Songs and Stories of Solidarity Update: Over $3,000 Raised
In August, our church hosted an intergenerational and interfaith gathering, Songs and Stories of Solidarity, sponsored by the Pomona Valley Spiritual Leaders for Justice. With key leadership from our church community, over 100 people gathered to sing songs of solidarity, hear stories from our immigrant neighbors, and march to downtown La Verne as a justice demonstration.
During the gathering, we collected over $3,000 for the Adelanto Detention Center commissary fund through Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, supporting detainees as they seek to purchase medicine, food, and maintain contact with their friends and family. May we continue to support our neighbors impacted by ICE and hold all those detained in prayers of strength and comfort.
Stay Connected!
Congregational Care Team
Congregational Care Team members continue their visits and caring contacts. Team members are Carolyn Cockrell, Reba Herder, Nancy Sassaman, and Karen Weed. The care team is part of this congregation’s long-standing commitment to nonclergy visitation.
In addition to the congregational care team, every other Sunday mornings, “Faith Partners” are available to listen and pray with persons before, after and during the morning worship service. Current Faith Partners are: Reba Herder, Linda Himes, Lisa Stamatis, Mary Kay Ogden, Debra Jahnke, Beth Snowden-Ifft, Carolyn Cockrell.
Commission News
Alternative Christmas Gift Faire
Sunday, December 6
10:45 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
Give Differently This Season!
Are you tired of the holiday rush and looking for a more meaningful way to give gifts and support worthy charities? Join us for our Alternative Christmas Gift Faire on November 1st!
This unique event changes how we give. Instead of buying traditional, mass-produced items, you can purchase gifts that truly make a world of difference. You can:
- Honor your loved ones by making a donation in their name to vital local and global ministries, such as Heifer Project, Brethren Disaster Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Church World Service, Inland Valley Hope Partners, and Camp La Verne.
- Select practical, life-changing gifts, such as funding medical supplies, clean water projects, or meals for families in need.
- Purchase beautiful, handmade crafts from local artisans who give 75% of their Gift Faire proceeds to these same ministries.
- Take a name from the Christmas tree for the David and Margaret Home and buy a gift for a foster youth.
We will provide beautiful honor cards for you to tuck into your family members’ stockings to let them know how their gift is changing lives. Come enjoy fellowship and lunch prepared by our youth, and help us transform holiday shopping into a powerful act of hope and compassion!
We’re looking for vendors as well as donated crafts (handmade Christmas ornaments, jewelry, knitted items, pottery, etc.) and baked goods. Email Service Commission Chair Laurie Schreiner if you would like to have a table—or if you know of someone we should reach out to! (laurie.a.schreiner@gmail.com) Start thinking now about how you would like to be involved in this all-church extravaganza!
Spiritual Life Commission
Sign Up by September 27!
If you are looking for ways to get to know the people with whom you
share a sanctuary on Sunday mornings, Be Our Guest is a fun way
to do that. Sign up to be a host, go to someone else’s home for dinner, or meet together at a restaurant. The host doesn’t know who is coming, and the guests don’t know who else will be there.
Spiritual Life-Nametags
You are invited to help build our community by wearing a nametag during and after church. Find the supplies you need to make a re-usable nametag at the Welcome Table in the lobby. You can take it home with you, or leave it at the Welcome Table to pick up next time. If you forget to bring it, make a temporary sticker tag at the Welcome Table.
What else can you find at the Welcome Table? A list of upcoming events. A place to hand in forms. A place to sign up to volunteer. Come check it out!
September Events
September 13
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Rainbow Room
Join us for pizza and games as we welcome our new 6th graders and start the fall season with some fun!
September 19
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Church Courtyard
Join us for an evening of outstanding live music, local talent, and great company!
Mark Your Calendar
October 18
10:45 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
All-Church Council Meeting
Join us for our third all-church council meeting of the year immediately following worship. Council meetings are where the business of the church happens, and all are invited to attend.
Please join us for brunch and help shape the future of our beloved community.
October 23-25
Fall Campout
Registration Now Open!
Come spend a weekend with us at Prado Regional Park in Chino, Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25! Everyone’s welcome, whether you’re coming solo, with a few friends, or with your whole family. Pitch a tent, bring your RV or trailer (full hookups available), or grab one of the on-site RV rentals if you don’t have your own rig. Stay both nights, or just swing by Saturday for the day.
Suggested cost: $10/person per night to cover the cost of campsite reservations. Don’t let cost deter you from a weekend of fun; reach out for scholarship information.
We’ll spend time together doing crafts, playing games, riding bikes, and exploring the campground, with campfires each night to wind down. Meals are on your own, so bring what you like to eat and cook however you prefer.
Questions? Connect with Jeff Neu: neu.jeffrey@gmail.com
October 25
10:45 a.m.
Fellowship Hall
University of La Verne Homecoming Brunch
All from our church are welcome to join ULV alumni, friends, and the campus community for brunch after worship. It will be a special time of fellowship and celebration during Homecoming Weekend. Go Leos!
Pacific Southwest District Conference
November 13-14
Journey South Bay Church, Redondo Beach
Registration opens on September 1st for this year’s district conference.
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Ministers & Leaders Event, led by Daniel Topf, PhD, Director of Intercultural Studies at Lancaster Bible College. The workshop will focus on “Following Jesus in an Age of Disruption: Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Church and Society Leadership”.
Saturday 8:30-noon: Opening worship begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the business session. At 10:30 a.m., Founa Augustin Badet, Director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren, will be the keynote speaker. Her topic is “Missional Disciple-Making in an Intercultural Church Opening Curiosity, Deepening Belonging, and Becoming the Body of Christ Together”