Beloved Families,
Next Saturday we are hosting a training for our nursery volunteers, and our own Mady Snyder will be there to share her wealth of experience and expertise. As we look forward to that time for our team, I remain grateful for the gifts in our community and am reminded of the generosity you all nurture from week to week. Our upcoming summer camp is another place we get to see your many gifts in action to create space for intergenerational learning. Our Sunday School classes are also an example of the wisdom carried by members of our community. And that is certainly not an exhaustive list! In all our gatherings, it is a joy to integrate people's passions for things like hiking, crocheting, gardening, cooking, landscape architecture, and gymnastics—just to name a few. Thank you for the ways you bless our community with the ways God has created you. May our sense of belonging increase in our shared spaces of learning and discovery.
Honoring Grads
Help us prepare for our Blessing of Graduates on Sunday, June 1st, as we take time to honor and celebrate our graduates of all ages. Please fill out this form for anyone in your family graduating at any level high school or above so we can include you in the blessing!
Kids & Youth Singing in Service
Our elementary kids and youth will be joining our adult choir in singing during service on June 8. On that Sunday, we are asking kids and youth to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal with the choir. They will be singing a song called "The Blessing," which is a musical version of the benediction we share at the end of worship each week. You can use these lyrics and this video to help your kids practice at home.
Kids Camp
We are excited for camp this summer, and registration is still open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are looking forward to this special intergenerational experience where we get to encounter God's love with people from our church family. Youth families, please note that the youth are invited to help again this year, and this can count for community service hours if they have any requirements through school or other organizations. Adults, let Pastor Andrew know if you want to be part of camp in any way this year. It is always an intergenerational time of learning and fun!
Walk & Play L.A.
Walk & Play L.A. is an annual fundraiser and community event to support Children's Hospital Los Angeles. It’s a day full of family friendly activities, highlighted by a 3K walk to the Santa Monica Pier. Our own Jon Rinkus is a chaplain at CHLA, and he is participating in the event with the Spirit Sprinters team. Spirit Sprinters support CHLA's Spiritual Care Department, which provides emotional and spiritual support to patients, families and staff. You can support his team and participate by signing up here. It takes place at the Santa Monica Pier on June 7. Go, Jon!
SUNDAY
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the power of telling the truth.
ELEMENTARY
This past Sunday we learned about the Parable of the Prodigal Son with an emphasis on the younger brother. Through games and wondering together, we explored how it feels when we mess up and how we can let kindness enter the situation.
This coming Sunday we will continue to dig into the Parable of the Prodigal Son, this time with an emphasis on the older brother and his feelings. We will also be recognizing our kids with May birthdays!
Discussion Question for the Table at Home
During last Sunday’s lesson, one of the children wondered why the father chose to interrupt his son, which would be a great question to explore as a family.
We can all relate to interrupting others and even interrupting our children. What are the reasons we interrupt others? What are examples of times we should listen instead? When might it be a loving thing to interrupt someone?
YOUTH
This Sunday our youth are invited to join us for lunch and a chance to hear from Sithy Bin, who has a remarkable story to share about his journey and how we can ally with immigrants. Text "Sithy" to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for you and/or your youth.
Have a beautiful weekend! We remain…
Less without you,
Pastors Andrew and Lindsay