Weekly Updates 12.20.2024

Youth + Family Emails

• Pastor Lindsay sends out lovely Saturday emails to families with kids of all ages. If you have kids ages 0-18 but are not receiving her updates, please sign up here so you don’t miss out!

Sunday

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, finishes this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor. You are welcome to come even if you missed the other sessions. Coffee and pastries provided.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Luke 1:57-66. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the Sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on projects this Sunday, December 22nd, after worship in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle.

• Check out our December Advent Calendar here.

Christmas Eve

• Join us this Tuesday, December 24th, at 6pm in the Sanctuary for our annual Christmas Eve service. This intimate hour-long service ends with singing “Silent Night” by candlelight on Marengo Ave. We hope you can join us for this special tradition.

Coming Up

• Join the Holy Walkamolies hiking group for their next hike at 4pm on Saturday, December 28th. This month’s location is at Griffith Park Observatory. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 to receive the link to the RSVP page with more information and carpool details.

• Planning on checking out the Rose Bowl Parade this year? We have ten parking passes for our garage available for the Rose Bowl Parade, happening on January 1st on Colorado Blvd. If you’d like a pass, please email Kathy today!

• Join us on Saturday, January 11th, at 9am for our quarterly Men’s Breakfast in the Park off Union St. A special guest and ministry partner from The Center for Restorative Justice, John Williams, will share with our group and you won’t want to miss! Text “bacon” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Help give the gift of life at our American Red Cross Blood Drive on Sunday, January 12th, in a mobile clinic parked on Holly St. from 9am - 3pm. Schedule an appointment here: January 12th Blood Drive Sign-up (NOTE: Be sure to sign up for the one in Pasadena located at 75 N Marengo Ave). Thanks for considering this life-saving event!

• Join us for our next Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group practice at 7pm on Sunday, January 12th, in the Gym off Union St. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 if you haven’t already. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

Winter Sunday School

January is around the corner, and we wanted to give you a preview of the fun classes in our next seven-week Winter Sunday School series running from January 12th-February 23rd! Stay tuned for a sign-up link in next Friday’s email!

• “The Beloved Community: Building God’s Vision for Racial Justice” with John Williams and Nancy Stiles

• “Teachings of Jesus” with Jerry Brown

• “Doing Life with your Adult Children” with Rich and Kris Laski

The Church Organized for Work

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is buyer’s choice.

• The Homeless Count is coming up! Pasadena Partnership coordinates resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here by January 5th so you can attend a zoom training on January 15th and be ready for the count on January 22-23. Select “yes” for the group option and write in “Chip Barabas” under team leader so we can be together as a group!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Advent Sunday School | 12/22 at 9am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 12/22 after worship | Parlor

• Holy Walkamolies | 12/28 at 4pm | Griffith Park Observatory

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 1/12 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service
12/25-12/26 - Merry Christmas | Office Closed*
*Office hours may vary between 12/23-1/1
1/1 - Happy New Year | Office Closed
1/5 - Taking Down the Greens
1/5 - Deadline for Homeless Count
1/11 - Men’s Breakfast
1/12 - Winter Sunday School Begins
1/12 - Mobile Blood Drive
1/12 - Basics Class
1/17 - CCC Movie Night
1/19 - De-Escalation Team Lunch
1/24 - Community Dinners
1/26 - Prayer for Global Servants
1/26 - Lunch for Newer Folks

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 12.14.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I am so thankful for our kids, youth, and adults who led in worship and storytelling at the carol service last weekend! It was a rich and beautiful time with candlelight and the voices of our community. Thank you for all the hard work, intention, and fullness you brought to the evening. That service always deepens my love for the story of Christ's birth, and I pray we continue to ponder and worship together this season. You are a gift! 

Youth Christmas Party

Friday, December 20, is our annual Youth Christmas Party! Parents, keep an eye out for an email with more details about time and location. Please note that we will do a white elephant gift exchange, so please bring a wrapped gift ranging $10-$20. If you need help to make that happen, just let me know! We want everyone to be able to participate and enjoy. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we move through the third week of Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. They will have a beautiful time together celebrating the carol service and telling the story of Christmas together. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Does joy mean we have to feel "happy" all the time?

• Where can you cultivate joy even in the midst of something sad or difficult?

YOUTH

We are back on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! We'll have lunch and finish at 1:30 PM as usual. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 12.13.2024

Saturday

• Our Easy-Going Basketball Group will be dribbling on the court tomorrow (not Sunday) from 7-9pm in our Gym on Union St. This is a non-competitive team that welcomes all ages and genders, and players of all levels are free to join. Contact Jason C if you have any questions!

Sunday

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, continues this Sunday, and lastly on December 22nd. Nancy will focus on themes of Journeying and Birthing at 9am in the Parlor. You are welcome to come even if you missed the first two sessions. Coffee and pastries provided.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is John 16:16-24. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the Sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Check out our December Advent Calendar here.

The Church Organized for Work

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is buyer’s choice.

• The Homeless Count is coming up! Pasadena Partnership coordinates resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here by January 5th so you can attend a zoom training on January 15th and be ready for the count on January 22-23. Select “yes” for the group option and write in “Chip Barabas” under team leader so we can be together as a group!

Christmas Eve

• Join us on the evening of Tuesday, December 24th, at 6pm in the Sanctuary for our annual Christmas Eve service. This intimate hour-long service ends with singing “Silent Night” by candlelight on Marengo Ave. We hope you can join us for this special tradition.

Coming Up

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on projects Sunday, December 22nd, after worship in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle.

• Join the Holy Walkamolies hiking group for their next hike on Saturday, December 28th. This month’s location is TBD. Please text “hike” to 626.727.9498 to receive the link to the RSVP page.

• Join us on Saturday, January 11th, at 9am for our quarterly Men’s Breakfast in the Park off Union St. You won’t want to miss the meal or the time of fellowship together. Text “bacon” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Help give the gift of life at our American Red Cross Blood Drive on Sunday, January 12th, in a mobile clinic parked on Holly St. from 9am - 3pm. Schedule an appointment here: January 12th Blood Drive Sign-up (NOTE: Be sure to sign up for the one in Pasadena located at 75 N Marengo Ave). Thanks for considering this life-saving event!

• Join us for our next Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group practice at 7pm on Sunday, January 12th, in the Gym off Union St. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 if you haven’t already. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Advent Sunday School | Sundays in December at 9am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 12/22 after worship | Parlor

• Holy Walkamolies | 12/28 | TBD

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 1/12 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service
12/25-12/26 - Merry Christmas | Office Closed
1/1 - Happy New Year | Office Closed
1/5 - Taking Down the Greens
1/5 - Deadline for Homeless Count
1/12 - Winter Sunday School Begins
1/12 - Mobile Blood Drive
1/12 - Basics Class
1/17 - CCC Movie Night
1/19 - De-Escalation Team Lunch
1/24 - Community Dinners

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 12.07.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This morning we had a dress rehearsal for the Carol Service, and it was such a gift to see our community working together in worship and storytelling. I am so thankful we get to revisit the story of Christ's birth each year and see it in new ways. I hope to see you all tomorrow night for this longheld tradition that connects us with years past as we sense God's movement in the world to make all things new. 

Carol Service

4 Year Olds & Kindergarteners

Please bring your child to the nursery when you arrive for the service that evening. We  will have childcare for the service, and your child will play until it's time for them to get into costume. After they process into the sanctuary for the nativity, they will remain standing up on the chancel for one song. They will remain there as Pastor John Jay gives some closing remarks before one final song (Go Tell It on the Mountain) and the benediction. Then it's over, and you can reunite with your child! 

Please note: Kindergarteners will sing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold) and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). Our 4 Year Olds are NOT required to learn and sing the songs.

Kids (Grades 1st-5th) and Youth

Please bring your child to the chapel by 5:45PM on Sunday so they can grab a snack and gather to sit together for the first part of the Carol Service. We will be in charge of them until the service ends. Please pick your child up in the Chapel right after the service so they can return their costumes. Then you can all enjoy the cookie reception!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we move through the second week of Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does peace look like when you imagine it?

• Where do you see a need for God's peace? How can we be peacemakers?

YOUTH

Please note that we will NOT have our regular youth gathering this Sunday so that everyone has a chance to go home before coming back for the carol service that evening. We will be back on for our regular youth gathering next Sunday!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 12.06.2024

Shout Out

• Thank you to everyone who helped the staff with Hanging of the Greens last week! It was fun to be with all of you, and our church home is now ready for the season. We would be less without you!

Sunday

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, continues this Sunday for three more weeks. Nancy will lead the class through themes of Accepting, Journeying, and Birthing at 9am in the Parlor. You are welcome to attend any of the dates in the series. Text “advent” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP or just come on in!

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Jonah 1:15-2:1. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the Sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects this Sunday, December 8th, after worship in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle.

• Join us this Sunday evening for our 81st Annual Candlelight Carol Service at 6pm in the Sanctuary! Our FBCP Choir, Handbell Choir, Men’s Quartet, Children, Youth, Harpist Paul Baker and pastoral team will be leading us in worship! We hope you can join us in person, but if you’re tuning in from home, Click here to listen online starting at 5:45pm. Childcare for toddlers and infants (4 years and under) will be provided, and there will be a cookie reception after the service. Feel free to pass along an invitation to friends using this link.

• Check out our December Advent Calendar here.

The Church Organized for Work

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is cereal.

• Thanks for everyone's generosity in giving gifts to 80 children through Friends In Deed this year! Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at the church this Sunday, December 8th, and they should include the child's name and family number. Email Shawn with any questions.

• Call for Cookies—We need your help with providing the cookies for the reception after the Candlelight Service! If you’re able, please bring 1-2 dozen cookies to share with all our guests, family, and friends. You can drop them off at the Connections Desk this Sunday morning, December 8th, before morning worship.

• Pasadena Partnership is the primary planning entity coordinating resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here asap so you can plan your online training before January 22-23. Let the office know if you register so we can coordinate zones!

Christmas Eve

• Join us on the evening of Tuesday, December 24th, at 6pm for our annual Christmas Eve service. This intimate hour-long service ends with singing “Silent Night” by candlelight on Marengo Ave. We hope you can join us for this special tradition.

Coming Up

• Join the Holy Walkamolies hiking group for their next hike on Saturday, December 28th. This month’s location is TBD. Please text “hike” to 626.727.9498 to receive the link to the RSVP page.

• Join us on Saturday, January 11th, at 9am for our quarterly Men’s Breakfast in the Park off Union St. You won’t want to miss the meal or the time of fellowship together. Text “bacon” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Advent Sunday School | Sundays in December at 9am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 12/8 after worship | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 1/12 at 7pm | Gym

• Holy Walkamolies | 12/28 | TBD

Six Weeks at a Glance

12/8 - Candlelight Carol Service
12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service
12/25-12/26 - Merry Christmas | Office Closed
1/1 - Happy New Year | Office Closed
1/5 - Taking Down of the Greens
1/12 - Winter Sunday School Begins
1/12 - Mobile Blood Drive
1/12 - Basics Class
1/17 - CCC Movie Night
1/19 - De-Escalation Team Lunch

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 11.30.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

The first Sunday of Advent is upon us, and that means multiple opportunities to gather and engage with the rituals of this liturgical season. I am reminded of the importance of telling the story of Jesus' birth each year as we grapple with the consequences of sin that feel so pervasive—fractured relationships, materialism, poverty, oppression, war, genocide, injustice on every level. The season of Advent invites us to name the suffering in our world, and then it challenges us to hold all of that in light of a God who is neither far nor distant but rather incarnate, right here with us. In Christ we find the light that sparks Hope, Peace, and Joy from the source of Love itself. I am so thankful that we get to move through Advent together and reorient ourselves around the child in a manger. May we be changed by that love this season. I hope to see you tomorrow for worship!

Carol Service

Practice at Home 

Please play these songs for them at home when you can so they can get the lyrics set to memory. You can encourage your child to practice using these listening tracks. Kids in grades 1st-12th will sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). Kids in K-12th grade will be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold) and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).

Saturday, December 7th: Dress Rehearsal 9:45 AM - 12:00 PM

The kids will get fitted for their costumes for the Carol service, practice singing in the sanctuary, and run through the live nativity. We will provide some snacks! Please bring your child to the Chapel for drop off and pick up.

Sunday, December 8th: Candlelight Carol Service - 5:30 PM

Kids will sing one song in their regular clothing (this is a chance to wear their favorite Christmas outfit!), and then they will change into their nativity costume. Please bring your child to the chapel at 5:30 PM so that we can run through the songs one more time and get kids into place before the service starts at 6:00 PM. We will provide some snacks, too!

Parents of Kindergarteners

Your children are invited to sing and participate in the nativity toward the end of the carol service. They can begin the evening in the nursery. When it is time for them to get into their costumes, we will come and get them from the nursery. It would be a huge help if you could play "Joy to the World" and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" at home since they won't be able to read all the lyrics during the performance.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will begin to explore the Christmas story as we begin Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up a fun survey to fill out during worship along with some snacks. It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does hope mean?

• Advent is about waiting and paying attention. How can waiting be good for us even though it is hard?

• What is your favorite part about the Advent season? 

YOUTH

Our youth will join our congregation for our annual hanging of the greens this week! We'll serve them lunch with the rest of the church and are so grateful they can join this time of working together and preparing for Christmas.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 11.29.2024

FBCP is Thankful for YOU

Sunday

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, starts this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor. The class meets on December 1, 8, 15 and 22, and Nancy will lead the class through themes of Waiting, Accepting, Journeying, and Birthing. You are welcome to attend any of the dates in the series. Text “advent” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this Christmas class!

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am as we partake in communion together (note: crackers are gluten free)! Our scripture this week is Luke 1:1-25. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Please note that because this will be the first Sunday of the month, our kids five years old and up will join us in the Sanctuary for service. Our youth are invited to join us for Hanging of the Greens after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens this Sunday after worship! We would love your help to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas—everything from unwrapping candles to setting up trees in our baptismal. We’ll have lunch first before turning up the Christmas music and getting to work.

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will play this Sunday, December 1st, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is cereal.

Advent + 81st Candlelight Carol Service

• Check out our December Advent Calendar here.

• Join us for our 81st Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday, December 8th, at 6pm in the Sanctuary! Help us celebrate the Christmas season as we sing together and are reminded of hope made real in the birth of Jesus. Childcare for toddlers and infants (4 years and under) will be provided, and there will be a cookie reception after the service. Feel free to pass along an invitation to friends using this link.

• Call for Cookies—We need your help with providing the cookies for the reception after the Candlelight Service! If you’re able, please bring 1-2 dozen cookies to share with all our guests, family, and friends. You can drop them off at the Connections Desk on Sunday, December 8th, before morning worship.

Friends In Deed Gift Drive

• We are in the middle of our Friends In Deed annual Christmas for the Kids gift drive, and we are excited that last week the rest of the 80 gift tags were taken home! Thanks for everyone's generosity! Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at the church no later than Sunday, December 8th, and they should include the child's name and family number. Email the office to arrange a time to stop by, or bring the gifts to worship and drop off at the Connections Desk. Email Shawn with any questions.

Coming Up

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects on Sunday, December 8th, after worship in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle.

Opportunities to Serve

• Pasadena Partnership is the primary planning entity coordinating resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here asap so you can plan your online training before January 22-23. Let the office know if you register so we can coordinate zones!

• Friends, we love the way our community comes around others when they are in need by offering meals or practical help. Please consider joining our Meal Ministry team by letting Pastor Lindsay know that you’d like to get links to Meal Trains whenever they arise (like this one for John S)!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Advent Sunday School | Starts 12/1 at 9am | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 12/1 at 7pm | Gym

• Yarn Crafts Group | 12/8 after worship | Parlor

• Holy Walkamolies | 12/28 | TBD

Six Weeks at a Glance

12/1 - Advent Sunday School Begins
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Candlelight Carol Service
12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service
12/25-12/26 - Merry Christmas | Office Closed
1/1 - Happy New Year | Office Closed
1/5 - Taking Down of the Greens
1/12 - Winter Sunday School Begins
1/12 - Mobile Blood Drive
1/12 - Basics Class

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 11.23.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We had a blast with our kids last night at our Parents Night Out! A huge thank you to Cindie and Tina for preparing such a delicious feast for us, and more huge thanks to Engry, Warren, Michael, Krista, and Roman for all their help to make the evening possible. What a fun night for all generations! 

Speaking of all generations, I came across this article and felt a lot of resonance with how we nurture intergenerational worship leadership. Our kids, youth, and adults create such beautiful moments of worship for our community. On that note, we are making final preparations for our Carol Service, so please fill out this form to let us know whether or not your child(ren) plans to participate. We can't wait to have them join us in leading worship at this special service!

Carol Service Details

Practice at Home 

Please play these songs for them at home when you can so they can get the lyrics set to memory. You can encourage your child to practice using these listening tracks. Kids in grades 1st-12th will sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). Kids in K-12th grade will be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold) and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).

Saturday, December 7th: Dress Rehearsal 9:45 AM - 12:00 PM

The kids will get fitted for their costumes for the Carol service, practice singing in the sanctuary, and run through the live nativity. We will provide some snacks! Please bring your child to the Chapel for drop off and pick up.

Sunday, December 8th: Candlelight Carol Service - 5:30 PM

Kids will sing one song in their regular clothing (this is a chance to wear their favorite Christmas outfit!), and then they will change into their nativity costume. Please bring your child to the chapel at 5:30 PM so that we can run through the songs one more time and get kids into place before the service starts at 6:00 PM. We will provide some snacks, too!

Parents of Kindergarteners

Your children are invited to sing and participate in the nativity toward the end of the carol service. They can begin the evening in the nursery. When it is time for them to get into their costumes, we will come and get them from the nursery. It would be a huge help if you could play "Joy to the World" and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" at home since they won't be able to read all the lyrics during the performance.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore friendship and how to welcome new friends using a storybook and Bible stories.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How are gratitude and kindness connected?

• Brainstorm ways you can express gratitude besides simply saying "Thank you!"

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week with lunch included. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 11.22.2024

Saturday

• Our Yarn Crafts Group invites you to the SoCal Fiber Fair in Pomona tomorrow afternoon, November 23rd. Tickets are $15 per person (buy online) and we can arrange to carpool. Kids 11 and under are free! Email Whitney or Justine to RSVP or if you have any questions.

Sunday

• TRAFFIC ALERT: We advise arriving to our parking structure on Holly St. before 10:30am this week to secure a parking spot before the attendants open up FBCP spots to the Pasadena community for the annual Doo-Dah parade. When you enter the driving structure, drive straight to the area with orange cones reserved for us this week. Tell the parking attendants that you are with First Baptist, and you will not be charged the $20 special event fee.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Revelation 1:4-8. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects this Sunday, November 24th, after worship in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle.

• Gratitude Night is this Sunday, November 24th, at 6pm in the Gym! Please enter through the gate on Union St. Based on your last name, as you’re able, please bring a salad/side (A-G), dessert (H-M), or main dish (N-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your FBCP friends and family. We hope you join us for a wonderful time of fellowship at our pre-Thanksgiving feast!

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is cereal.

Advent Schedule

• Check out our December calendar here. We hope you can join us for these special weeks leading up to Christmas. An invitation to our 81st Candlelight Carol Service can be found here.

Meal Train

• Friends, we love the way our community comes around others when they are in need by offering meals or practical help. Please consider joining our Meal Ministry team by letting Pastor Lindsay know that you’d like to get links to Meal Trains whenever they arise (like this one for John S)!

Friends In Deed Gift Drive

• We are excited to partner once again with Friends In Deed for their annual Christmas for the Kids gift drive, a reminder of God’s generous gift of Jesus to our world. Last week, our community took home about 45 gift tags for specific kids of all ages, and we have about 35 names left. On your way out, we invite you to pick up a child's name and gift information. Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at the church no later than Sunday, December 8th, and they should include the child's name and family number. Email the office to arrange a time to stop by, or bring the gifts to worship and drop off at the Connections Desk. Email Shawn with any questions.

Coming Up

• Join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, December 1st, immediately following service. We would love your help to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas—everything from unwrapping candles to setting up trees in our baptismal. We’ll have lunch first before turning up the Christmas music and getting to work.

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, will meet in the Parlor from 9-10am for the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Text “advent” to 626.727.9498 to sign up today!

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will play next on Sunday, December 1st, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

81st Candlelight Carol Service

• Join us for our 81st Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday, December 8th, at 6pm in the Sanctuary! Help us celebrate the Christmas season as we sing together and are reminded of hope made real in the birth of Jesus. Childcare for toddlers and infants (4 years and under) will be provided, and there will be a cookie reception after the service. Feel free to pass along an invitation to friends using this link.

• Call for Cookies—We need your help with providing the cookies for the reception after the Candlelight Service! If you’re able, please bring 1-2 dozen cookies to share with all our guests, family, and friends. You can drop them off at the Connections Desk on Sunday, December 8th, before morning worship.

Opportunities to Love Our Pasadena Neighbors

• Consider volunteering with one of our local partners, Union Station Homeless Services, at their annual Dinner in the Park that is quickly approaching! There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to make each of their Dinner in the Park programs possible, including food sorting, preparation, cooking, packaging, and serving. The next Pasadena dinner will be on Wednesday, November 27th. To sign up to volunteer or learn about urgent needs, visit their website here.

• Pasadena Partnership is the primary planning entity coordinating resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here asap so you can plan your online training before January 22-23. Let the office know if you register so we can coordinate zones!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Yarn Crafts Group | 11/24 after worship | Parlor

• Advent Sunday School | Starts 12/1 at 9am | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 12/1 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

11/24 - Gratitude Night
11/28-11/29 - Happy Thanksgiving | Office Closed
12/1 - Advent Sunday School Begins
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Candlelight Carol Service
12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 11.16.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

As we get closer to the Advent season, we wanted to share some details about the upcoming Candlelight Carol Service. Please fill out this form to let us know whether or not your child(ren) plans to participate. We can't wait to have them join us in leading worship at this special service!

• Practice at Home | Please play these songs for them at home when you can so they can get the lyrics set to memory. You can encourage your child to practice using these listening tracks. Kids in grades 1st-12th will sing "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). Kids in K-12th grade will be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold) and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).

• Saturday, December 7th: Dress Rehearsal 9:45 AM - 12:00 PM | The kids will get fitted for their costumes for the Carol service, practice singing in the sanctuary, and run through the live nativity. We will provide some snacks! Please bring your child to the Chapel for drop off and pick up.

• Sunday, December 8th: Candlelight Carol Service - 5:30 PM | Kids will sing one song in their regular clothing (this is a chance to wear their favorite Christmas outfit!), and then they will change into their nativity costume. Please bring your child to the chapel at 5:30 PM so that we can run through the songs one more time and get kids into place before the service starts at 6:00 PM. We will provide some snacks, too!

• Parents of Kindergarteners | Your children are invited to sing and participate in the nativity toward the end of the carol service. They can begin the evening in the nursery. When it is time for them to get into their costumes, we will come and get them from the nursery. It would be a huge help if you could play "Joy to the World" and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" at home since they won't be able to read all the lyrics during the performance.
  

Parents Night Out

We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parents Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, November 22nd, and then head out to do whatever your heart desires! We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids. You can register your kid(s) with this link.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will explore friendship and how to welcome new friends using a storybook and Bible stories.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Think about the past week. What different emotions did you experience? How do you think God wants to respond to you and all you are feeling?

• When did God feel closest to you this week? 

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week with lunch included. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 11.15.2024

Tomorrow

• The Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group invites you hike to the Hollywood Sign tomorrow morning! If you’d like to carpool, meet at the church at 8:30am, or meet at the trailhead at 9am. Read more about the hike here and please RSVP here so Nicole knows who’s in. We look forward to taking in fresh air and views of the city together!

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Philippians 3:1-11. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Our next FBCPride Group will gather for lunch this Sunday, November 17th, after worship in the Southside Room. The LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies 16+ are welcome, and you can read more about the group here. Jonathan Fisher is planning to share his story of faith and we’ll have time for table discussions. The church is providing lunch, but you are welcome to bring fruit, dessert or drinks if you would like. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Feel free to bring a friend.

• Join us after worship in the Parlor this Sunday, November 17th, for thirty minutes of prayer for our American Baptist global servants. If you are interested in joining with this group, please email Jeannette or Judy. This will enable them to send you an email about the specific matters for which we will be praying, including information about two new global servants we are considering partnering with starting in 2025.

• Our Easy-Going Basketball Group meets in the Gym this Sunday at 7pm. This group is for all non-competitive ages and encourages friendly play. Email Jason C if you have questions.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week—and for the month of November—is cereal.

Friends In Deed Gift Drive

• We are excited to partner once again with Friends In Deed for their annual Christmas for the Kids gift drive. Every year we get the honor of helping to provide gifts for Friends In Deed’s families with kids as we are reminded of God’s generous gift of Jesus to our world, and this year we are planning to once again provide 80 gifts thanks to your generosity. At service this Sunday, you can pick up a child's name and gift information. Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at the church no later than Sunday, December 8th, and they should include the child's name and family number. Email the office to arrange a time to stop by, or bring the gifts to worship and drop off at the Connections Desk. Email Shawn with any questions.

Coming Up

• We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parents Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, November 22nd, and then shop, eat, or take a nap! We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects on Sunday, November 24th, in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. Also this weekend, save the date for their annual retreat on Saturday, November 23rd, to the SoCal Fiber Fair in Pomona. Tickets are $15 per person (buy online) and we can arrange to carpool. Kids 11 and under are free! Email Whitney or Justine to RSVP or if you have any questions.

• Gratitude Night is one of our favorite traditions, and it’s just around the corner! We will meet in the Gym at 6pm on Sunday, November 24th. Based on your last name, as you’re able, please bring a salad/side (A-G), dessert (H-M), or main dish (N-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your FBCP friends and family. We hope you join us for a wonderful time of fellowship at our pre-Thanksgiving feast!

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will play next on Sunday, December 1st, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

Advent is Around the Corner!

• Join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens on Sunday, December 1st, immediately following service. We would love your help to decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas. We’ll have lunch first before getting to work.

• Advent Sunday School, taught by Nancy Stiles, will meet in the Parlor from 9-10am for the four Sundays preceding Christmas. Text “advent” to 626.727.9498 to sign up today!

• Join us for our 81st Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sunday, December 8th, at 6pm in the Sanctuary! Help us celebrate the Christmas season as we sing together and are reminded of hope made real in the birth of Jesus. Childcare for toddlers and infants (4 years and under) will be provided, and there will be a cookie reception after the service.

• Call for Cookies—We need your help with providing the cookies for the reception after the Candlelight Service! If you’re able, please bring 1-2 dozen cookies to share with all our guests, family, and friends. You can drop them off at the Connections Desk on Sunday, December 8th, before morning worship.

Opportunities to Love Our Pasadena Neighbors

• Consider volunteering with one of our local partners, Union Station Homeless Services, at their annual Dinner in the Park that is quickly approaching! There are a variety of volunteer opportunities to make each of their Dinner in the Park programs possible, including food sorting, preparation, cooking, packaging, and serving. To learn more and to sign up to volunteer, visit their website here.

• Pasadena Partnership is the primary planning entity coordinating resources to end homelessness in our community. Every January they do a headcount on the streets to plan for what they need more accurately, a critical step in securing funding. Anyone wishing to help can register here asap so you can plan your online training before January 22-23. Let the office know if you register so we can coordinate zones!

• For those who enjoy the work of Friends In Deed, you might be interested in tuning into their ‘State of FID Address’ zoom on Wednesday, November 20th. FID will discuss latest milestones, upcoming goals, and impactful work in our Pasadena community.

  Virtual Event Details

  Date: Wednesday, November 20th 

  Time: 6pm

  Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86406708000 

Regular-ish Happenings

• Holy Walkamolies | 11/16 at 9am | Hollywood Sign Hike

• Easy-Going Basketball | 11/17 at 7pm | Gym

• Yarn Crafts Group | 11/24 after worship | Parlor

• Advent Sunday School | Starts 12/1 at 9am | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 12/1 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

11/17 - “Spiritual Values in Literature” Class Ends
11/17 - Friends In Deed Gift Drive Begins
11/17 - Prayer for Global Servants
11/17 - FBCPride Group Lunch
11/22 - Parents Night Out
11/24 - Gratitude Night
11/28-11/29 - Happy Thanksgiving | Office Closed
12/1 - Advent Sunday School Begins
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Candlelight Carol Service
12/22 - Advent Sunday School Ends
12/24 - Christmas Eve Service

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 11.09.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I was so moved last week as our adults, youth, and children sang together in worship. I received their singing as a kind of sermon, prayer, and blessing all at once. In the midst of a week like this one, our intergenerational community is a source of comfort and hope for me. Watching young children play and laugh and move is a reminder of how our kids have great wisdom to share. Likewise, I pray we as adults can model how to hold sadness and grief alongside hope and joy, to name emotions honestly while remembering that we are deeply, divinely loved. I give thanks for the generosity and kindness that is evident in each of you, from our youngest to our oldest. This Sunday it will be so good to gather together, offer hugs, and deepen our sense of love and belonging. 

Parents Night Out!

We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parents Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, November 22nd, and then head out to do whatever your heart desires! We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids. You can register your kid(s) with this link.

Kids and Youth Christmas Choir Collaboration

We have already begun practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).  Please mark your calendars for December 7 from 10AM-12PM  for our dress rehearsal. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the ways that God is our Good Shepherd.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will wrap up our series on kindness, and we'll have time for Christmas singing practice. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How did you experience God's presence this week?

• What do you need from God this week?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week with lunch included. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 11.08.2024

Tomorrow

• Thanks for the RSVPs to the Women’s Brunch tomorrow, Saturday, November 9th, at 10am in the Southside Room! It’s not too late to join us for a special activity of packing goodie bags for the Women's Room at Friends In Deed. Check out this Sign-up Sheet if you have time for last-minute shopping, and text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP! Enter through the glass doors on Union St. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Philippians 2:19-30. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Immediately after Sunday service this Sunday, there will be a Town Hall meeting in the Sanctuary to present the 2025 budget proposal and foundation nominees to the congregation for consideration as we prepare to vote on them at our Gratitude Night potluck on Sunday, November 24th. For those who like to study and pray ahead of time, please refer to Pastor John Jay’s notes about Town Hall and Gratitude Night. We look forward to giving thanks and remembering God’s faithfulness this past year while also looking toward what God has for us in the year ahead.

• We invite you to celebrate our friend and member Jon Rinkus’ ordination this Sunday, November 10th, at 3pm in the Chapel. Those who attend are also invited to celebrate afterwards at the Laski Home. Please RSVP by clicking on this link. We hope you can join us in recognizing this exciting event in Jon’s life!

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week—and for the month of November—is cereal.

Crafting Continues

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects after Town Hall this Sunday, November 10th, in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. ALSO, save the date for their annual retreat on Saturday, November 23rd, to the SoCal Fiber Fair in Pomona. Tickets are $15 per person (buy online) and we can arrange to carpool. Kids 11 and under are free! Email Whitney or Justine to RSVP or if you have any questions.

Coming Up

• Our next FBCPride Group will gather for lunch on Sunday, November 17th, after worship in the Southside Room. The LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies 16+ are welcome, and you can read more about the group here. Jonathan Fisher is planning to share his story of faith and we’ll have time for table discussions. The church is providing the lunch (no potluck, although you are welcome to bring fruit, dessert or drinks if you would like). Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Feel free to bring a friend.

• Join us after worship in the Parlor on Sunday, November 17th, for thirty minutes of prayer for our American Baptist global servants. If you are interested in joining with this group, please email Jeannette or Judy. This will enable them to send you an email about the specific matters for which we will be praying.

• We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, November 22nd, and then shop, eat, or take a nap! We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Gratitude Night is one of our favorite traditions, and it’s just around the corner! We will meet in the Gym at 6pm on Sunday, November 24th. Based on your last name, as you’re able, please bring a salad/side (A-G), dessert (H-M), or main dish (N-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your FBCP friends and family. We hope you join us for a wonderful time of fellowship at our pre-Thanksgiving feast!

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will meet next on Sunday, December 1st, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

In the Community

• Axis Advocacy invites the community to a Gospel Musical Journey to bring awareness to people suffering from Sickle Cell Disease. This free event is happening tomorrow, November 9, at 11am at First United Methodist Church and you are encouraged to register here for in-person tickets or here for an online zoom link. Coffee and pastries will be served at First Methodist starting at 10:15am.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Yarn Crafts Group | 11/10 after worship | Parlor

• Holy Walkamolies | 11/16 at 9am | Hollywood Sign Hike

• Advent Sunday School | Starts 12/1 at 9am | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 12/1 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

11/9 - Women’s Brunch
11/10 - Town Hall Meeting
11/10 - Jon Rinkus’ Ordination Service
11/17 - “Spiritual Values in Literature” Class Ends
11/17 - Friends In Deed Gift Drive Begins
11/17 - Prayer for Global Servants
11/17 - FBCPride Group Lunch
11/22 - Parent Night Out
11/24 - Gratitude Night
11/28-11/29 - Happy Thanksgiving | Office Closed
12/1 - Advent Sunday School Begins
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Carol Service

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 11.02.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I hope you had a fun Halloween! Every year I share this brief theology of Halloween, and every year I am reminded of how beautiful it is to see neighbors opening their homes to share treats as people of all ages walk together and share kind greetings. As we took our kids up and down decorated streets, I was struck by how much goodwill was in the air. What a lovely glimpse of neighborliness that is possible!

Tomorrow we have the opportunity for our kids, youth, and adults to lead us in singing. We value these intergenerational collaborations with singing, so thanks to our parents for bringing your kids and youth at 9:30 AM tomorrow for our final rehearsal. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. You can bring your kids to the lobby, and then parents are invited to hang out and enjoy pastries before worship starts. 

Kids & Youth Christmas Choir Collaboration

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).  Please mark your calendars for December 7 from 10AM-12PM  for our dress rehearsal.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will explore the ways that God is our Good Shepherd.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up a fun survey to fill out during worship—Pastor Mary will have that ready in the lobby, and it's always a favorite activity for our kids (and youth!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some ways you can be a good neighbor in your neighborhood?

• Why is singing an important part of our worship?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week with lunch included. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. Parents, keep an eye out for an email about upcoming youth events.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 11.01.2024

Tonight

• We hope everyone attending Community Dinners tonight has a great time eating at tables around the city! Thank you to the Christopher, Heshumi, James, Loose, Laski, Takahashi-Lewis and Miller households for hosting our community!

Sunday

DON’T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS BACK AN HOUR!

• Join Pastor John Jay this Sunday morning for Coffee + Conversation at 9am in the Parlor! It’s a great time for newer folks to get to know a few other people, share stories of how you found the church, and ask any questions you may have for our lead pastor. Coffee and pastries will be served and you can enter through the gates on Marengo Ave. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am as we partake in communion together (note: crackers are gluten free)! Our scripture this week is Philippians 2:12-18. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Please note that because this will be the first Sunday of the month, our kids five years old and up will join us in the Sanctuary for service, and elementary kids + youth are invited to sing with our FBCP Choir and sit together in the front pews! Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• As an American Baptist Church, we share in the long history of global servants who have been called to work cross-culturally to show people the love of Christ and proclaim God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation. This month you can give to the World Mission Offering (WMO) in support of International Ministries (IM), the organization that sends and supports the American Baptist global servants. We hope you will step into the flow of generosity as you consider how you might give above and beyond your regular offering to support God’s work around the world through the WMO. Click here to give online (select WMO from the drop down menu), or make your offering during Sunday worship.

• The FBC Foundation invites you to a free estate planning seminar led by attorneys Amanda Bunn and Ryan Burroughs after worship this Sunday, November 3rd, from 12:30-2:30pm in the Southside Room. Lunch and childcare are provided. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about creating a will or trust as a means of caring for your loved ones. Please text “estate” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the lunch and email Kris with any questions. 

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will also meet on Sunday, November 3rd, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is peanut butter and other nut butters.

Next Week

• All women and girls are invited to our Women’s Brunch on Saturday, November 9th, at 10am in the Southside Room! It will be a time to share a meal and get to know some awesome ladies of all ages in our community. This time around, we will have a special activity of packing goodie bags for the Women's Room at Friends In Deed, and we could use your help with some donations for those bags. Check out this Sign-up Sheet for the needed donations, and text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP! If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects after worship this Sunday, November 3rd, in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. ALSO, save the date for their annual retreat on Saturday, November 23rd, to the SoCal Fiber Fair in Pomona. Tickets are $15 per person (buy online) and we can arrange to carpool. Kids 11 and under are free! Email Whitney or Justine to RSVP or if you have any questions.

Town Hall + Gratitude Night

• Immediately after Sunday service on November 10th, there will be a Town Hall meeting in the Sanctuary to present the 2025 budget proposal and board nominees to the congregation for consideration as we prepare to vote on them at our Gratitude Night potluck on Sunday, November 24th. Mark your calendars for these important dates as we give thanks and remember God’s faithfulness this past year while also looking toward what God has for us in the months ahead. We will share some supporting materials ahead of these meetings so you can pray and prepare.

• Gratitude Night will be another time for potluck (yum, yum)! We’ll meet in the gym at 6pm on Sunday, November 24th. Based on your last name, as you’re able, please bring a salad/side (A-G), dessert (H-M), or main dish (N-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your FBCP friends and family. We hope you join us for a wonderful time of fellowship at our pre-Thanksgiving feast!

Jon Rinkus’ Ordination

• We invite you to celebrate our friend and member Jon Rinkus’ ordination at 3pm in the Chapel on Sunday, November 10th. Jon graduated from Fuller Seminary with his Master of Divinity in Chaplaincy and has gone through the same rigorous writing process that Pastors Chip and Lindsay went through this year. Those who attend are also invited to celebrate afterwards at the Laski Home. Please RSVP be clicking on this link. We hope you can join us in recognizing this exciting event in Jon’s life!

In Two Weeks

• Our next FBCPride Group gathering is set for Sunday, November 17th, after worship in the Southside Room. The LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies 16+ are welcome, and you can read more about the group here. This time, Jonathan Fisher is planning to share his story of faith and we’ll have time for some table discussions. The church is providing the lunch! You are welcome to bring fruit, dessert or drinks if you would like. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Feel free to bring a friend.

• Join us after worship in the Parlor on Sunday, November 17th, for thirty minutes of prayer for our American Baptist global servants. If you are interested in joining with this group, please email Jeannette or Judy. This will enable us to send you an email about the specific matters for which we will be praying.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 11/3 at 7pm | Gym

• Yarn Crafts Group | 11/10 after worship | Parlor

• Holy Walkamolies | 11/16 at 9am | Hollywood Sign Hike

Six Weeks at a Glance

11/3 - Coffee + Conversation
11/3 - Kids Choir
11/3 - Estate-Planning Lunch
11/9 - Women’s Brunch
11/10 - Town Hall Meeting
11/10 - Jon Rinkus’ Ordination Service
11/17 - “Spiritual Values in Literature” Class Ends
11/17 - Friends In Deed Gift Drive Begins
11/17 - Prayer for Global Servants
11/17 - FBCPride Group Lunch
11/24 - Gratitude Night
12/1 - Advent Sunday School Begins
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Carol Service

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 10.26.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Thanks for all those who came out for our all-church Game Night last Saturday! We had a great turnout with folks of all ages participating. Our youth spent some time debriefing the event so that they can host again in the future and make it even better. We look forward to more chances for intergenerational play!

Speaking of intergenerational work, our team that went to Oaxaca included people of various ages. I am so impressed, thankful, and excited to see our kids, youth, and adults sharing in learning and growth together. God is so big, and it takes all of us to discover and reflect God's goodness and work in the world back to one another. They have clearly been changed by the people who welcomed them with incredible hospitality, and there is much learning for all of us in that exchange. You can read all the updates and check out the photos here. A special thanks to the Ochi family for sharing their relationships in Oaxaca with us! It is clearly a special place, indeed. 

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! 

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of David and Goliath.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have time for some Halloween fun and Christmas singing practice—a full range of seasons! We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How does kindness make you feel? Try to be as descriptive as possible. 

• What difference does it make that our God is kind?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 10.25.2024

Tomorrow

• The Oaxaca Team returns tomorrow! Catch up on Pastor John Jay’s posts here if you missed the texts earlier this week.

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Philippians 2:1-11. This Sunday is All Saints Sunday—scroll down to input the names of loved ones who have passed since October 29, 2023. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• As an American Baptist Church, we share in the long history of global servants who have been called to work cross-culturally to show people the love of Christ and proclaim God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation. This month you can give to the World Mission Offering (WMO) in support of International Ministries (IM), the organization that sends and supports the American Baptist global servants. Last week, we featured the Freemans, and this week we will share audio from Melanie Baggao. Click here to listen to her first message, and we’ll play a beautiful second part in service during the offering time. We hope you will step into the flow of generosity as you consider how you might give above and beyond your regular offering to support God’s work around the world through the WMO. Click here to give online (select WMO from the drop down menu), or make your offering during Sunday worship.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is cereal.

All Saints Day

• We have received several names of loved ones in or connected to our community who have died since October 29, 2023, and we will honor them this Sunday by saying their names out loud. It is our tradition to hold our loss and grief together as the body of Christ in this sacred practice. There is still time to input names below:

Also…

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects after worship this Sunday, October 27th, in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. Email Whitney or Justine if you have any questions.

• Our next round of Community Dinners is happening next Friday, November 1st. At this time, our list is full and hosts have been notified of their participants (keep a lookout for a message from your host if you signed up!). If you didn’t get a chance to sign up, email Pastor Chip to get on the waiting list.

• If you’re new-ish to FBCP, Pastor John Jay would love to have coffee with you next week at Coffee + Conversation, happening November 3rd at 9am in the Parlor. It’s a great time to get to know a few other people, share stories of how you found the church, and ask any questions you may have for our lead pastor. Coffee and pastries will be served and you can enter through the gates on Marengo Ave. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email the office if you are attending and will need childcare.

• The FBC Foundation invites you to a free estate planning seminar led by attorneys Amanda Bunn and Ryan Burroughs after worship on November 3rd from 12:30-2:30pm in the Southside Room. Lunch and childcare are provided. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about creating a will or trust as a means of caring for your loved ones. Please text “estate” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the lunch and email Kris with any questions. 

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will also meet on Sunday, November 3rd, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

• All women and girls are invited to our Women’s Brunch on Saturday, November 9th, at 10am in the Southside Room! It will be a time to share a delicious meal and get to know some awesome ladies in our community. Text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to sign up. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

Election Night Community

• The Center for Restorative Justice will be hosting a gathering space on election night on a day that is often fraught with tension and anxiety. At this gathering, The Center hopes to “create space for emotions while also reminding ourselves and one another that we will face the outcome together and faithfully continue the work of peace and justice regardless of the results. This will be a potluck so bring your favorite comfort dish, side, dessert to share. RSVP by Nov 1.”

Town Hall

• Immediately after Sunday service on November 10th, there will be a Town Hall meeting in the Sanctuary to present the 2025 budget proposal and board nominees to the congregation for consideration as we prepare to vote on them at our Gratitude Night potluck on Sunday, November 24th. Mark your calendars for these important dates as we give thanks and remember God’s faithfulness this past year while also looking toward what God has for us in the months ahead. We will share some supporting materials ahead of these meetings so you can pray and prepare.

Jon Rinkus’ Ordination

• We invite you to celebrate our friend and member Jon Rinkus’ ordination at 3pm in the Chapel on Sunday, November 10th. Jon graduated from Fuller Seminary with his Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and has gone through the same rigorous writing process that Pastors Chip and Lindsay went through this year. Those who attend are also invited to celebrate afterwards at the Laski Home. Please RSVP be clicking on this link. We hope you can join us in recognizing this exciting event in Jon’s life!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Yarn Crafts Group | 10/27 after worship | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 11/3 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

10/27 - “History in the Gospel” Class Ends
10/27 - All Saints Day Observed
10/28 - Handbell Rehearsals Begin
11/1 - Community Dinners
11/3 - Coffee + Conversation
11/3 - Kids Choir
11/3 - Estate-Planning Lunch
11/9 - Women’s Brunch
11/10 - Town Hall Meeting
11/10 - Jon Rinkus’ Ordination Service
11/17 - “Spiritual Values in Literature” Class Ends
11/17 - Friends In Deed Gift Drive Begins
11/17 - FBCPride Group Lunch
11/24 - Gratitude Night
12/1 - Hanging of the Greens
12/8 - Carol Service

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 10.19.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

It's here! Tonight is the all-church Game Night from 5:00-7:30 pm. The youth have a variety of games for a variety of ages, and we will make sure you are well fed, too! You can enter through the glass doors on Union Street, but if you have any issues getting in the building, please text the church line at 626-727-9498. We'll be in various rooms on the second floor, and we'll have signs to help you find different games. See you soon!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! 

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of David and Goliath.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have Nolan with us to play with all his fun gym stuff! Each week we will continue with singing rehearsal as well. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some ways someone showed you kindness this week?

• How does kindness help us form connections with others?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 10.18.2024

Today

• The Oaxaca Missions Team left today! Please pray for the team—Pastor John Jay, Ada, Dan, Dave P, Kimiko, Megumi, Nicole, Nori and Tim—that they might have a special time of collaboration and connection with the local team of medical doctors and staff as they serve alongside Mexican host churches.

Tomorrow

• The whole church is invited to join Game Night tomorrow, October 19th, from 5:00-7:30pm! The youth have worked hard to plan a variety of games for a variety of ages, and Pastor Lindsay will make sure you are well fed, too! Text “game” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the fun night!

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Philippians 1:27-30. The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• As an American Baptist Church, we share in the long history of global servants who have been called to work cross-culturally to show people the love of Christ and proclaim God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation. This month you can give to the World Mission Offering (WMO) in support of International Ministries (IM), the organization that sends and supports the American Baptist global servants. We hope you will step into the flow of generosity as you consider how you might give above and beyond your regular offering to support God’s work around the world through the WMO. Click here to give online (select WMO from the drop down menu), or make your offering during Sunday worship.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is pasta and pasta sauce.

All Saints Day

• On October 27th, we will celebrate All Saints Day by pausing to remember those in or connected to our community who have died in the past year (since October 29, 2023) by saying their names out loud. It is our tradition to hold our loss and grief together as the body of Christ in this sacred practice. Please click below to input their name.

Also Coming Up…

• Our Yarn Craft Group welcomes any crafty knitters or crocheters (or any type of crafting) to work on your projects after worship on Sunday, October 27th, in the Parlor. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. Email Whitney or Justine if you have any questions.

• Everyone is invited to our next round of Community Dinners on Friday, November 1st. This is a wonderful time to share a meal, and it is a great way to get to know other church members better. It is one of our favorite events in homes around the city, so we hope you can participate! Email Pastor Chip or text “dinner” to 626.727.9498 if you would like to attend (this is the last week for signups—we’ll be assigning homes next week)!

• If you’re new-ish to FBCP, please attend our next Coffee + Conversation with Pastor John Jay happening on Sunday, November 3rd, at 9am in the Parlor. It’s a great time to get to know a few other people, share stories of how you found the church, and ask any questions you may have for our lead pastor, John Jay. Coffee and pastries will be served and you can enter through the gates on Marengo Ave. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email the office if you are attending and will need childcare.

• The FBC Foundation invites you to a free estate planning seminar led by attorneys Amanda Bunn and Ryan Burroughs after the Service on November 3rd from 12:30-2:30pm in the Southside Room. Lunch and childcare are provided. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about creating a will or trust as a means of caring for your loved ones. Please text “estate” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the lunch and email Kris with any questions. 

• Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group will meet on Sunday, November 3rd, at 7pm in the Gym off Union St. Text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to join the text updates for this group. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available; bring your parking ticket for validation and a bottle of water.

• All women and girls are invited to our Women’s Brunch on Saturday, November 9th, at 10am in the Southside Room! It will be a time to share a delicious meal and get to know some awesome ladies in our community. Text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to sign up. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

Election Night Community

• The Center for Restorative Justice will be hosting a gathering space on election night on a day that is often fraught with tension and anxiety. At this gathering, we will create space for those emotions while also reminding ourselves and one another that we will face the outcome together and faithfully continue the work of peace and justice regardless of the results. This will be a potluck so bring your favorite comfort dish, side, dessert to share. RSVP by Nov 1.

Town Hall

• Immediately after Sunday service on November 10th, there will be a Town Hall meeting in the Sanctuary to present the 2025 budget proposal and board nominees to the congregation for consideration as we prepare to vote on them at our Gratitude Night potluck on Sunday, November 24th. Mark your calendars for these important dates as we give thanks and remember God’s faithfulness this past year while also looking toward what God has for us in the months ahead. We will share some supporting materials ahead of these meetings so you can pray and prepare.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Yarn Crafts Group | 10/27 after worship | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 11/3 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

10/18-10/26 - Oaxaca Missions Trip
10/19 - All-Church Game Night
10/27 - “History in the Gospel” Class Ends
10/27 - All Saints Day Observed
10/28 - Handbell Rehearsals Begin
11/1 - Community Dinners
11/3 - Coffee + Conversation
11/3 - Kids Choir
11/3 - Estate-Planning Lunch
11/9 - Women’s Brunch
11/10 - Town Hall Meeting
11/10 - Jon Rinkus’ Ordination Service
11/17 - “Spiritual Values in Literature” Class Ends
11/17 - Friends In Deed Gift Drive Begins
11/17 - FBCPride Group Lunch
11/22 - Parent Night Out

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you in our sanctuary on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

P.S. First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket to the lobby for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line. Contact the office with questions.

FBCP Families | 10.12.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We are now in the midst of a new series on kindness with our kids in grades K-5. At various times, we partner with Real Kids Real Faith to explore spiritual practices geared specifically for kids. These activities are open-ended and exploratory in nature, without any need for a "right" answer or predictable outcome. We are excited to keep opening up space for kids to think about kindness and its impact as they share their own wisdom and wonderings. You can check out the practices for kindness here, and you might check out the extra resources at the bottom of the page to adapt anything for use at home. Thank you for being a congregation who is kind beyond measure. We are so thankful to nurture the kindness that is in  your kids and to learn from them, too!

All-Church Game Night

The youth invite you to Game Night fun from 5:00-7:30 pm on Saturday, October 19th! They are planning a variety of games for a variety of ages, and we will make sure you are well fed, too! Text “game” to 626.727.9498 to join in the fun! Youth will be finalizing their plans this Sunday, and we'll need them to arrive early on the day of the event to help set up. I'll send more information to parents this week. Yay for youth creating spaces for play!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! . 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Naomi and Ruth. 

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have time for singing and worship. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is an example of how God has been a "way maker" in your life or someone you know?

• Why is it important to be kind? What does kindness "do" in the world?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay