The Creative Peacemaking Committee responds to the plight of marginalized people and acts on issues of justice. In recent years the committee has hosted 20 immigration information clinics. These clinics provide pro-bono attorney services for undocumented immigrants as well as assistance with citizenship applications for those who qualify. Creative Peacemaking is also responsible for the CUMC Nativity/Christmas displays, presenting these displays since 2007. We highlight justice issues of the day, and the themes vary from year to year. We’ve had displays representing such topics as immigration, family separations at the border, poverty, homelessness, LGTBQ equality, war and gun violence. Currently, there is a BLACK LIVES MATTER banner in the display site. The committee is dedicated to working toward peace and justice for all of God’s children.
Discipleship Groups meet regularly to help members provide support, encouragement and accountability for one another in our efforts to grow as followers of Jesus Christ.
“The purpose of our Discipleship groups is to help each member to grow spiritually. Through mutual sharing, accountability, support, and encouragement, we seek to draw closer to God and to better understand what God hopes and dreams for us as individuals and as the church.”
The groups meet regularly, usually twice each month, and offer time for members to check in with one another and to offer support and care. Together members wrestle with the challenges of living a life grounded in the love, teachings and saving grace of Christ. We consider the challenges of our world, including the need for social and racial justice, care for the earth, the pain of poverty and the nurture of all children. We consider the needs of our families, our church community and the broader world, always asking, what does our faith call us to be and do? All are invited to join in existing or newly forming groups.
The Dismantling Racism Committee works to support our church’s commitment to a journey to educate ourselves, reflect, pray and act in response to white supremacy, white privilege, and internalized racism. In December of 2018, CUMC Church Council embraced the November 6, 2018 statement from the Ebony Bishops of the United Methodist Church to the Council of Bishops on the Resurgence of Racism in the United States and their clarion call to dismantle racism. CUMC’s Dismantling Racism Committee works to identify, create, and promote learning and action opportunities to support our church in fulfilling this commitment. Our Committee believes Christ is calling all of us to love ourselves and one another in new ways (Mt. 9:19). While we acknowledge that all people of color experience racial violence that warrants our attention, for now we focus on overcoming white racism against Americans with African heritage. We believe that this approach will generate progress for many people of color as we educate ourselves on the systemic and institutional culture of white supremacy and racism in our society in which all of us are consciously and unconsciously immersed. We invite friends and members of CUMC to join us on a long journey of learning, introspection, prayer, dialogue, action and reflection on our action to educate ourselves about the realities of white supremacy, white privilege and internalized racism.
The Education Commission supports the various education ministries of our church
The Education Commission members represent the education ministries of our church from Preschool through Adult Education. Representatives from the Preschool, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Adult Ministry, and Hospitality meet quarterly to communicate and plan church functions, including the nursery, Sunday School, Peace Camp, summer service projects, adult book groups, mix-sups and church potlucks. Education Commission collaborates on and reviews the annual Education budget.
Growing Christians is an adult learning and caring community whose members seeks to grow and support one another in living out our faithful response to God’s call for radical love and stewardship of the earth.
Growing Christians meets weekly on Sundays following the worship service. We seek to grow in our understanding and living out our faith’s calling for radical and inclusive love, social justice, and stewardship of our earth. Growing Christians typically selects a study theme for 4 to 8 weeks. Study themes vary: Bible Study, spirituality, social/economic/racial justice, and care for the earth. Volunteers rotate to facilitate and lead our discussions. We check-in with one another and support each other. We read, listen to presentations, share ideas and our faith, discuss, reflect and encourage actions to daily live out our faith.
The Homeless Hunger Committee provides assistance to those in need in our local community.
The committee provides both food and financial assistance to the Beta Center, a local food bank. We also provide a complete Thanksgiving Dinner for up to 100 families that rely on the Food Bank. Quarterly, we supply a meal for those staying at the Pomona Homeless Shelter. We have financial assistance available, on a one-time only basis, to those facing eviction due to being delinquent on rent or to prevent utility shut off or have other special needs. We are continually seeking ways to help those in need in our local community.
A forum for men to fellowship, share and reflect on their current day-to-day lives and participate in group devotional study. Regularly meeting twice a month on a weekday morning, gatherings are usually held at local residential community facilities where breakfasts are available. The men are enriched by both the relationships built over time and faith-forming discussions and conversations. Prayer needs and desires are regularly raised. Often, study books are selected to integrate with ongoing discipleship themes of the CUMC. Leadership of devotional study is shared by volunteer members.
The Mission and Evangelism Commission invites members to become engaged with mission locally as well as globally with an evangelical spirit.
We aim to accomplish this in the following ways:
We understand that “mission” represents the hands and feet of our work and that “evangelism” is the heart of our work.
Reading the Bible Together is a weekly Bible study and fellowship group focusing on the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary – Wednesday mornings from 9:30-10:45
Reading the Bible together is a weekly study that focuses on the texts prescribed for each week. We read and study the Revised Common Lectionary scriptures that give us a broad overview of the entire Bible in a three-year cycle. Our hope is that our study will help us all to gain a deeper understanding of our scriptural record as a foundation for our journey of faith. The study is open to all members and meets for one hour each Wednesday morning. It is led by one of our pastors, Rev. Karen Clark Ristine or Rev. Martha Morales. In addition to study, the group also provides fellowship and support for members as we grow in biblical literacy and the spiritual disciplines. For now, we meet by Zoom fellowship, as we are reminded that the church is not our buildings but our people, living out the love of Christ that each of us has received.
Now in its 28th year, the Reconciling Committee meets monthly to plan educational programs and other events that enhance our understanding of current issues facing the LGBTQ community today. The committee is comprised of LGBTQ and other church members dedicated to supporting the full inclusion and rights of all. Each year the Reconciling Committee organizes and sponsors two events, usually involving a luncheon with guest speakers and panels. The committee also sets up and manages the CUMC booth at the Claremont Fourth of July Festival, plus takes an active role in the parade. At the yearly anniversary of becoming a Reconciling Congregation, the faith community celebrates Reconciling Sunday in worship.
Refugee Resettlement Committee works to invite and support the self-sufficient resettlement into the community of a refugee family living in CUMC’s Bower House.
Since the 1970s, CUMC has had a long standing commitment to support refugee families fleeing conflicts in troubled parts of the world. One of CUMC’s refugee programs is our Refugee Resettlement Program that uses Bower House, located on the church campus, as transitional housing support for selected refugee families. Many families have benefited from Bower House and the support of CUMC to help them transition into the community. The Refugee Resettlement Committee works to identify, select and support a family who can benefit. With the support of our church community, the family takes the initiative to study English, find jobs, place and support their children in school, attend to health needs, access public benefits, and eventually transition into the community with self-sufficiency.
UMW circles join in fellowship and focus on mission and education.
United Methodist Women is the largest denominational faith organization for women in the world with approximately 800,000 members whose mission is fostering spiritual growth, developing leaders and advocating for justice. Locally CUMC UMW meet to fulfill the UMW purpose: UMW shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ; to develop a creative, supportive fellowship; and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the global ministries of the church.
Our book club of enthusiast readers meets every 4th Monday of the month to discuss a variety of different books. We usually meet at the church, but are currently gathering on zoom. We always welcome new participants, even if it’s only for one specific book. Please feel free to ask for more information.