This week
The missions team should be settling into Oaxaca City tonight before they travel by car to smaller villages and spend next week assisting in optometry clinics, dental clinics, and other work projects as needed. Please keep them in your prayers as you feel led. The Bake Sale raised over $1500—thank you for helping offset their costs! ❤️
Sunday
Our Fall Sunday School classes continue through November 2nd on Sundays at 9am. Click here for more information.
Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary! Our scripture this week is Lamentations 3:19-26 and our theme from Breathing Under Water is Step 6: We're entirely ready to have God remove all of these defects of character. 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. 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.
As an American Baptist Church, we share in the long history of global servants who have been called to work cross-culturally to show people the love of Christ and proclaim God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation. This month you can give to the World Mission Offering (WMO) in support of International Ministries (IM), the organization that sends and supports the American Baptist global servants. We hope you will step into the flow of generosity as you consider how you might give above and beyond your regular offering to support God’s work around the world through the WMO. Last week we shared about the work Melanie Baggao is doing in Beruit. This Sunday we will speak about Kit Ripley’s work in Thailand and Faye Yarbrough’s work in South Africa. Click here to give online (select WMO from the drop down menu), or make your offering during Sunday worship.
The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is canned fruit.
Community Dinners
Pastor Chip invites you to save the date for Friday, November 7th, for our Community Dinners! We love these times sitting around small tables together, and are grateful for people who have hosted around the city. If you enjoy gatherings like this and would like to find out about hosting a group from our church, please let Pastor Chip know! Those interested in attending a dinner can sign up next week.
Coming Up
Monday Study will continue as a discussion on the upcoming sermon text and theme. We gather in the Parlor from 12pm-1pm each week for a wild time of interpretation, imagination, theological training, storytelling, and general merriment. No prep is required to join the fun, and you are welcome to bring your lunch and enjoy during this hour. Bring a printed Bible if you have one (we have extras), a pen and notebook, and all the curiosity you can muster. Can't wait to study together! Email Pastor John Jay with questions.
The FBCPride Group is planning a fun outing to the USC One Archives Museum next Saturday, October 18th, at 1:30pm. This is the world's largest LGBTQ+ archive, and our very own Jerry Brown created items that are included in the archives. One of USC’s own archivists will also be on hand to share secrets of the museum and highlight parts of the museum. Join us for lunch beforehand at Central Kitchen, and click here to RSVP for the limited (free) archive tickets—we just have a couple spots left. FBCPride is a monthly gathering of LGBTQ+ Christians and allies to grow in friendship, education, love and support.
Our Basics Class will meet after worship on Sunday, October 19th, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room for those who are interested in learning about our church. Pastors will walk you through our church history, our American Baptist denomination, and the meaning behind some of our practices like baptism, communion and membership. Lunch will be provided. Text “basics” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email Pastor Chip for more details and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.
Parents, join us for Parent Night Out on Friday, October 24th, from 6-9pm. We'll serve snacks and provide activities for your kids while you eat dinner, shop, or take a nap! You can register your kid(s) with this link.
Join us on Saturday, October 25th, at 9am for our quarterly Men’s Breakfast in the Park off Union St. You won’t want to miss the meal or the time of fellowship together. Text “bacon” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.
Pastor Andrew invites everyone to show their inner child and wear a friendly Halloween costume on Sunday, October 26th. We look forward to seeing what you come up with, and there might even be a treat!
All Saints Day
On All Saints Sunday, November 2nd, we will pause to remember those in or connected to our community who have died in the past year by saying their names out loud. It is our tradition to hold our loss and grief together as the body of Christ in this sacred practice. Please use the form link below to share their names with us.
Musical Invitation
Preparations for Advent are underway, and you are invited to participate! We are assembling an Advent Handbell Choir for the Candlelight Carol Service. We are looking for 8-11 people to participate. It will involve weekly rehearsals beginning Monday, November 3rd, at 7pm in the Sanctuary, a dress rehearsal on December 13th, and the performance on December 14th. You do not need prior handbell experience to participate, though some basic music knowledge will be helpful. Email Pastor Leslie or text “bells” to 626.727.9498 to sign up!
more in November
Small Group Leaders—thank you for your leadership this fall launching our small groups! Please note a meeting for all leaders on Sunday, November 2nd, at 9am in the Southside Room. Thanks!
You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, November 2nd, after worship in the Southside Room. Our speaker this month will share his story growing up genderqueer, and we hope to learn how to best love others processing their gender identity. Our potluck this month is Taco Bar themed, so please sign up here if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new, and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.
Pastor Andrew, Stormie, and Helen invite families to hang out in the park by the Gym after worship on Sunday, November 2nd. Pack a lunch or grab a local bite to eat and enjoy outside while the kids run around. Email Pastor Andrew with questions.
Don’t forget to Save the Date for Community Dinners on Friday, November 7th! Signups start next week.
Thanks to the folks who serve on our De-escalation Team, a team focused on caring for the needs of folks who might walk in off the streets needing help. 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 and Gaby will be in touch with you regarding the next training at 9am on November 9th.
Ordinations!
We invite everyone to celebrate the official ordinations of Pastor Riley Taylor and Pastor Leslie Cheng at two special services on Sunday, October 26th (Riley) and November 16th (Leslie), both at 2pm in the Sanctuary. These steps of ministerial accomplishment are so exciting to celebrate and acknowledge together as a community. We hope you can all join us.
Six Weeks at a Glance
10/11-10/18 - Oaxaca Missions Trip
10/18 - FBCPride Outing to USC One Archives
10/19 - Basics Lunch
10/24 - Parent Night Out
10/25 - Men’s Breakfast
10/26 - Costume Sunday
10/26 - Riley’s Ordination Service
11/2 - All Saints Sunday
11/2 - Small Group Leader Meeting
11/2 - FBCPride Group
11/2 - Family Park Hangout
11/2 - Prayer for Global Servants
11/3 - Advent Handbell Practice Begins
11/7 - Community Dinners
11/9 - De-Escalation Team Training
11/9 - Town Hall Business Meeting
11/16 - Leslie’s Ordination 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.