A Word from Rev. Karen
Sweetness and sorrow.
As I read the other offerings in this week's Weekly Window...
As I hear your prayer concerns -- voiced in online gatherings, sent via email and in phone conversations...
As I hear your concerns for those near and far whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by pandemic, wildfires...
You connect with your faith and you connect with one another.
Together we are willing to be vulnerable with one another.
And we find that sharing our sorrows, sharing our concerns, covering them all in prayer and care, brings a closeness, a connection.
This week it will be six months since we made the decision to suspend in person worship, and yet, through the grace of the Holy Spirit we stay connected as a faith community, as spiritual friends, as companions on a journey no one expected.
Yet the missions and ministries of Claremont UMC continue, with innovation and dedication and your support. Thank you for your prayers and your virtual presence.
May your spirits be as uplifted as mine were as I read each article in this issue and listened to the music and read a sweet, sweet story, sweet and sorrowful, of two families whose lives intertwined at Claremont UMC.
Rev. Martha and I will soon share the ways we will begin to offer memorial services, accessible to all, for those who are now absent in body, present with the Lord.
In our sorrow, may we continue to share the sweetness of faith and loving kindness with one another and with the world.
In prayer and care,
Rev. Karen
|
|
We Are Praying For...
 If you have someone you would like Claremont UMC to keep in prayer, and list on our prayer list, please email Jessica, Office@claremontumc.org. Please indicate whether they are to be listed on the public prayer list, or kept private. Please pray for these dear ones on our prayer list, HERE. |
|
A Musical Meditation from Katie
As a special piece for the "Weekly Window," Katie shares an audio of her playing a well-loved hymn! This week's hymn is "For the Fruits of This Creation." This is an alternate tune that goes with the text we sang in worship last Sunday, September 6th. It is best known as "Ar hyd nos" or "All Through the Night". Click HERE and enjoy!
|
|
Greetings from Jared Pugh,
CUMC Sanctuary Choir Director
As we resume our old routines during this new normal, we are all challenged with how to create connection and community in these times. It forces us to explore new modalities for communication and new means of expression. In the before times, we had no idea what Zoom is, but now it is an old hat for many. Our choir, too, has tried new ways to stay connected. Using the medium of a virtual choir to create art together at a distance has been a challenge, but fruitful. As we move forward into this new season, we hope to continue crafting meaningful art to enliven our worship and share in the fellowship of creating art at a distance until we can do so together again.
|
|
September Administrative Committee Meetings
 Monday, September 14, 7:00 p.m.
Trustees, Ed Hume, Chair
Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 p.m.
Church Council, Brett O'Connor, Chair
Tuesday, September 21, 7:00 p.m.
Finance, Ed Richardson, Chair
The Zoom information will come via separate email.
|
|
CUMC Reopening Task Force
The Reopening Task Force is working on several outdoor, in-person worship experiences. We have submitted our plans to the Cal-Pac Conference and await approval. While we wait, what ideas do you have? And, until we can be together again, what part of the sanctuary or CUMC campus would you like to see in an upcoming worship video? If you would like more information about the volunteer opportunities or would like to volunteer, please email the Task Force at askclaremontumc@gmail.com.
~ Sara Domonoske (Chair), John Mohl, Rev. Martha Morales, Jared Pugh, Rev. Karen Clark Ristine, Peggy Williams, Curtis Viggers, Pearl Viggers, Reopening Task Force
|
|
A Special Gift To Claremont UMC
A few weeks ago, the church received a special financial donation in memory of Joan Roth and in honor of Pam Bell. It came with a very sweet letter that we wanted to share with you:
Because of two special families in your church, the Roth's and the Bell's, who devoted so much of their time and materials to produce three beautiful quilts and asking for no compensation, I would like to make this donation in their honor.
The quilts were for my three children in remembrance of their mother, who passed away in 2016. My wife was an avid bicyclist, riding about 10,000 miles a year, and the quilts were made from the shirts she acquired from the many sponsored rides she did. She rode with Fred (Roth) when he peddled across America. I knew Joan Roth was a quilter. She offered to take on the job, and had the quilts mostly completed when she became ill. Fred said he would figure out how to get them completed, and I told him not to worry about it, just take care of your wife. He didn't listen to me, and enlisted Pam Bell to complete the project. My children love them and the many fond memories the quilts brought back.
 These two families are special and I will always be thankful for their kindness.
Dick Wiley
P.S. As I was completing this note, I got word from Fred that Joan had passed. I'm sending my condolences to her church family and all who knew and loved her.
|
|
"Confronting New Beginnings"
 sponsored by the City of Pomona, Latina/o Roundtable, the Cobb Institute, and Agenda for a Prophetic Faith
September 10, 2020; 4:00-5:15 p.m.
“Confronting New Beginnings: Local, On the Ground Endeavors.” Experienced, on the ground local perspectives and their work will be spotlighted. Five positive examples of pioneering and visionary projects happening right now to address vital issues in the City of Pomona and the City’s effort to become a City of Compassion will be shared.
- Tim Sandoval, Mayor of Pomona (Moderator & Speaker)
- Tamiko Chacon, Purpose Church
- Mary Tawadros, Hope for Home Homeless Services, Volunteers of America, L.A.
- Devon Hartman, Community Home Energy Retrofit Project (CHERP)
- Eric Vasquez, Founder, CEO Just Us 4 Youth
September 17, 2020; 4:00-5:15 p.m.
 “New Beginnings: National and Global Perspectives.” Confronting New Beginnings means boldness to confront and see a fresh perspective that yields new possibilities. The focus will be on bold solutions to national and global issues of paramount and urgent importance: Economy that serves human beings, justice that repairs relationships, a banking model to optimize investment in community and more.
-
John Cobb, Cobb Institute, Agenda for Prophetic Faith (Moderator & Speaker)
-
Mark Anielski, Economist, President & Chief Well-Being Officer at Anielski Management Inc., Canada
-
Susan Harman, Public Bank East Bay, California
-
Henry McClenden, International Institute for Restorative Practice, Trustee, Detroit
Register and learn more at confrontingnewbeginnings.eventbrite.com.
|
|
Thanks!
September 2020 Pledge Report
Thanks again to the members and friends of our church. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, pledged and unpledged giving to our church have remained strong. This has allowed us to continue to fully pay our employees and to fund all church activities except those limited by the pandemic related restrictions.
Contributions for the first eight months of the year were $342,246. That exceeded our budgeted amount of $330,767 by $11,479.
Again, thank you! Your contributions continue to allow us to provide the ministries and support the missional work of our church.
During this year, I’ll continue to provide you with bi-monthly reports on how we are doing with pledge and non-pledged giving.
Bob Dalton
Financial Secretary
|
|
Online Donation Now Available!
We now have another option for submitting your tithes and offerings. We recently launched Claremont UMC's new website! You can check that out at www.claremontumc.org. As a part of the website, you can now submit your donations to the church from our website, using PayPal. Visit https://claremontumc.org/donate/ and click on the white "Donate Now" button. You will be taken to a new page, where you can donate with your PayPal Account. Or if you don't have a PayPal account, you can use your debit or credit card. Of course, we are still able to receive your offerings through "snail mail" as well. Thank you ALL so much for your generosity and devotion the the ministries of Claremont UMC!
We are grateful for your prayers, presence, witness, service, and gifts!
|
|
47th Annual Walk for the Hungry and Homeless
Event Date(s): September 12-20, 2020
Inland Valley Hope Partners is going virtual for the 47th Annual Walk for the Hungry and Homeless on Saturday, September 12 - September 20, 2020. With the concern of safety and social distancing, we have decided to make this year's event virtual. We hope you will join with us to fight hunger and homelessness in our community by making a personal donation or by creating teams to fundraise with your family and friends. For more info or to donate, visit our GoFundme Charity page by clicking here.
CUMC's Missions and Evangelism Chairperson, Al Streyffeler will be taking part in the walk as well.
Click here for a printable event flyer and pledge form.
Click here for our GoFundMe Charity Page.
For questions and concerns, contact the Development Department at (909) 622-3806 ex. 105 or 108.
|
|
|
|
|
