Hi Friends,
I am in North Carolina visiting Gavin's family this week, and we are grateful for the chance to spend time at the beach with cousins, grandparents, and great grandparents. We sure will miss worship with you tomorrow, though! The other night as we said bedtime prayers, I asked Brody what he wanted to thank God for. He said, "Everything…and church!" For a boy who usually wants to thank God for trucks, it was a precious reminder of the impact y'all have already had on our little guy. Thank you for being a community of which we are constantly grateful to be a part.
Brody's love for church reminded me of our family dedication a few weeks back. We made promises to love and care for John, Joel, Nathaniel and Leonidas, knowing that the coming days would require our presence and support. By now you should have received an update from John Jay that Joel died Friday afternoon. It is our calling and a privilege to walk with this family as they grieve Joel in the days, months, and years to come. Joel's absence will surely be felt in our congregation, particularly his love for Jesus and his deep sense of gratitude for simple, everyday gifts. We will let you know the details for his service, and thank you in advance for your love, prayers, and care for John and the boys.
Book Reading
You’re invited to join us for a special book reading after worship on September 11th. Our own Bri Johnson-Rinkus wrote a children’s book, and Corrie Alvaro illustrated it. They are excited to share this special story about finding our true worth. We’ll serve a light lunch and then gather in the chapel for the reading and book signing. We'll have some copies of the book for our families with kids, and there will be additional copies available for purchase and to be signed by Bri and Corrie. It’s a story for all ages, and we hope you can join us for this family event with our congregation!
All-Church Beach Day!
Join us for a beach day on Saturday, September 17th, from 3-8 pm at Bolsa Chica Beach for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! This is a family-friendly event and all are invited. A group will be carpooling from the church. Click here for more information and/or to sign up. You can also sign up on Sunday at the Connections Desk in the lobby.
Handbells (Youth are invited!)
Pastor Leslie is assembling a group to play handbells at our Candlelight Carol Service in December, and our youth are welcome to join. She is looking for 8-11 people to participate. It will involve weekly rehearsals beginning Monday, October 3rd, at 7 pm, dress rehearsal on December 10th, and the performance on December 11th. You do not need prior handbell experience to participate, though some basic music knowledge will be helpful. Email Pastor Leslie to sign your youth up.
Sunday
KIDS
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Please note that this week we will not use the iPad to check in; you can sign your child in once you arrive at the nursery. Childcare will be open starting at 10:15 AM.
Our kids who are above nursery-age will join their families in the sanctuary for worship. We’ll have snacks Pastor Mary has packed that kids can grab on their way in to service. We love their presence in our sanctuary and the chance to be together to share in communion this Sunday. You might want to have some discussion this week about how your kids are experiencing church and our worship service. It's a great time to let them ask questions, too!
Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:
Why do you think we have lots of people participate in leading worship?
What is something you are wondering about after being in worship today?
YOUTH
We will have our regular youth lunch gathering this Sunday. This week we are asking youth to meet in the sanctuary in the pews where many of our youth sit (towards the front). We'll get everyone together and then head up to the youth room as a group. We'll wrap up at 1:30 PM, and parents can text Chip this week when they are at Union Street or the front gate for pick up.
Have a wonderful weekend!
With love and gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay