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.
