MARCH 2019
ASH WEDNESDAY
March 6
Joining our UCC Brothers and Sisters
We will once again join with our brothers and sisters from our neighboring Southern California UCC churches to commemorate Ash Wednesday. This year we will convene on Wednesday, March 6, at the La Cañada Congregational Church located at 1200 Foothill Boulevard in La Cañada (91011). There will be a catered dinner starting at 6pm and the service of worship will follow at 7pm. Pastor Donald will be leading a carpool/caravan from our church parking lot at 5:30pm.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
5-for-5 Special Offering to be Received on March 31
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) special mission offering of the United Church of Christ involves you in disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world. When a disaster strikes or people are displaced or made refugees by violence or extreme poverty, you are part of the immediate response and of the long-term recovery.
Through OGHS you engage in holistic development programs including health care, education, agriculture, food sustainability, micro-financing and women’s empowerment. Because the UCC relates in mutual partnership to churches and organizations through Global Ministries and worldwide response & recovery networks, your contributions to One Great Hour of Sharing put you in the right place at the right time for the relief, accompaniment and recovery of the most vulnerable. You meet immediate needs and you address the underlying causes that create those needs in the first place.
The first of our 5-for-5 Special Offerings will be received on March 31 during our service of worship (or you may make your donation anytime by sending your contribution to our church office).
ing lot at 5:30pm.
FOOD FORWARD
Saturday, March 9
Register for this month’s pick HERE!
Food Forward was recently awarded a commendation from the US Environmental Protection Agency, alongside myriad national food suppliers and purchasers like Wegmans, Disneyland, MGM Resorts and UC Davis, for the environmental impact resulting from our food recovery work in 2013-17.
One of the things we LOVE about [FF’s] UCLA partnership is that it is manned and woman-ed by students who are feeding other students. What many people don?t realize is that there is a high percentage of students who experience food insecurity. Current estimates show this number to be roughly 20% at UCLA, with students choosing to buy books over food. Food Forward’s program gives these folks a hand by creating an eco-system where the UCLA community can help its own who are struggling to make ends meet.
Watch for SMCC Picks
Watch your email for announcements on future picks with Food Forward. We look for available activities on the third Saturday morning of each month and will pass that info on to you so that you can join the effort. There is a quick registration on the Food Forward site that allows you to sign up for a pick of your choice and lets Pastor Donald know that he has volunteers. www.foodforward.org
SECOND MONDAYS MUNCHIN’ LUNCHEON
Monday, March 11 – Noon
Our monthly luncheon in March will be held at noon on Monday, March 11 at the Shrimp House, 4488 E. Live Oak Ave., Arcadia 91006 (626-445-6369).
This is a fun time of food and fellowship and is open to all. We’d love to have you join us!
ALL CHURCH RETREAT
Saturday, March 16
Join in the FUN!
Enjoy a day with your church family in the beautiful setting of Monrovia Canyon Park located at 1200 N Canyon Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016. We never know what we’ll be surprised by weather-wise, but nothing will dampen our spirits for another great day of easy-going activities among wonderful companions.
Take a moment to glance at the bulletin board the next time you enter the church. Our friends have already begun to take up activities we like to see happen every year AND we have some new items as well.
Everything at the retreat happens under the guidance of a volunteer. If you haven’t already, please sign up to volunteer to bring, create, lead, or play something by adding your name to the creative sign-up lists posted in the Narthex. This year our Moderator Pat Bell will be our Mistress of Ceremonies, so please see Pat with any questions you may have regarding logistics. Come for breakfast at 9am or for the Gathering time at 10am. We will leave the cabin promptly at 4:30pm after we ALL help clean up. See you there!
LUNCHES FOR THE HOMELESS
Wednesday, March 20, 4 pm
Union Station Homeless Services Sack Lunch Project
Here’s a way to be of service through your beloved church! Union Station Homeless Services is part of a premier group of human services agencies in L.A. County that are leading the way to ending homelessness in our community. Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. We are looking to be of service to Union Station by helping out with their programs that provide food for those in need. Our mission will be to provide sack lunches. We will come together at the church kitchen third Tuesday of the month to make the lunches, which will then be taken to the station for distribution. Please let Marcia Albrecht know if you can help prepare the lunches (all food will be provided and in the kitchen). You can email her at: mla2575@aol.com.
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES GROUP
Saturday, March 23
Everyone is welcome to join in this time of quiet, guided meditation, convening at 11 a.m. in the narthex and moving into the sanctuary. Together, we light our candles and invoke the Spirit of Gentleness into our midst. Come enjoy a quiet half hour for your soul in this special Christmas themed timed together.
All are invited to join us in this loving time.
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ONGOING MISSION PROJECTS
SAN MARINO POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECT
Right now, thanks to your generous donations, we have plenty of everything we need for this project. Please watch this space for when we will need to replenish and THANK YOU!
BRING IN YOUR PENNIES AND PULLTABS
A penny coin means as much to us now as it did years ago. Saving your pennies to give to our Penny Jar for the Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena helps the many families who come to stay there while their child is in the hospital.
You can also “PULL” for the Ronald McDonald House by collecting tabs of all sizes from soda, cat and dog food, food cans, tennis ball canisters, etc. One tab on its own may not be worth much, but if we all “pull together” we can make a difference.
J. SEYMOUR FAMILY CENTER PROJECT
HELP US COLLECT FOR THE HOMELESS: We continue to seek items throughout the year for the Jeff Seymour Family Center in El Monte who provides for the homeless and their children.
Baskets are available in the narthex for your contributions of:
- new packages of diapers (all sizes)
- baby wipes
- feminine hygiene items
- travel sizes of: deodorant, antibacterial wipes, cream/lotion, sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, etc.
Nothing in large packages, please as most recipients have no place to store such items.
LIZ CAMERON FOOD PANTRY
Every day children and their families go hungry, right here in our own community. By supporting our neighborhood food bank at La Casa by donating food items to our food pantry, you are helping to solve this problem! Food donations go directly to families who otherwise might not have enough to eat.
Ongoing requests:
- beans and rice (in smaller bags – NOT large quantities)
- bags of pasta and boxes of cereal (regular sized boxes only, please)
- canned proteins (tuna, chicken, ham, etc.)
- pasta sauce