Sunday Special | EP 23

Happy Sunday, Friends!

We know that for many kids, school starts tomorrow but from an online platform. We are praying for all of our kids to feel encouraged and surrounded by all the love and support they need. We know they can do hard things with God's help, and we want to do all we can to come alongside them. Parents, we are praying for you, too, as you prepare to oversee their school experience at home. You're not alone in this, and we believe in you!

Today's video guides your children through a blessing of the spaces in their home. We hope that praying over the places they will inhabit and thinking about the different things they will do each day will help them feel ready and a little more at peace. 

We would love to pray over the phone or on Zoom or outside your house if that would encourage your child! Let us know if you'd like that and we can set up a time.

We miss you and love you! Have a great week spreading compassion! 

Much love, 

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

Leslie

Phenomenal Friday #33

Mary

FBCP Families | Weekday Wonders 21

Hi, Friends!

We know kids and youth are getting ready to start a new school year remotely, and we are praying for all of our families who will be navigating the challenges that come with online learning. In lieu of a backpack blessing, we hope you are encouraged by our video this Sunday that leads kids through a blessing of their spaces at home. We have a new plan for kid ministry that we will launch in September, and we can't wait to share more in the coming weeks! Let us know if we can support you in any way we haven't thought of yet. We love you!

SINGING PROJECT

We are so excited  to invite kids and youth to help us create an intergenerational choir piece! Parents, if you missed my email last week, you can head on over to this page for instructions on how to record your child singing for this special project. We are aiming to get submissions turned in this week before school starts up!

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

As kids will be inside on devices more with school starting up, you might want to have some tools to encourage them to enjoy the outdoors. This resource has some examples of outdoor activities to do in the fall, so see if there are any ideas you want to steal! This little outdoor activity tracker may be helpful, especially if your child likes to color and see progress on paper.

Sunday 

DRIVE-IN CHURCH

Plan to come around 10:00 AM to settle into a spot and greet your friends! We will have snacks and activity sheets ready for kids and youth. Parents, if you can remind your kids to grab their favorite coloring/drawing utensils, that would be awesome. We hope to see you there if that works for your family, but no matter what, we are praying for you and sending so much love.

KID VIDEO

This Sunday we have a special video that will show you how to bless your home as you prepare to start the school year. We know you won't have backpacks that we can bless, but you do have special places in your home where we can pray to bless the areas where learning and growth will happen!

YOUTH ZOOM

Our regular middle and high school Zoom time will continue but going forward we will be meeting at 2PM to accommodate for those who are attending Drive-In Church. Here is the meeting link that you can use each week to hop on the hangout. We can't wait to hang out with our youth!

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Lindsay and Cynthia

Brian and Friends

(Verse)

Oneness is real, live some extra love today
Oneness we feel, give receive some love we pray
Living to heal, a sense of life and wonder way
Spiritual meal, building with the words we say

(Hook)

Oneness is calling, breathing, listening, we are together
Love

FBCP Singing Project

Dear Parents,

One way to share compassion is through blessings we pray over one another. We have always valued the language of benediction in our church, and John Jay sends us out of the liturgy with a blessing each week. So what better way to follow Compassion Camp than with a song of blessing?!

As she made song selections for Compassion Camp, Cynthia was inspired by this video, which brings kids together virtually to sing a blessing. We wanted to try it with our own kids, and as the idea unfolded, Pastor Leslie was eager to bring in the adult choir, too. So, we are excited to invite your kids and youth into this intergenerational scattered choir project right from your home! 

Here's how it will work:

1. Have your child practice singing the song. Then make a video recording of them singing. All recording instructions are on this webpage. I know it has a lot of information, but we tried to break down each step so that you can record easily. Once you get to it, it shouldn't be too complicated!

2. Send us the video recording by Saturday, August 15th.

3. Our amazing music and video makers Harriet and Dustin will put it all together into a single video that will bless all who watch it!

We hope your child will participate so that their face and voice can be shared with our church family. If you have any questions, please just let us know! We are excited for our church family to come together in this special way; it will be a glimpse of our community that we all miss so much.

With joy,

Lindsay, Mary, Cynthia, and Leslie

P.S. Adults, you are welcome to do your own recording if you want to participate, too!

Jeannette

Sunday Special | EP 22

Happy Sunday, Friends!

We hope that some of you can join us for Drive-In Church this morning! We know that it might be hard for some kids to attend, but we have some things ready to pass out to any kids who come. No matter where you are, we are sending you so much love this morning!

After you watch the video, you and your family members can use the following discussion prompts and activities to apply the lesson.

TALK IT OUT

• Recap: What was Elijah doing in the desert?

• Check In With Yourself: How did you feel when you heard that God chose to whisper to Elijah?

• Wonder: What are you wondering right now as you think about Elijah's choice to run away to the desert and how God used something quiet to get Elijah's attention?

APPLY IT

• Set aside some time to be quiet with God—it could be while sitting in bed before you go to sleep, while walking around outside, or anywhere else you want to quiet yourself before God. Then see if you sense God telling you anything as you listen well. Try to do this even for a few minutes each day this week and see what God says.

• Bake some bread and remember the story of Elijah! This recipe shows you how to make bread in a bag and it only takes a few simple ingredients and yeast.  As you eat your bread, thank God for all the compassion and love God has for you!

• If you are like Elijah and feel more like giving up or complaining, tell God how you feel and then see if you can turn your complaint to a gratitude. God hears your frustrations and cares about them—and God also wants to help you do great things! Being thankful can help set us up to do great things with God.

We miss you and love you! Have a great week spreading compassion! 

Much love,

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

FBCP Families | Weekday Wonders 20

Hi, Friends!

August is here, and this Sunday we are really excited for Drive-In Church to start back up! We will be waiting to greet all who are able to come, and we will have snacks and activity sheets on hand for our kids and youth. Parents, if you can remind your kids to grab their favorite coloring/drawing utensils, that would be awesome! We hope to see you there if that works for your family, and no matter what, we are praying for you and sending so much love.

SPECIAL SINGING PROJECT

We are so excited to invite kids and youth to help us create an intergenerational choir piece! Parents, if you missed my email last week, you can head on over to this page for instructions on how to record your child singing for this special project. We are aiming to get submissions turned in next week before school starts up!

SO MUCH LOVE FOR YOU

This season has been long, and with summer coming to an end, we know that most families with kids are gearing up to start another school year online. Even if your kids are not in a traditional school program, fall is coming with no real change in our stay-at-home status. So, instead of sharing more resources this week, we are inviting you to share a prayer request with us. How can we be praying for you, your kids, and/or your family as a whole? Is there some way we could be supportive of your specific family needs right now? We are here to pray, listen, and help whenever possible. We love you and want to remind all you parents that you are still doing a great job!

SUNDAY SPECIALS

KID VIDEO

This Sunday we have a Bible story that is just right for the time—it's about Elijah hearing from God in unexpected ways when things were really hard for Elijah. Join us for a fun story and a reminder of God's compassion! 

YOUTH ZOOM

Please note that the youth will Zoom is scheduled for 1:30 PM to accommodate for those who are attending Drive-In Church. Here is the meeting link that you can use each week to hop on the hangout. We can't wait to hang out with our youth!

UPCOMING YOUTH EVENT

Mark your calendars for our next Youth Movie Night at the Chen's house! We will be watching another movie on Friday, August 14th at 7:30PM in the backyard with safe distancing. We can't wait to continue our movie adventures with Indiana Jones. Candy and all the fun are included.

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Leslie

DRIVE-IN CHURCH IS BACK!

Plan to arrive around 10:00 AM to settle in for 10:30 worship. Hope to see you there!

Phenomenal Friday #32

Mary

Judy

John Jay

Jeannette

Sunday Special | EP 21

Happy Sunday, Friends!

We are so grateful for all of the amazing learning and fun that happened over the last three weeks of Compassion Camp. Our campers were just the best—and they made us so hopeful about all the compassion they are bringing into the world! Today our video shares some more practical ways that we can show compassion to our neighbors and around our home. We hope it inspires you to think about the needs for compassion right next door and to ask God for new ways to love well. 

APPLY IT

Today Pastor Mary shared practical ways to show compassion to our neighbors. Consider some of her ideas and help your child to pray and imagine additional ways to love people well right from home.

• Pray for those who have no access to air conditioning in these hot days.

• Pray for those experiencing homelessness; ask God to take good care of them and to show you when you can do something to help.

• Make a sign that communicates love to those who see it.

• Pray as you walk by the homes in your neighborhood.

• Offer to help when you see a need you could meet, like putting out trash cans for someone on your street.

• When you hear sirens, pray for first responders and anyone in danger.

• Keep asking God to show you how to help!

And if you need one more example for inspiration, then check out this kid who decided to bless people with the gift of laughter by setting up a drive-by joke stand.

We miss you and love you! Have a great week spreading compassion! 

Much ❤️,

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

Leslie

Phenomenal Friday #31

AN INVITATION TO STEP BACK

Today John Jay shares a reflection on how scripture informs the circumstances of our present day. The second half of the track is an instrumental score that John Jay created as an offering for peace and rest. We pray you are blessed in listening and taking a moment to step back. Grace and peace, friends.

CLICK FOR VIDEO GOODNESS

If you missed the Daily Encouragement posts from this week, then you can check them out by clicking on them below! Each post has videos from Compassion Camp that will make life sweeter and more fun. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK’S AUDIO TRACKS: