FBCP Families | 11.02.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I hope you had a fun Halloween! Every year I share this brief theology of Halloween, and every year I am reminded of how beautiful it is to see neighbors opening their homes to share treats as people of all ages walk together and share kind greetings. As we took our kids up and down decorated streets, I was struck by how much goodwill was in the air. What a lovely glimpse of neighborliness that is possible!

Tomorrow we have the opportunity for our kids, youth, and adults to lead us in singing. We value these intergenerational collaborations with singing, so thanks to our parents for bringing your kids and youth at 9:30 AM tomorrow for our final rehearsal. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. You can bring your kids to the lobby, and then parents are invited to hang out and enjoy pastries before worship starts. 

Kids & Youth Christmas Choir Collaboration

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here).  Please mark your calendars for December 7 from 10AM-12PM  for our dress rehearsal.

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 explore the ways that God is our Good Shepherd.

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!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some ways you can be a good neighbor in your neighborhood?

• Why is singing an important part of our worship?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week with lunch included. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. Parents, keep an eye out for an email about upcoming youth events.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 10.26.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Thanks for all those who came out for our all-church Game Night last Saturday! We had a great turnout with folks of all ages participating. Our youth spent some time debriefing the event so that they can host again in the future and make it even better. We look forward to more chances for intergenerational play!

Speaking of intergenerational work, our team that went to Oaxaca included people of various ages. I am so impressed, thankful, and excited to see our kids, youth, and adults sharing in learning and growth together. God is so big, and it takes all of us to discover and reflect God's goodness and work in the world back to one another. They have clearly been changed by the people who welcomed them with incredible hospitality, and there is much learning for all of us in that exchange. You can read all the updates and check out the photos here. A special thanks to the Ochi family for sharing their relationships in Oaxaca with us! It is clearly a special place, indeed. 

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! 

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). 

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 story of David and Goliath.

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. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have time for some Halloween fun and Christmas singing practice—a full range of seasons! We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How does kindness make you feel? Try to be as descriptive as possible. 

• What difference does it make that our God is kind?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches. We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 10.19.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

It's here! Tonight is the all-church Game Night from 5:00-7:30 pm. The youth have a variety of games for a variety of ages, and we will make sure you are well fed, too! You can enter through the glass doors on Union Street, but if you have any issues getting in the building, please text the church line at 626-727-9498. We'll be in various rooms on the second floor, and we'll have signs to help you find different games. See you soon!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing "Waymaker" with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! 

It is also time for us to begin practicing our songs for the annual Candlelight Carol Service on December 8. Mark your calendars for that Sunday evening! Our kids and youth are invited to sing and be part of our nativity as is our tradition. Last week we began working on "O Come All Ye Faithful" (lyrics here). We'll also be singing "Joy to the World" (lyrics here—the kids sing the parts in bold). Their final song will be "Go Tell It On the Mountain" (lyrics here). 

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 explore the story of David and Goliath.

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. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have Nolan with us to play with all his fun gym stuff! Each week we will continue with singing rehearsal as well. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some ways someone showed you kindness this week?

• How does kindness help us form connections with others?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 10.12.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We are now in the midst of a new series on kindness with our kids in grades K-5. At various times, we partner with Real Kids Real Faith to explore spiritual practices geared specifically for kids. These activities are open-ended and exploratory in nature, without any need for a "right" answer or predictable outcome. We are excited to keep opening up space for kids to think about kindness and its impact as they share their own wisdom and wonderings. You can check out the practices for kindness here, and you might check out the extra resources at the bottom of the page to adapt anything for use at home. Thank you for being a congregation who is kind beyond measure. We are so thankful to nurture the kindness that is in  your kids and to learn from them, too!

All-Church Game Night

The youth invite you to Game Night fun from 5:00-7:30 pm on Saturday, October 19th! They are planning a variety of games for a variety of ages, and we will make sure you are well fed, too! Text “game” to 626.727.9498 to join in the fun! Youth will be finalizing their plans this Sunday, and we'll need them to arrive early on the day of the event to help set up. I'll send more information to parents this week. Yay for youth creating spaces for play!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! . 

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 explore the story of Naomi and Ruth. 

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. This week we will continue with our series on kindness, and we'll have time for singing and worship. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is an example of how God has been a "way maker" in your life or someone you know?

• Why is it important to be kind? What does kindness "do" in the world?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering this week. We'll be in the new youth room, which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 10.05.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We have some special opportunities for intergenerational fun and worship. See below for more details about our all-church game night and a chance for youth and kids to sing together with our adult choir. It has been a gift to see our kids and adults connecting more and more, and our youth are especially excited to open up their space for games and fellowship. I pray that each time we gather, our sense of belonging and belovedness will increase and transform us. Thanks for all the ways you allow your  kids and youth to be part of this community. They are a gift. See you tomorrow!

All-Church Game Night

The youth invite you to Game Night fun from 5:00-7:30pm on Saturday, October 19th! They are planning a variety of games for a variety of ages, and we will make sure you are well fed, too! Text “game” to 626.727.9498 to join in the fun! Youth will be finalizing their plans this Sunday, and we'll need them to arrive early on the day of the event to help set up. I'll send more information to parents this week. Yay for youth creating spaces for play!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! . 

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 story of Hannah and Samuel. 

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!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Read some sections from Philippians as a family. What words seem to be repeated? Why are those important words for us?

• What are you wondering about after being in worship this week? 

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering led by Jensen this week. We'll be in the new youth room which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 09.28.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This is a fifth Sunday, so our youth are invited to serve on the hospitality team  if they want to. We are always blessed to have them lead and help cultivate a space of welcome and belonging for our community. Youth should arrive at 9:45 AM in the lobby to check in with Pastor Chip and get oriented for the day. Some of our Board members will be serving with our kids for the first time, and we are so grateful for their presence and the relationships they will form with our kids. Thanks be to God for all the love and connection that is possible on a Sunday!

Mark Your Calendars for Game Night!

Our youth are excited to host an all-church game night on Saturday, October 19. This will be open to all ages and a fun time for everyone to play and connect with each other. Stay tuned for more information, but save the date for now! 

Free Parent Webinars

Our own Grace Goodman will be part of a lineup of parent webinars being offered online at noon once a month on  select Fridays. Each session is led by an expert in the field and includes time for Q & A. Topics include supporting executive functioning, how assessments can help kids and teens, body esteem and mental health, and building social connections. You can sign up to join for free using this link. Thanks to Grace and all our mental health professionals for the work you do!

Kids and Youth Choir Collaboration

On Sunday, November 3, our kids and youth are invited to join our adult choir to lead a time of singing in worship. We have begun practicing with our kids, and you can also encourage them to sing at home in the coming weeks. Here is a lyric sheet, and here is a recording they can play at home to practice as well. We'll ask them to arrive at 9:30 AM that morning for a final rehearsal, so please mark your calendars! . 

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 8:50 AM to receive kids whose parents are in Sunday School. This week our nursery kids will continue  explore the story of Hannah and Samuel.

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. This week we are beginning a new series on kindness, and then we'll have a fun time outdoors led by Jessica Henson. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What acts of kindness did you do or receive this week?

• Who comes to mind when you think of kindness? What about that person makes them kind?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering. We'll be in the new youth room which continues to get finishing touches! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 09.21.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Tomorrow we are excited to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for our newly remodeled youth room! A huge thanks to Jessica, Jensen, and Michael for helping to get the final parts done and for all the time and donated items. We are eager for our youth to fill the space with their joy, laughter, and personalities. We are dreaming up ways to share the room with the church in future intergenerational events, and we hope it becomes a place where all feel welcomed and at home. Thanks for praying for our youth as they continue to nurture their relationships with each other and God. We are so thankful for them!

Mark Your Calendars for Game Night

Our youth are excited to host an all-church game night on Saturday, October 19. This will be open to all ages and a fun time for everyone to play and connect with each other. Stay tuned for more information, but save the date for now! 

Free Parent Webinars

Our own Grace Goodman will be part of a lineup of parent webinars being offered online at noon once a month on  select Fridays. Each session is led by an expert in the field and includes time for Q & A. Topics include supporting executive functioning, how assessments can help kids and teens, body esteem and mental health, and building social connections. You can sign up to join for free using this link. Thanks to Grace and all our mental health professionals for the work you do!

Supporting Our Kids and Youth 

If your child has opportunities for us to come out and support them at a performance, competition, or talent showcase of any kind, let us know! We would love to build a calendar of their various activities so we can try to attend and show our support when possible. Our youth especially  would love to be in the know about other youth, so please feel free to send us schedules or dates for special events where they would appreciate some FBCP support.

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 story of Joshua at Jericho.

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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week our younger kids will explore the story of Jerico, and our older kids will focus on the beauty and meaning in creation. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Where in nature do you feel most inspired or at home?

• What are ways that creation reveals who God is?

YOUTH

Our youth are on for our regularly scheduled gathering, and this week we will get to unveil the new youth room! We'll wrap up at 1:30 as usual and meet parents at the church park for pick up. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 09.14.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Tomorrow will be a really fun time of worship, connection, and eating tacos as a church family. Yay! We'll begin with an abbreviated worship service with communion and then get the chance to share in smaller groups about the ways we are growing and connecting as a church body.  Our nursery kids will be in their rooms as usual. Our kids above nursery age will start in the sanctuary and then will be dismissed to the park for some gymnastics with our own Nolan McSparran. Youth will be helping in various ways after our initial worship service, and I will send an email to youth parents with more details about that. Everyone is invited to stay for tacos in the park, so it's going to be a great day for us to fellowship and deepen our relationships. I can't wait to see you tomorrow!

Free Parent Webinars

Our own Grace Goodman will be part of a lineup of parent webinars being offered online at noon once a month on  select Fridays. Each session is led by an expert in the field and includes time for Q & A. Topics include supporting executive functioning, how assessments can help kids and teens, body esteem and mental health, and building social connections. You can sign up to join for free using this link. Thanks to Grace and all our mental health professionals for the work you do!=

Supporting Our Kids and Youth 

If your child has opportunities for us to come out and support them at a performance, competition, or talent showcase of any kind, let us know! We would love to build a calendar of their various activities so we can try to attend and show our support when possible. Our youth especially  would love to be in the know about other youth, so please feel free to send us schedules or dates for special events where they would appreciate some FBCP support.

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  explore the story of Joshua at Jericho.

Our kids five to ten years old can join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to the park with Pastor Mary. They'll get to do gymnastics and their own time of sharing, and you can reunite with your kids in the park for our taco lunch.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What do you enjoy most about our church family?

• Who has made you feel welcomed, loved, or known at church?

YOUTH

Our youth will join the church for a taco lunch this week, but we will be back on for our regular youth gathering next week. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 09.07.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Our kids and youth have been on my heart extra this week. With news of another school shooting alongside all the regular challenges of being a young person starting a new school year, our kids are carrying some heavy things. Some of our kids will be exploring creation on Sunday, and an excerpt from theologian Howard Thurman reminded me that kids, including our youngest ones, need space to process all that they are feeling. For Thurman, nature helped to make that space. He describes his own childhood practice of leaning up against a tree and finding solace there: "I could reach down in the quiet places of my spirit, take out my bruises and my joys, unfold them, and talk about them. I could talk aloud to the oak tree and know that I was understood. It, too, was a part of my reality, like the woods, the night, and the pounding surf, my earliest companions, giving me space." My prayer is that God will give us wisdom to create space where our children can take out their bruises and joys, knowing they are loved, understood, and held by their family, their church, and a God of abounding love. May you feel held by your Creator, too, knowing you are not alone in raising your very precious young people. Thanks for sharing them with our church family; we are honored to make space for them.

Supporting Our Kids and Youth 

If your child has opportunities for us to come out and support them at a performance, competition, or talent showcase of any kind, let us know! We would love to build a calendar of their various activities so we can try to attend and show our support when possible. Our youth especially  would love to be in the know about other youth, so please feel free to send us schedules or dates for special events where they would appreciate some FBCP support.

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 story of when Moses received the Ten Commandments.

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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week our younger kids will explore the Ten Commandments, and our older kids will focus on creation. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment?

• What are ways your family can care for creation in small, everyday ways?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids 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 | 08.31.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Tomorrow will be a beautiful and full day of worship with our choir back and the chance to share communion! You will also see four new kids joining us for a whole service for the first time. Thank you for embracing their presence and energy as we make room for intergenerational worship. I continue to be so thankful for the ways my own kids experience y'all as an extension of our family. It is a gift to come together each week and to ground ourselves in a posture of worship and love. See you soon!

Supporting Our Kids and Youth 

If your child has opportunities for us to come out and support them at a performance, competition, or talent showcase of any kind, let us know! We would love to build a calendar of their various activities so we can try to attend and show our support when possible. Please feel free to send me schedules or dates for special events where your child would appreciate some FBCP support!

New Nursery Cubby Tags!

Parents, you will see a basket full of new cubby name tags this Sunday, and we will be taking photos of your child to attach to the name tag. Please take a quick moment to fill in some helpful information about your child on the name tag before attaching it to a cubby. This will help our volunteers know how to care for your children and access their important information easily. Thanks to Sally for making such adorable tags for our nursery kids! 

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 explore the story of when Moses received the Ten Commandments.

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!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What stood out to you in worship?

• Why do you think we begin worship with gratitudes?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids 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 | 08.24.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Over the summer, we did a series of activities around gratitude with our kids five years old and up. Each week we looked at a different aspect of gratitude and tried out a practice or activity to help us explore giving thanks. We did this in partnership with Real Kids Real Faith, an organization that researches and develops spiritual practices for kids. If you want to check out the activities we did and revisit any at home, you can find all the practices here. We look forward to continuing to cultivate a posture of gratitude and to explore creative ways to express our appreciation to those in our communities.

Family Ministry Training | August 25

Tomorrow morning we have a Family Ministry Training at 9am in the nursery. Pastor Mary and I will go over how you can thoughtfully connect with kids of all ages on Sundays. Thanks for considering this fun way to partner in nurturing the community at FBCP! 

New Nursery Cubby Tags!

Parents, you will see a basket full of new cubby name tags this Sunday, and we will be taking photos of your child to attach to the name tag. Please take a quick moment to fill in some helpful information about your child on the name tag before attaching it to a cubby. This will help our volunteers know how to care for your children and access their important information easily. Thanks to Sally for making such adorable tags for our nursery kids! 

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 story of the manna in the desert. 

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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will explore creation and how we can appreciate God for the parts of creation we love most (even bugs!). We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is one of your favorite parts of creation?

• How could creation help us rest and enjoy Sabbath?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids in the church  park off Union Street. Please note that our weekly groups for youth girls and guys have started back up, so let me know if you need details for your youth to attend.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 08.17.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This is an exciting time for our kids and youth in the life of our church! Babies are starting to join our nursery, and we will now have more kids joining us for the start of worship and communion Sunday as we welcome the kids who moved up to our older kids group. Our youth group has three new kids joining, and we are making strides to finish remodeling our youth room so that our young people have a fun space to gather and connect. I pray that each of our families with kids will feel more integrated in our community as we continue to worship, break bread, and gather in the year to come. You can join me in praying that our kids and youth will develop a deep sense of who God has made them to be and of their belovedness. I am so thankful for the intergenerational relationships we get to build together!

Family Ministry Training | August 25

We are having a Family Ministry Training on Sunday, August 25, at 9am in the nursery. Pastor Mary and I will go over how you can thoughtfully connect with kids of all ages on Sundays. Thanks for considering this fun way to partner in nurturing the community at FBCP! Text “train” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the training, and email me with any questions.

New Nursery Cubby Tags!

Parents, you will see a basket full of new cubby name tags this Sunday, and we will be taking photos of your child to attach to the name tag. Please take a quick moment to fill in some helpful information about your child on the name tag before attaching it to a cubby. This will help our volunteers know how to care for your children and access their important information easily. Thanks to Sally for making such adorable tags for our nursery kids! 

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 explore the story of the manna in the desert. 

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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will explore the story of manna in the desert in connection with our preaching series on Sabbath. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What was God teaching the Israelites with the manna?

• What does your family need most in order to be able to rest together?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids in the church  park off Union Street. Please note that our weekly groups for youth girls and guys have started back up, so let me know if you need details for your youth to attend.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 08.10.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Tomorrow we will take time in worship to pray over our students, educators, and school employees. We invite them to bring a backpack, briefcase, pencil case, or any other important bag or tool they will use this year so that we can bless those items alongside them. As a church community, we get to lean into the power of blessing and are honored to send our kids and adults into a new year with the reminder that they are deeply beloved for who they are. Thanks for making space for this communal practice tomorrow!

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th, tomorrow! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Tomorrow, our rising Kindergarteners will come at 9:45 AM  with their parents to check out their new learning spaces upstairs, and then they will have one last day in the nursery celebrating with all their friends and leaders. Our rising youth will get to spend one last day up with the kids to celebrate with all of them, and then they can stay for the youth gathering after worship ends. Yay for growth!

Youth Outdoor Movie Night | August 12

The Brandow family has graciously offered to host an outdoor movie night for our youth this coming Monday, August 12. Yay! The Brandows live at 2032 Queensberry Rd. Pasadena, CA 91104. Youth can show up at 7:30 PM as the sun goes down, and we'll plan to wrap up at 10:00 PM. Youth should plan to eat dinner beforehand, and we'll have some light snacks for them to enjoy under the stars. Please bring a camping chair (or chairs!) if you have one. Let me know if your youth can join the fun! Thanks to the Brandows for hosting this fun event as summer winds down.

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 story of the woman at the well. We have fun water activities planned to go with it!

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 in the pews in the front with Pastor Mary and me. This week we will continue to explore gratitude and honor our rising youth with some Bible stories focused on transitions and blessings. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What do you love learning about? What does that tell you about how God made you?

• Think of a time when you made a transition or a big change. What helped you during that time? As many of you  start a new school year, what do you need as you make that transition?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids 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 | 08.03.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Happy August! I know that this time of year can feel really busy as summer winds down and many of our families gear up for another school year. We are starting a new preaching series on Sabbath this month, and it feels like a perfect time to reorient ourselves around rhythms of rest before we slip into the busyness of fall. I pray that your families find ways that meet your needs to slow down and remain grounded. I'm really eager to re-imagine Sabbath as a community. See you tomorrow!

Women's Brunch | August 10

Women (and girls!), we hope you can join us for brunch in the Southside Room on Saturday, August 10, from 10am-12pm. This month, Pastor Leslie will be sharing her story of faith and a time of communal singing. We hope you can join us for a time of fellowship, food, and fun together as we continue to deepen our friendships with one another. Text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP, and feel free to invite a friend. 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. I will send more detailed information to parents, but here is an overview of the morning: On that Sunday, our rising Kindergarteners will come at 9:45 AM with their parents to check out their new learning spaces upstairs, and then they will spend one last day in the nursery celebrating with all their friends and leaders. Our rising youth will get to spend one last day up with the kids to celebrate with all of them, and then they can stay for the youth gathering after worship. Yay for growth!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready starting at 10:20 AM to receive your little ones. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of the woman at the well.

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!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship. This month our preaching series will be on Sabbath, so our kids will get to be there as we explore the creation of rest this Sunday.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does Sabbath mean?

• Why did God create rest?

YOUTH

We have our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids in the church  park off Union Street. Parents, keep an eye out for information about youth girls and guys groups starting back up in August.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 07.27.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This morning the youth are sorting and organizing all the donated school supplies at Friends In Deed. This is a years-long tradition for our youth, and we are so thankful for FID and the work they do in our neighborhoods. Thank you to all who were able to contribute this year so that all kids can start school with the supplies they need. The youth and I  look forward to seeing you in worship tomorrow!  

Women's Brunch | August 10

Women (and girls!), we hope you can join us for brunch in the Southside Room on Saturday, August 10, from 10am-12pm. This month, Pastor Leslie will be sharing her story of faith and a time of communal singing. We hope you can join us for a time of fellowship, food, and fun together as we continue to deepen our friendships with one another. Text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP, and feel free to invite a friend.

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. I will be emailing families this week about what to expect on that day and in the new routine going forward. In the meantime, your kids can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

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 story of the sick man who was lowered through the roof by his friends. Last week my kids had a great time playing with a cardboard  room, roof, and mat that Engry made for our little ones

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 in the pews in the front with me. This week we will continue to explore gratitude and how we can be more grateful for creation. We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Think of all the people who make it possible to eat the food you have on your table. Brainstorm with your family and then offer a prayer of gratitude for all those that helped the food grow and get to your home.

• What are ways we can care for creation as a way to thank God for all that has been made?

YOUTH

We are back on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30 pm. Parents can pick up their kids in the church  park off Union Street. Parents, keep an eye out for information about youth girls and guys groups starting back up in August.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 07.20.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

The youth are well into their retreat this weekend, and we are so thankful for the chance to connect and practice deep listening with them. A huge thank you to all those who provided  delicious meals for us—we have felt so loved by our church family! We will miss seeing you in worship but are excited to share more about our experience next week. Please pray for Pastor Mary who has COVID and will miss being in worship and with the kids tomorrow. It seems like many viruses are going around, so we are praying that all our families can rest and remain healthy these last weeks of summer. 

Youth Backpack Sorting

Youth, we hope you can join us next Saturday, July 27, from 9:00-11:30 AM at Friends Indeed. We'll pack and sort school supplies as is our tradition to help prepare for their annual backpack distribution. It's going to be a great way to serve our community and hang out (breakfast burritos included!). Let me know if your youth can join us (parents and family members are welcome to come, too). 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. In the meantime, they can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

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 explore the story of the sick man who was lowered through the roof by his friends.

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 and then leave with their leaders when they are dismissed. This week we will spend time with a fun book on kindness, and Sally will be leading along with some new volunteers! We are so thankful for the intergenerational learning that happens in our family ministry spaces.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does kindness mean to you?

• What does it feel like to receive gratitude from someone else?

YOUTH

Next week the youth will be back on for our regular youth gathering with lunch. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 07.13.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow, especially as we look at our value for creation care. I just spent a week at the beach in awe of the ways God has made creation so vibrant, beautiful, and mysterious. Tomorrow will be a rich time together as we gather, and I can't wait to see you!

Youth Swim Party Tomorrow!

The Powells have graciously offered their pool and home to us this summer for some fun in the sun. All youth are invited to come hang out after worship this Sunday from 12:30-4 pm. We'll gather after worship and head over to the Powell's for lunch, swimming, volleyball, basketball, and trampoline play. Let me know if your youth can join us so I can get a count for food. If you're willing to help drive kids over, let me know that as well. They live at 2011 East Woodlyn Road, Pasadena, CA 91104. 

Summer Youth Retreat

As a reminder, the retreat will take place July 19-21 in the San Diego area. We are so pumped for this chance to get intentional time with our youth in a new setting! You can register your youth here. Let me know if you have questions about your youth's participation or if cost is an issue. 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. In the meantime, they can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

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 story of Mary and Martha.

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 we will spend time remembering moments of kindness for which we are thankful, and we'll do some tangible gratitude remembering practices we find in scripture.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some of your favorite memories of when someone showed you great kindness?

• How do you like to express your gratitude to people you love?

YOUTH

We will see our youth at the Powell's house for lunch and swimming after worship today! Next week the youth will not meet since we will be on our youth retreat. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 07.06.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Happy July! I am in North Carolina visiting Gavin's family, and we are heading for the beach. I pray that each of your families experiences lots of rest and play as summer continues. I am so grateful for the new AC units in our kid spaces as the weather heats up. A huge thanks to Dave Ekstrand, the Foundation, and our electricians for making our rooms comfortable for our active kids and adult leaders! 

Youth Movie Night

Tomorrow evening (July 7) the Jennings family is hosting a youth outdoor movie night at their home. The youth can gather for pizza at 7:30, and then they'll start the movie at 8pm when the sun goes down. You can contact Sara at 626-808-3309 if you have questions. They live at 625 Avocado Ave, Pasadena. Yay for extra youth fun, and thanks to the Jennings family!

Youth Swim Party

The Powells have graciously offered their pool and home to us this summer for some fun in the sun. All youth are invited to come hang out after worship on Sunday, July 14, from 12:30-4 pm. We'll gather after worship and head over to the Powell's for lunch, swimming, volleyball, basketball, and trampoline play. Let me know if your youth can join us so I can get a count for food. I'll send out the address to parents as it gets closer. Yay!

Summer Youth Retreat

As a reminder, the retreat will take place July 19-21 in the San Diego area. We are so pumped for this chance to get intentional time with our youth in a new setting! You can register your youth here. Let me know if you have questions about your youth's participation or if cost is an issue. 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. In the meantime, they can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

Tutoring

One of our own youth, Judah Alvaro, has started his own tutoring services. If you would like to talk to him about working with your child or to find out more about his areas of expertise, check out the flier below for more information. Yay for youth leaning into their gifts!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service and 10:20 AM for those coming just to worship. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Mary and Martha.

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!). It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does discipleship look like?

• What are ways we become disciples of Chris together?

YOUTH

We are on for our youth hangout this week! Jensen will be leading in my absence. I look forward to seeing our youth next week!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 06.29.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We had an absolute blast at camp this past week as we explored how to listen well to all the amazing ways God speaks to us. We are so thankful for everyone who helped make it such a wonderful experience for all ages! We had youth, adults, and campers participating in LEGO challenges, singing, gymnastics, a sound recording lab, nature walks, labyrinths, a human knot activity, whole-body listening, and interactive snack times. We even had a real tortoise visit us! This Sunday we will sing a song in worship that we learned in camp. We pray it reminds you that we have a God who loves to hear from us and to speak to us. What a gift to spend a week building our intergenerational connections and becoming better listeners as the body of Christ!

Youth Swim Party!

The Powells have graciously offered their pool and home to us this summer for some fun in the sun. All youth are invited to come hang out after worship on Sunday, July 14, from 12:30-4 pm. We'll gather after worship and head over to the Powell's for lunch, swimming, volleyball, basketball, and trampoline play. Let me know if your youth can join us so I can get a count for food. I'll send out the address to parents as it gets closer. Yay!

Summer Youth Retreat

As a reminder, the retreat will take place July 19-21 in the San Diego area. We are so pumped for this chance to get intentional time with our youth in a new setting! You can register your youth here. Let me know if you have questions about your youth's participation or if cost is an issue. 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. In the meantime, they can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

Tutoring

One of our own youth, Judah Alvaro, has started his own tutoring services. If you would like to talk to him about working with your child or to find out more about his areas of expertise, check out the flier below for more information. Yay for youth leaning into their gifts!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service and 10:20 AM for those coming just to worship. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of the Good Samaritan.

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 we will explore how to express our gratitude in our day-to-day interactions. We are so thankful for our kids and volunteers! 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is one way someone helped you this week?

• What are your favorite ways to express gratitude?

YOUTH

We are back on for our youth hangout this week! I look forward to seeing our youth after worship. We'll have lunch and wrap up at 1:30pm as usual. See you tomorrow!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 06.22.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Hooray! Camp is almost here! As a reminder, camp runs June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! Our youth are signed up to help, and we have a great line up of talented and fabulous humans from our congregation: Cindie Ekstrand, Jessica Henson, Nolan McSparran, Jenn Edic, Arielle Pittluck, Kate Jennings, and our staff! Pastor Mary and I are so thankful that we get to spend this special time with all who will attend. Please pray as we explore what it means to listen well in all kinds of amazing ways. Yay for camp!

Summer Youth Retreat

As a reminder, the retreat will take place July 19-21 in the San Diego area. We are so pumped for this chance to get intentional time with our youth in a new setting! You can register your youth here. Let me know if you have questions about your youth's participation or if cost is an issue. 

Promotion Sunday  | August 11

This year our Sunday for kids to move up to an older age group will be on August 11th! We are excited for our kindergarteners and sixth graders to make their transition to our older kids and youth groups, respectively. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer. In the meantime, they can continue to participate and soak up the time with their current groups. Yay for growth!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Our nursery staff will be ready starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service and 10:20 AM for those coming just to worship. This week our nursery kids will  explore the story of the Good Samaritan.

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 in the front pews. This week we will explore gratitude for all the ways our church community (and others!) work together to show God's love and help us thrive.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What makes a community good and healthy?

• What are ways that people help your communities be places of safety and goodness?

YOUTH

Stay tuned for an announcement tomorrow about whether or not youth will meet after worship. I am recovering from sickness so will not be there, but we may have some youth leaders in my absence. Thanks for your understanding! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay