“No matter who you are, no matter where you are, you are welcome here!”

December 1, 2023

Dear Pali Pres,

“Invite three people.”

That’s what the voice in my head told me as I sat down to write this blog. It was simple and clear: tell the church to invite three people. So that’s what I’m doing!

As we enter this special and holy season, my encouragement and challenge to all of us is to invite three people to one of our many wonderful Christmas offerings—family members, friends, neighbors, parents at our child’s school, the teller at the bank…anyone! Perhaps you want to invite all three people to the same event. Or, you want to invite three different people to three different events. Your choice! What matters most is that we each make the effort to invite someone to our beloved church to feel the love of Christ this Christmas.

Need a reminder of all that’s going on? Here’s a quick summary:

Sat, Dec 2: Pali Pres Christmas Dinner—Good food (and wine) and good ol’ Christmas cheer!

Sun, Dec 3: Communion/St. Andrews Sunday with bagpipes and beautiful Christmas music!

Sun, Dec 10: Children’s Sing-Along in church (so cute!) with a FREE Christmas Recital at 2pm featuring a mix of traditional Christmas classics and contemporary favorites.

Mon, Dec 11: Women’s Cookie Exchange—a delicious dinner followed by a Christmas cookie swap!

Sun, Dec 17: Las Posadas—pony rides, petting zoo, and a festive re-telling of the Christmas story…including costumes. There’s plenty for the kids too!

Sun, Dec 24: Worship in the morning (10am), afternoon for Children and Families (5pm) and evening (9pm).

Just imagine how amazing it would be to see our beautifully decorated sanctuary and Janes Hall filled with church members, friends, AND visitors this Christmas season. Surely such a sight would be incredibly pleasing to God!

Let’s each do our part to make this Christmas season extra special here at Pali Pres by inviting at least three people to church or any of our special events. Let’s make sure our loved ones, friends, and larger community know that all are welcome at Pali Pres as we celebrate the joyous birth of Christ.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt

2024 Stewardship Campaign Update

The Pali Pres congregation is responding! To date, we’ve received pledges from about one-third of the congregation totaling $275,000 (nearly 92% of our 2024 pledge forecast). But, we still have a little ways to go to reach the minimum $300,000 needed to meet next year’s projected expenses (including our Mission commitment). As always, our goal is for 100% of Pali Pres members to pledge regardless of amount but please be reminded that if your circumstances change during the year, you are welcome to reduce (or increase) your pledge. Pledge cards remain available in the narthex, pews or by contacting the church office. Pledges may also be submitted using the QR code below. Thank you for your faithful generosity!

Congregational Meeting—This Sunday (Dec 3)

The Session of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church has called a meeting of the congregation for this coming Sunday, December 3, after worship. A report will be shared about changes to the church’s bylaws. The Nominating Committee will also share a report with the congregation. The following individuals will be nominated to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2024:

Dean St. Clair, Sue Haldeman, Jan Larson - regular members.

Linda Grant, Courtney Caverly - alternates.

Join the Pastors for an Advent Book Study! It’s Not Too Late To Join!

If you missed the first session, no problem! You can still join us!

Pastor Matt and Pastor Grace invite you to ready your heart for Christmas by joining a conversation around the wonderful book, “Stay Awhile: Advent Lessons in Divine Hospitality.” 

Classes will be held via Zoom from 6:30-7:30pm on Wednesday evenings (Dec 6th, 13th, and 20th).

Please purchase a copy and bring it with you to the Zoom room each week.  The Amazon link is below.

RSVP to Will Saunders in the church office if you plan on attending.  We hope to see you there!

Our Beautifully Decorated Sanctuary!

Thank you to Enrique Portillo & Dennis Moran for so beautifully decorating our sanctuary for Advent and Christmas!

Family Christmas Card Collage

Hello Hello Pali Pres! We invite you to bring your Christmas photo card and pin it on the bulletin board at the entrance of the sanctuary.  Throughout the season we will add to the bulletin board and create a beautiful collage of all beloved church family!

Beech Street Cafe & Pali Pres Preschool

Beech Street Cafe and Pali Pres Preschool would like to invite you to dine in or order to go on December 15th from 11:30am-4pm. Mention Pali Pres Preschool to your server and 10% of all proceeds come back to the preschool!

Join us for our Livestream Worship!

Join at 9:50am on Sunday Morning to enjoy the prelude, with worship beginning at 10am.

Sunday Refreshments

Bringing refreshments on Sunday mornings to share with our church is a loving and very important ministry. Thank you to all of you who have been doing this so faithfully. Please contact Refreshment Coordinator Jan Gong to sign up to serve.

Thank you to Brendan & Jesselyn Kim for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Pat & Bill Moran!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

This week’s flowers are in celebration of the beginning of the Advent Season!

We invite all of our church members and friends to provide donations for flowers to adorn our sanctuary, along with a special dedication of your choosing. The cost is $75 per week.

Please contact Will Saunders and the church will order flowers from a local florist to be placed in the chancel on Sunday morning.

Our Deacons will distribute the flowers to one of our members/friends after the service.

Thank you for helping make our sanctuary even more beautiful!

Sunday Sermon Teaser

This Sunday is St. Andrews Sunday AND the 1st Sunday of Advent!  Join us for communion, bagpipes, and beautiful Advent music as we begin preparations for the coming of Christ.

Give to Pali Pres

Don't forget, you can easily give your tithes and offerings through our website!

Save the Dates

Sat, Dec 2: Pali Pres Christmas Party

Sun, Dec 3: St. Andrew’s Sunday & Congregational Meeting

Sun, Dec 10: Christmas Recital & Sunday Funday

Mon, Dec 11: Women’ s Cookie Exchange

Sun, Dec 17: Las Posadas

Sun, Dec 24: 10am Service, 5pm Service (Family Friendly), 9pm Service

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins…

-Luke 1: 76-77