Irvine United Congregational Church dedicated its new office and meeting space on Sunday, Sept. 9 with stirring music; an inspiring sermon from the Rev. Dr. Paul Tellström, senior pastor; and a congratulatory pep talk from the Rev. Dr. Felix C. Villanueva, conference minister for the Southern California Nevada Conference of
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Christopher Peterson is the new director of music at IUCC. He was introduced to the congregation after auditioning with the Chancel Choir and being interviewed by the search committee and Pastor Paul. Peterson is professor of music at California State University, Fullerton, where he directs the Concert Choir and the
Continue readingPastor Paul weaves the miracle of the endless fish and loaves, what he does in airports and how that all ties into the blessing we all received from our departing music director, John St. Marie.
Continue readingWe care. That was the theme for both Pastor Paul’s sermon that highlighted the career of retiring church administrator Michael Spindle and the early service sermon from Pastor Sarah.
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The Rev. Paul Tellström began his sermon with a description of a 10-year-old and his mother talking about an active-shooter drill in schools and ties it to the procession into Jerusalem known as Palm Sunday and the rope around the donkey. What, he asks, is holding us back?
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The Rev. Ken Wyant and the Rev. Paul Tellström, senior pastor at IUCC, looked at all sides of the “aid in dying” issue during the Sunday sermon. A clip from NBC News about Brittany Maynard, whose story sparked the resolution offered at last summer’s UCC General Synod in support of
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What does it mean to be an immigrant-welcoming church? Pastor Sarah Fiske-Phillips looks beyond the political aspects and reframes the question in terms of the extravagant welcome we strive for as Christians. “What we can all do is sit down with a cup of coffee … and tell people they
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For parents, grandparents, all of us, the recent violence in Florida has become just too difficult to bear. In this Lenten series sermon, the Rev. Dr. Paul Tellström looks at the UCC “Resolution on Gun Violence: Exploring a Public Health Emergency.” It calls for a lifting on restrictions on research
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Pastor Sarah Fiske-Philips draws on her recent experiences as an ER chaplain and recent discussions about what might bring people her age into the church to explain the value of tradition while embracing newness.
Continue readingPastor Paul’s sermon on Sunday touched on finding joy even when darkness seems to surround us. The message of Advent, he said, is to be present, to be kind, to be of real help and to do so reliably. Watch the video here. You can find other sermons and choir
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