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
November Is Children’s Book Month!
The Service Commission is collecting new and gently used children’s books to sell at the Alternative Christmas Gift Faire. All books not sold at the Faire will be donated to the church library. Please bring books to the church lobby any Sunday in November.
November 15th – 29th
The Angel Tree is Here!
Each year we support foster youth at the David and Margaret Home by purchasing Christmas gifts for them. This year we are asking for $25 gift cards for the youth. Each angel on the tree has the first name of a foster youth and the type of gift card they like best. Take an angel off the tree, replace it with a plastic ornament from the basket, and help us decorate the tree! Sign your name on the sign-up sheet by the tree so we’ll know which youth and type of gift card you will bring. Bring the gift cards to the Alternative Christmas Gift Faire on December 6th and put them at the Angel Tree table.
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-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!
November Events
November 1st
Trick-or-Trear for UNCIEF
All kids and kids at heart are invited to come to church dressed in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat for UNICEF! Instead of collecting candy, children will be collecting spare change and dollars to donate to UNICEF. All funds donated will help support UNICEF programs in over 150 countries, helping children when and where they need it most.
November 15th
5:00p.m. – 7:00p.m.
Join us for a Friendsgiving themed kids night! The night will be filled with crafts, activities and lots of fun as we explore what we are thankful for and help give back to our community. Dinner will be provided.
Please contact Jami Guillen @ Children.lavernecob.org to register.
Love Feast
November 22nd
Worship & Spiritual Formation
A Service of Foot washing or Handwashing, a Simple Meal & Communion
This sacred service is a time to follow in the ways of Jesus through embodied practice: washing one another’s feet or hands, a simple agape (love) meal, and a time of communion. The worship service will center on the practice of Love Feast and the congregation will be invited into its rituals following the service. Folks of all walks of life and all ages are welcome. Participate in all the rituals, some, or just observe.
Sunday, November 29th
11:00a.m. – 2:30p.m.
Meet Jami Guillen in the courtyard at 11 a.m. for a fun afternoon of giving! Our youth will head to Montclair Place to shop for gifts for our adopted family. After shopping, we’ll return to the Fireside Room for pizza and a festive wrapping party. Come be part of this meaningful tradition and help spread Christmas cheer!
November 13th – 14th
Journey South Bay Church, Redondo Beach
Pacific Southwest District Conference
Registration Closes on October 11!
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 a.m. – 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”
Mark Your Calendar
World AIDS Day 2026
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 7:00p.m.
La Verne Church of the Brethren
Join us on Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 PM as we gather in remembrance, solidarity, and hope for our annual World AIDS Day observance, hosted by Pomona Valley Pride in collaboration with various churches, faith communities, and community organizations.
This meaningful evening will include an interdenominational service, community procession, Presente honoring those we have lost, and a candlelight remembrance, followed by a light reception. Together, we will honor lives lost to HIV/AIDS, stand in solidarity with those living with HIV, and recommit ourselves to ending stigma while advancing education, prevention, care, and compassion.
Together, we remember. Together, we honor. Together, we continue the work.
Fabulous, Fierce & Sacred
February 12-14th, 2027
La Verne Church of the Brethren
Join with fascinating queer folx and allies for the Fabulous Fierce & Sacred Gathering at the La Verne Church of the Brethren in sunny southern California on February 12-14th, 2027.
This will be a celebration of queer spirituality and creativity, stories of courage and resistance, and equipping ourselves for the ever-continuing work of liberation from ableism, white supremacy, cis-heteropatriarchy, and capitalism. Join us for music and worship, art, fellowship, learning, and community hosted by queer-affirming Anabaptists from the Church of the Brethren and Mennonite churches, and the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests.
Early Bird Registration: Register by December 15th, 2026 to be entered into a drawing for *fabulous* FFS prizes! Registration closes January 12th, 2027.
Registration is LIVE. Click on the button below to register.
Open Your Home for the Gathering
La Verne Church of the Brethren, we need your help! We’re looking for people who live near the church to host guests attending Fabulous Fierce & Sacred. If you can offer the gift of hospitality, please email Jonnie Owens at jonniejeanowens@gmail.com. Just a place to stay is needed; you won’t be asked to provide meals.