FBCP Families | 05.10.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This weekend we give extra thanks for the mother figures in our lives. Within our congregation, we are blessed with women and girls who show us glimpses of the ways God nurtures, sustains, and cares for us. As I held the stories of our community's mother figures in prayer this week, I was reminded of the vast range of their experiences. Having come through Holy Week recently, the image of Mary remaining present in the midst of her son’s suffering is also fresh on my heart. I found myself returning to this post by Kat Armas (author of Abuelita Faith) on the topic of motherly characteristics in Jesus. If you don't have time to read the whole post, then I encourage you to take a look at the poem provided at the end, which was prayed over me by members of FBCP when I was pregnant with Emma Kate. As Armas points out, understanding God as a mother figure is not meant to replace our understanding of God as Father; rather, "perhaps expanding our view of language can not only help us understand the bigness and the beauty of God, but also benefit those who have never had a father to relate to." May we feel the expansive and tender heart of God who, like a mother, loves and nurtures us without end, able to bear with both deep suffering and deep joy—and everything in between. 

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!

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 story of when Jesus appears to his followers in Matthew 28:16-20.

KIDS

In a galaxy far far away, we celebrated Star Wars Day (May the 4th) this past Sunday. It was so much fun seeing you show up in Star Wars attire, take photos in front of the space backdrop, and have the kids fill out the Star Wars themed follow along sheet. We had a great time diving into this imaginative world with the rest of the church family.

In staying in the celebratory mood, this coming Sunday we will celebrate the mothers and mother figures that have helped us get to where we are. Our elementary kids will explore the story of Esther and how she was able to use her talents to free her people. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is your special talent?

• Who are the mother figures in your life? How do they help reflect God's love and care for us?

YOUTH

This week our youth will be off so they can spend time with their families on Mother's Day. Next Sunday we will have our regular gathering after worship.

On Sunday, May 25, 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 Lindsay and Andrew

FBCP Families | 04.19.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We want to extend a heartfelt thanks to our kids, youth, and adult choir for leading us in worship last week at our Palm Sunday service. It was such a beautiful picture of our church family and the richness of intergenerational worship and formation. (And thanks to the parents for bringing kids early to help make the morning run smoothly!)

The past two evenings have been really powerful, tender services as we retold the story of Jesus' last moments with his disciples and his crucifixion. Thank you to all who were able to join us in those services to live more fully into the path of Christ, even and especially in suffering. Today we honor a space of waiting as we look toward tomorrow and the resurrection. May we stay with Christ in a spirit of hope even as we mourn and wait.

Easter Sunday

Join us starting at 10 AM for our annual Easter Brunch in the park! In addition to a delicious spread of food, we will have some creative stations and lawn games to spark joy in both kids and adults. This will be a chance for families to eat and create together with our larger church community. You are also invited to bring flowers from your neighborhood to adorn our cross as a communal sign of life and resurrection. 

At 11 AM, we will move to the sanctuary for our Easter worship service. Kids above nursery age will join us in the sanctuary, and we will have some activities for them to take into worship. Our nursery will be open at 10:50 AM for kids four and under. They will get to explore the Easter story, too. Our youth will be part of our all-church festivities and then resume their regular youth gathering next week. It's going to be a beautiful morning of celebration, baptisms, and rejoicing. We hope you will join us!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Read the story of resurrection as a family, maybe in a few different translations. What are you wondering as you hear the story this year? What stands out to you?

• What does the Easter story tell us about the power of God's love?

Summer Happenings

Kids Camp Registration

We are making plans for camp this summer, and registration is  open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together 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 us know if you want to be part of camp in any way this year. It is always an intergenerational time of learning and fun!

Youth Summer Pilgrimage

As a reminder to parents, this summer our youth are invited to participate in a Southern Pilgrimage with The Center for Restorative Justice. They are hosting a powerful six-day journey through the Deep South, tracing the legacy of Emmett Till and the Black Freedom Struggle. This immersive experience will take students from Jackson, MS, to Money, MS, Memphis, TN, and Montgomery, AL, exploring key historical sites and museums that shaped the fight for racial justice. The trip takes place June 21-27. Here is a link to the application, which is due April 28. Please let me know if your youth plans to apply. If you have any questions at this time, feel free to reach out. I look forward to what I know will be a transformational trip with our youth!

May we wait with attention and anticipation as we look to tomorrow. 

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay and Pastor Andrew

FBCP Families | 04.12.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Holy Week is here, and I always cherish the chance for our community to retell the story of Christ's death and resurrection. I hope you can join us on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 6PM. Those are both powerful services with embodied practices, and they always prepare me more fully for the reality of resurrection on Easter Sunday. Tomorrow our kids and youth will join our adult choir in leading us during worship in our Palm Sunday service! Please bring your kids and youth to the sanctuary at 9:30 AM for one last rehearsal. We'll have pastries in the courtyard for parents so you can hang out until worship. I look forward to being with you tomorrow as we prepare for a meaningful week ahead. 

Meet and Greet with Andrew

Tomorrow we invite you to join us for lunch and a chance to meet Andrew, our new Pastor of Children and Community Partnerships! You'll have a chance to hear more about his story while connecting with each other. We invite you to bring a card of blessing to the event to give Andrew as a welcome. We'll gather in the park after worship for this time of connection as we give a warm welcome to Andrew.

Kids Camp Registration

We are making plans for camp this summer, and registration is  open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together 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.

Youth Summer Pilgrimage

As a reminder to parents, this summer our youth are invited to participate in a Southern Pilgrimage with The Center for Restorative Justice. They are hosting a powerful six-day journey through the Deep South, tracing the legacy of Emmett Till and the Black Freedom Struggle. This immersive experience will take students from Jackson, MS, to Money, MS, Memphis, TN, and Montgomery, AL, exploring key historical sites and museums that shaped the fight for racial justice. The trip takes place June 21-27. Here is a link to the application, which is due April 28. Please let me know if your youth plans to apply. If you have any questions at this time, feel free to reach out. I look forward to what I know will be a transformational trip with our youth!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the story of Palm Sunday.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. Please note that any kids who are singing with the choir will sit together for the start of service. This week the kids will dig into the story of Palm Sunday with Andrew and our amazing volunteer team. We look forward to a beautiful morning of intergenerational worship and learning!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are you wondering after hearing the story of Palm Sunday?

• What do you think Jesus felt as he rode into town on the donkey?

YOUTH

This week our youth join our lunch in the park to welcome Andrew. We hope they enjoy this time of fellowship with the larger church and the chance to get to know Andrew better!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families.

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

a word from riley

Today Riley shares a reflection ahead of Sunday worship, complete with a song!

FBCP Families | 03.22.2015

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This past week I attended an event hosted by my son's school for some of the school communities impacted by the fire. It featured Robert Evans and Michael Thompson, who are both psychologists, authors, and school consultants. Separately and together, they have helped many schools cope with tragedies and traumas. They shared some helpful observations and research on resiliency in times of communal trauma after spending some time with teachers and students. They emphasized that the ability to play is an important indicator that a child is okay, and they reminded us that resiliency is normative for children. Each Sunday when our kids and our youth gather, I love watching them play and laugh together. It is a testament to their resiliency and to the support of their community. I am also reminded that as adults, we could use a little play, too. I was able to spend an extended time at a park with my own kids this past week, and it felt so good to be in the sunshine and pretend to be on a ship with some new friends we met there. I pray that we can all make time for joy and movement with our families and to trust that there is deep resiliency flowing through our kids and this community.  May tomorrow be a time of worship, connection, and some play! 

Kids Camp Registration

We are making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together 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. 

Save the date—and note the date change!

On Sunday, April 13, we invite all families with kids and our Family Ministry volunteers to join us for lunch and a chance to meet Andrew, our incoming Pastor of Children and Community Partnerships. You'll have a chance to hear more about his story while connecting with each other. We invite you to bring a card of blessing to the event to give Andrew as a welcome. We'll gather after worship for this time of connection as we give a warm welcome to Andrew!

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids and youth to join our adult choir in leading us during worship on Sunday, April 13, in our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing this Sunday during our kids time, and they will continue to rehearse on Sunday for the coming weeks. Here are the lyrics, and here is a recording that you can use to help your kids practice at home. A huge thanks to Grace Goodman for leading the hand motions for the song this year!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 ways God has given each of us unique gifts.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with any of their leaders in the front pews. This week the kids will engage with the story of the Good Samaritan in some interactive and reflective activities. It will be a great opportunity to question whom we consider to be our neighbor (and which people we may not consider to be a neighbor!). It will be another meaningful morning of intergenerational learning and connecting! 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Whom do you consider to be your neighbor?

• Whom might you consider an enemy?

• How do you feel in response to God's command to love even those who feel like enemies?

YOUTH

This week our youth will have our regular youth gathering after worship, including lunch. We'll wrap at 1:30 PM, and youth can be picked up from our Union Street park gate.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 03.15.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I spend most of my driving time with my kids in the car. They love music, and we are always looking for fun new beats we can all enjoy together. I wanted to let you know a consistent favorite of ours—music made by our own Caleb Chen! He goes by DingusSauce on all the music platforms, and it is so fun to see the variety of sounds he experiments with. He's a real perfectionist, so each song is a carefully crafted offering. You can check him out on Apple Music or Spotify. His songs have super fun names, and each one is unique. If you see him on a Sunday, let him know if you are a fan. I love that our community has so many gifts that folks are willing to share. Thanks to Caleb, and I hope y'all enjoy!

Kids Camp Registration

We have been busy making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together 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. 

Save the Date!

On Sunday, April 6, we invite all families with kids and our Family Ministry volunteers to join us for lunch and a chance to meet Andrew, our incoming Pastor of Children and Community Partnerships. You'll have a chance to hear more about his story while connecting with each other. We'll gather after worship for this time of connection as we give a warm welcome to Andrew!

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids and youth to join our adult choir in leading us during worship on Sunday, April 13, in our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing this Sunday during our kids time, and they will continue to rehearse on Sunday for the coming weeks. Here are the lyrics, and here is a recording that you can use to help your kids practice at home. A huge thanks to Grace Goodman for leading the hand motions for the song this year!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the ways God has given each of us unique gifts.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with any of their leaders in the front pews. This week the kids will engage with imaginative prayer and scripture reading while they contemplate the story of the prodigal son. It's the same scripture we will engage with in the preaching time, so we hope parents and kids can find time for wondering together as they ponder this story. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• We might relate to all of the characters at different points in our lives. Which character do you feel most similar to right now? 

• When have you had a hard time knowing how to mend a relationship?

• When have you felt discounted or unnoticed? 

YOUTH

This week our youth will have our regular youth gathering after worship, including lunch. We will continue exploring themes of lent and scriptures from Luke. We'll wrap at 1:30 PM, and youth can be picked up from our Union Street park gate.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 03.08.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

It was really powerful to gather with many of you for our Ash Wednesday service. I always have a deep appreciation for Lent and its invitation to slow down and consider what practices might help me attune to my grief and emotions more fully with God. I had the privilege of distributing ashes at Fuller's chapel service (thanks to our own Bailey Payne!), and they asked me to read this beautiful poem for blessing ashes. It felt resonant for a community like ours that has such intimate knowledge of fire and ash. I pray that you find ways to pause and make space for both grief and hope as we move through this season of Lent together with deep love and concern for our city, our nation, and the world. See you tomorrow as we worship a God who is with us in suffering; may we sense God's presence and nearness in new ways when we gather.

Kids Camp Registration

We are making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 16-20 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together 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. 

Family Sunday Gems

Last Sunday our kids had the chance to ponder some themes of wonder in relation to the transfiguration as they filled out their follow-along sheet during worship. Arielle gathered some of their inspiring answers to the question, “Write or draw a time you experienced wonder or magic in an ordinary moment.” Check some out below!

• Me winning a track race last week

• Drawing with my dog

• Leading worship

• Reading

• One time I was really scared and stressed when I heard God and he calmed me down.

• I was in Las Vegas on a very tall Ferris Wheel.

• Whenever the sun shines and warms me up it feels like magic.

• It was like a shock when I met my best friend Miles.

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the importance of sharing.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with any of their leaders in the front pews. This week the kids will dig into the parable of the party in Luke 14:1-24. It's a thought-provoking lesson on what it means to be deemed "important" and those we are called to welcome with God's own hospitality. Arielle has some fun ways to engage with the story, and we hope it gets our kids wondering more about what it means for everyone to be important in the kingdom of God.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• When have you felt that you were important? When have you felt uninvited or unimportant?

• What does God say about what it means to be important?

• How could you make someone else feel welcomed or included this week?

YOUTH

This week our youth will have our regular youth gathering after worship, including lunch. We will be exploring themes of lent and scriptures from Luke. We'll wrap at 1:30 PM, and youth can be picked up from our Union Street park gate.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 03.01.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Last week our kids in K-5th grade explored the truth that God created them and calls them good, or" tov" in the original Hebrew. (Here's another resource to look at the meaning of tov!) They read parts of Genesis and then did some reflecting on how God has made them to reflect God's image. Our kids are still learning who they are and how God has made them to be in the world, and it is a privilege to be able to point out those unique qualities and gifts they have as they grow and become the fullest versions of themselves. One practice they did not have time to complete was a breath practice from The Book of Belonging. Arielle and I thought you might want to try it at home, so I am sharing it below. It might feel silly or awkward at first, but it can be a really powerful practice if you can lean into it with intention and an open mind (and heart!).

Breath Practice

Remembering the names God calls us: Close your eyes and take some deep belly breaths. Then put your hand over your heart like you're pressing on a name tag. Repeat these names: I am Loved; I am Treasured. I Belong with God; I am Honored; I am Good. I am Never Alone. I am Purposed. I am Protected. Notice how you feel as you try to receive those truths about yourself. If one part sparks some extra feeling or tenderness, maybe try saying that one a few more times. Return to this practice whenever you doubt your belovedness.

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids to lead us in worship on Sunday, April 13, in our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing this Sunday during our kids time, and they will continue to rehearse on Sunday for the coming weeks. Here are the lyrics, and here is a recording that you can use to help your kids practice at home. A huge thanks to Grace Goodman for leading the hand motions for the song this year!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the theme of sharing.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up snacks and a fun survey to fill out  during worship. Arielle and Warren will have that ready in the lobby as you enter. It will be a beautiful morning together with communion and the scripture telling of Jesus' transfiguration. We look forward to our time of worship with you!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Transfiguration is a big word! What happened in the Bible story describing the transfiguration of Jesus? What are you wondering after hearing that story? 

• What are some ways that we can experience the wonder of God in everyday moments?

YOUTH

This week we are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. Lunch is included, and youth can be picked up at 1:30 PM in the church park off Union Street. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 02.22.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I am excited to share a spiritual practice that I had the gift to learn today. This morning I was able to attend the Black Contemplative Prayer Summit, a virtual summit where Black spiritual teachers and thought leaders facilitated powerful and enriching sessions on prayer and contemplative practices. One of the sessions led by Alfonso "Trey" Campbell included a simple but profound practice of lectio divina using one of Howard Thurman's poems, "I Will Sing a New Song." The poem was written in 1937 in the midst of national and global strife—a familiar descriptor for our own times. I thought I would share the practice here as one you could do with family or friends. 

First, we began our session with a time to center and breathe while listening to "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis, which was really grounding. Then this excerpt of the poem was read over us:

I will sing a new song.
I must learn the new song for the new needs.
I must fashion new words born of all the new growth
of my life – of my mind – of my spirit.
I must prepare for new melodies that have never been mine before,
that all that is within me may lift my voice unto God.

The poem was read three times with space to pause and reflect after each reading. The invitation was to notice which words shimmered and resonated, and then sit with those prayerfully. You could have different family members or friends take turns reading the poem. Then make space to share what God prompted and where you might need a new song to sing in this season. For those in the session with me, the poem spoke to multiple layers of experience, from personal situations to global crises. I pray that you and your families feel encouraged by the song God gives you to sing, and may you lift your voice to God with all that is within you. See you tomorrow for worship as we come to lift our voices together! 

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 peace and the power of calming down.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit in the front pews with any of the leaders. This week Arielle and the volunteers will be exploring the foundational truth that they are made in God's image and they are tov (good). They are excited to learn and build relationships across generations!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What can you learn about God when you think about how everyone is made in God's image?

• How does it make you feel to know that God calls you good? What questions does that bring up for you?

YOUTH

This week our youth will be joining our all-church potluck. We will resume our regular youth gathering next week. We are excited to share in these events where our youth can fellowship with their larger church family.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families 02.15.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

My youngest child, Emma Kate, has continued to cling more tightly to me as her way of processing all the feelings around the fire and the lack of routine last month. She has cried everyday at drop off (she used to not even say goodbye or look back!), but she always proclaims, "I had a great day!" when I pick her up. It has been a reminder of the extra patience, attunement, and compassion that we all need for one another and ourselves. One of the practices we have done regularly with the youth lately is to ask them to name what they need on a deeper level. Many of them are very tender from the suffering around them and overwhelmed by a desire to change things for the better. They have identified that they need things like strength, peace, balance, love, courage, hope, and release. Our younger kids do not always have language for their needs, so it shows up in tears at drop off. Our older kids can benefit a great deal from having permission to identify and name what they most need underneath all the obvious demands and tasks they have to do. That could be a practice you try as a family—an invitation to reflect and prayerfully name the deeper thing they need in the coming days. I pray that each of your families feels held in ways you can easily recognize this week, knowing it is okay to cling more tightly or shed some tears. Hope to see you tomorrow for worship!

Honoring Pastor Mary

All are invited to appreciate and honor Pastor Mary this Sunday after worship in the gym. We hope you can be there to let her know what she has meant to you as she transitions out of her official role on staff. FBCP will provide Prime pizza and cupcakes, and everyone is invited to write a message in a scrapbook, take a photo, and greet her in a receiving line. I hope you can join us!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore peace and the power of calming down.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week the kids will have a fun interactive Bible story, yummy snacks, and good relational time together with Pastor Mary and each other.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Who in your life could use some extra encouragement and blessing, and how might you offer them some support?

• What are some small ways people have cared for you that made a big difference for your life?

YOUTH

This week our youth will be joining our special lunch to honor Pastor Mary. Next week is an all-church potluck, so we will resume our regular youth gatherings the week after that. We are excited to share in these events where our youth can fellowship with the church at large. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 02.08.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

As a parent and a pastor to families with kids, I am always curious about how our intergenerational relationships form us and shape our understanding of God. In my reading this week I came across some of Howard Thurman's words about children (you can listen to his reflection or read the transcript here). I thought I would share a highlight today, especially seeing how much our young people are feeling and processing all the tragic, scary, and chaotic news in their city, across our nation, and around the world. Thurman's insights into the importance of rootedness and authentic expressions of love felt resonant with the values we are always trying to live into more fully as a congregation. I appreciate how he articulates the truth that kids learn much more from our tone of voice and body language than the words we speak. There is great power in our honest and intentional interactions, for "if we love a child, and the child senses from our relationship with others that we love them, he will get a concept of love that all the subsequent hatred in the world will never be quite able to destroy." May we live from a place of love so that our children (and we!) can know its indestructible power and wield it with courage.

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore patience.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week the kids will continue to find ways to support those who need prayer and love with some tangible ways to care for them. It has been such a blessing to learn from their own tender and empathic hearts.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Who in your life could use some extra encouragement and blessing, and how might you offer them some support?

• What are some small ways people have cared for you that made a big difference for your life?

YOUTH

This week we are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. Lunch is included, and youth can be picked up at 1:30 PM in the church park off Union Street. We are going to spend some time in the book of Luke in the coming weeks, and we will continue to explore the themes of resilience and blessing that we engaged with on the retreat. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 02.01.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We are up in Big Bear with our youth this weekend, and it has been a really powerful time already. We are looking at what it means to hold pain in healthy ways and how to build our resiliency in the midst of suffering. They have been able to name some of the things they are carrying while also seeing the pain in their communities. We have deep gratitude for their empathic hearts, supportive friendships, and the trust they are leaning into. We can't wait to share more when we get back. Thank you for your prayerful support for this special time with them. We will miss you tomorrow but know it will be a beautiful time of worship!

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the theme of patience.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up snacks and a fun survey to fill out  during worship. Pastor Mary will have that ready in the lobby, and it's always a favorite activity for our kids. It will be a beautiful morning together with communion, too. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What stood out to you in worship today?

• What are simple ways we could worship during the week with our families or on our own?

YOUTH

This week our youth are on a retreat. We look forward to gathering after worship as usual next Sunday!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families,

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Family Ministry Update

This letter is full of important updates, so buckle up! 

If you have been around our church for a while now, you have heard us talk about Family Ministries and Pastor Lindsay’s changing role on the staff. She has been in flux with her new role as Pastor of Formation and her previous role as Pastor of Families. Her new role gives her a broader leadership presence throughout the church community and focuses on the spiritual practices and programs that support our ongoing moral formation. This involves Sunday School, Small Groups, leadership training, youth, women's ministry, occasional retreats and one-off learning events, as well as more worship leadership and preaching. Behind the scenes we have also been reconfiguring the Family Ministries to better align with our growing church and staffing. 

Mary Winchell has been Lindsay’s right-hand helper as the Children's Pastor since 2018, working specifically with our kids from birth through fifth grade. In reorganizing the staffing, the Family Ministry plan has been to combine the roles into one new position. Mary has graciously extended her tenure while we looked at candidates for the new pastoral position to oversee children and families. More than once Mary has agreed to bridge the gap a little longer than originally planned, especially since The Fire. We want to honor the planned shifts in Family Ministry and give the church a chance to celebrate the time Mary has been part of our ministry team. In collaboration with Mary, we have landed on February 16, 2025, as her last Sunday on the staff, ending with a time of gratitude and storytelling after worship. We invite anyone touched by Mary’s ministry, especially our families and volunteers, to join us in the park after worship for food and fun to honor her service. You know Mary, and she is already praying about how to serve as a volunteer after her staff role ends. Her tenure has been marked by a reliable love for our kids and families, and that love is not conditioned by formal staff positions. 

In preparation for these changes, there are some other updates to our staffing planned in the interim. Warren Tang and Arielle Pittluck have joined forces with Pastor Lindsay as a team to help prepare Family Ministries for the future. Warren brings the logistical admin skills, and Arielle brings deep knowledge in best practices, processes, and theological values that Lindsay has built so things translate into the future. We are also actively searching for a full-time staff member to round out the team. More on that as we have news to share. 

We are grateful for the level of care and pastoral presence our families have experienced through our Family Ministries, including the love and flexibility that carried them through COVID and the growth in the years following. We have been blessed with new families who resonate with our values, and Mary has helped to cultivate a sense of belonging and welcome for all. That foundation is solid, and we are so thankful for all the groundwork that has been laid for this next season. Please join us in thanking Mary for all her hard work, love, and care. 

Less without you,

Pastor John Jay Alvaro

FBCP Families | 01.25.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Last Sunday our kids were invited to contribute to wildfire relief, and it was a beautiful gift to see their generosity in both spirit and action. Thank you for being a congregation that is so responsive and generous in all circumstances. As we dedicated Rusty Mae last week, it was a reminder of our invitation to belong to one another deeply—and how very special and vital that is. I am so grateful for your families and for the kids and volunteers who filled our building with joy this past week. A huge shout out to Ruthie, Cindie, Arielle, Tilli, Nori, and Warren for making childcare possible. What a dream team we have! I am filled to overflowing with gratitude, and I look forward to gathering tomorrow for worship, hugs, and a deepening of our belonging. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 importance of asking for help and offering help.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week the kids will lean into the practice of prayer for families who have been most impacted by the fires and other losses in recent weeks. Our kids have such tender hearts and unique ways of intuiting God's Spirit, so I know this will be a powerful morning of prayer.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Who are you praying for this week, and how are you praying for them?

• What are some ways we can pray as we go about our day when we can't be silent or bow our heads?

YOUTH

This week we are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. Lunch is included, and youth can be picked up at 1:30 PM in the church park off Union Street. I am so eager to spend this time with our youth as we look ahead to our retreat next weekend!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Families | 01.18.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I am so excited to hug you tomorrow! You and your kids remain in our prayers as you continue to navigate new norms and temporary plans. Pastor Mary and I are here to pray with and for you, so please let us know if you want a call or to meet for coffee. This past week it was so wonderful to know we had kids and caregivers in the building for some moments of play, joy, and connection. A huge thanks to Engry, Barbie, Cindie, Ruthie, Tilli, Warren, Mady, Michael, and Nori for being willing to create a safe and loving space for our kids!

An Opportunity for Kids to Give 

Because the kids will be exploring Epiphany this week, Pastor Mary and I would like to invite our kids to join in giving gifts tomorrow. If your child would like, they can bring some money to donate toward the wildfire relief funds to church. It can be any amount—no amount is too small! Coins are welcome. We hope they learn that any gift given in love is also a gift for Jesus.

Childcare Needs this Week

We are trying to coordinate some childcare offerings again this week, so we would like to get a sense of your needs. If childcare would be helpful this week, can you let me know what days and blocks of time might be most useful to you? We are coordinating with our caregivers in hopes that we can offer a time that will work for as many as possible.

SUNDAY

KIDS

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 explore the importance of asking for help and offering help.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week the kids will spend time exploring Epiphany and what it means to offer gifts just like the magi. We are excited for them to get back to their regular rhythm with their leaders!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some of the best gifts you have received?

• What kind of gifts (both tangible and intangible) have you seen offered in response to the fires?

YOUTH

This week we are back on for our regular youth gathering after worship! Lunch is included, and youth can be picked up at 1:30 PM in the church park off Union Street. Looking forward to getting back to our regular Sunday rhythm with youth!

Prayers for moments of peace, grounding, and connection.

Love you fiercely,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 01.04.2025

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Happy New Year to each of you! I am in North Carolina visiting Gavin's family, so I will miss being with you tomorrow but know it will be a meaningful time of worship for all. The teaching time will focus on renewing our commitments to one another as a church, and that feels like a powerful way to begin this new year together. I am grateful to be rooted in a community with you and look forward to how we will be formed as a church in 2025. This practice of renewing commitments is one you could do in your own home and with the input of your whole household. What are the ways your family wants to honor God, one another, and your growth as a unit? Keeping it simple is key. May you be blessed in whatever way your family is able to bring intention into this new season.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM. This week our nursery kids will begin to explore the story of Epiphany, when the wise men show up.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship and communion since this is the first Sunday of the month. Make sure your child picks up a fun survey to fill out during worship—Pastor Mary will have that ready in the lobby, and it's always a favorite activity for our kids (and youth!). There will be snacks out, too. It will be a beautiful morning including communion as we worship together.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is one simple prayer practice your family might want to try this year together?

• As you think back on 2024, talk as a family about where you noticed God's presence or faithfulness. Take some time to review the year together and invite the Spirit to reveal anything that might encourage or inspire your family in the new year.

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to help take down the greens! This is an annual tradition where our youth and other congregants get to work and have fun together. Lunch will be provided, and we hope they will stay for this intergenerational time of fellowship. Thanks for helping!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 12.28.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Merry Christmas! That greeting has come to mean more each year as we gather and retell the story of Jesus' birth. It was really special to share in communion, singing, and candle lighting on Christmas Eve with you. I am so thankful that you are the community where my own children are learning these traditions and embodied practices. I hope you can join us this Sunday as we hold the story a little longer and read the stories in scripture of the days following Christ's birth. May the imagination of Christ fill our hearts as we labor with a God who is always making all things new.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we reflect on the wonder that Jesus is born. 

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for worship as is our tradition the Sunday after Christmas. Please note that next week will also be an all-church Sunday for kids above nursery age since it is the first Sunday of the month. We are excited to worship with them tomorrow, including a chance to play some fun instruments with our final song. We'll have snacks and coloring sheets for them in the lobby. What a beautiful morning it will be!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What do you find most amazing or challenging about the birth of Christ?

• What adults in your life bless you and help you learn about God?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! We'll have lunch and finish at 1:30 PM as usual. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 12.21.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We had a blast with our youth last night at our annual Christmas party! It has been such a gift to see our youth deepen their relationships and enjoy their time together. I have witnessed a deepening of friendships across our younger kids, too, and it continues to be a blessing to see our younger members shaping our community. Some of our kids and youth feel comfortable sharing their gratitudes in service. Others love helping behind the scenes with set up and slides. Some of them are part of our rotation of Pastor Leslie's worship team. We are dreaming up more ways for our kids, youth, and adults to connect and learn, and we pray that we would notice all the explicit and subtle ways that we are being mutually formed by one another. Thank you for your willingness to make a space where children are seen, heard, and valued. 

Parents, I know many of you have felt the rush of this season and the extra busy schedules. I pray that you experience rest, joy, play, and whatever your family most needs in the next couple of weeks. May you feel the invitation to breathe deeply and to enjoy quiet moments when they come. Let us know how we can come alongside you in any other prayer requests. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! 

All-Church Sundays

Please note that December 29 and January 5 will be all-church worship services, so kids above nursery age will join us in the sanctuary. This is our yearly rhythm after Christmas, and we are glad to bring in the new year with our communal worship practices. We will have snacks for kids ready in the lobby on those Sundays, and we hope to see you all then!

Youth Retreat

Our winter retreat will take place January 31-February 2. Please register your youth here so we can get an accurate count for lodging and planning purposes. More details to come! Please let me know if you need help to cover the cost; we never want that to keep any youth from participating. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we move through the fourth week of Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. They will have a beautiful time together lighting the fourth advent candle and reflecting on Jesus' love. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How are hope, peace, joy, and love dependent on one another?

• How have you seen love change a situation in your life? 

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! We'll have lunch and finish at 1:30 PM as usual. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 12.14.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I am so thankful for our kids, youth, and adults who led in worship and storytelling at the carol service last weekend! It was a rich and beautiful time with candlelight and the voices of our community. Thank you for all the hard work, intention, and fullness you brought to the evening. That service always deepens my love for the story of Christ's birth, and I pray we continue to ponder and worship together this season. You are a gift! 

Youth Christmas Party

Friday, December 20, is our annual Youth Christmas Party! Parents, keep an eye out for an email with more details about time and location. Please note that we will do a white elephant gift exchange, so please bring a wrapped gift ranging $10-$20. If you need help to make that happen, just let me know! We want everyone to be able to participate and enjoy. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we move through the third week of Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. They will have a beautiful time together celebrating the carol service and telling the story of Christmas together. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Does joy mean we have to feel "happy" all the time?

• Where can you cultivate joy even in the midst of something sad or difficult?

YOUTH

We are back on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! We'll have lunch and finish at 1:30 PM as usual. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 12.07.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This morning we had a dress rehearsal for the Carol Service, and it was such a gift to see our community working together in worship and storytelling. I am so thankful we get to revisit the story of Christ's birth each year and see it in new ways. I hope to see you all tomorrow night for this longheld tradition that connects us with years past as we sense God's movement in the world to make all things new. 

Carol Service

4 Year Olds & Kindergarteners

Please bring your child to the nursery when you arrive for the service that evening. We  will have childcare for the service, and your child will play until it's time for them to get into costume. After they process into the sanctuary for the nativity, they will remain standing up on the chancel for one song. They will remain there as Pastor John Jay gives some closing remarks before one final song (Go Tell It on the Mountain) and the benediction. Then it's over, and you can reunite with your child! 

Please note: Kindergarteners will sing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold) and "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). Our 4 Year Olds are NOT required to learn and sing the songs.

Kids (Grades 1st-5th) and Youth

Please bring your child to the chapel by 5:45PM on Sunday so they can grab a snack and gather to sit together for the first part of the Carol Service. We will be in charge of them until the service ends. Please pick your child up in the Chapel right after the service so they can return their costumes. Then you can all enjoy the cookie reception!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready at 10:20 AM to receive your amazing kids. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the Christmas story as we move through the second week of Advent.

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to head to their classrooms together. They can begin service with their families or in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does peace look like when you imagine it?

• Where do you see a need for God's peace? How can we be peacemakers?

YOUTH

Please note that we will NOT have our regular youth gathering this Sunday so that everyone has a chance to go home before coming back for the carol service that evening. We will be back on for our regular youth gathering next Sunday!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for being such a special community of families!

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay