UrbanMission

Something new is growing...

Food coming from Albertsons, Trader Joes and Stater Bros, and clean and pressed clothes for men and women, and favors for children being brought by Julie Cortez, PUSD.

Many deepfelt thanks to all the volunteers, partners, and church members that continue to support our Outdoors Open Table dinners and Open Pantry!

Black Lives Matter. Last night, a major action took place in downtown Pomona. One of UrbanMission’s pastors, Rev/Farmer Stephen Yorba Patten, saw it starting, and experienced the anger of those who were coming together. He felt led by Spirit to go home, get his stole a religious symbol, like a long scarf -- and then returned to the march/rally. Eventually the large crowd ended up in front of the Police Department, on Mission Blvd, and Stephen said he found himself tightly s...queezed into a front line between many furious people of color (mostly young) and Pomona PD officers who were present. He refused to take the bullhorn or address the crowd; rather, he spoke to rally leaders and police officers about finding minor compromises. Avoiding physical violence. Practicing peace. Making sure that George Floyd’s life matters. On this Pentecost Sunday, there are lessons here. Not just about listening to the Holy Spirit, but also about what God calls those of us who are white allies to do in a time such as this.

Please share with your networks and contacts, thanks!

A very happy Mother’s Day Sunday at the Outdoor Open Table! It was a tender and powerful time to see our neighbors and offer love and connection-despite-distance along with a meal and food supplies. Our chef was Pastor Dr. Linda Barkman (of Fullerton FCC and Claremont’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church), who made hamburger mac & cheese casseroles, buttermilk biscuits, slaw with pineapple and blueberries, and chocolate chip cookie bars ... all from scratch! ... assisted by her sous-chef husband John. Mil gracias to these two faithful friends!! And a special thanks to Patricia, Maria, and Julie, along with Linda, who chose to join us to prep, plate, and clean up after our Mother’s Day meal. All mothers - all here to care for neighbors and each other. We are blessed! #pomonastrongertogether #godinaction

Blessings arrive at the UrbanMission food pantry from Claremont’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Gracias!

How we love our neighbors.

Hope and joy, rising NOW at UrbanMission at our campus!

Las cajas de alimentos están limitadas a familias del Distrito 2 con niños o personas mayores SOLAMENTE. Para apartar una caja, envíenos un mensaje de texto al 909-450-7926 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] UrbanMission 810 S. White Ave. Pomona. 91766 @ipsinlandvalley ... @umcommunitypartners #pomonastrongertogether #pomona See more

Hometown Hero & Shero: Phillip and Mary Senteno of Forward Progress! They grilled 100 burgers for our Outdoor Open Table last night, prepared a pasta and veggie salad for each dinner box, readied individual portions of lettuce/tomato/onion for each burger, and added shortbread cookies for dessert. Lots of individuals and numerous family groups. The largest family we served had 8 people. Everyone got appropriate groceries from our food pantry. Thanks to ALL the organizations and individuals who support these services!!

Awesome donation for the UrbanMission Open Pantry today. 800lbs of Idaho spuds and 1200lbs of beans. All because of the legendary Spartan Basketball Coach, Mike LeDuc and his brother from Power Ministries. A bit of trivia: Coach LeDuc is number 2 in total career wins in all of California and only the 2nd to surpass 900 wins. He ranks 32 in the nation for surpassing 900 wins. AND, he was my sophomore typing teacher at Damien HS! Super, super humble and a true Spartan leader. Thanks Coach! @damien_spartans

Here’s the back story about those amazing oatmeal chocolate chip cookies made by a congregant of First Christian Church Pomona for last night’s Outdoor Open Table in UrbanMission’s parking lot: The baker lives in a mobile home with a tiny oven. The oven can only hold one small baking sheet at a time. The small baking sheet takes only 7 cookies at a time. So, to bake 175 cookies *7 at a time* took *25 rounds* of baking. As one sheet of cookies came out of the oven, the ne...xt went in. Then... 2 cookies per baggie, sealed and stickered (with 5 left over). We handed out 81 bags of cookies, and the volunteers got a few. 175 total. And so it was, that *one woman* ... committed to showing love to folks who live with hunger, unemployment, sickness, life on the street, loneliness, all sorts of life’s inequities ... *that one woman* shared what was in her home pantry and her heart last night at UrbanMission. Because it’s hard to see others having such struggles in life, especially during COVID-19. Do you believe in resurrection? At UrbanMission, at Pomona FCC, at this table, in this driveway, in this community, wherever two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, we love each other into new and renewed life together. AMEN. P.S. Anonymity for the baker, please!

From the 6th Outdoor Open Table Sunday tonight: 81 dinners of pulled pork enchiladas shared with our neighbors, plus about that many bags of groceries, plus hygiene kits and packs of diapers. Among our guests are several parents with 3-5 little kids (sometimes present, sometimes not). Unemployment in our neighborhood is deepening; kindness and gratitude are also deepening. A special shout-out once again to First Christian Church Pomona! We’d posted earlier about the wonderf...ul donation of all the ingredients needed for us to make the pulled pork enchiladas... and then another FCC Pomona member baked, bagged, and stickered more than 150 DELICIOUS oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!!! Here are some kitchen glamour shots: 18 pounds of carnitas made from 21 pounds of pork butt shoulder roasts; the completed casserole; and a bag of the cookies. Deep gratitude to our sisters and brothers at FCC Pomona!! See more