SPECIAL OFFERING
Sunday, October 2, 2022
Your gifts received for Neighbors in Need
Join together as we support another of our 5-for-5 offerings for the year. Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry (CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects through grants. Neighbors in Need grants are awarded to UCC churches and organizations doing justice work in their communities. These grants fund projects whose work ranges from direct service to community organizing and advocacy to address systemic injustice. Your donations to this special offering will be gratefully received during this week’s October 2nd service, or at any time until then.
(Electronic donations may be made via ZELLE -a fee-free site you can access here: www.zellepay.com (send to smccucc@sbcglobal.net). Please be sure to designate “Neighbors in Need” on the memo line of your electronic payment. Office Clerk Kim is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding Zelle.
THE LUNCH BUNCH
Monday, October 10, 2022 @ Noon
Join us on Monday, October 10, 2022, at noon for conversation and laughter at The Galley Fish Grill located at 1164 Huntington Drive in Duarte. The phone number there is (626) 531-6944.
PILGRIM PINES CAMP FALL FUN FOR ALL
October Fall Fun for All
Mark your calendars to come to Pilgrim Pines Camp for the Fall Fun for All pod/ family/ household retreat October 8-9 (optional extra overnights Friday/Sunday), and Apple Pie Day on October 9! Registration is open through Oct 1 at this link: https://www.pilgrimpinescamp.org/events
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES GROUP
Saturday, October 29 @ 11AM
This is a time for slowing down, for reconnecting with God and Spirit by pausing together as we recall, notice, name and deepen God’s presence through a rhythm of prayer that enhances our awareness of God’s presence.
“Sabbath Pause – A time and place in the heart of creation where we can receive the gift of a non-anxious presence and learn to live out of this essential blessing in service to the world. Practicing Sabbath takes us from the sometimes-cramped places of our lives to a place where our hearts can truly sing.” (Terry Chapman).
“Light for the Path” will gather in the Narthex before embarking on a guided meditation.
LUNCHES FOR THE HOMELESS
Wednesday, October 26 @ 4PM
This month we will be meeting to make lunches in our kitchen.
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.
FOOD FORWARD FRUIT PICK
* On hold until further notice *
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
