FBCP Updates 02.11.2021
Hey, Friends!
I'm so grateful to have opportunities to gather safely and for the commitment of our community to love each other well when we do get to be together in person. I am reminded of how fortunate we are to have outdoor spaces at our church where we can maintain safe distance in the fresh air—not to mention the beautiful weather we get during most of these winter months. We look forward to this weekend and are praying you feel how loved you are!
February Liturgy for Families with Kids
HOORAY—it's finally here! The next Liturgy for Families with Kids is this Saturday, February 13th, at 10:30AM in the park. We will maintain our safety protocol with distance and masks so that we can keep each other healthy. And, of course, we will worship God with songs, a Bible lesson, and activities for the whole family. Plus, this month we will also have some Lent materials for kids and families to use at home in the coming months. You can RSVP here to help us plan ahead for supplies. And if you want to invite some friends who need a church family to belong to, we would love to have them! Just share this info and our RSVP link so we can have things ready for them, too!
Don't forget to bring your finished blanket if you were with us at the last liturgy, and everyone is invited to bring a poncho, coat, or warm hat to donate to Friends In Deed if you are able. Thank you for sharing some love in our city these ways!
Chinese New Year
Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year, so our own Iris Chen took some time to explain her family's traditions to our FBCP kids. You can listen to her here! It's so fun to learn about the meaning behind the colors, foods, lights, and other festivities that make up this special holiday for Asian families. You might want to honor the holiday in one of the ways she mentions, and we encourage you to share what you learn from Iris with your friends and neighbors. Happy New Year!
Sunday
Kids
This week we have a new family resource you can use to study the story of the Transfiguration (what a crazy word!) as a family. It has some questions to reflect on after reading the scripture passage and a fun activity to help you remember the people in your life who have helped you grow in faith. We pray you find ways to pray and talk about God in whatever way is fun and meaningful for your family!
Youth
This week the youth will meet on Zoom at 2pm. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. We look forward to a fun time together with our youth!
Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!
With gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary
Gretchen
Jessica
Today we want to encourage you with the full interview that Chip had with Jessica Henson, who has been working on the LA River Project. She reflects on her calling and the ways that so many issues of justice intersect with the project. It’s a great listen—full of exciting information about the LA River Project itself and about how Jessica’s faith and passions led her on the path to this work. We pray you are inspired as you listen and encouraged by the work she is part of, especially as it relates to the mission and heart of FBCP. She even shares some ways you can get involved and continue to support the work of justice in Los Angeles. Enjoy!
John Jay
FBCP Families | 02.06.2021
Hey, Friends!
I hope you are able to enjoy this beautiful weather and all the good sunshine! We are excited to be back in the garage for worship tomorrow but will also share a livestream and a recorded version later in the day. If you're able to join us for garage worship, we have snacks and some activity sheets for your kiddos and we would love to see them, too!
February Liturgy for Families with Kids
It's been so wonderful to gather safely once a month with our families and kids, and we are so excited to have another time of worship and fun this month! The next Liturgy for Families with Kids is Saturday, February 13th, at 10:30AM in the FBCP park. We will maintain our safety protocol with distance and masks so that we can keep each other healthy. And, of course, we will worship God with songs, a Bible lesson, and activities for the whole family. Plus, this month we will also have some Lent materials for kids and families to use at home in the coming months. You can RSVP here to help us plan ahead for supplies. If you want to invite some friends who need a church family to belong to, we would love to have them! Just share this info and our RSVP link so we can have things ready for them, too!
Oh—and don’t forget to bring a warm hat, jacket, or poncho to donate to Friends In Deed if you are able. Those items will go directly to folks who don’t have shelter during these winter months. If you attended the liturgy last month, then remember to bring back your finished blanket, too!
Support Group for Parents Raising a Child with Autism
Mady Snyder is a part of our church family, and she is going to begin leading a support group for parents raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is particularly looking to create a group with Christian parents, and we are grateful to have someone in our community with the therapy skills and expertise to offer this kind of family support. You can email her at madysnydertherapy@gmail.com for more information or fill out this form to get connected. Feel free to share this with other parents who might be interested, too!
Sunday
Kids
Here is a new family resource you can use to worship and read the Bible with kids at home. It's a passage from Isaiah 40:21-31, and it includes a fun activity to help kids think about how God cares for people and how we can help one another. We pray you find ways to pray and talk about God in whatever way is fun and meaningful for your family!
Youth
This week the youth are back in the park—yay! We look forward to a safe and physically distanced time of fellowship where we can connect with each other and with God. We hope to see you around 10:15AM tomorrow morning!
Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!
With gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary
Leslie
Friday Updates 02.05.2021
Happy Friday, FBCP!
Today we have a fun audio from Chip and Mary with all the announcements for the week. You can listen for full details by clicking the link below, but here are the highlights:
This week we are back in the garage for outdoor worship, but we will also livestream the service and post a recorded version later in the day. It’s also communion Sunday, so you can bring your own elements or take one of our communion cracker and juice packs. Please remember our agreements so that we can love each other well and stay safe and healthy:
Stay in your car if you are able to drive to the garage.
Wear a mask whenever you are outside your car.
Keep 10ft of space between you and others.
Share your love by not hanging around before or after service.
Stay home if you aren’t feeling well and let us know how we can help care for you.
Wednesday, February 17th, is Ash Wednesday, and we will be releasing an online liturgy so that you can engage with worship from wherever you are. Keep an eye out for upcoming information about how to prepare to worship at home that day so you can thoughtfully prepare your heart for the season of Lent.
On the first Sunday of Lent, February 21, our time of worship will be a service of lament and a celebration of the lives of Ed Enriquez, Harold Lane, Bob Maase, and Tom Harris. We’ll share more details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we will be creating an online space to share your memories. If you have something you want to share in honor of Ed Enriquez, Harold Lane, Bob Maase, or Tom Harris, you can send a written, audio, or video version to lindsay@fbcpasadena.
This Week’s Tracks:
Mary
Gretchen
Lindsay
Leslie
FBCP Families | 01.29.21
Hey, Friends!
It's been a rainy week, and we know the ground is thirsty for these showers! I hope you can find some moments to curl up and get cozy with your little ones (and listen to the pitter patter of the raindrops!). I also hope the cold and wet weather is a reminder to pray for those who do not have shelter and to ask how we might serve and advocate for them. See the information below for one way we can respond to the call to love our neighbors as we partner with Friends In Deed.
Bad Weather Supplies
We have the opportunity to partner with Friends In Deed as they gather supplies for those without shelter in the upcoming months, especially when weather is less predictable and often harsh. You can check out the full list of supplies that are needed here, and we will be collecting them the next time we are back in the garage for worship. If you need us to come pick up items or arrange a handoff, we can do that, too!
This Day In History
This coming week has lots of dates that have historical significance for a variety of reasons, particularly in regards to the arts and justice. The folks over at SALT compile these weekly Theologian's Almanac, and I thought this week's edition might provide some inspiration for talking to kids about some of these important people and dates. You might even have them do a little detective work to figure out what's so special about that date or person and report back to the family with their intel.
Sunday
Kids
If you want to do a little Bible reading and discussion at home, here's a resource you could use this Sunday. It's a short passage with lots of questions and a guided reading to foster wonder and imagination. Stay tuned for upcoming details about some bedtime stories we will be sharing with our kids.
And mark your calendars for February 13th for our next Liturgy for Families with Kids! We can't wait to share Lent materials and spread lots of love as we worship in the park together!
Youth
This week we will zoom with the youth at 12PM, and sometime this weekend we will drop off a bag of supplies to use during our hangout. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. We look forward to a fun time together with our youth!
Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!
With gratitude for you,
Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary
Friday Updates 01.29.2021
Happy Friday, FBCP!
Today we have an audio from Pastor John Jay with all the announcements for the week. You can listen for full details by clicking the link below, but here are the highlights:
This week we are worshipping online with a new Liturgy for the Living Room, which we will release on Sunday morning.
We hope to be back in the garage for worship on February 7. Stay tuned for updates and safety protocol as we prepare to worship in person again. As always, we will livestream the audio of the service and post a recorded version for those who aren’t able to attend.
This Sunday at 6PM you are invited to join clergy and congregants in the Pasadena area for a virtual time of prayer for our nation and our community. The Clergy Community Coalition will be hosting this time, and you can see the graphic below for information about how to join over Zoom.
On the first Sunday of Lent, our time of worship will be a service of lament and a celebration of the lives of Harold Lane, Bob Maase, and Tom Harris. We’ll share more details in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we will be creating an online space to share your memories. If you have something you want to share in memory of Harold Lane, Bob Maase, or Tom Harris, you can send a written, audio, or video version to lindsay@fbcpasadena.
This Week’s Tracks:
Mary
Gretchen
Lindsay
John Jay
Sunday Special | EP 46
Hi, Friends at FBCP,
Today Pastor Mary shares the story of Jonah and the big fish, and it's a good reminder about how compassionate God is and how we should respond when God calls us to participate in His work. It turns out God is all about pursuing us no matter what!
And we wanted to share a resource from our friends at Illustrated Ministry. It has an interactive prayer practice that kids can do in their homes to bless their spaces and learn some Bible verses. We hope it helps you continue to create a sacred space at home to help you worship during the week and sense God’s presence.
Stay safe and know that you are deeply loved by your church family and by a compassionate God. Happy Sunday, friends!
So much love,
Pastors Lindsay and Mary