FBCP Families | 04.17.2021

Hi Friends,

Your families and your kids have been on my heart extra after another heavy week in our national news. There are no easy answers to give our kids, but this community is a place where we will continue to lament, share our pain, love each other well, and stay grounded in hope together. If your child would like to talk or pray with us, we are standing by to be another source of love and support. This article has some good reminders about how to talk to our kids about the news they see or hear. I'm also aware that some of our kids are starting back with school in person, and that can bring a whole set of worries with it. Know that we are here to help in any way we can as our families navigate these new challenges. We are praying for smooth transitions, space to process and acknowledge all that they are feeling, and for God's personal and sweet encouragement with each step. We love you!

Here are some fun and inspiring resources for the week:

Lyrid Meteor Shower

There's a meteor shower happening over the next few days, and here's some information about how to see it. Let us know if you get any fun photos or glimpses of this beautiful display. Even if you don't catch it, I love knowing that a light show is happening in the sky above and remembering how amazing and awesome God's creation is. Yay for meteor showers!

Lego Challenges

The LEGO company has a cool website with all kinds of LEGO games and challenges for kids to do right at home. Brody loves these colorful building blocks, but I know some youth and adults who also take their LEGO projects very seriously. What a great intergenerational activity—let the building challenges begin! 

Sunday Youth Gathering

We have a special service in the works for tomorrow featuring our youth! They will join us in the garage for the liturgy and can sit with their families or in the seating area. After worship ends in the garage, the youth are invited to head to the park for lunch and fellowship. We can't wait for the youth to help lead us in worship as a church family!

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Weekly Updates 04.15.2021

Friends at FBCP,

This week’s announcements are coming a day early in case some of you want to join a Zoom at 2pm tomorrow with one of our global partners, Melanie Baggao. We are praying for you and look forward to our time of worship on Sunday!

Here’s what you need to know for this week:

  • Tomorrow (Friday) at 2pm over Zoom there is an opportunity to hear from our global partner Melanie Baggao, an American Baptist Global Servant with International Ministries serving in Lebanon. Melanie will share what it's been like doing ministry with local communities and refugees in Lebanon the past year, including realities with the pandemic and the country’s economic crisis. This is a great opportunity to be reminded about challenges people deal with around the world. To join the meeting from a computer or smartphone (video and audio) use this link and when prompted enter the password: 490382. From the Zoom app or website, enter Meeting ID: 970 1280 0480 AND Password: 490382.

  • We are gathering for worship in the garage at 10:30AM on Sunday. We will have spaced out seating available and parking for those who want to remain in their cars. We continue to be grateful for the chance to gather safely and worship together! This week we are excited to have some of our youth help lead us in worship, and we are grateful for the ways they give us a fuller picture of God’s love and presence in the world.

  • As we look ahead to when we can be in the sanctuary, it would help us if you let us know your vaccine status, including whether or not you have received it and if you still have questions about it. Click here to share that info with our staff.

  • And don’t forget to check out the new album we released on Easter Sunday! It’s full of tracks that we remastered and put together as a tribute to the year we have been through together and the faithfulness of God in all of it. Enjoy!

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

 

Blood Drive

Friends at FBCP,

The American Red Cross is hosting a Blood Drive in our gym Tuesday, April 13th, from 10:00am-4:00pm. They are still in need of sign-ups, and we hope you will consider this opportunity to meet a very urgent need. Here’s a word from the Red Cross:

With everything opening back up and schools on spring break, our inventory levels have significantly dropped. We are asking the community to support the local hospitals by donating blood. Plasma from antibody-positive donations may even help current Coronavirus patients. Will you roll up a sleeve to help? We also rely on you to spread the word to those who are reluctant or have never donated before. Tell friends to sign up, too. All Donors ages 16-24 will be emailed a $10.00 Gift Card.

Please visit RedCrossBlood.org or use the button below and enter sponsor code FBCP to to schedule an appointment. Thanks for considering this life-saving offering!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

 

FBCP Families | 04.10.2021

Hey, Friends!

We had a beautiful Easter with our families with kids and our church at large, and I'm so thankful we were able to find creative ways to celebrate and dwell on the hope of the resurrection. Christ is risen—He is risen, indeed! I pray you have a wonderful weekend and that we get to see some of you tomorrow in the garage for worship. Below are this week’s updates and some resources. Happy weekend!

Recycling at Home with Kids

In honor of Earth Month, here are some tips on how to delegate recycling jobs to your family members in ways that are fun for kids while also saving time and money. Thanks for taking care of creation!

Kids and Doubt

This week's scripture includes the story of the infamous "Doubting Thomas," and that reminded me about the research the Fuller Youth Institute has done on young people and how doubts impact lasting faith. This in-depth article has some great points about how to make space for doubt and come alongside our kids in their questions about God, even and especially if we don't have all the answers. If your child is starting to ask doubting questions about God, be encouraged that those doubts can be a way to strengthen their faith if you will be present to them. I pray we continue to be a safe place for kids to wonder, doubt, and grow in their walk with God.

Youth Happenings

This Sunday we are gathering over Zoom at 2pm for our regular time of fun, connection, and learning together. We will also be planning some worship elements for the following Sunday (see below), so they won't want to miss this time together. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. We hope to see your youth there!

We have a special service in the works for next Sunday, April 18th. That is our Sunday to be in the park with the youth, but this time will be a little different. We'll have the youth be part of the regular worship service in the garage (parents, more details to come on their participation!), and then after service we will head to the park for lunch and fellowship until 1:00pm. We can't wait for the youth to help lead us in worship as a church family!

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Friday Updates 04.09.2021

Friends at FBCP,

Easter was a wonderful celebration and time of worship! It was really special to be together in the garage and over the live broadcast to retell the story of the resurrection. Thanks to all who participated in the service and to those who helped transform our garage with beautiful flowers from around our city. We pray you continue to dwell on the power of the resurrection this Easter season.

We also have some other reminders you need to know for this week:

  • We are gathering for worship in the garage at 10:30AM on Sunday. We will have spaced out seating available and parking for those who want to remain in their cars. We continue to be grateful for the chance to gather safely and worship together!

  • As we look ahead to when we can be in the sanctuary, it would help us if you let us know your vaccine status, including whether or not you have received it and if you still have questions about it. Click here to share that info with our staff.

  • The American Red Cross is hosting a Blood Drive in our gym Tuesday, April 13th, from 10:00am-4:00pm. They are still in need of sign-ups, and we hope you will consider this opportunity to meet a very urgent need. Here’s a word from the Red Cross:

    With everything opening back up and schools on spring break, our inventory levels have significantly dropped. We are asking the community to support the local hospitals by donating blood. Plasma from antibody-positive donations may even help current Coronavirus patients. Will you roll up a sleeve to help? We also rely on you to spread the word to those who are reluctant or have never donated before. Tell friends to sign up, too. All Donors ages 16-24 will be emailed a $10.00 Gift Card.

    Please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code FBCP to to schedule an appointment.

  • And don’t forget to check out the new album we released on Easter Sunday! It’s full of tracks that we remastered and put together as a tribute to the year we have been through together and the faithfulness of God in all of it. Enjoy!

Grace and peace to you as we head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

 

Friday Updates 04.02.2021

Friends at FBCP,

We pray you are able to pause and reflect on this Good Friday before we head into the weekend. Below you’ll find a link to our Good Friday Liturgy that is ready for you.

We also have some other reminders you need to know for this week:

  • This Sunday is Easter! If you took a vase to fill, please remember to bring it with your greenery and flowers to help us turn our garage into a garden. The service will start at 10:30AM, but we are asking everyone to arrive early with plenty of time to settle in, greet one another, and share any flowers you have. We will have spaced out seating available and spaces for those who want to remain in their cars. We cannot wait to share this blessed Easter morning with you, either in the garage or over the audio livestream.

  • Holy Week: If you haven’t had a chance yet, we hope you’ll take time to experience the guided meditation practice we released on Monday. This special audio is designed for folks to listen to while walking and observing the physical space around our church. We invite you to begin listening outside the front of our sanctuary and follow the audio recording's instructions in an embodied practice. It will be best experienced with headphones on a smartphone or similar device, and we hope it allows you to connect with the story of Holy Week in a new and powerful way.

  • As we look ahead to when we can be in the sanctuary, it would help us if you let us know your vaccine status, including whether or not you have received it and if you still have questions about it. Click here to share that info with our staff.

  • Blair High School is just down the street from FBCP, and we regularly have students from Blair in our youth group. This year we have one senior who will graduate from Blair (do you remember Thomas?!), and we are always looking for ways to partner with this neighborhood school. This spring they are still in need of about seven folks to sponsor a high school senior by sending them some Blair swag and other small gifts as an encouragement to the students and their families. If you are interested in being matched with a senior to help spread some joy during this difficult school year, you can email Pastor Lindsay at lindsay@fbcpasadena.com.

Grace and peace on this Good Friday. We can’t wait to worship with you on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

 

Easter Flowers

 

This Week’s Mixtape:

FBCP Families | 04.01.2021

Hey, Friends!

Today's email is brief because I know this week is full of the stories we are trying to retell about Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection. I pray that you are able to observe Holy Week as a family in ways that allow room for reflection, questions, and nearness to God. You might want to hold a foot-washing ceremony as a family or read some of the scriptures about Jesus' last days together. Here are some additional ideas from the Fuller Youth Institute for honoring Holy Week at home as a family. Youth Families, I recommend offering  your youth the chance to do the walking pilgrimage experience that we released on Tuesday. It might be meaningful to make space at home for any questions or reflections they have after completing it. We hope to see as many of you as are able to join us on Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection and the ways that God is bringing new life into our lives!

Easter Liturgy for Families with Kids

This Easter we are so excited that we have ways to gather in person after staying home last year. We have two services happening Easter Sunday, and our families with kids are invited to attend both if they want. First, we will have our all-church worship service in the garage at 10:30AM with all the beautiful elements that go in an Easter service. Following garage worship, families with kids are invited to head to the park area where they can hang out in a circle and bring a picnic lunch to eat. You could also get some food in Old Town and bring it back to the park. Then at 1:30pm we will have a Liturgy for Families with Kids, complete with songs, a Bible lesson, and lots of fun Easter activities! So, you can join us for both events or come to the one that works for your family, but you are invited to both. Please note that we will also have some car-friendly activities and snacks for kids who come to the garage service in the morning. We hope to see you on Easter for this special day when we celebrate new life and all the hope that comes with the resurrection! You can let us know your plans for Easter with this RSVP link.

Easter for Youth

The Youth are invited to attend our all-church service in the garage on Easter morning. We'll have some special goodies for them and hope they will join our church family as we remember the resurrection of Jesus and celebrate together. If your youth wants to help with our Pit Crew, let me know! We are so grateful for the ways we have to gather safely and celebrate this special morning as a church family.

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

A Word on Vaccines

Friends at FBCP,

As we continue to look ahead to when we can be together again, the vaccine is going to play a key role. Today we are excited to share with you a special word from Christopher Sun, a leading physician in the area who is also a beloved church member. He prepared this brief audio to help us all be informed and encouraged, and we are so grateful for his continued guidance and expertise as we make decisions for our church family.

If you have questions about the vaccine or need help getting your shot, please reach out to us so we can come alongside you. You can also let us know your vaccine status by clicking on the button below and filling out the form there.

We look forward to the days we can be together again in our sanctuary. Until then, we are grateful for the ways we can gather safely in the garage and online as we continue to pursue Jesus together.

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 03.27.2021

Hey, Friends!

We were sad to cancel our liturgy in the park last Sunday, but we are so grateful for rain and for the fun we had seeing our families at our drive-by pick up! We hope your seeds are starting to take root and grow—and that your plants remind you of the goodness God is growing in you, too. We are so glad that God wants to plant His word in us, and spring is a great time to keep growing in our faith. If your children are on spring break already, then you might want to check out this list of 30 DIY STEAM activities to do at home (that don't involve screens!). 

It's hard to believe that we are celebrating Palm Sunday already, but I'm so excited for the ways we can observe Holy Week and Easter as a connected church family. Easter Sunday in particular has a few options for families with kids, so make sure you check out the details below and let us know if you have any questions. 

Easter Liturgy for Families with Kids

This Easter we are so excited that we have ways to gather in person after staying home last year. We have two services happening Easter Sunday, and our families with kids are invited to attend both if they want. First, we will have our all-church worship service in the garage at 10:30AM with all the beautiful elements that go in an Easter service. Following garage worship, families with kids are invited to head to the park area where they can hang out in a circle and bring a picnic lunch to eat. You could also get some food in Old Town and bring it back to the park. Then at 1:30pm we will have a Liturgy for Families with Kids, complete with songs, a Bible lesson, and lots of fun Easter activities! So, you can join us for both events or come to the one that works for your family, but you are invited to both. Please note that we will also have some car-friendly activities and snacks for kids who come to the garage service in the morning. We hope to see you on Easter for this special day when we celebrate new life and all the hope that comes with the resurrection! You can let us know your plans for Easter with this RSVP link.

Youth this Sunday

This week the Youth will be gathering over Zoom at 2PM for an important time of connection and conversation as we make space for learning and lament. Here is the meeting link that you can use to hop on the hangout. 

Easter for Youth

The Youth are invited to attend our all-church service in the garage on Easter morning. We'll have some special goodies for them and hope they will join our church family as we remember the resurrection of Jesus and celebrate together. 

Sending you so much love and virtual hugs!

With gratitude for you,

Pastor Lindsay & Pastor Mary

Friday Updates 03.26.2021

Happy Friday, Friends at FBCP!

We pray you have a beautiful start to the weekend as we prepare for Palm Sunday. Here are the updates you need to know for this week:

  • Today at 2 PM, you are invited to join a virtual conversation hosted by our American Baptist Church regional offices. Today’s meeting features our own Jeannette Scholer, who will be speaking on the legacy of her late husband, Dr. David Scholer. He was a strong advocate for women in ministry as a seminary education professor, and his impact has been great in paving the way for women to serve as pastors and ministry leaders. On today’s ABCOFLASH call, Jeannette will share about David’s advocacy for women and their journey of life and ministry together. To join from a computer or smartphone click here and when prompted enter the password 490382. Click here for Dr. Scholer's document that he wrote about the biblical view of women in ministry. Click here to read the Los Angeles Times article about him.

  • We look forward to gathering again for outdoor worship this Palm Sunday! As we look ahead to when we can be in the sanctuary, it would help us if you let us know your vaccine status, including whether or not you have received it and if you still have questions about it. Click here to share that info with our staff.

  • Holy Week: As we make our way to Holy Week and Easter, we are preparing new ways to experience the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. To help you observe Holy Week, on Monday, March 29, we will release a link to an immersive online audio experience for you to engage sometime during the week. This guided meditation practice is designed for folks to listen to while walking and observing the physical space around our church. We invite you to begin listening outside the front of our sanctuary and follow the audio recording's instructions in this embodied practice. It will be best experienced with headphones on a smartphone or similar device, and we hope it allows you to connect with the story of Holy Week in a new and powerful way.

  • We want to pass on Jesse Terry's Memorial and Committal service information below. To share a word of remembrance of Jesse, please email lindsay@fbcpasadena.com.

    • Memorial Service: Jesse's memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 31, at 9:30 AM at Rancho Baptist Church. The church address is 29775 Santiago Road, Temecula, CA. 92592. This service will be mask-optional for those attending. The service will also be live-streamed through the following link: https://youtu.be/4Or58pP3mZ

    • Committal Service: There will be a brief committal service for Jesse on the same day, March 31, at 12:00 PM. The service will be at Riverside National Cemetery, where Jesse will be laid to rest. The address is 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.

  • Our weekly Lenten Bible Study has come to a close. Thanks for all who were able to bring their voice and insights to the conversations. Stay tuned for information about future Bible study opportunities.

  • Blair High School is just down the street from FBCP, and we regularly have students from Blair in our youth group. This year we have one senior who will graduate from Blair (do you remember Thomas?!), and we are always looking for ways to partner with this neighborhood school. This spring they are still in need of a few folks to sponsor a high school senior by sending them some Blair swag and other small gifts as an encouragement to the students and their families. If you are interested in being matched with a senior to help spread some joy during this difficult school year, you can email Pastor Lindsay at lindsay@fbcpasadena.com.

Grace and peace as you head into the weekend. We can’t wait to worship with you on Sunday!

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

 

Easter Flowers

 

This Week’s Mixtape:

In Pasadena as it is in Heaven

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