30 years.CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION
www.FirstPasadena.org
PHONE: 281.487.8787 FAX: 281.998.1355
Office Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday
Society of St. Stephen Assistance Ministry 281.487.1774 Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
First Friends Day School 281.487.8170 Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
Christian Life Center 281.487.2843
PASTORAL STAFF COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Dr. Will Reed, Colly Enochs ext. 3001
Pastor, ext. 3006 CollyEnochs@FirstPasadena.org
WillReed@FirstPasadena.org
DIRECTOR, NEX/GEN MINISTRIES
Rev. Mireya Martínez, J. T. LaRue ext. 3046
Pastor, Outreach and Discipleship, ext. 3004 JTLaRue@FirstPasadena.org
MireyaMartinez@FirstPasadena.org
DIRECTOR, FIRST FRIENDS DAY SCHOOL
DIRECTOR OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC Penny Buckert ext. 3019
Daniel Miner PennyBuckert@FirstPasadena.org
DanielMiner@FirstPasadena.org
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
DIRECTOR OF CONTEMPORARY/SPANISH MUSIC Margie Kearns ext. 3002
Miriam Tello MargieKearns@FirstPasadena.org
MiriamTello@FirstPasadena.org
STUDENT MINISTRIES ASSISTANT
BUILDING MANAGER Rayna Carter
Bryan Dudley ext. 3023 RaynaCarter@FirstPasadena.org
BryanDudley@FirstPasadena.org
BUSINESS MANAGER
Amanda Horton ext. 3005
AmandaHorton@FirstPasadena.org
First Hope
First Hope – Pasadena is the new 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that is becoming the umbrella
for our shared community ministries like the Society of St. Stephen, KidzNMotion and other
programs designed to make life better for children and families in our community.
In 2020 our objectives are three:
1. Recruit and expand the First Hope board;
2. Develop and begin implementing a strategic plan;
3. Develop and implement a Fundraising plan to support our shared ministries.
You can help in developing the Fundraising Plan for First Hope. There are many different
companies that serve our community and many of them have giving programs that allow
employees to make contributions to nonprofits that are then matched dollar for dollar. If you
are aware of companies in our area that do provide matching contributions to nonprofit
organizations, please communicate that information to Will Reed, Marc DeChellis, Averill
Buchanan, Amanda Horton, Ed Cullison or Melodie England. Each of these persons are working
together on different portions of the Fundraising Plan.Calendar of Events
Friday, February 7 Sweet Serenades at 6:30 pm in the Sanctuary
Sunday, February 9 Town Hall Meeting at 10:00 am in The Center
Tuesday, February 11 Governing Board Meeting at 6:15 pm in the Cornell Conference Room
Thursday, February 20 Soup Ministry at 8:30 am in the Kitchen
Wednesday, February 26 Drive-Thru Ashes at Noon in the Front Parking Lot
Ash Wednesday Service at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary
Ongoing Ministries & Church Events
Bus Ministry Sundays, 8:00 am Church Parking Lot
Contemporary Worship Sundays, 9:00 am Sanctuary
Contemplative Worship Sunday, February 16, 9:00 am, Log Cabin
Sunday School for All Ages Sundays, 10:00 am
Traditional Worship Sundays, 11:00 am Sanctuary
Spanish Worship Service Sundays, 12:30 pm Parlor
Grief Support Group Sundays, 2:00 pm Parlor
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Sundays, 6:30 pm Fellowship Hall 4
First Fitness Exercise Class Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 am Gym
Open Gym Monday-Thursday, 4:00 pm Gym
Breakfast With Bill (Alcoholics Anonymous) Monday-Friday 7:00 am, Saturday 7:30 am Log Cabin
Un dia a la vez Al-Anon (Hispanic Al-Anon) Tuesday 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am Room 226
Boy Scout Troop #199 Tuesdays, 7:00 pm Log Cabin
Contemporary Praise Band Rehearsal Tuesdays, 7:00 pm Sanctuary
Levites Maintenance Ministry Wednesdays, 8:00 am Log Cabin
Chancel Choir Rehearsal Wednesdays, 7:00 pm Choir Room
Men’s Prayer and Study Breakfast Thursdays, 7:00 am Fellowship Hall 4
(the last Thursday of the month meeting is at Papa Yolk’s Grill)
In All Our Affairs Al-Anon Meeting Thursdays, 6:30 pm Cornell Conference Room
Women’s Al-Anon Meeting Saturdays, 11:00 am Cornell Conference Room
Please welcome Rose Flores and Jerry Sais
as new members of our church.You can also read
