Weekly Updates 09.22.2023

Sunday

• Fall Sunday School is underway for eight more weeks, Sundays at 9am. Rene’s class, Spiritual Values in Literature: The Ninth Hour (books provided), meets in the Parlor. Jeannette’s class, Paul Pastors from Prison, meets in Room 211. Jason’s class, Sin & Redemption in Four Films, meets in the Southside Room (he requests that you try to watch No Country For Old Men before this Sunday’s class). To read more about the classes and sign up, click here, or feel free to just show up!

• 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 lunch after service, and this week they will be assisting with a special project in the sanctuary until 1:30pm. 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 baking supplies (small bags of flour, sugar, etc).

• Check out this week’s scripture audio on our Listen page.

Prayer Retreat

• Join us next Saturday, September 30th, for our Prayer Retreat, from 9am-4pm at FBCP. We are so excited to have a time of reflection and prayer practices, which will range from praying with music to praying through our breath. Register here today to secure your spot. $10 covers the cost of lunch (but let us know if you’d like it waived). You won’t want to miss this meaningful time together. (If you have already registered, make sure you have selected your preferred breakout sessions here. Thanks!)

Coming Up

• Join us for our FBCP Basics Class after worship a week from Sunday, on October 1st, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room. This is a time for those who are interested in learning more about our church and/or membership. Pastors John Jay and Chip will go over our history as an American Baptist church and what it means for us. Lunch will be provided. Text “basics” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email Pastor Chip for more details.

• We are planning a time for men’s fellowship on Saturday, October 7th, at 9am in the Park off Union St. Our quarterly Men’s Breakfast always turns out to be a great time, sharing a meal and hearing a story of faith. Faith and food—win win!

• Our Public Theology Group will meet Sunday, October 8th, after worship. To learn more about FBCP’s thoughts on local outreach and politics, read more here. Lunch will be provided in the Southside Room. Text “local” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. Email Pastor Lindsay if you have any food restrictions, please.

• Join us after worship in the Gym on Sunday, October 15th, for an all-church potluck. Based on your last name, if you’re able, please bring a side dish (A-I), dessert (J-N), or main dish (O-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!

Other

• Thank you to those who have contributed to our recycling drive! Please continue to bring aluminum and plastic with CRV markings through October 15. Please wash them out and do not remove labels. No glass. (If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip.’) Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca, and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling. Thank you!

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 10/8 in the Southside Room

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 10/1 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

9/30 - Prayer Retreat
10/1 - FBCP Basics
10/7 - Men’s Breakfast
10/8 - Public Theology Meeting
10/15 - Potluck
10/22 - FBCPride Group Meeting
10/28 - Women’s Brunch
11/5 - Town Hall
11/12 - Public Theology Meeting
11/12 - 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 | 09.16.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

As we continue with our series on prayer, we are excited to spend time exploring creative ways to pray with your kids. Last week they looked at singing as prayer, and if your family is like mine, then singing and dancing are features of our time playing at home. I love the way our everyday routines are also holy opportunities to experience God's joy and presence. I came across a version of the nightly examen prayer in Richard Rohr's weekly email and thought I would share it here as another prayer practice you might engage with, as a family or individually (you can find it toward the bottom of the page). It's a simple but profound practice to review your day and invite God to show you what you might have missed in some of the seemingly mundane moments. May we be encouraged to become a people who pray without ceasing.

Peaceful Parenting Discussion

Our own Iris Chen will be hosting a parent discussion at Crowell Public Library in San Marino on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm. She'll be talking about recognizing the stress, pressure, and negative outcomes of traditional definitions of success and cultivating a new mindset towards success that is rooted in connection, competence, choice, and consent. We are so thankful for her work in parenting and the wisdom she has to share! You can check out more information here.

Parent Webinar on Child Anxiety

On Wednesday, September 20th, at 12pm our own Allyson Self-Stoico will be part of a free webinar for parents around the topic of child and teen anxiety. As a leading pediatrician, she will offer some tips for helping your child navigate worry and understanding the kinds of support that could help with anxiety. The event is being hosted by the Institute for Girls Development, where our own Grace Goodman works. You can find out more and register for this free event here. 

We are so thankful for the wisdom and expertise in our 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 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. If they are coming early with parents who are in a Sunday School class, they can be dropped off upstairs at 8:50 AM.  This week we will continue to explore prayer with our kids with a focus on counting as a form of prayer. We'll look at the things Jesus counted and what we would be wise not to count. Cynthia will also be teaching our kids a song for the Lord's Prayer, which will be a wonderful way for our kids to know those words by heart. We hope that families will spend time talking about prayer at home and all the ways we were created to communicate with God, both in speaking to God and in listening to God's voice in our lives. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are ten things you are thankful for today? 

• Is there anyone you need help to forgive? Start by asking God to help you forgive that person—then see where that prayer takes you.

• Choose three people to pray for as a family, and commit to pray for them once a week.

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will also be exploring prayer practices this month together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 09.15.2023

Bake Sale

• Keep an eye out for treats baked by the Oaxaca Missions Team to raise money for their trip in October. Thank you so much to those who purchased last week and helped them raise over $600! You can find the baked goods on your way into Sunday School, or before service begins in the lobby. Recommended donation: $5 cash or online. Thank you!

Sunday

• Coffee with Pastor John Jay is happening before worship at 9am. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy some coffee and treats in Pastor John Jay’s office. Enter through the wooden doors on Holly St. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Fall Sunday School is underway for nine more weeks, Sundays at 9am. Rene’s class, Spiritual Values in Literature: The Ninth Hour (books provided), will meet in the Parlor. Jeannette’s class, Paul Pastors from Prison, will meet in Room 211. Jason’s class, Sin & Redemption in Four Films, will meet in the Southside Room (he requests that you try to watch Iron Giant before this Sunday’s class). To read more about the classes and sign up, click here, or feel free to just show up!

• 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.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world, missionaries who love to share God’s love to others through acts of service and restoration. We invite you to be involved through prayer with supporting our missionaries in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand. We’ll meet in the Parlor for 30 minutes on Sunday after worship.

• Our Yarn Crafts Group invites all folks ages 7 & up (all skill levels) to continue learning and working on individual yarn projects after service this Sunday. Note we will be in the Southside Room this week. Text “yarn” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new. BYO snacks or lunch and be ready to have fun!

• We are excited to kickoff our second year of monthly FBCPride Meetings this Sunday, September 17th, at 5pm in the Southside Room. We can’t wait to reconnect with the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies. Email pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions. Check out our potluck sign-up here.

• Dribble the ball at our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7pm in the Gym this Sunday, September 17th. 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 soup/chili/stew.

• Check out Pastor John Jay’s latest scripture audio on our Listen page.

Prayer Retreat

• Join us for our Prayer Retreat on Saturday, September 30th, from 9am-4pm, right here at FBCP. The staff and Prayer Team will join together in leading us through a time of reflection and prayer practices. We hope this retreat gives some new ideas for our prayer lives and shows us how to pray whether we are still or moving. Register here today to secure your spot. $10 covers the cost of lunch (but let us know if you’d like it waived). You won’t want to miss this meaningful time together.

New Date for Basics

• We will have our FBCP Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, October 1st, at 12:30pm 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. Text “basics” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email Pastor Chip for more details.

Additional Notes

• Thank you to the twelve people that came out (and the over 30 people who committed to praying) for the Glendale USD march in support of the safety and respect of queer kids in public schools. At a time when these conversations are once again becoming heated in their board room meetings, the teachers were very grateful to have our presence before the start of this month’s meeting, and prayers were answered with no sign of violence around us. Praise God.

• Thank you to those who have contributed to our recycling drive! Please continue to bring aluminum and plastic with CRV markings through October 15. Please wash them out and do not remove labels. No glass. (If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip.’) Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca, and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

• If you’ve lost anything at the church, email the office to check our Lost & Found box in the kitchen. The box is getting pretty full, and we will donate unclaimed items in a couple of weeks (it is mostly water bottles and sweatshirts).

• We have a new phone system in the church office! We recommend storing the following number in your phone as FBCP Office: 626.793.7164. If you’d like to leave a message for a staff member, listen to the menu options, or press the following extensions right away: Pastor John Jay-101, Pastor Leslie-102, Pastor Lindsay-103, Operations Manager Marcie-104, Pastor Chip-105, Assistant Children’s Pastor Mary-106, Project Manager Dave-107, Local Ministries Director Cynthia-108, or Office Administrator Sally-109. These extensions will go directly to our individual lines, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 9/17 in the Southside Room

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 9/17 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

9/17 - Coffee with John Jay
9/17 - Prayer for Global Servants
9/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
9/30 - Prayer Retreat
10/1 - FBCP Basics
10/7 - Men’s Breakfast
10/8 - Public Theology Meeting
10/15 - Potluck
10/22 - FBCPride Group Meeting
10/28 - Women’s Brunch

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 | 09.09.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Last week we began our sermon series on prayer with an emphasis on the Lord's Prayer. Our kids and youth will be invited to learn that prayer this month, and it's a great prayer for discussion and praying together as a family. This week I came across these poems by Mary Oliver, and they speak to the idea of prayer as a way of living. They are beautiful reminders of the way nature invites us to be fully present to God's goodness and the invitation to be astonished by it. Enjoy!

Peaceful Parenting Discussion

Our own Iris Chen will be hosting a parent discussion at Crowell Public Library in San Marino on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm. She'll be talking about recognizing the stress, pressure, and negative outcomes of traditional definitions of success and cultivating a new mindset towards success that is rooted in connection, competence, choice, and consent. We are so thankful for her work in parenting and the wisdom she has to share! You can check out more information here.

Parent Webinar on Child Anxiety

On Wednesday, September 20th, at 12pm our own Allyson Self-Stoico will be part of a free webinar for parents around the topic of child and teen anxiety. As a leading pediatrician, she will offer some tips for helping your child navigate worry and understanding the kinds of support that could help with anxiety. The event is being hosted by the Institute for Girls Development, where our own Grace Goodman works. You can find out more and register for this free event here. 

We are so thankful for the wisdom and expertise in our 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 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. If they are coming early with parents who are in a Sunday School class, they can be dropped off upstairs at 8:50 AM.  This week we will continue to explore prayer with our kids, and our focus this Sunday is on singing as a form of prayer. Cynthia will also be teaching our kids a song for the Lord's Prayer, which will be a wonderful way for our kids to know those words by heart. We hope that families will spend time talking about prayer at home and all the ways we were created to communicate with God, both in speaking to God and in listening to God's voice in our lives. 

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does the Lord's Prayer show us about our relationship with God?

• What are some songs you love to sing? 

• How could you use song as a form of prayer if that's not already your practice?

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will also be exploring prayer practices this month together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 09.08.2023

Tonight

• Our Community Dinners are happening around town tonight! Thank you to our hosts—the Dormans, Chens, Ekstrands, Laskis, Martinezes, Perrys and Snyder/Hallets—for welcoming our church community into their homes.

Bake Sale

• Keep an eye out for treats baked by the Oaxaca Missions Team to raise money for their trip in October. You can find the baked goods on your way into Sunday School, or before service begins in the lobby, this week and next. Recommended donation: $5 cash or online. Thank you!

Sunday

• Fall Sunday School kicks off this Sunday at 9am. Rene’s class, Spiritual Values in Literature: The Nineth Hour (books provided), will meet in the Parlor. Jeannette’s class, Paul Pastors from Prison, will meet in Room 211. Jason’s class, Sin & Redemption in Four Films, will meet in the Southside Room (he requests that you try to watch On the Waterfront before this Sunday’s class). To read more about the classes and sign up, click here.

• 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.

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

• Our Public Theology Group will meet this Sunday after worship. We are excited to kick off the new year with lunch in the Southside Room. Text “local” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. Email Pastor Lindsay if you have any food restrictions, please.

• Check out Pastor John Jay’s latest scripture audio on our Listen page.

September 17th

• Coffee with Pastor John Jay is happening before worship on Sunday, September 17th, at 9am. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy some coffee and treats in Pastor John Jay’s office. Enter through the wooden doors on Holly St. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world, missionaries who love to share God’s love to others through acts of service and restoration. We invite you to be involved through prayer with supporting our missionaries in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand. We’ll meet in the Parlor for 30 minutes on Sunday, September 17th, after worship.

• Our Yarn Crafts Group invites all folks ages 7 & up (all skill levels) to continue learning and working on individual yarn projects after service Sunday, September 17th, in the Parlor. Text “yarn” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new. BYO snacks or lunch and be ready to have fun!

• We are excited to kick-off our second year of monthly FBCPride Meetings this fall with a new lineup beginning Sunday, September 17th, at 5pm in the Southside Room. This year, we hope to connect with one another more and leave a little more time for reflection and conversation, in addition to hearing from some great speakers. We can’t wait to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies. Email pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions, or reach out to Sally or Kevin. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Dribble the ball at our Easy-Going Basketball Group at 7pm in the Gym on Sunday, September 17th. Jason C. invites all ages to play with a generous noncompetitive spirit. Email Misterjchen@gmail.com if you have questions.

September 24

• We will have our FBCP Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, September 24th, 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. Text “basics” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email Pastor Chip for more details.

Prayer Retreat

• Join us for our Prayer Retreat on Saturday, September 30th, from 9am-4pm, right here at FBCP. The staff and Prayer Team will join together in leading us through a time of reflection and prayer practices. We hope this retreat gives some new ideas for our prayer lives and shows us how to pray whether we are still or moving. Register here today to secure your spot. $10 covers the cost of lunch (but let us know if you’d like it waived). You won’t want to miss this meaningful time together.

And also…

• Thank you to those who have contributed to our recycling drive! Please continue to bring aluminum and plastic with CRV markings through October. Please wash them out and do not remove labels. No glass. (If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip.’) Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

• We have a new phone system in the church office! We recommend storing the following number in your phone as FBCP Office: 626.793.7164. If you’d like to leave a message for a staff member, listen to the menu options, or press the following extensions right away: Pastor John Jay-101, Pastor Leslie-102, Pastor Lindsay-103, Operations Manager Marcie-104, Pastor Chip-105, Assistant Children’s Pastor Mary-106, Project Manager Dave-107, Local Ministries Director Cynthia-108, or Office Administrator Sally-109. These extensions will go directly to our individual lines, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 9/17 in the Parlor

• Easy-Going Basketball | Biweekly at 7pm | 9/17 in the Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

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
9/24 - FBCP Basics Class
9/30 - Prayer Retreat
10/7 - Men’s Breakfast

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 | 09.02.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This Sunday we will begin a new series on prayer in worship service, and we'll be exploring different types of prayer with our kids the rest of the month, too. We are excited to learn different ways to pray each week and hope that our kids will feel more freedom to connect with God in ways that feel natural and accessible to them. Cynthia will also be teaching our kids a song for the Lord's Prayer, which will be a wonderful way for our kids to know those words by heart. We hope that families will spend time talking about prayer at home and all the ways we were created to communicate with God, both in speaking to God and in listening to God's voice in our lives. 

Parents of Nursery Kids

We are excited to share that this Sunday we will begin a new format in the nursery rooms to allow our infants, young toddlers, and preschoolers to have their time structured around each group's unique developmental needs. Parents, keep an eye out for a more detailed email today with information about what you can expect and how this will impact drop off and pick up. Yay for all the amazing growth for our little ones!

Peaceful Parenting Discussion

Our own Iris Chen will be hosting a parent discussion at Crowell Public Library in San Marino on Tuesday, September 19th at 6pm. She'll be talking about recognizing the stress, pressure, and negative outcomes of traditional definitions of success and cultivating a new mindset towards success that is rooted in connection, competence, choice, and consent. We are so thankful for her work in parenting and the wisdom she has to share! You can check out more information here.

Parent Webinar on Child Anxiety

On Wednesday, September 20th, at 12pm our own Allyson Self-Stoico will be part of a free webinar for parents around the topic of child and teen anxiety. As a leading pediatrician, she will offer some tips for helping your child navigate worry and understanding the kinds of support that could help with anxiety. The event is being hosted by the Institute for Girls Development, where our own Grace Goodman works. You can find out more and register for this free event here. 

We are so thankful for the wisdom and expertise in our 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 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 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!). Pastor John Jay will be preaching on the Lord's Prayer, and one of our kids is reading the scripture. It will be a beautiful morning together with communion, too!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is prayer?

• What does the Lord's Prayer show us about our relationship with God?

• What questions do you have about prayer?

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will also be exploring prayer practices this month together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 09.01.2023

Tomorrow

• The FBCP Choir Half-Day Retreat is tomorrow from 9am-1pm at Atherton. We will have coffee and snacks in the morning and will conclude our time together with lunch at noon. Email Pastor Leslie if you have any questions.

Sunday

• 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.

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30 am as we partake in communion together (crackers are gluten-free)! 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.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is peanut butter and other nut butters.

Coming Up

• Our Community Dinners are set for Friday, September 8th. You will be receiving an email soon with your home assignment if you signed up. Email Pastor Chip if you’d like to be on the waitlist.

• Our Fall Sunday School lineup begins next Sunday, September 10, from 9-10am thru November 12th. Text “school” to 626.727.9498 to sign up and read more about the classes here:

  • Paul Pastors from Prison

  • Spiritual Values in Literature: The Ninth Hour  by Alice McDermott

  • Sin + Redemption in Four Films

  • Pattern, Symbol, and Form: Exploring Faith Through Design

• Our Public Theology Group returns from summer break on Sunday, September 10th, after worship. We are excited to kick off the new year with lunch in the Southside Room. Text “local” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group, and lunch will be provided. Email Pastor Lindsay if you have any food restrictions, please.

September 17th…so much happening that it gets its own section

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around, but thought of some questions for our lead pastor), is invited to Coffee with Pastor John Jay before worship on Sunday, September 17th, at 9am. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy some coffee and treats in Pastor John Jay’s office. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world, missionaries who love to share God’s love to others through acts of service and restoration. We invite you to be involved through prayer with supporting our missionaries in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand. We’ll meet in the Parlor for 30 minutes on Sunday, September 17th, after worship to pray.

• We are excited to kick-off our second year of monthly FBCPride Meetings this fall with a new lineup beginning Sunday, September 17th, at 5pm in the Southside Room. This year, we hope to connect with one another more and leave a little more time for reflection and conversation, in addition to hearing from some great speakers. We can’t wait to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies, and know one another more deeply this year. Email pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions, or reach out to Sally or Kevin. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

Prayer Retreat Coming!

• We are thrilled to announce a Prayer Retreat on Saturday, September 30th, from 9am-3:30pm, on our church campus! The pastors and prayer team will join together in leading us through a time of reflection and prayer practices. Topics will include Listening Prayer, Walking in Nature Prayer, and other engaging practices. We hope this retreat gives some new ideas for our prayer lives and shows us how to pray whether we are still or moving. Register here today to secure your spot. You won’t want to miss this meaningful time together.

Other Reminders

• Thank you to those who have contributed to our recycling drive! Please continue to bring aluminum and plastic with CRV markings through October. Please wash them out. No glass. (If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip’) Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 9/3 in the Parlor

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

Six Weeks at a Glance

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
9/24 - 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 | 08.26.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This Sunday will conclude our churchwide study of embodied faith. I hope it's been a meaningful focus for you and your kids as we explored the different parts of our bodies and how God created us in our very bodily form to bear God's image and be in the world among other bodies. Next Sunday we will begin a new series on prayer, and we'll be exploring different types of prayer with our kids, too! This week I came across this nighttime prayer that is simple but beautiful. I felt myself slowing into a more peaceful state while reading it, and it would be a great prayer to read out loud as a family at bedtime. Enjoy!

Parents of Nursery Kids

We are excited to share that next Sunday, September 3, we will begin a new format in the nursery rooms to allow our infants, young toddlers, and four year olds to have their time more tailored to each group's developmental needs. Our four year olds are ready to do some more advanced learning, so we will now use our three rooms to divide up by age and have different activities in each space. Parents, keep an eye out for a more detailed email with information about what you can expect and how this will impact drop off and pick up. Yay for all the amazing growth for our little ones!

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 wrap up our exploration of embodied faith with an overall look at  how our emotional and psychological health are deeply connected with our physical bodies. We will be looking at the story of Daniel, and you might want to read and discuss it at home, too. We can't wait to have fun and learn with your kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• In our Bible story, why do you think King Darius could not sleep? What does that tell us about the wisdom of our bodies?

• What are some ways your body tells you about your inside feelings?

• What are ways we can pay more attention to the signals our bodies give us?

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will continue to explore embodied faith together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 08.25.2023

Tomorrow

• The FBCPride Group invites anyone interested in bowling to join us tomorrow, 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 to RSVP.

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.

• After worship, our Public Theology Group invites you to enjoy festivities at La Pintoresca Park until 2pm. We will be handing out snoballs and joining with Pastor Kerwin and Pasadena Church to love on the local community.

• This week the Friends In Deed food pantry item is canned chicken and tuna.

Coming Up

• Do you love to sing? The FBCP Choir Half-Day Retreat is around the corner on Labor Day weekend! Next 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!

• Announcing our Fall Sunday School lineup! Beginning September 10, for ten weeks on Sundays from 9-10am, join us for one of these amazing choices. Click this registration link to choose your class after you read the descriptions below:

  • Paul Pastors from Prison: Join Jeannette Scholer in exploring the moving, sensitive and powerful pastoral letters—what we know as Philippians, Colossians and Philemon—that the Apostle Paul wrote while he was a prisoner of the Roman Empire. These letters will be the focus of our study, and we will explore how we can apply to our lives the rich theological insights and practical advice in these letters.

  • Spiritual Values in Literature: The Ninth Hour  by Alice McDermott: Rene Scheys will guide the class through reading, enjoying, and discussing this exquisite novel. The story centers around a tragedy that affects multiple generations of a family in Brooklyn, NY, as well as multiple women in a religious order who minister to them. In beautiful prose, McDermott explores grace and faith, heaven and hell, trauma and healing, and what it means to live a life of service to the Lord. Copies of the book will be provided.

  • Film + Design—join one or both of these classes in our “arts block”:

    • [4 weeks] Sin + Redemption in Four Films—Join Jason Ellis to explore the themes of sin & redemption in the films On the Waterfront, The Iron Giant, No Country for Old Men, and The Tree of Life (we'll provide details on where you can view each of these films). 

    • [5 weeks starting October 15] Pattern, Symbol, and Form: Exploring Faith Through Design—Jessica Henson and Chris Torres invite adventurers to join them on a journey through the church building where we will explore different spaces and discuss their architectural and design influences, world histories, sacred ties, and various design movements that shaped the contemporary image of buildings, landscapes and cities. Jessica and Chris are excited to share their combined professional experience in landscape architecture in offering this unique type of study.

• Our Public Theology Group returns from summer break on Sunday, September 10th, after worship. We are excited to kick off the new year with lunch in the Southside Room. Text “local” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group, and lunch will be provided. Email Pastor Lindsay if you have any food restrictions, please.

In Three Weeks

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around, but thought of some questions for our lead pastor), is invited to Coffee with Pastor John Jay before worship on Sunday, September 17th, at 9am. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy some coffee and treats in Pastor John Jay’s office. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world, missionaries who love to share God’s love to others through acts of service and restoration. We invite you to be involved through prayer with supporting our missionaries in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand. We’ll meet in the Parlor for 20 minutes on Sunday, September 17th, after worship to pray.

• We are excited to kick-off our second year of monthly FBCPride Meetings this fall with a new lineup beginning Sunday, September 17th, from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. This year, we hope to connect with one another more and leave a little more time for reflection and conversation, in addition to hearing from some great speakers. We can’t wait to connect with the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies, and know one another more deeply this year. Email pride@fbcpasadena.com with any questions, or reach out to Sally or Kevin. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

Save the Date

• We are thrilled to announce a Prayer Retreat on Saturday, September 30th, from 9am-3:30pm, on our church campus! The pastors and prayer team will join together in leading us through a time of reflection and prayer practices. Signups coming soon. You won’t want to miss this meaningful time together.

Other Reminders

• Thank you to those who have contributed to our recycling drive! Please continue to bring aluminum and plastic with CRV markings through October. Please wash them out. No glass. (If you have large quantities to donate, you can collect the money yourself and donate the cash here under ‘Oaxaca Missions Trip’) Contact Nori if you have questions about Oaxaca and contact Kathy O. if you have questions about recycling.

• Our American Baptist denomination is taking up a special offering which will go 100% to helping Maui recover from its devastating wildfires. Read here how the American Baptist Home Missions Society is mobilizing money donations quickly to people who need the relief. Donate today on our giving page (choose ‘One Great Hour of Sharing’ from the drop-down), and we will make sure that all funds collected last week and this week go to Maui.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Thursday Bible Study | Weekly at Noon | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | Biweekly at 12pm | 9/3 in the Parlor

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

Six Weeks at a Glance

8/26 - FBCPride Group Bowling
8/27 - La Pintoresca Park Event
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 | 08.19.2023

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

My family is gearing up to head to the beach today, and we hope to see you there! Everyone in the church is invited to Bolsa Chica Beach from 1-8pm for games, s’mores, and quality time together. 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!

Technology Fast

As school starts and families settle into new rhythms, you might want to consider a family technology fast on some kind of regular basis. This podcast episode from Ruth Haley Barton explores what a practice like this makes possible and how to incorporate it into your routine. She and guest Tiffany Shlain talk all about how our technology impacts our ability to truly rest, why a “tech Shabbat” has been a lifeline for Tiffany, and the nitty gritty details of how she goes completely screen-free for 24 hours each week. It's a challenging and compelling idea, especially when our devices are so integral to our lives at work and at home. Let me know if you give it a try—I'll be engaging with the practice over the next month and would love to compare notes!

SUNDAY

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 how our emotional and psychological health are deeply connected with our physical bodies. We have some fun activities to help them explore the ways their bodies can help them notice what is going on inside their hearts and minds. We can't wait to have fun and learn with your kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• In our Bible story, why could Daniel not sleep or eat?

• What are some ways your body tells you about your inside feelings?

• What are ways we can pay more attention to the signals our bodies give us?

YOUTH

This week our youth are invited to join our regular gathering after worship. We will continue to explore embodied faith together. We love our youth and are so thankful for their presence in our church family! 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

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