Weekly Updates 04.26.2024

Tonight

• Community Dinners are happening around town tonight! Thanks to our hosts—Christophers, Chiu-Kawanos, Berry-VanStelle, Ekstrands, Linscotts, Looses and Powells. We hope you all enjoy breaking bread together!

Tomorrow

• It’s not too late to join our Holy Walkamolies hiking group tomorrow morning, Saturday, April 27th, at 9am. Park near the Casting Pond for the Lower Arroyo Trail in South Pasadena. This 3-mile hike is accessible for beginners and is even dog-friendly. Email Matt and Susan with any last-minute questions and don’t forget your sunscreen and water!

Sunday

• Our new Spring Sunday School classes continue through May 19! Details can be found here. Email Pastor Chip with questions.

• 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.

• Anyone new-ish to the church is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship this Sunday, April 28th! Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. It’s a great way to meet others and speak to our lead pastor in a smaller setting. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Join us for our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group this Sunday, April 28th, at 7pm in the gym off Union St. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 if you haven’t already. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is canned tuna/chicken.

Planting Project

• Our friends Renee and Brian are kindly donating some succulents from their property. We are excited for the opportunity to beautify our space, but we need your help! Text “plant” to 626.727.9498 if you’re free to help on Saturday, May 4, anytime between 10am-2pm. Bring gloves, gardening tools you may have, a hat and a water bottle. If anyone has shovels and pitchforks we can borrow, please email Kathy. Thanks! 🌸🌵

Cinco de Mayo Potluck Next Week

• Next Sunday, May 5th, is our next all-church potluck after worship in the gym. Sign up in the lobby Sunday to help Pastor Chip with set-up or clean-up. The church will provide drinks and desserts for this cinco de mayo potluck, and we encourage you to bring a main dish for 8-10 people to share if you can.

Also Around the Corner

• Next Thursday, May 2nd, is the Pasadena Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast from 7:30-9:00am at the Pasadena Convention Center. You may email Pastor Chip to see if any seats are available or purchase individual tickets via this link. This is an interfaith breakfast hosted by Friends In Deed that coincides with the National Day of Prayer.

• Ready for fun while you serve in our nursery or kids classes? Join the Family Ministry Training on Saturday, May 4th, from 11am-1pm in the Southside Room. Pastors Lindsay and Mary will go over how they thoughtfully connect with kids of all ages during worship. All staff and volunteers go through a background check process, and we take our family ministry seriously so they receive the best care we can give them. Thanks for considering this fun way to partner in nurturing the community at FBCP! Text “train” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the training, and email Pastors Lindsay and Mary with questions.

• Movie producer and FBCP member Bruno invites us all to a sneak peek showing of his latest project Why in the World on Friday, May 10th, at 6pm in the Chapel. This movie explores the deeper questions of life and Bruno can’t wait to hear your thoughts!  In it, two friends follow a wise, slightly eccentric homeless man who they hope will show them the meaning of life.  Armed with nothing in their quest but five basic questions, they cross more than 50 countries in search of answers, piling one uproarious misadventure on top of another as they seek to crack the code of existence. See you there!

• We invite all women to enjoy a five-minute complimentary massage on Mother’s Day, May 12th. Massage chairs will be set up in the back of the sanctuary and will be available throughout the service.

• You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, May 19th, from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. We always enjoy our potluck together, so please sign up here if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new, and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Spring Sunday School | Sundays through 5/19 | 9-10am

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 4/27 | 9am | Lower Arroyo Trail

• Yarn Crafts Group | 4/28 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 4/28 at 7pm | Gym

• Grief Group | 5/5 at 9am | Room 214

• FBCPride Group Meeting | 5/19 at 5pm | Southside Room

Six Weeks at a Glance

4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/02 - Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast
5/04 - Succulent Planting Day
5/05 - All-Church Potluck
5/10 - All-Church Movie Screening
5/12 - Mother’s Day Massages
5/19 - Spring Sunday School Ends
5/19 - FBCPride Group Meeting
5/26 - Prayer for Global Servants
5/31 - 55+ Group Lunch
6/01 - Pasadena Pride Flag-Raising Event
6/02 - Blessing for Graduates

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 | 04.20.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Thanks to all of our families who were able to join us for our potluck hangout last Sunday. We had a great time getting to connect with other families and are so grateful for the community of families with kids at FBCP. A very special thanks to Saskia and Natalee for all their help in organizing and hosting—y'all did such a great job! We look forward to more family gatherings and the chance to connect across generations.

Tomorrow is a special day for our congregation because we have a baby dedication. Each time we welcome a new child into our community we are reminded of the gifts of intergenerational formation and worship. I'm so excited for our time together tomorrow! 

Kids Camp Registration

We are already making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! 

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. This week our nursery kids will get to explore the story of when Jesus blessed the children (a core story for the way we understand what intergenerational community looks like!). 

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 in the front pews. This week we have a special guest with us—Jenn Edic will be sharing about her connection with kids on the other side of the world, and it will include music and her heart for God's love everywhere.  We are so excited to share in this special time together!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• Why is it important to learn from people who are different from us?

• How can music and dance be an important part of worship and connecting with others?

YOUTH

This week we will be back on for our regular youth gathering after worship. We look forward to a meaningful time of discussion, lunch, and connection with our amazing youth!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 04.19.2024

Sunday

• Our new Spring Sunday School classes continue this week! “Reconstructing Bible Basics” meets in the Southside Room and “Spiritual Values in Literature: Lila” meets in the Parlor. Details can be found here. Email Pastor Chip with questions.

• 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.

• Our Basics Class will meet after worship this Sunday, April 21st, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room for those who are interested in learning about our church. Pastors John Jay and Chip will walk you through our church history, our American Baptist denomination, and the meaning behind some of our practices like baptism, communion and membership. Lunch will be provided. Text “basics” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. Email Pastor Chip for more details and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

• You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, April 21st, from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. Our speaker this month will share his story growing up genderqueer, and we hope to learn how to best love others processing their gender identity. Our potluck this month is Taco Bar themed, so please sign up here if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new, and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is baking items (oil, small bags of flour or sugar, etc).

Next Week

• Community Dinners are happening Friday night, April 26th, at various times around the city in host homes. Let Pastor Chip know if you RSVP’d but haven’t received an email from your host. We hope you all enjoy breaking bread together!

• Our Holy Walkamolies hiking group will enjoy their second hike on Saturday, April 27th, at 9am. Susan and Matt will be leading this hike, and they have chosen the Lower Arroyo Trail in South Pasadena. This 3-mile hike is accessible for beginners and is even dog-friendly. We hope you can join the group, and to make sure you’re on the church hiking text thread, text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you have not yet joined. Email Matt and Susan if you would like to carpool from the church for this hike at 8:30am. Nicole will be planning future hikes for the fourth Saturday of each month.

• Anyone new-ish to the church is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 28th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Our next All-Church potluck is coming up on Sunday, May 5th, after worship in the gym. Sign up in the lobby to help Pastor Chip with set-up or clean-up. The church will provide drinks and desserts for this cinco de mayo potluck, and we encourage you to bring a dish for 8-10 people to share if you can.

• Are you energized by hangin’ with kids? Join the Family Ministry Training on Saturday, May 4th, from 11am-1pm in the Southside Room. Pastors Lindsay and Mary will go over how they thoughtfully care for kids of all ages during worship. All staff and volunteers go through a background check process, and we take our family ministry seriously so they receive the best care we can give them. Thanks for considering this fun way to partner in nurturing the community at FBCP! Text “train” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for the training, and email Pastors Lindsay and Mary with questions.

Bring in your old glasses! 👓

• Kathy Oliver, our Operations Admin, has partnered with the Pasadena Lions Club to collect used glasses via a box at the Hospitality Desk. The Lions Club offers free vision screenings to raise awareness of eye disease. They also make eye exams and prescription glasses more affordable for everyone in the community.  Please bring in glasses only—no cases, no cleaning cloths and no accessories; broken glasses are fine. Thank you for considering new life for your old lenses!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Spring Sunday School | Sundays through 5/19 | 9-10am

• Grief Group | 4/21 at 9am | Room 214

• FBCPride Group Meeting | 4/21 at 5pm | Southside Room

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 4/27 | 9am | Lower Arroyo Trail

• Yarn Crafts Group | 4/28 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 4/28 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - FBCPride Group Meeting
4/26 - Community Dinners
4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/05 - All-Church Potluck
5/10 - All-Church Movie Screening
5/12 - Mother’s Day Massages
5/17 - 55+ Event
5/19 - Spring Sunday School Ends
5/19 - 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 | 04.13.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We had a great time with the kids last night! A huge thanks to our volunteers Michael, Ada, Tilli, and Pastor Chip who helped make it such a fun time. We love our families and pray for continued rhythms of rest and play for all.

Tomorrow we are excited for all our families with kids or youth to join us after worship for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. We are looking forward to a time of connection and fellowship for parents and kids alike. Youth parents, please note that this will take the place of our regular youth gathering—and you are invited to attend, too! We will gather in the park if weather permits or switch to the gym in the case of rain. Bring a dish to share, and we will provide drinks and desserts. You can drop off food with Natalee and Saskia in the morning when you arrive in the lobby for worship. Yay for families having extra time to connect! 

Kids Camp Registration

We are already making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! 

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. This week our nursery kids will get to explore the story of when Jesus blessed the children (a core story for the way we understand what intergenerational community looks like!). 

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 in the front pews. This week the kids will continue to explore the story of Joseph and his brothers. We are so excited to share in some storytelling together!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are you wondering about after hearing the story of Joseph and the dreams?

• What is one gift that you have—one way God has made you that helps you bless others?

YOUTH

As noted above, our youth are invited to attend our family potluck with their parents. We'll have space for them to hang out and connect with each other and other families. Next week we will be back on for our regular youth gathering after worship.

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 04.12.2024

Tonight

• Thank you to our Parent Night Out volunteers for providing a fun evening for kids tonight while parents get time for a date (or a nap). Thanks to our volunteers Ada and Michael for helping the staff!

Sunday

• Our new Spring Sunday School classes start this week! “Reconstructing Bible Basics” will meet in the Southside Room and “Spiritual Values in Literature: Lila” will meet in the Parlor. Details can be found here (or text “school” to 626.727.9498, and we’ll send you the link). Email Pastor Chip with questions. Please email Pastor Lindsay if you’re planning to attend and need childcare.

• 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 and their parents are invited to join the Family Potluck after service in the Park. 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.

• Families with babies, kids or youth, join us in the park after worship this Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a simple dish to share, a picnic blanket if you have one, and enjoy some time with other families! Drinks and dessert will be provided. Feel free to show up even if you haven’t RSVP’d, and email Natalee or Saskia with any questions.

• Join us for our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group this Sunday, April 14th, at 7pm in the gym off Union St. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 if you haven’t already. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is cereal.

Join in the Fun

• Community Dinners are happening on Friday, April 26th, thanks to our host homes! If you would like to attend a dinner around the city with other folks from FBCP, please text “dinner” to 626.727.9498. These dinners fill up, so reserve your spot today. They are always a great time for connecting with others old and new. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

• Pastor Leslie invites anyone interested in singing to join in the fun for these last couple months of the season. Choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 7pm, and they finish up in mid-June to enjoy a summer break before starting up rehearsals again Labor Day weekend. Email Pastor Leslie to let her know you’re interested!

Coming Up

• We will have our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, April 21st, 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 and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

• You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, April 21st, from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. Our speaker this month will share his story growing up genderqueer, and we hope to learn how to best love others processing their gender identity. Our potluck this month is Taco Bar themed, so please sign up here if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new, and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.

• Our Holy Walkamolies hiking group will enjoy their second hike on Saturday, April 27th, at 9am. Susan and Matt will be leading this hike, and they have chosen the Lower Arroyo Trail in South Pasadena. This 3-mile hike is accessible for beginners and is even dog-friendly. We hope you can join the group, and to make sure you’re on the church hiking text thread, text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you have not yet joined. Email Matt and Susan if you would like to carpool from the church for this hike at 8:30am. Nicole will be planning future hikes for the fourth Saturday of each month.

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around but thought of some questions for our lead pastor) is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 28th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

Bring in your old glasses! 👓

• Kathy Oliver, our Operations Admin, has partnered with the Pasadena Lions Club to collect used glasses via a box at the Hospitality Desk. The Lions Club offers free vision screenings to raise awareness of eye disease. They also make eye exams and prescription glasses more affordable for everyone in the community.  Please bring in glasses only—no cases, no cleaning cloths and no accessories; broken glasses are fine. Thank you for considering new life for your old lenses!

Race + Place

• The Center for Restorative Justice invites all of you to join a local “race + place” tour of Pasadena from 8:30am-4:30 on Saturday, April 27th. The tour focuses on the racial history of our city and how we can and should play a part in restoration of love and justice among our neighbors. Check out this link for more information and registration. Scholarships available upon request.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Spring Sunday School | Starts 4/14 | 9-10am

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 4/14 at 7pm | Gym

• Grief Group | 4/21 at 9am | Room 214

• Yarn Crafts Group | 4/21 at 12pm | Parlor

• FBCPride Group Meeting | 4/21 at 5pm | Southside Room

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 4/27 | 9am | Lower Arroyo Trail

Six Weeks at a Glance

4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout
4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - FBCPride Group Meeting
4/26 - Community Dinners
4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/05 - All-Church Potluck
5/10 - All-Church Movie Screening
5/12 - Mother’s Day Massages
5/15 - 55+ Event
5/19 - Spring Sunday School Ends
5/19 - 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 | 04.06.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Happy Easter! It was such a beautiful morning with Roman's baptism, our beautiful choir voices, and our time of potluck to start the morning off with joy and fellowship. Thank you for making this community such a special place to live into the reality of resurrection. We are Easter people, and your presence is part of that mystery and hope. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow as we continue to rejoice and worship together. He is risen, indeed! 

Parent Night Out 

We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM this coming Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

Families with Kids Potluck

Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. We are looking forward to a time of connection and fellowship for parents and kids alike. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event. 

Kids Camp Registration

We are already making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of Easter. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.

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!). will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is one way you experienced God's love this past week?

• How would you describe our church? How would you describe our worship? 

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 04.05.2024

Sign up today—classes start next week

• Our new Spring Sunday School classes are open for sign-ups! We have three to choose from: 1) Reconstructing Bible Basics 2) Seeing the Sacred: Film Reflections on God’s Presence in Everyday Life and 3) Spiritual Values in Literature: Lila. Details can be found here (or text “school” to 626.727.9498 and we’ll send you the link). Email Pastor Chip with questions. We hope to see you for six weeks starting April 14th from 9-10am. Please email Pastor Lindsay if you’re planning to attend and need childcare.

Sunday

• Join the biweekly Grief Group this Sunday, April 7th, at 9am in Room 214. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if you are interested in joining this group. Jon is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and provides a rich space for folks to process grief.

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am as we partake in communion together (note: 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.

• Join our Yarn Crafts Group this Sunday in the Parlor for knitting, crocheting, and beyond. If you have materials, bring them with you! If not, let us know and we'll bring yarn, needles, and crochet hooks. Light snacks provided. Bring your own water bottle. Text "yarn" to 626.727.9498 if you’re new!

• The Friends In Deed food pantry item this week is fruit & vegetable juice.

Coming Up

• We are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

• Join us for our next Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group practice at 7pm on Sunday, April 14th, in the gym off Union St. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 if you haven’t already. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

• We will have our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, April 21st, 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 and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

• You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, April 21st, from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. Our speaker this month will share his story growing up genderqueer, and we hope to learn how to best love others processing their gender identity. Our dinner is potluck style, so please consider bringing a dish if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new, and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.

• Our yummy Community Dinners will return on Friday, April 26th, around the city in various homes. If you would like to host a dinner for 5-6 other folks from FBCP, please contact Pastor Chip soon and let him know. Keep an eye out for sign-ups to attend these special dinners in a few weeks! They are always a great time for new and seasoned folks to meet.

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around but thought of some questions for our lead pastor) is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 28th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

In the news

• Check out this recent Easter story about our friends Renee Dominique, Brian Smith, and their dog, Kirby. They have shared in service about their house fire and this article chronicles their hope and new beginnings, written by Steve Scauzillo.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Grief Group | 4/7 at 9am | Room 214

• Yarn Crafts Group | 4/7 at 12pm | Parlor

• Spring Sunday School | Starts 4/14 | 9-10am

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 4/14 at 7pm | Gym

• FBCPride Group Meeting | 4/21 at 5pm | Southside Room

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 4/27 | Time + Place TBA

Six Weeks at a Glance

4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout
4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - FBCPride Group Meeting
4/26 - Community Dinners
4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/05 - All-Church Potluck
5/10 - All-Church Movie Screening

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 | 03.30.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to our kids, youth, and adult choir in leading us in worship last week for our Palm Sunday service. It was such a beautiful picture of our church family and the beauty that comes from intergenerational worship and formation. Thanks also to the parents for bringing kids early to help make the morning run smoothly. It was a beautiful beginning to Holy Week, and the past two evenings were really powerful services as we retold the story of Jesus' last moments with his disciples and his crucifixion. Thank you to all who were able to join us in those services to live more fully into the path of Christ, even and especially in suffering. Today we honor a space of waiting as we look toward tomorrow and the resurrection. May we stay with Christ in a spirit of hope even as we mourn and wait.

Easter Plans

We are so excited to celebrate the resurrection with you! Because of the rain, we will host our Easter brunch in the gym tomorrow. Please note that we will have a staggered egg hunt for kids in the nursery on the first floor. We will have signs to direct families to the nursery when it's time for the egg hunt, and we'll make a general announcement as well. Parents, please note that the brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30AM for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45 AM we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will also have some available for anyone who needs one. Yay! 

Parent Night Out 

Pastor Mary and I are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

Families with Kids Potluck

Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. We are looking forward to a time of connection and fellowship for parents and kids alike. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event. 

Kids Camp Registration

We are already making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! 

SUNDAY

KIDS

Our nursery room is open this Sunday for babies and toddlers four years old and under. Childcare will be open starting at 10:55 AM. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Easter. 

Our kids five to ten years old will join us in the sanctuary for our Easter worship which includes the baptism of one of our youth! We welcome their presence as part of our congregation and look forward to worshiping with them.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are ways that we see mini resurrections in nature throughout the year? How do they help us understand the way God works to make things new?

• What are you wondering about as you hear the story of Easter this year? What stands out to you?

YOUTH

This Sunday the youth will not gather after worship so they can spend Easter with their families. Next week will be back on for our regular youth gathering. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 03.29.2024

Good Friday

• Join us tonight for our Good Friday service, 6pm in the Chapel. This reflective service features the reading of scripture, our FBCP Choir, and a silent recession out of the Chapel as we reflect on Christ’s death on the cross. Childcare will be provided for nursery-aged children.

Easter Sunday, starting with flowers 🌸

• Snip and bring in some flowers from all around the city! Attach the flower(s) to the FBCP Cross when you enter the park on Union St. for brunch at 10am on Easter morning, March 31st. For information about parking and where activities are happening, see this map.

Easter Brunch

• We will celebrate Easter Sunday on March 31st beginning with a potluck brunch and mariachi band at 10am in the gym on Union St!  Based on your last name, if you’re able, we’re asking you to bring about 10 servings of something savory (A-Q) or sweet/fruit (R-Z) to eat and share with your friends here. Due to the potential for rain, food will be set up in the Fellowship Hall next to the kitchen. If you have allergies, keep an eye out for a table dedicated to allergy-sensitive dishes (gluten-free, vegan, etc).

Egg Hunt

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning an egg hunt for the kids during the Easter Brunch! Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30am for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45am, we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Due to the potential for rain, these egg hunts will take place in the nursery (one floor above the gym). Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will have some available for anyone who wants one.

Easter Worship Service

• Our Easter worship service will follow the brunch and starts at 11am with the children joining us for service to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Nursery care will be provided for ages four and under.

---

April

• The biweekly Grief Group meets next on April 7th at 9am in Room 214. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if you are interested in joining this group. Jon is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and provides a rich space for folks to process grief.

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Our new Spring Sunday School classes are open for sign-ups! We have three to choose from: 1) Bible Basics 2) Seeing the Sacred: Film Reflections on God’s Presence in Everyday Life and 3) Spiritual Values in Literature: Lila. Details can be found here (or text “school” to 626.727.9498 and we’ll send you the link). Email Pastor Chip with questions. We hope to see you for six weeks starting April 14th from 9-10am. Please email Pastor Lindsay if you’re planning to attend and need childcare.

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

• We will have our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, April 21st, 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 and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

• You’re invited to our next FBCPride Group Meeting on Sunday, April 21st from 5-7pm in the Southside Room. Our speaker this month will share his story growing up genderqueer, and we hope to learn how to best love others processing their gender identity. Our dinner is potluck style, so please consider bringing a dish if you are able. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP if you are new,s and email Kevin and Sally if you have any questions. This group is open to the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16+.

• Our yummy Community Dinners will return on Friday, April 26th, around the city in various homes. If you would like to host a dinner for 5-6 other folks from FBCP, please contact Pastor Chip soon and let him know. Keep an eye out for sign-ups to attend these special dinners in a few weeks! They are always a great time for new and seasoned folks to meet.

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around but thought of some questions for our lead pastor) is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 28th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Check out our new Inclusion Language on the FBCP website. We love our LGBTQ+ members and want to make clear our love and support.

• Thanks to Michael for continuing to update our staff photos. Read about our building attendant Ryan’s college major, Kathy’s favorite pet, Dave’s favorite thing to look at from the choir loft, and Kenny’s favorite hobbies!

Regular-ish Happenings

• Grief Group | 4/7 at 9am | Room 214

• Yarn Crafts Group | 4/7 at 12pm | Parlor

• Spring Sunday School | Starts 4/14 | 9-10am

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 4/14 at 7pm | Gym

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 4/27 | Time + Place TBA

Six Weeks at a Glance

3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service
4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout
4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - FBCPride Group Meeting
4/26 - Community Dinners
4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/03 - All-Church Game Night
5/05 - All-Church Potluck
5/10 - All-Church Movie Screening

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 | 03.23.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

It's finally here—we are so excited for our kids and youth to join our adult choir in leading us in worship this Sunday for our Palm Sunday service! They have begin practicing on Sundays during our kids class each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Please bring your children and youth to the sanctuary lobby at 9:30 AM tomorrow to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together in the courtyard. Please note that our kids and youth who are singing will sit with the adult choir in the pews at the back of the sanctuary for the start of service. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!

Easter Plans

This year we will host our Easter brunch in the church park, and we will have a staggered egg hunt for kids in the park as well. Parents, please note that the brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30AM for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45 AM we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will also have some available for anyone who needs one. Yay! 

Parent Night Out 

Pastor Mary and I are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

Families with Kids Potluck

Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. We are looking forward to a time of connection and fellowship for parents and kids alike. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event. 

Kids Camp Registration

We are already making plans for camp this summer, and registration is now open! Camp will run June 24-28 from 9am-12pm each day. We are excited to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family! 

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. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Easter. 

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. As noted above, our kids and youth who are singing will sit with the adult choir in the pews at the back of the sanctuary for the start of service. This week the kids will explore Holy Week and all the symbols and meanings associated with it. We are so excited to share in some storytelling together in this special season in the life of our church.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are the different days we honor during Holy Week?

• What are you wondering about as we ponder the events leading up to the resurrection?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 03.22.2024

Tomorrow

• Our new hiking group, the Holy Walkamolies, has its first hike tomorrow, March 23rd! Meet at the Millard Canyon Campground Parking Lot at 8:30am. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you would like to join in the fun and get information about future monthly hikes.

Sunday

• Our Lenten Sunday School finishes up this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor. Pastor Chip will finish the discussion on Prayer, and you may attend even if you missed previous weeks.

• Join us at 10:30am for Palm Sunday worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday! The nursery will be open as usual for our toddlers and babies. Our kids five years old have special instructions from Pastor Lindsay this week (parents have received info via email) and after their triumphant palm participation they will be dismissed to their classrooms with their leaders. 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.

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is peanut butter and other nut butters.

Monday

• The Center for Restorative Justice extends a special invitation to FBCP folks to join a book club starting this coming Monday, March 25th, from 7-8:30pm in Room 314. The book club will run a total of five Mondays in a row and serves as an opportunity to think critically about the intersection of race and Christianity in the history of our country. $20 fee. For more information, click here.

Holy Week Next Week

Maundy Thursday

Join us at 6pm on Thursday, March 28th, for our Maundy Thursday service in the Chapel. This is an intimate service that includes a reflective time of prayer, communion and foot washing. Childcare will be provided for nursery-aged children.

Good Friday

Our Good Friday service on Friday, March 29, at 6pm in the Chapel will serve as an invitation to listen to scripture and our wonderful FBCP Choir as we remember Christ’s crucifixion and His death on the cross. The service ends with a procession out of the Chapel in silence. Childcare will be provided for nursery-aged children.

Flowers for the Cross

Snip and bring in some flowers from all around the city! Attach the flower(s) to the FBCP Cross when you enter the Park on Union St. for brunch at 10am on Easter morning, March 31st.

Easter Brunch + Egg Hunt

We will celebrate Easter Sunday on March 31st beginning with a potluck brunch and mariachi band at 10am in the Park on Union St!  Based on your last name, if you’re able, we’re asking you to bring about 10 servings of something savory (A-Q) or sweet/fruit (R-Z) to eat and share with your friends here. 

Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning an egg hunt for the kids during the Easter Brunch! Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30am for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45am, we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will have some available for anyone who wants one.

Easter Worship Service

Our Easter worship service will follow the brunch and starts at 11am with the children joining us for service to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Nursery care will be provided for ages four and under.

We look forward to Holy Week with you!

---

Coming Up

• The Grief Group meets next on April 7th at 9am in Room 214 and biweekly after that. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if you are interested in joining this group. Jon is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and provides a rich space for folks to process grief.

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

• We will have our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, April 21st, 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 and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around but thought of some questions for our lead pastor) is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 28th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 3/23 at 8:30am

• Lenten Sunday School | 3/24 | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 3/24 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 3/24 at 7pm | Gym

• Grief Group | 4/7 at 9am | Room 214

Six Weeks at a Glance

3/24 - Lenten Sunday School Ends
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service
4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout
4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - FBCPride Group Meeting
4/26 - Community Dinners
4/28 - Lunch for Newer Folks
5/03 - All-Church Game Night
5/05 - All-Church Potluck

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 | 03.16.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Many thanks to our Deacons for a beautiful service they provided last week! My family stayed home and rested while we recovered from a bug we all caught, but we are so excited to be with you tomorrow for worship. Thanks for joining us in this season as we approach Easter together. Read on for the important happenings in the life of our church in the coming weeks!

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids to lead us in worship on Sunday, March 24, for our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing on Sundays during our kids class each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Because they will be joining Pastor Leslie and the adult choir in processing with palm branches at the start of the service, we need them here at 9:30 AM that Sunday to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!

Easter Plans

Though I'm trying to engage with all that Lent has to offer through various practices and postures, we are also excited to look ahead to Easter with our church family. This year we will host our Easter brunch in the church park, and we will have a staggered egg hunt for kids in the park as well. Parents, please note that the brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30AM for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45 AM we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will have some available for anyone who wants one. Yay! 

Parent Night Out 

Pastor Mary and I are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

Families with Kids Potluck

Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. We are looking forward to a time of connection and fellowship for parents and kids alike. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event. 

Save the Date: Kids Camp!

We are already making plans for camp this summer, so parents please mark your calendars for June 24-28. This year we are pleased to announce a track for our rising Kindergarteners/5 year olds! We are excited to reveal our new camp theme (shhh…not yet, though!) and to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. We have learned in years past that parents plan early for summer camps and trips, so we hope it's helpful to get the dates to you now. We can't wait for summer fun together!  Registration will open next week.

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. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of Jonah. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.

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 in the front pews. This week the kids will explore St. Patrick and all the meaning behind his life and the symbols we associate with him. We are so excited to share in some storytelling together!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What is St. Patrick known for?

• What does the bell of St. Patrick symbolize?

• What meaning might we associate with the shamrock?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 03.15.2024

Sunday

• Our Lenten Sunday School meets for two more Sundays at 9am in the Parlor to explore spiritual practices with a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart.  Bailey will begin the topic of Prayer this week, and you may attend even if you missed previous weeks. More information can be found here. Please let Pastor Lindsay know if you need childcare.

• The Grief Group meets this Sunday, March 17th, at 9am in Room 214 and biweekly moving forward. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if you are interested in joining this group. Jon is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and provides a rich space for folks to process grief.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday! 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.

• Our FBCPride Group invites everyone to join them for a showing of the movie Milk this Sunday, March 17th, at 5pm in the Chapel. Milk is a 2008 American biographical drama film based on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is buyer’s choice.

Coming Up

• Folks ages 55+, join us for our next potluck lunch this Wednesday, March 20th, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room. It’s always a yummy spread of food and a fun time together, and we look forward to the fellowship. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

• Our new hiking group, the Holy Walkamolies, has its first hike scheduled to meet at the Millard Canyon Campground Parking Lot at 8:30am on Saturday, March 23rd. Nicole hopes to plan about one hike per month in different areas around LA. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you would like to RSVP and join in the fun. The weather is looking perfect for time outdoors!

Holy Week

Palm Sunday | March 24 | Regular Worship Time @10:30am

Join us as we hear the children and youth sing with the FBCP Choir and welcome Holy Week with palms waving.

Maundy Thursday | March 28 | 6pm in the Chapel

This will be an intimate service that includes a reflective time of prayer, communion and foot-washing. Childcare will be provided for nursery-aged children.

Good Friday | March 29 | 6pm in the Chapel

This special service will serve as an invitation to listen to scripture and our wonderful FBCP Choir as we remember Christ’s crucifixion and His death on the cross. The service ends with a procession out of the Chapel in silence. Childcare will be provided for nursery-aged children.

Flowers for the Cross

Help us decorate the cross on Easter with greenery from all over our city! Snip and bring in some flowers when you come for brunch at 10am on March 31st.

Easter Brunch + Service | March 31 @10am

We will celebrate Easter Sunday on March 31st beginning with a potluck brunch and mariachi band at 10am in the Park on Union St!  Based on your last name, if you’re able, we’re asking you to bring about 10 servings of something savory (A-Q) or sweet/fruit (R-Z) to eat and share with your friends here. Worship service will be immediately afterward at 11am with the children joining us for service to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. Nursery care will be provided for ages four and under. We hope you can join us for both!

Coming Up

• Anyone new-ish to the church (or anyone who has been around, but thought of some questions for our lead pastor), is invited to Lunch for Newer Folks with Pastor John Jay after worship on Sunday, April 7th. Bring your curiosity and conversation, and enjoy lunch and fellowship in the Southside Room. Text “new” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP.

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• After our Lenten Sunday School ends on March 24th, we’ll have a two-week break and then begin a set of Spring Sunday School Classes. Stay tuned for the class options!

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

• We will have our Basics Class after worship service on Sunday, April 21st, 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 and/or if you are attending and will need childcare.

Regular-ish Happenings

• Grief Group | 3/17 at 9am | Room 214

• Holy Walkamolies Hiking Group | 3/23 at 8:30am

• Lenten Sunday School | Sundays thru 3/24 | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 3/24 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive-Aggressive Pickleball | 3/24 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

3/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
3/20 - 55+ Event
3/24 - Lenten Sunday School Ends
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service
4/07 - Lunch for Newer Folks
4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout
4/21 - FBCP Basics Lunch
4/21 - 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 | 03.09.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

This Sunday is our annual Deacon-led worship service, which is a beautiful gift on many levels. Our staff will get the chance to have a different Sunday rhythm (Gavin and I are hoping to get our kids to snow or the beach!) as we prepare for a staff retreat on Monday and Tuesday. It is a unique gift to spend this Sunday with my family even though we certainly love our usual Sunday routine. It is also a gift for our congregation to receive the worship leadership of our Deacons, and I am so thankful that y'all will experience a liturgy with their giftings. I cannot wait to listen to the service online and create a space for worship next week on my own time. Pastor Mary will take March 17th as a day she can also experience a different sabbath rhythm instead of teaching the children's class. Thank you for these special Sundays to receive from God in a different way. I cannot wait to see you the following week!

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids to lead us in worship on Sunday, March 24, for our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing on Sundays during our kids class each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Because they will be joining Pastor Leslie and the adult choir in processing with palm branches at the start of the service, we need them here at 9:30 AM that Sunday to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!

Easter Plans

Though I'm trying to engage with all that Lent has to offer through various practices and postures, we are also excited to look ahead to Easter with our church family. This year we will host our Easter brunch in the church park, and we will have a staggered egg hunt for kids in the park as well. Parents, please note that the brunch begins at 10:00 AM. Our first egg hunt will happen at 10:30AM for kids 6 years old and younger. At 10:45 AM we will have an egg hunt for kids ages 7-10 years old/5th grade. Bring an Easter basket from home if you have one, and we will have some available for anyone who wants one. Yay! 

Save the Date: Kids Camp!

We are already making plans for camp this summer, so parents please mark your calendars for June 24-28. We are excited to reveal our new camp theme (shhh…not yet, though!) and to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. We have learned in years past that parents plan early for summer camps and trips, so we hope it's helpful to get the dates to you now. We can't wait for summer fun together! 

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. This week our nursery kids will continue to explore the story of Jonah. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.

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 in the front pews. This week the kids will explore the story of Jonah with fun storytelling and applications to our world today.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What does the story of Jonah teach you about people? 

• What does it teach you about God?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Jensen will be leading in my absence. Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 03.08.2024

TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD SAT. NIGHT

Sunday

• Daylight Savings Time starts this Sunday, so don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead and make an extra cup of coffee for yourself!

• Our Lenten Sunday School continues this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor to explore spiritual practices with a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart.  Jon will continue the topic of Silence this week, and you may attend even if you missed previous weeks. More information can be found here. Please let Pastor Lindsay know if you need childcare.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the Sanctuary this Sunday! 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 Nori for a 30-minute informational meeting after service this Sunday, March 10th, in Room 214 to learn about this year's Oaxaca trip (October 20-26th). At this meeting, we'll give details about securing a good price on your flight. Text “Oaxaca” to 626.727.9498 if you’re interested, or email Nori if you have questions.

• Sunday after service we have our Yarn Crafts Group. Join these crafty folks in the Parlor to knit or crochet your own project or a charity project. A couple members are almost done putting together blankets to be donated. You are welcome to attend whether you have experience or not! Email Whitney and Justine if you have any questions.

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is granola bars or any other single serve items.

Coming Up

• The church office will be closed next Monday and Tuesday (March 11th & 12th) due to a staff retreat. Pray for this spiritual formational time to be meaningful for our pastors and support staff~thanks!

• The Winter Sunday School Grief Group will continue meeting biweekly. It is a space for anyone experiencing grief or loss to be with others in a similar season. The group will continue to meet every other Sunday morning at 9am in Room 214. The next group meeting will be March 17th. Reach out to Jon Rinkus if you are interested in joining this group. He is a trained Hospital Chaplain through Fuller and has provided a rich space for our folks to process grief.

• Our FBCPride Group will meet on March 17th at 5pm in the Chapel for a movie showing this month. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16 & up. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• Folks ages 55+, join us for our next potluck lunch on Wednesday, March 20th, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room. It’s always a fun time together, and we look forward to the fellowship. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

Holy Week

• Check out our Lenten Happenings page to stay up-to-date on the latest Lenten schedule and flowers for the Cross. Thanks to our pastors John Jay, Leslie, Lindsay and Chip for working hard to bring meaning and moments of reflection to this special season. Our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be held in the Chapel, and check out the link to find out more about our Easter Brunch (note the expanded alphabet request for savory breakfast items).

Holy Walkamolies

• We are excited that about 20 people expressed interest in our new hiking group, the Holy Walkamolies! The first hike will meet at the Millard Canyon Campground Parking Lot at 8:30am on Saturday, March 23rd. Nicole hopes to have about one hike per month in different areas around LA. Text “hike” to 626.727.9498 if you would like to RSVP and join in the fun. The weather is looking perfect for time outdoors!

April

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Lenten Sunday School | Sundays thru 3/24 | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 3/10 at 12pm | Parlor

• Grief Group | 3/17 at 9am | Room 214

• Passive Aggressive Pickleball | 3/24 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

3/10 - Oaxaca Interest Meeting
3/11-12 - Office Closed | Staff Retreat
3/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
3/20 - 55+ Event
3/24 - Lenten Sunday School Ends
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service
4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout

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 | 03.02.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

Our time with the youth in Big Bear last weekend was such a gift! We have such a thoughtful, fun, and talented group of youth in our church family, and we have equally amazing adults who have stepped up to grow and learn alongside them. I am so thankful for the ways that young people help us to ask better questions and lean into playfulness and joy (among other things!). Thank you to all who made such a generous effort to support us with meals, cookies, snacks, vans, and prayers—y'all made such a difference, and we felt the Spirit moving among our precious youth.

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids to lead us in worship on Sunday, March 24, for our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing on Sundays during our kids class each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Because they will be joining Pastor Leslie and the adult choir in processing with palm branches at the start of the service, we need them here at 9:30 AM that Sunday to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!

Save the Date: Kids Camp!

We are already making plans for camp this summer, so parents please mark your calendars for June 24-28. We are excited to reveal our new camp theme (shhh…not yet, though!) and to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. We have learned in years past that parents plan early for summer camps and trips, so we hope it's helpful to get the dates to you now. We can't wait for summer fun together! 

Free Parenting Webinars

Our own Grace Goodman works at the Institute for Girls Development, which hosts a variety of free webinars for parents covering  various topics. Our own Allyson Self-Stoico is one featured guest in an upcoming session on teens and depression. You can check out their full list of events here. Thanks to Grace and Allyson for the work you do with families to help them flourish!

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. This week our nursery kids will get to explore the story of Jonah. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.

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 from Genesis 39 and 40 as we continue to explore the story of Joseph. It will be a beautiful morning together as a church family, and we welcome the presence of our kids in worship.

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What stood out from worship today (it could be anything you noticed and remember)?

• When did you sense God's presence, help, or love this week?

• Who in our church family would you like to know better?

YOUTH

We are on for our regular youth gathering this Sunday! Parents can pick up their youth in the park at 1:30pm. We are looking forward to being with our youth!

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 03.01.2024

Sunday

• Our Lenten Sunday School continues this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor to explore spiritual practices with a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart.  Tyler will lead the study of Silence this week, and you may join even if you missed previous weeks. More information can be found here. Text “school” to 626.727.9498 or signup via this link. Please let Pastor Lindsay know if you need childcare.

• Join us for worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am 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.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world on Sunday, March 3rd, after worship in the Parlor. We invite you for thirty minutes of prayer for our FBCP-supported American Baptist servants in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand as they love and support others around the world and share the light of Christ through service.

• Our traditional Coffee + Conversation with Pastor John Jay event is changed to lunch after worship this Sunday in the Parlor. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. This is a great time to get to know others and our lead pastor better, especially if you are newer to our community. We hope you can join us!

• Join our Passive-Aggressive Pickleball Group at 7pm this Sunday, March 3rd, in the Gym and Park. Bring a sweater and water, and text “pickle” to 626.727.9498 to get text reminders. Email Tim with questions. We have paddles and balls available to use.

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is soup/chili/stew.

Holy Walkamolies

• Our own Nicole Ochi has offered to help form a new hiking group, so let her know about your interest so she can get you all the details. The Pasadena area is drive-able to so many beautiful hikes, and this time of year has such great weather—you won’t want to miss (and let Nicole know if you need a ride)!

Coming Up

• Join us for a 30-minute informational meeting after service on Sunday, March 10th, in the Parlor to learn about this year's Oaxaca trip (October 20-26th). At this meeting, we'll give details about securing a good price on your flight. Text “Oaxaca” to 626.727.9498 if you’re interested!

• Our FBCPride Group will meet on March 17th at 5pm in the Southside Room. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16 & up. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• Save the Date, folks ages 55+! We are having our next potluck lunch on Wednesday, March 20th, at 12:30pm in the Southside Room. It’s always a fun time together, and we look forward to the fellowship. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

Holy Week

• Check out our Lenten Happenings page to stay up-to-date on the latest Lenten schedule. Thanks to our pastors John Jay, Leslie, Lindsay and Chip for working hard to bring meaning and moments of reflection to this special season. Our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be held in the Chapel, and check out the link to find out more about our Easter Brunch.

April

• Pastors Lindsay and Mary are planning a night of fun for kids so parents can enjoy an evening out (also known as "Parent Night Out"). You can drop off and pick up your child anytime between 5:30-8:30 PM on Friday, April 12th, and then go do whatever you want. We'll serve dinner and provide activities for your kids! You can register your kid(s) with this link.

• Join us for a casual Coffee + Conversation with Pastor John Jay on April 14th at 9am in his office. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. This is a great hour to get to know others and our lead pastor better, especially if you are newer to our community. 

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th, for a potluck lunch to hang out and get know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to find some friends as you raise your own little ones. Bring a dish to share and enjoy some time with other families! Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

Local Engagement

• Fuller invites everyone to a public reading of scripture on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-9:30am. This is part of Fuller's Public Reading of Scripture project, which centers the Bible for Christian training and living. It is also about promoting biblical literacy in an age in which Christians usually know the Bible only in fragments. If you've found yourself struggling with any New Year's Resolutions to read the Bible this year, join others in listening to the entire Bible together in 2024. The read aloud group meets at Travis Auditorium (180 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA  91101). Free coffee and pastries.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Lenten Sunday School | Sundays thru 3/24 | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 3/10 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive Aggressive Pickleball | 3/3 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

3/03 - Prayer for Global Servants
3/03 - Lunch with Pastor John Jay
3/10 - Oaxaca Interest Meeting
3/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
3/20 - 55+ Event
3/24 - Lenten Sunday School Ends
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service
4/12 - Parent Night Out
4/14 - Spring Sunday School Begins
4/14 - Family Lunch Hangout

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 02.23.2024

Saturday

• Our friend Iris let the church staff know that there is going to be a protest and support rally for the tragedy unfolding in Palestine and we are passing that along to you all. If you would like to attend, you can contact Iris to coordinate and join her at the event. The rally will be held at Pasadena City Hall at 12:30pm and the purpose is to call for a ceasefire. Contact Iris for more information.

Sunday

• If you are new here and wondering more about FBCP, join us this Sunday for casual Coffee + Conversation with Pastor John Jay at 9am in his office. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. This is a great hour for newer folks to get to know a few others and chat with our lead pastor. Come with all your questions!

• Our Lenten Sunday School continues this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor to discuss a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart.  Mady will continue the study of solitude this week, and you may join even if you missed last week. More information can be found here. Text “school” to 626.727.9498 or signup via this link. Please let Pastor Lindsay know if you need childcare.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary this Sunday! 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 in Big Bear this week, so their regular fellowship time will continue next week 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.

• Sunday after service we have our Yarn Crafts Group. Join these crafty folks in the Parlor to knit or crochet your own project or a charity project. You are welcome to attend whether you have experience or not! Email Justine if you have any questions.

• Also this Sunday, join us for our FBCPride Group meeting. We’ll meet from 4-6pm in the Southside Room (an hour earlier this month) and focus on where society has made progress with inclusion and where we can encourage growth and love. Ken Fong will be sharing on church inclusion, and others are welcome to share from their own unique contexts. We would love to have your voice.  Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16 & up. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is canned tuna or other canned meats.

Pray for the Big Bear Retreat

• Thanks to Angel, Cindy F-W, Jonathan, Marcie, Mary W, Stormie, Susan and Tina for helping out with the meals and snacks, and thanks to Jensen, Bri, Michael and Pastor Lindsay for chaperoning and creating a meaningful time for the youth to reflect on Relationships–with self, others and God. It takes a village! We ask for your prayers this weekend as they travel (with snow expected Sunday!) and spend time together.

Coming Up

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world on Sunday, March 3rd, after worship in the Parlor. We invite you for thirty minutes of prayer for our FBCP-supported American Baptist servants in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand as they love and support others around the world and share the light of Christ through service.

• Our FBCPride Meeting on March 17th at 5pm will be a special time hearing from a panel of parents-of-LGBTQ+-kids about what they have learned about God through their LGBTQ+ child. Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16 & up. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• Save the Date, folks ages 55+! We are having our next potluck lunch on Wednesday, March 20th at 12:30pm in the Southside Room. It’s always a fun time together and we look forward to the fellowship. Email Pastor Chip with any questions.

Holy Week

• Check out our Lenten Happenings page to stay up-to-date on the latest Lenten schedule. Thanks to our pastors John Jay, Leslie, Lindsay and Chip for working hard to bring meaning and moments of reflection to this special season. Our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be held in the Chapel, and check out the link to find out more about our Easter Brunch.

Date Change

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join us in the Park after worship on Sunday, April 14th (note the date change), for a potluck lunch to hang out and get know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to know what other parents and families are in this church community and might be a source of encouragement or friendship as you raise your own little ones. Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

Local Engagement

• Fuller invites everyone to a public reading of scripture on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-9:30am. This is part of Fuller's Public Reading of Scripture project, which centers the Bible for Christian training and living. It is also about promoting biblical literacy in an age in which Christians usually know the Bible only in fragments. If you've found yourself struggling with any New Year's Resolutions to read the Bible this year, join others in listening to the entire Bible together in 2024. The read aloud group meets at Travis Auditorium (180 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA  91101). Free coffee and pastries.

• Atherton Baptist Homes is hosting a night where their own resident speakers who lived through the time of the Japanese internment camps can share their stories at 7pm on February 27th in Miriam Chapel. Arrive early to park, and sign in first at the main office before heading to the chapel.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Lenten Sunday School | Sundays thru 3/24 | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 2/25 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive Aggressive Pickleball | 3/3 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

2/23-2/25 - Youth Winter Retreat
2/25 - Coffee + Conversation with John Jay
2/25 - FBCPride Group Meeting
2/29 - Leap Year
3/03 - Prayer for Global Servants
3/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
3/20 - 55+ Event
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service

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 | 02.17.2024

Beloved Friends and Families with Kids,

We have some dates for you to mark on your calendars, so make sure you read on for all the information about Palm Sunday and our upcoming Kids Camp this summer! I pray you have whatever kind of weekend your family most needs—be that of rest, play, adventure, or a combination of all those. One reminder for tomorrow morning: Our beloved building is old and still in process of getting heating and cooling updates, so it's been pretty chilly in our kid classes upstairs. Parents, please remind your children to dress warmly or encourage them to bring an extra layer or coat. Thanks, and hope to see you tomorrow!

Palm Sunday |  Kids and Youth Singing

We are so excited for our kids and youth to lead us in worship on Sunday, March 24, for our Palm Sunday service! They will begin practicing on Sundays during our kids and youth time each week, and Pastor Mary and I can verify that your kids are great singing worshippers. Because they will be joining Pastor Leslie and the adult choir in processing with palm branches at the start of the service, we need them here at 9:30 AM that Sunday to practice and get set for the morning. We'll have some pastries and coffee for parents at that time so you can hang out together. It's going to be such a fun morning! To help your kids practice at home (and to have a family dance party), here are links to the song and lyric sheet. You could invite them to teach you the words, too!

Save the Date: Kids Camp!

We are already making plans for camp this summer, so parents please mark your calendars for June 24-28. We are excited to reveal our new camp theme (shhh…not yet, though!) and to help our kids encounter God's love together with people from our church family. I know it's only February, but we have learned in years past that parents plan early for summer camps and trips, so we hope it's helpful to get the dates to you now. We can't wait for summer fun together! 

Local Engagement

And if you're still looking for some meaningful family time, it's not too late to check out the 42nd annual Black History Parade and Festival on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 10am-4pm with the theme “Past, Present, Future: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Jackie Robinson.” The festival goes until 4pm this afternoon. See flyer for more details.

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. This week our nursery kids will explore the story of Daniel with the lionsl. Don't forget to grab a take-home sheet with some simple ways to engage the story at home.

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. This week they will continue to talk about love from scripture and our lives, and they'll make some love notes and treats to share with others. It's going to be a fun morning as always with our kids!

Discussion Questions for the Table at Home:

• What are some powerful images for you when you think about what love is?

• What are some moments when you felt loved in the last week?

• What acts of kindness and love do you enjoy sharing with others?

YOUTH

This week the youth are back on for their regular youth gathering and lunch after worship! Parents, be on the lookout for an email with retreat information coming soon. 

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

With deep affection for you,

Pastor Lindsay

Weekly Updates 02.16.2024

Tomorrow

• All women and girls are invited to our Women’s Brunch tomorrow, February 17th, at 10am in the Southside Room! It will be a time to share a delicious meal, get to know some awesome ladies and hear Shawn share about her life and story of faith. Text “brunch” to 626.727.9498 to sign up. If you have any questions, please email Pastor Lindsay.

• The City of Pasadena and the Black History Planning Committee are pleased to announce the 42nd annual Black History Parade and Festival on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 10am-4pm with the theme “Past, Present, Future: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Jackie Robinson.” The parade begins at Fair Oaks Avenue and Mountain View Street. See flyer for more details.

Sunday

• Our Lenten Sunday School begins this Sunday at 9am in the Parlor. We invite you to study a book by Henri Nouwen called The Way of the Heart, that focuses on solitude, silence and prayer. More information can be found here. Text “school” to 626.727.9498 or signup via this link. The church will purchase copies of the book for you, and childcare will be available. Please let Pastor Lindsay know if you plan to bring your kids to this new series so she can prepare.

• Join us at 10:30am for worship in the sanctuary this Sunday! 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.

• You are invited to a lunch with Tim and Patti Long, American Baptist global servants, after worship in the Southside Room. FBCP has supported them for years and as they look towards their own retirement, this is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate their service spreading God’s love to those around them and learn how we can do the same in Pasadena. Please text “Longs” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this lunch. We hope you can join us!

• The Friends In Deed Food Pantry item for this Sunday is baking supplies.

Coming Up

• Join us next week, February 25th, for a casual Coffee + Conversation with Pastor John Jay at 9am in his office. Text “coffee” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP. This is a great hour to get to know a few others and chat with our lead pastor. Come with all your questions!

• Also on February 25th, join us for our FBCPride Group meeting. We’ll meet from 4-6pm in the Southside Room (an hour earlier this month) and focus on where society has made progress with inclusion, and where we can encourage growth and love. We would love to have your voice.  Text “pride” to 626.727.9498 if you’re new to the group. We welcome the LGBTQ+ community, parents and allies ages 16 & up. Email Sally and Kevin with questions.

• Join us as we pray for our global servants around the world on Sunday, March 3rd, after worship in the Parlor. We invite you for thirty minutes of prayer for our FBCP-supported American Baptist servants in Mexico, Lebanon, Turkey and Thailand as they love and support others around the world and share the light of Christ through service.

• Calling all families with kids or youth to join Pastor Lindsay and friends in the Park after worship on Sunday, March 17th, for a potluck lunch to get to know one another better. It takes a village to raise kids, and it’s nice to know what other parents and families are in this church community and might be a source of encouragement or friendship as you raise your own little ones. Text “village” to 626.727.9498 to RSVP for this event.

Vehicle + Meals for FBCP Youth

• Thanks to those who reached out to help with snacks and meals for our Big Bear Youth Retreat this February 23rd-25th! We are grateful for you, Angel, Cindy, Jonathan, Marcie, Mary, Stormie, Susan and Tina!

• We are also in need of a van or car to transport the group up the mountain. Please contact Pastor Lindsay if the group can borrow your vehicle next weekend. Thank you for considering this big ask—we’ll take good care of it!

Local Engagement

• Fuller invites everyone to a public reading of scripture on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-9:30am. This is part of Fuller's Public Reading of Scripture project, which centers the Bible for Christian training and living. It is also about promoting biblical literacy in an age in which Christians usually know the Bible only in fragments. If you've found yourself struggling with any New Year's Resolutions to read the Bible this year, join others in listening to the entire Bible together in 2024. The read aloud meets at Travis Auditorium (180 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA  91101). Free coffee and pastries.

• Atherton Baptist Homes is hosting a night where their own resident speakers who lived through the time of the Japanese internment camps can share their stories at 7pm on February 27th in Miriam Chapel. Arrive early to park, and sign in first at the main office before heading to the chapel.

Weekly + Biweekly Happenings

• Lenten Sunday School | Begins this Sunday | 9-10am | Parlor

• Yarn Crafts Group | 2/25 at 12pm | Parlor

• Passive Aggressive Pickleball | 3/3 at 7pm | Gym

Six Weeks at a Glance

2/17 - Women’s Brunch
2/18 - Lenten Sunday School Begins
2/19 - President’s Day | Office Closed
2/23-2/25 - Youth Winter Retreat
2/25 - Coffee + Conversation with John Jay
2/25 - FBCPride Group Meeting
2/29 - Leap Year
3/03 - Prayer for Global Servants
3/17 - Family Ministries Potluck Lunch
3/17 - FBCPride Group Meeting
3/20 - 55+ Event
3/24 - Palm Sunday Service
3/28 - Maundy Thursday Service
3/29 - Good Friday Service
3/31 - Easter Potluck Brunch + Service

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