Welcome to our Wonderful Weekly Email!
Some online folks have asked about our Sunday services…
First Baptist Church of Pasadena has weekly worship services on Sundays at 10:30am at 75 N. Marengo Ave. If you’re driving in, we invite you to park at 150 E Holly St and bring in your ticket for validation. We are also a block away from the Memorial Park Station on the A Line.
Our scripture this week is Isaiah 40:27-51
Each week, a link to our liturgy livestream is emailed/texted at 9am on Sundays. Contact the office if you would like to adjust your communication preferences. You may also access the livestream by clicking on the date at the top of our website each week.
Sunday
Fall Sunday School is here—join us this Sunday at 9am!! Class 1 starts this week and runs September 8th thru October 27th in the Parlor. Class 2 starts October 6th and runs thru November 17th in Room 214.
Class #1: History in the Gospel with Jennifer Wolfe This class will explore eight areas of the history around the Gospels to better contextualize and understand the culture and people we find in the first four books of the New Testament. Each week will explore different aspects of 1st century Roman Palestine culture alongside scripture, and ask the question "What do the scriptures tell us about this world?"
Class #2: Spiritual Values in Literature with Rene Scheys: Quarantine (1998) by Jim Crace, a beautiful, challenging, and imaginative story of five individuals who choose, for various reasons, to quarantine themselves in a set of caves in a harsh desert landscape as a spiritual practice. Jesus is one of them. Rene's class is being shifted to Oct 6-Nov 17, so for those who already signed up, you have a little extra summer break before you start (or you can pop into Jennifer's class for now).
Text “school” to 626.727.9498 or click here to register.
Look out for yummy treats for sale at our Oaxaca Bake Sale this Sunday and September 22nd in the lobby! Our Oaxaca Missions Team will be selling goodies to raise money for their trip to Mexico this Fall. Purchases may be made with cash (items will be about $5 each), or by using this link (choose Oaxaca Mission Trip from the drop-down menu). Enjoy!
Because our sanctuary does not have air conditioning, we encourage you to bring a water bottle and dress lightly on Sundays for worship service. Although there are hand fans throughout the sanctuary in the back of the pews, you may also want to bring your own hand fan as the summer heat continues.
Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! 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 to join the biweekly fun after worship this Sunday, September 8th, in the Parlor, and September 29th in the Southside Room. Bring snacks to share (optional) and a water bottle. Email Whitney or Justine if you have any questions.
Our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball group meets this Sunday, September 8th, 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 buyer’s choice.
Coming Up
On September 15th, the deacons and staff are partnering for a special Listening Sunday. We are going to utilize our normal 10:30am worship time a little differently on this day, creating a unique experience of listening and learning together. We will conclude our time in the Gym and Park with taco carts provided by the church to celebrate the day. So all the joy of a potluck with no casserole dishes to wash! No need to bring anything except yourself. For the younger kids we will have an outdoor gymnastics obstacle course put on by the one and only Nolan McSparran—and youth, talk to Pastor Lindsay about where we might use your help on this day! If you have questions, you can email me at johnjay@fbcpasadena.com.
Our next (and last) monthly Grief Group meets on Sunday, September 22nd, at 9am in Room 214. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if it’s your first time. Jon is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and provides a rich space for folks to process grief.
Our FBCPride Group potluck lunch is rescheduled for Sunday, September 22nd, after worship in Room 214. The LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies 16+ are welcome, and you can read more about the group here. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Feel free to bring a friend. We can’t wait to fellowship with you!
De-Escalation Team
Thanks to the folks who signed up last week for our De-Escalation Team, a team focused on caring for the needs of folks who might walk in off the streets needing help. Pastor John Jay shared last week that being in an urban setting, FBCP gets regular visitors with varying levels of physical and mental needs. We want to have a few volunteers trained and available to talk with folks who might need help calming down or talking to someone, while the pastors are busy during the service. Text the word "calm" to 626.727.9498 if you enjoy this line of work.
Small Groups
Small Group leaders have been notified of their members, and if you signed up you should be hearing from your leader soon! We are excited for groups to launch mid-month, and at this time we are full but we are looking to add more groups over time. These groups will create opportunities for growth and formation in the context of an intimate circle of belonging in homes around the city. Email Pastor Lindsay with questions or to join the wait list.
Regular-ish Happenings
Yarn Crafts Group | 9/8 after worship | Parlor
Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 9/8 at 7pm | Gym
Grief Group | 9/22 at 9am | Room 214
Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | September Hike TBA
Six Weeks at a Glance
9/8 - Oaxaca Bake Sale
9/8 - Sunday School Class 1 Begins
9/15 - Listening Sunday
9/22 - Oaxaca Bake Sale
9/22 - FBCPride Group Lunch
9/28 - Men’s Breakfast
9/29 - Prayer for Global Servants
10/2 - 55+ Group Event
10/6 - Sunday School Class 2 Begins
10/19 - All-Church Game Night
10/18-10/26 - Oaxaca Missions Trip
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
