FBCP Families | 37

Hi, Friends!

Yesterday my family and I spent time sharing the things we are grateful for, and you and your families were part of that list! I hope you have been able to find time for rest, play, and gratitude no matter what this holiday week looked like for you this year. We continue to thank God for you and your beautiful families! Read on for information about our upcoming Advent Liturgy for Families with Kids (we are so excited!).

Advent Liturgy for Families with Kids

Our next worship party in the park is Saturday, December 5th, at 10:30AM. We will have songs, a Bible story, Advent crafts, and all the joy and fellowship we need to get into the spirit of Christmas. We hope you’ll join us for this safe outdoor worship experience in our church park! If you know you are coming or hope to come, would you take a minute to RSVP using the link below so that we can make sure to have enough special Advent supplies for all? Thanks!

 

Friends In Deed Gift Drive

As part of the Advent liturgy in the park, we are also inviting our families and kids to embrace a spirit of generosity and love for our neighbors. As you may know, each year at FBCP we participate in a gift drive for Friends In Deed. They know the neighbors in our city who are most in need, and we get the joy of buying Christmas gifts for them. This is a fun and special way that we get to love others and remember God's generosity to us. It's simple—just click on the button below to see the sign up sheet and all the instructions. We hope you will take a look at the list of kids and their gift wishes so that you have time to purchase something and bring it to our Family Liturgy on December 5th. Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for being Jesus to other kids in our neighborhood!


Advent Devotional

This Sunday at Outdoor Church we will be sharing an Advent devotional made by the folks over at SALT. This year's booklet features poetry by Maya Angelou with weekly prayers and activities to help journey through the Advent season with intention. You can access a digital copy of it here. We hope it blesses you as you prepare your heart for the coming of Christ. (Parents, please note that a an Advent devotional for kids will be given out at our liturgy in the park!)

Sunday 

Kids

This week we are sharing a special story to help us begin a thoughtful season of Advent together. Perhaps this year more than ever we need to pay extra attention to all the special (and sometimes strange!) moments leading up to the birth of Christ, and we are excited to be on the journey of Advent with you.

Youth

This week we will have a Youth Zoom gathering at 2PM. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. Our next gathering in the park will be December 6th, so mark your calendars. Keep an eye out for more information about Christmas happenings for youth, too!

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With so much gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Happy Thanksgiving from FBCP

Friends at FBCP,

On this Thanksgiving, we are so grateful for our beloved church family and all the ways you love each other well. In case you missed Gratitude Sunday, we wanted to share our staff gratitudes for this community along with a Thanksgiving prayer from Mary to bless your holiday and remind you of God’s goodness. We always thank God for each of you and remember you in our prayers.

Less without you,

The FBCP Staff

Paul

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow–
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! 

Advent Liturgy In the Park

Dear Families with Kids,

We are so excited to invite you to our upcoming liturgy in the park on Saturday, December 5th, at 10:30AM! We will have singing, Advent crafts, a Bible story along, and yummy treats, along with all the joy that multiplies when we are together. We can't wait!

As part of that special service, we are also inviting our families and kids to embrace a spirit of generosity and love for our neighbors. As you may know, each year at FBCP we participate in a gift drive for Friends In Deed. They know the neighbors in our city who are most in need, and we get the joy of buying Christmas gifts for them. This is a fun and special way that we get to love others and remember God's generosity to us. It's simple—just click on the button below to see the sign up sheet and all the instructions. We hope you will take a look at the list of kids and their gift wishes so that you have time to purchase something and bring it to our Family Liturgy on December 5th. Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks for being Jesus to other kids in our neighborhood!

We know that Christmas will be different this year, but our love for you and the gift of Jesus will only continue to grow. We can't wait to celebrate and prepare our hearts to receive the baby born in a manger!

With joy,

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

Sunday Special | EP 37

Happy Sunday, Friends!

Today we have a video about gratitude because God seems to think that thankfulness is really important. We read a special book and have a time of giving thanks for our FBCP families. Oh—and there's also information about how to develop a super power! Feel free to wear a superhero cape as you watch.

Parents, we know that the holiday season might be a reason for your young ones to feel disappointed, sad, and maybe even angry. We pray that they will have space to be honest about their feelings (or in fancy terms, to lament) while also starting a regular practice of gratitude to help them stay rooted in God's love and hope. You might even consider making an "Appreciation Station" in your home: just put out a jar, some note cards and pens, and each day reflect on what was worthy of appreciation. Write it down and place it in your jar, remembering that it usually takes us 21 days to form a habit. See how this practice affects your family, and don't forget that writing is more powerful than just thinking it to ourselves! (See this post for inspiration.)

We are so thankful for you!

Much love, 

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

FBCP Families | 36

Hi, Friends!

We had so much fun with our families last Saturday at our liturgy in the park! Thanks for those who were able to join us for a morning of worship, fun, and gratitude. Make sure you see the info below about our next park liturgy (yay it's almost Christmas season!). As Thanksgiving approaches, we know that this year holds a lot of loss in terms of holiday celebrations and time with loved ones. We pray that the practice of gratitude gives you peace and joy this week and that you know how loved and important you are to us at FBCP.  We thank God for each of you!

Advent Liturgy for Families with Kids!

Our next worship party in the park is Saturday, December 5th, at 10:30AM. We will have songs, a Bible story, Advent crafts, and all the joy and fellowship we need to get into the spirit of Christmas. We hope you’ll join us for this safe outdoor worship experience in our church park! I’ll be sending out an RSVP link soon so that we can make sure to have enough special Advent supplies for all.

Holiday Cooking and STEM

One of the best parts of the holiday season is cooking (or eating!), and KiwiCo has some great ideas for teaching your kids about STEM as you make yummy creations in the kitchen. Here's to learning as we cook!

Sunday 

Kids

This week we are making a video about gratitude in honor of Thanksgiving week. We have a special book to read, too, and some ways to develop your own super power in the midst of challenging circumstances.

Youth

This week we are gathering safely in the park at 10:15AM! We will continue to practice safe physical distance, wear masks, and use hand sanitizer. After our regular time together we will head up to the garage for the Gratitude Celebration with the church at large. Hope to see you Sunday!

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

FBCP Families | 35

Hi, Friends!

YAY! It's time for our next Liturgy for Families with Kids tomorrow at 10:30AM, and we hope you will be there! We'll gather in the church park for an outdoor and safely-distanced worship event full of song, stories, activities, and the joy of being together. Bring blankets, water bottles, and masks—we'll provide the rest! 

Serving Our Pasadena Neighbors on Thanksgiving

If you are looking for a different way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, then you might want to look into volunteering with Union Station Homeless Services. In addition to help preparing and packaging food, they also need volunteers to help serve dinner in a safe way to those who otherwise will not have a meal that night. You can find all the information and volunteer applications here.

Gratitude Activities for Kids

We are called to practice gratitude all year long, but Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start new practices of thankfulness and renew our sense of gratitude. Here's a printable set of practices for kids (and adults!) that might be helpful in your home. We are certainly thankful for our church family!

Sunday 

Kids

Because we will worship together in the park tomorrow, we will not have a video on Sunday. We hope you have a beautiful sabbath together and that your family experiences true rest and play!

Youth

This week we will have a Youth Zoom gathering at 2PM. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. Our next gathering in the park will be November 22nd, so mark your calendars. 

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

In Pasadena as it is in Heaven

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