Weekly Updates 08.18.2023

Tomorrow

• Join us for fun in the sun tomorrow, August 19th, at Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach or you are planning to bring firewood, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Keep an eye on the narthex for new recycling bins this week and for the next couple months. The group of folks going to Oaxaca in October would like to raise money for their trip and help FBCP recycle while they’re at it! To participate, please bring aluminum cans and plastic with CRV markings to the bins Sunday mornings. Please wash out your items before donating, and do not bring glass. If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip’. Thanks for helping these folks cover their costs of this vocational missions trip! Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is fruit & vegetable juice.

Next Week

• Join our 55+ Group for an outing to the Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar on Thursday, August 24th. The plan is to meet at the church to carpool at 8:45am and return after lunch around 2pm. The Nethercutt Collection features a beautiful array of antique cars and musical instruments. Contact Pastor Chip with questions.

• The FBCPride Group invites anyone interested in bowling to join us on Saturday, August 26th, at 10:45am. Meet in front of Bowlero at the Santa Anita Mall (400 S. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia) so we can figure out how many lanes we need and rent shoes. The cost will be $9.39 per game and $6.00 per person for shoe rental. We are also celebrating Hans’ birthday! Email Sally and Kevin at pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions.

• Our Public Theology Group invites you to join Pasadena Church for a Community Family Reunion at La Pintoresca Park on August 27th from 11am-2pm. We have a couple volunteers but we need a couple more to be trained by Pastor John Jay as the FBCP Snoball Crew as we partner with Pastor Kerwin in spreading love to the Pasadena community. We partnered with Pastor Kerwin three years ago this August after Anthony McClain was tragically shot and killed at La Pintoresca Park. Our pastors and staff spent time in the park with Pasadena Church, prayed for those grieving and handed out snacks to children, so we have a special history of partnership with these friends. Text “snoball” to 626.727.9498 if you are available to take a two-hour shift (from 10:30am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-2:30pm) and join the community in remembering and celebrating the resilience of this community. Apologies that attending the first shift will mean missing our FBCP Sunday worship. More details can be found here.

Coming Up

• Do you love to sing? The FBCP Choir Half-Day Retreat is around the corner on Labor Day weekend! On Saturday, September 2nd, we will gather at Atherton at 9am for a time of reflection and rehearsal. We will have coffee and snacks in the morning and will conclude our time together with lunch at noon. If you have never been involved in choir, email Pastor Leslie and let her know you’d like to check things out. The choir will resume singing in worship service on Sunday, September 3rd, and resume Wednesday rehearsals starting September 6th at 7pm. To register for the retreat, click here.

• Sign up today for our beloved Community Dinners!  Groups of folks will gather in host homes around the city on Friday, September 8th. To sign up, text “dinner” to 626.727.9498. These dinners are a wonderful time to share a meal, and it is a great way to get to know other church members better. Don’t wait to sign up. We hope you can participate whether you are new or seasoned!

• Signups start next week for our Fall Sunday School classes, which will happen on Sundays from 9-10am from September 10 through November 12th. Keep an eye out for the link to our wonderful choices and chance to sign up!

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 8/20 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 9/3 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

8/19 - Church Beach Day
8/20 - Prayer Team Lunch
8/24 - 55+ Outing to Nethercutt
8/26 - FBCPride Group Bowling
9/2 - Choir Half-Day Retreat
9/4 - Labor Day | Office Closed
9/8 - Community Dinners
9/10 - Fall Sunday School Starts
9/10 - Public Theology Meeting
9/17 - Coffee with John Jay
9/17 - Prayer for Global Servants
9/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
9/23 - Women’s Brunch
9/24 - FBCP Basics Class
9/30 - Prayer Retreat

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 08.12.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We only have a few more weeks in our series on embodiment for both our adults and our kids. Summer has gone by so quickly! We hope that you have had some good fodder for conversation about your bodies and our faith and how those are intricately connected. If you haven't had a chance to listen to any of our weekly scripture readings, that might be a practice your family could do together and then discuss after listening. I pray that we continue to have healthy relationships with our own bodies and the ways we were made for connection and relationship, both with our Creator and with one another. Here's to our exploration of feet this week!

Beach Day

Join us for fun in the sun! On Saturday, August 19th, everyone in the church is invited to Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship. 

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed with their leaders. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, we will continue our exploration of embodied faith with an emphasis on feet. We have some fun interactive ways for them to learn about our amazing feet and what standing on holy ground might mean. We can't wait to have fun and learn with your kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does scripture say about our feet?

• Why did God ask Moses to be barefoot?

• What do our feet teach us about our purpose?

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our all-church potluck after worship. We will resume our regular Sunday worship next week. We are praying for all our youth who are starting school this week, and we will be rooting for you all year long!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 08.11.2023

Tomorrow

• For those who would like to watch Snoopy’s Memorial from home, here is the link to access the livestream. World-renowned jazz koto player, June Kuramoto, will begin prelude music at 9:45am, and the service will begin at 10am. Everyone may also sign the guestbook & memory page or view the program at these links. Thank you for your prayers and support of the Fong family.

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our all-church potluck after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• It’s potluck time! Join us after service this week in the Gym for a wonderful meal to get to know new friends or catch up with old ones. We will also be saying goodbye to our wonderful summer intern, Riley, as he heads back to Duke Divinity School. Look out for blessing cards this Sunday to fill out for him, and leave them in the offering plate or in a basket at the potluck. Based on your last name, if you’re able, please bring a main dish (A-J), side or salad (K-R), or dessert (S-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your friends here at FBCP. Thank you to our Potluck Volunteer Squad!

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is water bottles.

Next Week

• Keep an eye on the narthex for a new recycling bin starting next week, Sunday, August 20th. The group of folks going to Oaxaca in October would like to raise money for their trip and help FBCP recycle while they’re at it! To participate, please bring aluminum cans and plastic with CRV markings to the bins Sunday mornings. Please wash out your items before donating, and do not bring glass. If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip’. Thanks for helping these folks cover their costs of this vocational missions trip! Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

• Join us for fun in the sun! On  Saturday, August 19th, we’ll be hanging out at Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

Coming Up

• Do you love to sing? The FBCP Choir Half-Day Retreat is around the corner on Labor Day weekend! On Saturday, September 2nd, we will gather at Atherton at 9am for a time of reflection and rehearsal. We will have coffee and snacks in the morning and will conclude our time together with lunch at noon. If you have never been involved in choir, email Pastor Leslie and let her know you’d like to check things out. The choir will resume singing in worship service on Sunday, September 3rd, and resume Wednesday rehearsals starting September 6th at 7pm. To register for the retreat, click here.

• Join our 55+ Group for an outing to the Nethercutt Collection on Thursday, August 24th. They will meet at the church to carpool to Sylmar at 8:45am and return after lunch around 2pm. The Nethercutt Collection features a beautiful array of antique cars and musical instruments. Contact Pastor Chip with questions.

• The FBCPride Group invites anyone interested in bowling to join us on Saturday, August 26th, at 11am. Meet in front of Bowlero at the Santa Anita Mall (400 S. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia) at 10:45am so we can figure out how many lanes we need and rent shoes. The cost will be $9.39 per game and $6.00 per person for shoe rental. We are also celebrating Hans’ birthday! Email Sally and Kevin at pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions.

• Our Public Theology Group invites you to join Pasadena Church for a Community Family Reunion at La Pintoresca Park on August 27th from 11am-2pm. We need six volunteers to be trained by Pastor John Jay as the FBCP Snoball Crew as we partner with Pastor Kerwin in spreading love to the Pasadena community. We partnered with Pastor Kerwin three years ago this August after Anthony McClain was tragically shot and killed at La Pintoresca Park. Our pastors and staff spent time in the park with Pasadena Church, prayed for those grieving and handed out snacks to children, so we have a special history of partnership with these friends. Text “snoball” to 626.727.9498 if you are available to take a two-hour shift (from 10:30am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-2:30pm) and join the community in remembering and celebrating the resilience of this community. Apologies that attending the first shift will mean missing our FBCP Sunday worship. More details can be found here.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 8/20 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 8/20 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day
8/20 - Prayer Team Lunch
8/24 - 55+ Outing to Nethercutt
9/2 - Choir Half-Day Retreat
9/8 - Community Dinners
9/10 - Fall Sunday School Starts
9/10 - Public Theology Meeting
9/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 08.05.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Pastor Chip and I had a blast with the youth in Ventura this week! We spent time reflecting on how God has designed our very bodies and all of creation to experience change, and it was meaningful to think about what kinds of transformation God is inviting us into and what we might need along the way. We also got to spend time with the Mattesich family and their new church, which was a gift. Thanks for continuing to pray for the young people in our church; I am so grateful for their presence in our church family and the unique perspective and gifts they bring.

Back-To-School Blessing

We want to invite all of our students and educators to bring your backpacks, briefcases, whistles or pencil cases to worship this Sunday, August 6th. We will share a special blessing for the upcoming school year during service and are grateful that we can mark these transitions together with words of love and encouragement. 

Beach Day

Join us for fun in the sun! On Saturday, August 19th, everyone in the church is invited to Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service. 

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 survey to fill out during worship in the lobby. Pastor Mary is on vacation, but she left some yummy snacks for the kids to grab on the way into worship. You can pray for rest and refreshment for her! Riley will be preaching and will continue with our series on embodiment  with an emphasis on our hands this week. We hope this series is generating some meaningful discussion at home as we continue to explore how our very bodies teach us about God and who we were created to be.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What part of worship was most memorable for you this week? What made it stand out to you?

• What kinds of work can we do with our hands? How do you imagine God using God's own hands?

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! We will gather in the park area, and lunch is included as always. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 08.04.2023

Tomorrow

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his last of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions tomorrow, August 5th. In this session, we will be studying sexuality and healthy ways to embody desire for the sake of love. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. Join us at 10am in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

Sunday

• Calling all students and educators for a Back to School Blessing this Sunday! We invite you to bring your backpacks, briefcases, whistles or pencil cases to worship for a prayer of blessing as the school year begins.

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30 am as we partake in communion together! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Please note that because this will be the first Sunday of the month, our kids five years old and up will join us in the sanctuary for service. Our youth are invited to join us for worship and for our regular youth gathering and lunch afterward. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Because our sanctuary does not have air conditioning, we encourage you to bring a water bottle and dress lightly on Sundays for worship service as we continue to have warm weather this summer.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is buyer’s choice.

Next Week

• On Saturday, August 12th, many of you will be attending Snoopy’s memorial service at 10am at Evergreen LA in Rosemead. Due to high attendance, they are capping the number of seats available at 500. If you missed the RSVP, you can still watch the service on the Evergreen YouTube channel: Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles).

• Join us after worship in the Gym next Sunday, August 13th, for an all-church potluck. We will also be saying goodbye to our wonderful summer intern, Riley, as he heads back to Duke Divinity School. Based on your last name, if you’re able, please bring a main dish (A-J), side or salad (K-R), or dessert (S-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your friends here at FBCP. Thanks to our Potluck Volunteer Squad: Berry, Martinez, Chen, and Corlett families before the potluck, and Singleterry, Ige-Hutto, and Ekstrands afterwards. We appreciate your help! If you want to join the working crew, let Pastor Chip know. Thank you for your generosity!

Coming Up

• The group of folks going to Oaxaca in October wants to raise money for their trip and help FBCP recycle while they’re at it! In order to make this happen, we need to see first if we have the people-power to deliver aluminum and plastic (with CRV markings) to a recycling center. Contact Kathy O. if you are able to be a driver once a month. Hopefully the recycling program can continue beyond the Oaxaca trip to support other ministries in the future. If we have enough drivers, THEN we will ask the congregation to start saving items, washing them out, and bringing them to the church lobby on Sundays. Thanks for considering this logistical ask! Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca.

• Join us for fun in the sun! On  Saturday, August 19th, we’ll be hanging out at Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

• Join our 55+ Group for an outing to the Nethercutt Collection on Thursday, August 24th. They will meet at the church to carpool to Sylmar at 8:45am and return after lunch around 2pm. The Nethercutt Collection features a beautiful array of antique cars and musical instruments. Contact Pastor Chip with questions.

• The FBCPride Group invites anyone interested in bowling to join us on Saturday, August 26th, at 11am. Meet in front of Bowlero at the Santa Anita Mall (400 S. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia) at 10:45am so we can figure out how many lanes we need and rent shoes. The cost will be $9.39 per game and $6.00 per person for shoe rental. We are also celebrating Hans’ birthday! Email Sally and Kevin at pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions.

• Our Public Theology Group invites you to join Pasadena Church for a Community Family Reunion at La Pintoresca Park on August 27th from 11am-2pm. We need six volunteers to be trained by Pastor John Jay as the FBCP Snoball Crew as we partner with Pastor Kerwin in spreading love to the Pasadena community. We partnered with Pastor Kerwin three years ago this August after Anthony McClain was tragically shot and killed at La Pintoresca Park. Our pastors and staff spent time in the park with Pasadena Church, prayed for those grieving and handed out snacks to children, so we have a special history of partnership with these friends. Contact Cynthia if you are available to take a two-hour shift (from 10:30am-12:30pm or 12:30pm-2:30pm) and join the community in remembering and celebrating the resilience of this community (and our apologies that attending the first shift will mean missing our FBCP Sunday worship). More details can be found here.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 8/6 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 8/6 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day
8/24 - 55+ Outing to Nethercutt
8/26 - FBCPride Bowling
9/2 - Choir Half-Day Retreat
9/8 - Community Dinners
9/10 - Fall Sunday School Starts
9/10 - Public Theology Meeting

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 07.29.23

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Last week we had so much fun packing supplies with our youth at Friends In Deed on Saturday and then making activity kits for Union Station Homeless Services on Sunday with our kids and youth. It is a blessing to serve and learn across generations, and I am so thankful for our local partners who know best how to serve our neighborhoods and communities. Thank you to all who contributed supplies and to Cynthia for her leadership in local missions. Let's continue to pray for all the kids in our city as they prepare to go back to school.

Youth Hospitality

Tomorrow is a fifth Sunday, which means our youth are invited to be our hospitality team! They'll meet in the lobby outside the Sanctuary at 9:45 and then join the huddle at 10am. Following that, they'll greet people as they come into the Sanctuary and welcome new friends. During service they will collect the offering and then thank people for coming as they leave. It's always a lot of fun to show hospitality to those who come to the service, and we would love to have your son or daughter join us this Sunday. Let Pastor Chip know if they can join us and if you have any questions.

Youth Summer Retreat

We are heading to Ventura August 1-3 for a summer youth retreat! We are so excited visit Henry and the Mattesich family and to meet up with their youth group, too! Please pray for safe travels and a meaningful time of connection and fun with our amazing youth. If you still need to register your youth, you can do so here.

Back-To-School Blessing

We want to invite all of our students and educators to bring your backpacks, briefcases, whistles or pencil cases to worship next Sunday, August 6th. We will share a special blessing for the upcoming school year during service and are grateful that we can mark these transitions together with words of love and encouragement. 

Beach Day

Join us for fun in the sun! On Saturday, August 19th, everyone in the church is invited to Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship. 

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for the start of worship and then will be dismissed to the park so we can stay cool in the shade. They can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, we will continue our exploration of embodied faith with an emphasis on the mouth. We can't wait to have fun and learn with your kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does scripture say about our mouths?

• Why do we value speaking words of blessing in our worship service (like in the benediction, for example)?

• What does the mouth teach us about God?

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! We will gather in the park area, and lunch is included as always. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 07.28.2023

Sunday

• Are you inspired by something that you are reading this summer? Would you like to share it so that others can be blessed? Join Jeannette and Rene for a discussion on summer reading this Sunday from 9-10am in the Parlor. Bring your coffee and a treat to share. Please note that childcare is not available for this one-time event.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Since this is the fifth Sunday of the month, our youth are invited to help out on the Hospitality Team before service. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Because our sanctuary does not have air conditioning, we encourage you to bring a water bottle and dress lightly on Sundays for worship service. Although there are hand fans throughout the sanctuary in the back of the pews, you may also want to bring your own hand fan as the summer heat continues.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is soup/chili/stew.

Coming Up

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his last of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions next Saturday, August 5th. In this session, we will be studying sexuality and healthy ways to embody desire for the sake of love. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. We welcome anyone 14 and older because it is better to learn these practices early. There is a $50 fee (which most have already paid), which goes towards our Deacons Fund to help our church family in need. Please email the office if the cost prohibits your attendance, and we can make other arrangements. Join us at 10am in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

• We want to invite all of our students and educators to bring your backpacks, briefcases, whistles or pencil cases to worship next Sunday, August 6th. We will be sharing a blessing for the upcoming school year during service.

• Join us after worship in the Gym on Sunday, August 13th, for an all-church potluck. We will also be saying goodbye to our wonderful summer intern, Riley, as he heads back to Duke Divinity School. Based on your last name, if you’re able, please bring a main dish (A-J), side or salad (K-R), or dessert (S-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your friends here at FBCP. We are also looking for a few people for our Potluck Volunteer Squad. If you’re able to donate some time either before service or after the potluck, please sign up in the lobby on Sunday or let Pastor Chip know. Thank you for your generosity!

• Join us for fun in the sun! On  Saturday, August 19th, we’ll be hanging out at Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! Let Pastor Chip know if you’re able to bring some firewood to help out with our bonfire. Bring your own food and drinks for the day and a snack to share. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Pastor Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

• Join our 55+ Group for an outing to the Nethercutt Collection on Thursday, August 24th. They will meet at the church to carpool to Sylmar at 8:45am and return after lunch around 2pm. The Nethercutt Collection features a beautiful array of antique cars and musical instruments. Contact Pastor Chip with questions.

• We will be having our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, August 27th, at 12:30 pm in the Southside Room for those who are interested in learning more about our church and/or becoming a member. Pastors John Jay and Chip will go over our history as an American Baptist church and what it means to be part of the FBCP community. Lunch will be provided. Email Pastor Chip for more details.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 8/6 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 8/6 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

7/30 - Summer Book Club
8/1-8/3 - Youth Retreat
8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day
8/24 - 55+ Outing to Nethercutt
8/27 - Basics Class
9/2 - Choir Half-Day Retreat
9/8 - Community Dinners

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

Weekly Updates 07.21.2023

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• Because our sanctuary does not have air conditioning, we encourage you to bring a water bottle and dress lightly on Sundays for worship service. Although there are hand fans throughout the sanctuary in the back of the pews, you may also want to bring your own hand fan as the summer heat continues.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is cereal.

Coming Up

• Summer Reading Check In—Are you inspired by something that you are reading this summer? Would you like to share it so that others can be blessed? Join Jeannette and Rene for a discussion on summer reading on July 30th, from 9-10am in the Parlor. Bring your coffee and a treat to share. Please note that childcare is not available for this one-time event.

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his last of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions on August 5th. In this session, we will be studying sexuality and healthy ways to embody desire for the sake of love. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. We welcome anyone 14 and older because it is better to learn these practices early. There is a $50 fee (which most have already paid), which goes towards our Deacons Fund to help our church family in need. Please email the office if the cost prohibits your attendance, and we can make other arrangements. Join us at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

• Join us in celebrating the life of Sharon "Snoopy" Fong at Evergreen Baptist LA on August 12th at 10am. Please RSVP here (be sure to unclick the “Be notified of other RSVPs” or you’ll get hundreds of emails as others respond). Snoopy and Ken have been part of our church for a few years now, having joined our community after retiring from ministry at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. Snoopy could be found in the choir loft most Sundays, and maintained a strong presence with her long-term small group until her last days. Please keep Ken and their daughter Janessa in your prayers.

• One of our favorite traditions lives on! Join us after worship in the Gym on Sunday, August 13th, for an all-church potluck. We will also be saying goodbye to our wonderful summer intern, Riley, as he heads back to Duke Divinity School. Based on your last name, if you’re able, please bring a main dish (A-J), side or salad (K-R), or dessert (S-Z) of about 10 servings to share with your friends here at FBCP. We are also looking for a few people for our Potluck Volunteer Squad. If you’re able to donate some time either before service or after the potluck, please sign up in the lobby on Sunday or let Pastor Chip know. Thank you for your generosity!

• Beach Day is back! Save the Date for  Saturday, August 19th, from 1-8 pm at Bolsa Chica Beach for games, hanging out, s’mores, and more! Sign-ups will start soon. If you have questions about getting to Bolsa Chica Beach, contact Chip. We can’t wait to hang out with you!

• Some of you may have wondered what happens to the pew card prayer requests, or the prayer requests texted to 626.727.9498. We are happy to share that our team of pastors and staff pray for you (Pastors John Jay, Lindsay, Chip, Leslie and Mary, along with support staff Cynthia, Marcie and Sally) along with our Deacon Board (Bill, Brian, Jason, Judy, Rich, Saskia, and Vivian) and the Prayer Team (Alex, Bill, Brandon, Bunny, Cindie, Cindy, Galvin, Gretchen, Jason, Jeannette, Jon, Kris, Mary, Natalee and Tyler). If you prefer your request to be met with a less generous amount of prayer, we understand that, too. Please simply write “confidential” on the pew card or text, and we will limit those requests to the staff. Thank you!

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 7/23 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 7/23 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

7/30 - Summer Book Club
8/1-8/3 - Youth Retreat
8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day
8/24 - 55+ Outing to Nethercutt
8/27 - Basics Class
9/2 - Choir Half-Day Retreat

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 07.21.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This weekend is a big one for both kids and youth! On Saturday morning, our youth will gather at Friends In Deed to help pack and organize all the supplies from the Back to School Drive they just completed. Then on Sunday, we will acknowledge those kids who are promoting up to youth during worship. After a time of blessing over our new youth, all the youth and kids will be dismissed together to join hands in packing activity kits for the kids of families at Union Station Homeless Services. It will be a beautiful time for them to have fun together like we did during camp and serve the Pasadena community. We'll gather in the church park area, so parents can pick their kids up in the park after worship. Our youth will remain in the park for our regular youth gathering and lunch.

We still need things like packs of markers, notepads, stickers, mini playdough cans, and other items that would be fun for kids to play with or use to do art during down time. If you would like to contribute, please bring all items to the desk in the lobby before worship starts. Thanks for being such a generous church family!

Youth at Friends In Deed

Tomorrow (Saturday) our youth will be packing supplies at Friends In Deed from 9:00-11:30 AM. We’ll have breakfast burritos and donuts, and it's always a great time to hang with Tim at their food pantry while serving our local community. They are located at 444 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104. See you there!

Youth Summer Retreat

We are planning a trip up to Ventura August 1-3 for a summer youth retreat. We are hoping to visit Henry and the Mattesich family and meet up with their youth group, too! More details will be coming soon, so let us know if your youth is interested. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship. 

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 sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, as mentioned above, our kids and youth will be packing activity kits in the park. It's going to be a great Sunday together!

You may also want to continue talking at home about our series on embodied faith. This week our focus is on the ears. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• How do our phones and devices affect our ability to listen well?

• How is listening an act of hospitality? 

• When have you felt like someone really listened to you? How can we listen more fully to others?

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! We will gather in the park area, and lunch is included as always. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

FBCP Families | 07.15.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I can't wait to see you all on Sunday after being gone for two weeks! I have been thinking about our families with young kids who also may be traveling or doing a lot of fun and special activities this summer. I know it can be hard to get rest in the midst of what can ironically become such a busy season. I pray that each of you may have moments that feel restful this summer, even in the midst of all the fun. This article includes some good reminders about summer rest and some resources at the end if you are feeling like you need some help slowing down. May we respond to God's invitation to find healthy rhythms of rest, play, and work this summer!

In case you missed last week's email, here are some updates on ways to bless others and our upcoming youth events:

Two Opportunities to Bless Kids in Pasadena

We have two local partners that both serve families in our city, and we are collecting supplies for both over the next two weeks. Read on for more details and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for being a generous community!

• Friends In Deed Back-To-School Drive: Tomorrow is the last day to bring donations for the annual Friends In Deed School Supply Drive. The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list can be found here. They need more supplies for upper grades (6th-12th) than for lower grades. If you want to donate money, you can do so here (select “Friends In Deed”).

• Union Station Homeless Services: We are collecting items to put together some activity kits for the kids of families at Union Station Homeless Services. We need things like packs of markers, notepads, stickers, mini playdough cans, and other items that would be fun for kids to play with or use to do art during down time. Our kids began collecting for this during our kids camp, and we will assemble them with the kids and youth on Sunday, July 23. 

Youth Summer Happenings

• Monday, July 17: We have been offered to hang out at the home of Kara and Dave Powell. They have an awesome space for youth with a pool, basketball hoop, and volleyball net. We will hang out from 12-4 PM that afternoon, and lunch will be served (of course!). We'll also have fun things for youth whose favorite things are not sports. Email Pastor Lindsay if you still need their address.

• Saturday, July 22: Each year our congregation collects school supplies for Friends In Deed, and the last two years our youth have helped to organize and get them ready for the families to come and select what they need. This year our youth will be packing supplies at Friends In Deed from 9:00-11:30 AM. We bring breakfast burritos, and it's always a great time to hang with Tim at their food pantry while serving our local community.

• August 1-3: We are planning a trip up to Ventura for two nights for a summer youth retreat. We are hoping to visit Henry and the Mattesich family and meet up with their youth group, too!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship. 

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 sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, in line with the rest of the congregation, we will continue our series exploring what it means to live our faith fully embodied. Our focus this week is on body awareness and exploring how Jesus cared for people's bodies in scripture. We can't wait to learn and grow with your kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What parts of your body are you most aware of on a daily basis? What parts do you tend to ignore? 

• What do the needs we experience in our bodies tell us about God and our relationship to God?

• How does Jesus demonstrate that our whole selves—our bodies included—matter? 

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! I can’t wait to see our youth and hear all their summer updates. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 07.14.2023

Tomorrow

• The FBCPride Group invites everyone who likes to hike to join us at Eaton Canyon on Saturday, July 15th. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you plan to attend. We changed the time to 8am (due to the heat) in front of the Nature Center. Bring sunscreen, water, shoes with good grip (they are likely to get wet!), and snacks. Email Justine with any questions.

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• We will be collecting donations for Friends In Deed’s School Supply Drive thru this Sunday, July 16th. If you would like to help out, here are some things to consider:

  • Please avoid all red and all blue backpacks.

  • The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list can be found here.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is baking supplies.

Coming Up

• The youth have an opportunity to hang out for a fun afternoon of swimming and other activities at one of our church families’ homes on Monday, July 17th, from 12-4pm. Lunch will be served. We'll have a variety of activities—something for everyone! Email Pastor Lindsay for more information.

• Some of you may have wondered what happens to the pew card prayer requests, or the prayer requests texted to 626.727.9498. We are happy to share that our team of pastors and staff pray for you (Pastors John Jay, Lindsay, Chip, Leslie and Mary, along with support staff Cynthia, Marcie and Sally) along with our Deacon Board (Bill, Brian, Jason, Judy, Rich, Saskia, and Vivian) and the Prayer Team (Alex, Bill, Brandon, Bunny, Cindie, Cindy, Galvin, Gretchen, Jason, Jeannette, Jon, Kris, Mary, Natalee and Tyler). If you prefer your request to be met with a less generous amount of prayer, we understand that, too. Please simply write “confidential” on the pew card or text, and we will limit those requests to the staff. Thank you!

• Join us in celebrating the life of Sharon "Snoopy" Fong at Evergreen Baptist LA on August 12th at 10am. Please RSVP here. Snoopy and Ken have been part of our church for a few years now, having joined our community after retiring from ministry at Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. Snoopy could be found in the choir loft most Sundays, and maintained a strong presence with her long-term small group until her last days. She lost her battle with cancer on July 2nd and we ask that you keep Ken and their daughter Janessa in your prayers.

• Because our sanctuary does not have air conditioning, we encourage you to bring a water bottle and dress lightly on Sundays for worship service. Although there are hand fans throughout the sanctuary in the back of the pews, you may also want to bring your own hand fan as the summer heat continues.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 7/23 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 7/23 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

FID Backpack Drive (now thru 7/16)
7/15 - FBCPride Summer Hike Social
7/17 - Youth Hangout
8/1-8/3 - Youth Retreat
8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 07.08.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This week I am in North Carolina with Gavin's family. It's been a sweet time to see Brody and Emma Kate with their grandparents, great grandparents, and cousins. We are grateful that we get to spend time at the beach, too! I will miss you again this Sunday but look forward to seeing you the following week. If you also have some family trips or even just more leisurely dinners this summer, you might want to check out some of the family discussion ideas on this resource. It has some fun questions to keep on hand if you are looking for ways to foster deeper conversations as a family. I know some of you will be out of town over the next few weeks, and I am praying for safe travels and meaningful memories. 

Two Opportunities to Bless Kids in Pasadena

We have two local partners that both serve families in our city, and we are collecting supplies for both over the next two weeks. Read on for more details and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for being a generous community!

• Friends In Deed Back-To-School Drive: We will be collecting donations for Friends In Deed’s School Supply Drive from July 2nd-16th or taking donation money until July 9th for Shawn Mann to purchase supplies. The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list can be found here. They need more supplies for upper grades (6th-12th) than for lower grades. If you want to donate money, you can do so here (select “Friends In Deed”).

• Union Station Homeless Services: We are collecting items to put together some activity kits for the kids of families at Union Station Homeless Services, where our own Cynthia Kirby serves on the board. We need things like packs of markers, notepads, stickers, mini playdough cans, and other items that would be fun for kids to play with or use to do art during down time. Our kids began collecting for this during our kids camp, and we will assemble them with the kids and youth on Sunday, July 23. 

Youth Summer Happenings

• Monday, July 17: We have been offered to hang out at the home of Kara and Dave Powell. They have an awesome space for youth with a pool, basketball hoop, and volleyball net. We will hang out from 12-4 PM that afternoon, and lunch will be served (of course!). We'll also have fun things for youth whose favorite things are not sports.

• Saturday, July 22: Each year our congregation collects school supplies for Friends In Deed, and the last two years our youth have helped to organize and get them ready for the families to come and select what they need. This year our youth will be packing supplies at Friends In Deed from 9:00-11:30 AM. We bring breakfast burritos, and it's always a great time to hang with Tim at their food pantry while serving our local community.

• August 1-3: We are planning a trip up to Ventura for two nights for a summer youth retreat. We are hoping to visit Henry and the Mattesich family and meet up with their youth group, too!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM so parents can head to the sanctuary for worship. 

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 sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, in line with the rest of the congregation, we will continue our series exploring what it means to live our faith fully embodied. Our focus this week is on seeing the face of God in others, so we can't wait to see your precious kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does it mean to see the face of God in one another?

• How does the story in Genesis 33 help us to understand how seeing God in each other relates to forgiveness and reconciliation?

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! Jensen and Nicole  will be there to lead the time with our youth in my absence. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 07.07.2023

Tomorrow

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his second of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions on July 8th. In this session, we will be studying grief and pain and healthy ways to process and heal. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. We welcome anyone 14 and older because it is better to learn these practices early. There is a $50 fee which goes towards our Deacons Fund to help our church family in need. Please email the office if the cost prohibits your attendance, and we can make other arrangements. Join us at 10am in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

Sunday

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• We will be collecting donations for Friends In Deed’s School Supply Drive from July 2nd-16th or taking donation money until July 9th for Shawn Mann to purchase supplies. If you would like to help out, here are some things to consider:

  • Please avoid all red and all blue backpacks. This is very important to Friends In Deed. Backpacks should be sturdy enough to handle the rigors of a student's day.

  • The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list can be found here.

  • They need more supplies for upper grades (6th-12th) than for lower grades.

  • If you want to donate money, you can do so here (select “Friends In Deed”).

• This Sunday after worship the Yarn Crafts Group will continue working on charity projects among other personal projects. They have multiple options for a variety of skill levels:

  Advanced: Surrogate bird moms (crochet), Knitted knockers (knit or crochet)

  Intermediate: Chemo caps for adults (knit), Preemie hats for babies (knit)

  Beginner: Blanket squares (knit or crochet)

  Snacks will be provided (fruit, cheese, crackers, granola bars). Bring your own water bottle!

• Dribble with us tonight at our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7pm in the Gym. Jason C. invites all ages to play with a generous noncompetitive spirit. Email Misterjchen@gmail.com if you have questions.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is pasta and pasta sauce.

Coming Up

• We are having a Church Gardening Day! The Public Theology group invites the entire church to cultivate our garden beds and get them ready to grow produce that we plan to donate to local food banks. Join us Tuesday, July 11th, at 9am in the Courtyard and text “garden” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. We hope to get a group of gardeners on a rotation schedule to care for our new plants, and we have a great opportunity to learn from our summer intern and experienced gardener, Riley.

• Our weekly Bible study is back to our regular schedule after a three-week summer break. Pastor Chip and our summer intern, Riley, will co-lead the next several sessions and we hope you can join them for a lively discussion. Feel free to pop in whenever your schedule allows, and we will read scripture together during the study so you do not need to prepare ahead of time. Join us on Thursdays in the Parlor at 12pm and feel free to bring your lunch. The next study is on July 13th. We are less without you as we study God’s word.

• The FBCPride Group invites everyone who likes to hike to join us at Eaton Canyon on Saturday, July 15th. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you plan to attend. We’ll meet at 8:45am in front of the Nature Center. Bring sunscreen, water, shoes with good grip (they are likely to get wet!), and snacks. Email Justine with any questions.

• The youth have the opportunity to hang out for a fun afternoon of swimming and other activities at one of our church families’ homes on Monday, July 17th, from 12-4pm. Lunch will be served. We'll have a variety of activities—something for everyone! Email Pastor Lindsay for more information.

• An Update on Oppenheimer – We were looking forward to scheduling a church-wide screening of the movie Oppenheimer, which was filmed, in part, here at FBCP. Unfortunately, it is not possible to schedule a screening. We ran into issues with times (one location offered us a theater at 8am on a Friday), capacity and location. In addition, this film features mature themes that might not be suitable to a wide range of family members. We’ll plan another movie outing in the future.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | This Sunday in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | This Sunday in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

FID Backpack Drive (now thru 7/16)
7/8 - Healing the Masculine #2
7/15 - FBCPride Summer Hike Social
7/17 - Youth Hangout
8/1-8/3 - Youth Retreat
8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - Sharon “Snoopy” Fong’s Memorial Service
8/13 - Church Potluck/Riley’s Last Day
8/19 - Church Beach Day

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 07.01.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I am officiating the wedding of a dear friend this weekend, so I will miss worshiping with you tomorrow. I know it will be a beautiful time of communion with our kids as you gather on this first Sunday of July. I pray that your families receive the rest and time for play that is possible during summer. 

Youth Hangout

We are so excited to hang out with our youth at the home of Kara and Dave Powell on Monday, July 17, from 12-4 PM. We'll grill out and enjoy their pool, basketball hoop,  and volleyball net along with other non-sports options. Youth and their friends are welcome to join us! I will email youth parents the address. If your youth needs a ride, please let me know. 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:20 AM.

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!). We will continue with our series on embodiment, and I encourage you to talk with your kids about how their bodies are wonderfully made by God to experience life fully.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What part of worship was most memorable for you this week? What made it stand out to you?

• If compassion is one of God's greatest names or attributes, how does that help us to trust in God?

YOUTH

We are excited to have our regular youth gathering after worship this week! Pastor Chip will be there to lead the time with our youth in my absence. Parents can pick up their youth at the park gate on Union Street at 1:30 PM. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 06.30.2023

Sunday

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30 am as we partake in communion together! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Please note that because this will be the first Sunday of the month, our kids five years old and up will join us in the sanctuary for service and a special time of singing with the choir. Our youth are invited to join us for worship and for our regular youth gathering and lunch afterward. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• We will be collecting donations for Friends In Deed’s School Supply Drive starting this Sunday, July 2nd. You can bring supplies from July 2nd-16th or donate money by July 9th for Shawn Mann to purchase supplies. If you would like to help out, here are some things to consider:

  • Please avoid all red and all blue backpacks. This is very important to Friends In Deed.

  • Backpacks should be sturdy enough to handle the rigors of a student's day and the crazy amount of books they heft around, especially for our high school students.

  • The supplies needed are recommended by the Pasadena/Altadena area schools and the list can be found here.

  • They need more supplies for upper grades (6th-12th) than for lower grades.

  • If you want to donate money, you can do so here (select “Friends In Deed”).

• Join us this Sunday, July 2nd, after worship service for a 20-minute prayer circle to pray for our global partners Mel Baggao (Lebanon) and Kit Ripley (Thailand). We’ll meet in the Parlor.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is rice.

Coming Up

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his second of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions on July 8th. In this session, we will be studying grief and pain and healthy ways to process and heal. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. We welcome anyone 14 and older because it is better to learn these practices early. There is a $50 fee which goes towards our Deacons Fund to help our church family in need. Please email the office if the cost prohibits your attendance, and we can make other arrangements. Join us at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

• On Sunday after worship, July 9th, the Yarn Crafts Group will continue working on charity projects among other personal projects. They have multiple options for a variety of skill levels:

  Advanced: Surrogate bird moms (crochet), Knitted knockers (knit or crochet)

  Intermediate: Chemo caps for adults (knit), Preemie hats for babies (knit)

  Beginner: Blanket squares (knit or crochet)

  Snacks will be provided (fruit, cheese, crackers, granola bars). Bring your own water bottle!

• Dribble with us next Sunday, July 9th, with our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7pm in the Gym. Headed by Jason C, this team is for everyone who loves the game but isn’t fresh off the college bench. Email Misterjchen@gmail.com if you have questions.

• The FBCPride Group invites everyone who likes to hike to join us at Eaton Canyon on Saturday, July 15th. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you plan to attend. We’ll meet at 8:45am in front of the Nature Center. Bring sunscreen, water, shoes with good grip (they are likely to get wet!), and snacks. Email Justine with any questions.

• On June 6, the vast and strategic Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine was breached, threatening hundreds of thousands of people across the region and potentially endangering Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Water surged from the dam, unleashing flooding across the region, endangering around eighty settlements, sparking thousands of evacuations, and triggering warnings of an ecological disaster. The devastation unleashed in the breaching of the Kakhovka dam means that American Baptist Ukrainian partners are beginning again with addressing basic humanitarian needs of shelter, food, and water. Additional relief is urgently needed, and you can support relief efforts online at fbcpasadena.com/giving. Please select "One Great Hour of Sharing" from the drop down menu.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Noon Bible Study | Resumes at noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 7/9 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 7/9 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

7/2 - FID Backpack Drive (thru 7/16)
7/2 - Prayer for Global Servants
7/4 - 4th of July | Office Closed
7/8 - Healing the Masculine #2
7/15 - FBCPride Summer Hike Social
7/17 - Youth Hangout
7/21 - Movie Outing: Oppenheimer
8/5 - Healing the Masculine #3
8/12 - All-Church Beach Social

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

FBCP Families | 06.24.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Kids Camp was a total blast! We explored the transforming power of light and the beautiful ways we were created to shine with God's light, too. We celebrated Juneteenth, did a drum circle, learned some sign language, sang songs, ate delicious snacks, took light photos, planted a church garden, made tree journals, played glow-in-the-dark capture the flag, completed LEGO challenges, hiked a trail by JPL, and used yoga poses to explore our daily themes. We even had puppets visit us! It was total intergenerational fun with our staff, adult volunteers, and youth leaders. Thanks to everyone who made this year such a delight. We love camp!

This Sunday our kids from camp will get to lead two songs in worship. Parents, please bring your kids to the sanctuary at 9:30 AM so we can run through the songs one last time with them. We'll have breakfast treats for parents in the courtyard so that you can also have time to connect and hang out that morning. Yay for kids leading in worship!

Youth Summer Events

Youth parents, keep an eye out for an email with some upcoming events for our youth. Mark your calendars for Monday, July 17, and August 1-4. We are planning some fun hangouts and a potential summer trip for a couple of nights in that first week of August. We'll also be sending out information to our rising youth about when they will make that transition and how we will honor them in worship. Thanks to our amazing youth families for all the ways you bless our larger church community!

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service. 

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. All our kids from camp will begin service in the front two rows. Those who couldn’t make it to camp can begin service with their families or sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week we will continue our series exploring what it means to live our faith fully embodied and share some more ideas about how we can be light in the world. We'll also celebrate June birthdays. We can't wait to see your precious kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What can our desires teach us about God, our creator?

• How can taking a deep breath, eating, and singing be sacred things to do?

YOUTH

This week we are back on for our regular youth programming! Parents can pick up their youth at 1:30 down in the park. Lunch will be provided as always.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 06.23.2023

Tonight

• We hope those going to the Dodgers vs. Astros Game will enjoy a fun, safe outing tonight, and Go Dodgers! Meet Pastor Chip at the Metro across the street from the church at 5:15pm, or meet at the game at 7pm. Email Pastor Chip with any last-minute questions.

Tomorrow

• All are invited to join us for a special service of blessing and sending for the Mattesich family on June 24th at 5:00pm in the Sanctuary. Jeff, Jenny, Henry, and Russell have been a blessing to our church family these past months, and we are grateful to have a time to honor and bless them as they prepare to move to Ventura where Jeff has accepted a lead pastor position. Thank you for praying for this beloved family as they begin a new season. Email the office with any questions.

• You are invited to stop by the Pasadena Pride event in front of Pasadena City Hall tomorrow between 6-9pm! Help us show our community that we know how to love at FBCP! We will give out bracelets, flyers and candy while we work on making a giant rainbow heart out of post-it notes. Also, to purchase the adorable rainbow balloon shirts you may have seen, click this link to donate $25 if you would like one! We have S, M and L sizes left and proceeds go to help Rainbow Railroad, which helps LGBTQ+ individuals get to safety around the world.

Sunday

• Spring Sunday School classes finish up this Sunday, June 25th. Thank you to Rene, Jerry and Gaby for three wonderful classes!

• Join us at 10:30 a.m. for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. Kids from camp will sit together in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to join us for our regular lunch and fellowship after service. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• This Sunday, June 25th, after worship, the public theology group will host an end-of-the-year wrap-up party. We’ll celebrate our victories, look toward what the future will hold in the fall and beyond, and spend time in fellowship with one another practicing all we’ve learned this year about sharing our stories.

• We hope you can join the FBCPride Group to wrap up our first year of monthly Pride meetings on Sunday, June 25th, from 5-6:30pm. We’ll have a potluck, games and prizes. You won’t want to miss, and we encourage you to wear your most colorful outfit or the new FBCPride t-shirt!

• Dribble with us this Sunday, June 25th, with our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7pm in the Gym. Headed by Jason C, this team is for everyone who loves the game but isn’t fresh off the college bench. Email Misterjchen@gmail.com if you have questions.

• Also at 7pm this Sunday, we invite you to listen to beautiful classical music played by the Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra in the Sanctuary. Our talented friend and cellist Nat Yue will be featured as a soloist in a performance of the Dvořák cello concerto. More information can be found here. You won’t want to miss!

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is peanut butter (or any kind of nut butter).

• On June 6, the vast and strategic Kakhovka dam on the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine was breached, threatening hundreds of thousands of people across the region and potentially endangering Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Water surged from the dam, unleashing flooding across the region, endangering around eighty settlements, sparking thousands of evacuations, and triggering warnings of an ecological disaster. The devastation unleashed in the breaching of the Kakhovka dam means that American Baptist Ukrainian partners are beginning again with addressing basic humanitarian needs of shelter, food, and water. Additional relief is urgently needed, and you can support relief efforts online at fbcpasadena.com/giving. Please select "One Great Hour of Sharing" from the drop down menu.

Next Week

• The FBCP Foundation is a separate entity established in 1958 by members committed to contributing financially to the church in the present and future years. Each year the Foundation has some funds set aside to disburse to FBCP members for post-secondary educational scholarships. Members interested in applying for the 2023-24 academic year can apply here. Due this Monday, June 26.

• We hope everyone ages 55+ can join us next Wednesday, June 28th, at 12:30 p.m. for a potluck lunch in the Southside Room! It will be great to continue getting to know one another. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

Coming Up

• Join us on Sunday, July 2nd, after worship service for a 20-minute prayer circle to pray for our global partners Mel Baggao (Lebanon) and Kit Ripley (Thailand). We’ll meet in the Parlor.

• Pastor John Jay will be leading his second of three “Healing the Masculine” sessions on July 8th. In this session, we will be studying grief and pain and healthy ways to process these emotions. This work is not limited to men, but it is geared toward people exploring the masculine side of their humanity. We welcome anyone 14 and older because it is better to learn these practices early. There is a $50 fee which goes towards our Deacons Fund to help our church family in need. Please email the office if the cost prohibits your attendance, and we can make other arrangements. Join us at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. Sign-up and payment information is found on the link above.

• Save the Date for Saturday, July 15th, for an FBCPride group hike. FBCPride members, friends and families are welcome. Details to come!

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Spring Sunday School | Last class 6/25 at 9am

• Thursday Noon Bible Study | On break until 7/6

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 6/25 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 6/25 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

6/25 - Public Theology Meeting
6/25 - FBCPride Party
6/25 - Orchestra Concert
6/26 - Foundation Scholarship Deadline
6/28 - Senior Lunch
7/2 - Prayer for Global Servants
7/8 - Healing the Masculine #2
7/15 - FBCPride Summer Hike Social
7/21 - Movie Outing: Oppenheimer
7/26 - Senior Lunch
8/3 - Healing the Masculine #3

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community

Kids Camp

Dear Families,

We are so excited to spend this coming week with your kids! This year's camp is all about light—why God made it, what it can do, and why Christ is called the light of the world. It turns out that light is pretty amazing, so we can't wait to explore it with your amazing kids. There will be delicious snacks, super fun adults and youth leaders, and lights galore. We pray that we finish next week understanding what it means to let our light shine bright!

Here are some things to know as you prepare for the week:

Online Medical Release Form

We are committed to providing a fun and safe environment for your kids. In order to do so, we need you to complete this online form for each of your campers. Please make sure you complete the waiver before Monday morning. Thanks!

Schedule

Each day camp officially starts at 9 AM with our opening praise and learning session. You are welcome to drop your child off anytime between 8:40 and 9:00 AM. Those who arrive early can play together while we wait for the opening session to start. We'll also have some morning snacks available to get our campers going. Camp ends at 12:15 PM each day.

Check-In and Check-Out

Campers will need to be checked in each morning at the entrance to the park. You can enter off the Union Street side of the church. We'll also confirm each day who will be picking up your child so we make sure everyone gets home safely.

Thursday Excursion

Everyday at camp will be an adventure, but on Thursday we will head out on an en-lightenting excursion! We will still meet at church at our regular time for our praise session. Then we'll pack some snacks and get ready for the day together. We will head out to some nearby nature spots and return at noon. If you have any questions or concerns about our Thursday plan, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Kid Activity Kits for Union Station

As we explore God's invitation to be light in the world, we are inviting campers to help bless the families at Union Station Homeless Services by making activity kits for kids. On Monday we will explain this to the kids and send a sign-up sheet so you can volunteer to bring different items as you are able. We will assemble on Friday, so if you could drop off your items by Thursday, that would be awesome. We encourage you to have your kids help you shop and consider what they would want to use to be creative and have fun. Thank you for helping us spread some light with these kits! 

That's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates during camp, but let me know if you have any questions in the meantime. Thank you for allowing us to spend the week with your kids. We love you!

With great joy and anticipation,

Pastors Lindsay and Mary

FBCP Families | 06.17.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Kids camp starts Monday, and we are so pumped to explore light in all its forms with our kids. Thank you to all our volunteers who have signed up to learn and play alongside our kids. It's going to be an awesome week together, and we welcome your prayers for a fun week encountering the light of Christ! Parents, keep an eye out for a special camp email coming today with final details and information as you prepare for Monday.

During camp our kids will be learning two worship songs. The Sunday after camp, June 25th, our kids will get to lead those songs in worship with the congregation. Parents, please bring your kids to the sanctuary at 9:30 AM that morning. We'll have breakfast treats for parents in the courtyard so that you can also have time to connect and hang out that morning. Yay for kids leading in worship!

Celebrate Juneteenth

The City of Pasadena is hosting a celebration of Juneteenth from 11am-3pm at Robinson Park in Pasadena today. Join the community in celebrating the achievements of our African American friends and family. This family friendly event will include music, arts and crafts and food for purchase. See this flyer for more details.

Celebrate Octavia Butler

Today at La Pintoresca Public Library from 1-2 PM, you and your families can discover Octavia Butler's books, life and legacy, and passion for libraries. Be the first to see La Pintoresca's newest portrait, commissioned by our La Pintoresca Library Associates, honoring our neighborhood's homegrown heroine, the Grand Dame of Science Fiction! Refreshments will be provided. See flyer below for more information.

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 8:50 AM for those who are attending Sunday School before service. 

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 sit with Pastor Mary and me in the front pews. This week, in line with the rest of the congregation, we will continue our series exploring what it means to live our faith fully embodied. We'll also have time to create something special for the father figures in our lives. We can't wait to see your precious kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does it mean to love God with all your heart?

• What do you appreciate about the father figure(s) in your life?

YOUTH

This week our youth will be off so they can spend time with their families on Father's Day. I apologize for missing that in last week's email. We will be back on for our regular youth programming on Sunday, June 25th. Thanks to all the youth who will join us at camp as leaders!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 06.16.2023

Tomorrow

• All women and girls are invited to our Women’s Brunch tomorrow, June 17th, from 10am-12pm in the Southside Room! It will be a time to share a delicious meal, get to know some awesome ladies, and hear our speaker Gaby Martinez’s story of faith. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

• The City of Pasadena is hosting a celebration of Juneteenth from 11am-3pm at Robinson Park in Pasadena tomorrow. Join the community in celebrating the achievements of our African American friends and family. This family friendly event will include music, arts and crafts and food for purchase. See this flyer for more details.

Sunday

• Spring Sunday School classes continue on Sundays at 9am for two more Sundays. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

  1. Spiritual Values in Literature: Gilead by Rene Scheys (Parlor)

  2. Spiritual Growth by Jerry Brown (Southside Room)

  3. Emotion Management by Gaby Martinez (Room 211)

• We invite all men to enjoy a five-minute complimentary massage this Sunday. Massage chairs will be set up in the back of the sanctuary and will be available throughout the service.

• Join us at 10:30 a.m. for worship in the sanctuary! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old and up can join us for the first part of worship and then will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. They can sit with their parents or join us in the front rows at the start of service. Our youth are invited to spend extra time with families in honor of Father’s Day, and we will resume our regular lunch and fellowship next Sunday. The Prayer team will be available at the front of the sanctuary toward the end of the service to pray with those who would like to receive prayer.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is Fruit & Vegetable Juice.

Coming Up

• Kids Camp starts Monday and goes through Friday, from 9am-12pm. We are so excited and ask you to keep us in your prayers.  Email Pastor Lindsay with anything related to Kids Camp.

• LA Voice would like to invite you into a deeper understanding of the systemic issues that undergird our community organizing efforts through their summer formation series. The next one is on June 21st for those who are interested.

• Last chance to join us for the Dodgers vs the Astros game next Friday, June 23rd at 7pm. As of today only 6 tickets left! You can drive and meet us at the game or join a group of us gathering at the church at 5:30pm to ride the metro train in together. Email Pastor Chip if cost is a concern or if you have any questions. Text the word "Dodgers" to 626.727.9498 for info on how to sign up.

• All are invited to join us for a special service of blessing and sending for the Mattesich family on June 24th at 5:00pm in the Sanctuary. Jeff, Jenny, Henry, and Russell have been a blessing to our church family these past months, and we are grateful to have a time to honor and bless them as they prepare to move to Ventura where Jeff has accepted a lead pastor position. Thank you for praying for this beloved family as they begin a new season. Email the office with any questions.

• We’ll have a FBCPride Group booth outside Pasadena City Hall at the Pasadena’s Pride month celebration event on June 24th from 6-9pm. Stop by our booth and say hi, and help us create a huge rainbow heart with post-it notes!

• On June 25th after worship, the public theology group will host an end-of-the-year wrap-up party. We’ll celebrate our victories, look toward what the future will hold in the fall and beyond, and spend time in fellowship with one another, practicing all we’ve learned this year about sharing our stories.

• We hope you can join the FBCPride Group to wrap up our first year of monthly Pride meetings on Sunday, June 25th, from 5-6:30pm. We’ll have a potluck, games and prizes. You won’t want to miss!

• Dribble with us next Sunday, June 25th, with our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7 p.m. in the Gym. Headed by Jason C, this team is for everyone who loves the game but isn’t fresh off the college bench. Email Misterjchen@gmail.com if you have questions.

• The FBCP Foundation is a separate entity established in 1958 by members committed to contributing financially to the church in the present and future years. Each year the Foundation has some funds set aside to disburse to FBCP members for post-secondary educational scholarships. Members interested in applying for the 2023-24 academic year can apply here. Due June 26.

• We hope everyone ages 55+ can join us on Wednesday, June 28th, at 12:30 p.m. for a potluck lunch in the Southside Room! It will be great to continue getting to know one another.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Spring Sunday School | Weekly at 9am thru 6/25

• Thursday Noon Bible Study | On break until 7/6

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 6/25 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 6/25 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

6/17 - Women’s Brunch
6/18 - Father’s Day (Massage!)
6/19 - Kids Camp (thru 6/23)
6/23 - Dodgers Game
6/24 - Mattesich Blessing Service
6/25 - Public Theology Meeting
6/25 - FBCPride Party
6/26 - Foundation Scholarship Deadline
6/28 - Senior Lunch
7/2 - Prayer for Global Servants
7/8 - Healing the Masculine #2
7/15 - FBCPride Summer Hike Social
7/21 - Movie Outing: Oppenheimer

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

Less without you,

The FBCP Community