Hi Friends,
I am so excited to begin the season of Advent with you tomorrow! Our worship services will include a litany for the lighting of our Advent wreath each Sunday, and this week we light a candle for hope. I have been pondering the possibility of hope and its ability to resist the powers and principalities. Hope goes against scarcity and fear, inviting us into a relationship of trust and imagination with God. You certainly give me hope for what is possible through the love of God in community. You may want to have your own candle-lighting practice at home with your kids as a way to move through Advent together. May we be a people of hope in our relationships and in the spaces we go as we intentionally wait for the birth of Christ this season.
Kids Choir
We are so excited for our kids to help lead us in worship at our annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 11th. Could you please respond here and let us know if your child is able to attend and participate that evening?
As a reminder, our kids above nursery age will be singing two songs at this special program, as well as participating in our nativity. For now we are focusing on the first song. Here is a song sheet and here is a recording so they can practice at home. Our hand-motion guru, the fabulous Cynthia, made this video to help kids practice their movements at home, too. Please mark your calendars for the dates:
December 10 — Carol Service Rehearsal for kids from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
December 11 — Carol Service (kids should arrive at 5:30 PM)
Attention Nursery Families!
We are preparing for our upcoming services on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Could you please take a minute to fill out this quick survey to help us understand your plans? We know that there may be lots going on for families and various traditions they have, so we want to make sure we have a sense of our childcare needs coming up. Thank you!
Public Theology and Local Partnerships Interest Meeting
You are invited to find out more about our partnerships with LA Voice and the Clergy Community Coalition on Sunday, December 4th, at 9 AM. Pastor John Jay, Andrea Vocos from LA Voice, and our own Cynthia Kirby will be there to share more about what these partnerships mean and ways for you to get involved with local outreach and initiatives to create a more just and thriving city. Breakfast will be served, and we will have childcare available at that hour for those with kids. Please let us know if you plan to attend and need childcare.
SUNDAY
KIDS
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM.
Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then head to their classrooms together. This week we will begin the season of Advent together with some tangible creations to help us pause and reflect on Jesus in the coming weeks. (Hint: It's a warm and comforting Parents, please send your children in warm clothing in these colder months as our building can get a little chilly.
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
What does it mean to have hope and to live from a perspective of hope?
What are some ways we want to prepare for the birth of Jesus as a family this year?
YOUTH
This week our youth will gather for a brief meeting over lunch to talk about plans for the carol service, and then they are invited to help with the hanging of the greens. They can meet in the sanctuary down in front where the youth sit. It will be a fun and festive time together after worship, and we are looking forward to being together!
Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families.
So much love and gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay