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

August 25, 2023

Dear Beloveds,

A couple weeks ago, we experienced shock and dismay as flames devoured the tranquil landscapes of Maui, leaving behind a trail of destruction that shattered both hearts, homes and lives. As news of the wildfires spread, a wave of emotions swept through many of us. Having lived through the horrible fires in Bell Canyon years ago, this deeply affected me, and my heart ached for the lives lost and the homes reduced to ashes.

In times of crisis such as this, human reactions and responses become a reflection of our collective soul. In the wake of a terrible tragedy such as this, we hold the power of prayer that can became a unifying force that transcends place and culture; in prayer, we could come together seeking solace and strength for those affected by the fires. In the face of this tragedy, we can harness the power of empathy, the strength of prayer, and a spirit of togetherness.

These fires were close to home, in that this region is part of our own Presbytery, part of our own church family. Please see part of Pastor Heidi Worthen Gamble’s (our Mission Catalyst for our Presbytery) urgent message:

As we witness the outpouring of support and the unity that emerges from these ashes, it is a poignant reminder of our duty to one another and to the planet we call home. The Maui Fire is not only and just a tragic event, but a call to action for us; a clarion call for us to stand together in prayer and in compassion. Friends, let us join together in helping Maui and her people.

For a link to give help, please go to our Palipres.org giving page and click on the tile for Maui Fire contributions.

With great love for you,

Pastor Grace

Mission Opportunity to Tijuana, Mexico - October 7-9

In partnership with Brentwood Presbyterian Church, our church will take part in a home building mission trip through Amor Ministries on October 7-9. Pastor Matt will lead the Pali Pres crew as we serve God by serving others. Youth and families and are welcome and (best of all) no special skills are required! The registration deadline is September 6th. The cost is $485 per person (scholarships are available).

You can read more about the details of the tip here. For more information or to RSVP, contact Pastor Matt.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” -- Jesus

“Stories of Forgiveness and Hope”

A big thank you to Kevin Chaplin, who came and spoke to our church this past Sunday with an incredible message of forgiveness and hope!

If you are interested in reading his book or finding out more about his non profits, please see his websites:

www.saubuntu.co.za

www.amyfoundation.co.za

Joint Church-Preschool Safety Training

On Tuesday, August 22nd the church and preschool staff had a four hour intruder training.  This is our second year and the confidence of practicing and learning new techniques as well as how to go into a lock down while children are with us was invaluable.

The trainer complimented us saying that our church and preschool are "light years ahead" of 95% of the places he trains.  He told us that not only would he feel completely safe working at PPPC, but he would, without hesitation, send his young child to our preschool.

There is no higher compliment than that!

Listen Up! We Have a New Soundboard!

Due to the efforts of a number of people (especially Anthony Wamble), our sanctuary tech booth is now home to a brand new, state-of-the art digital soundboard!  While it may take us a few weeks to fully unlock its potential, we expect this new soundboard to provide a clearer, richer sound during both in-person worship and over livestream.  If you thought the anthems, songs, and sermons sounded good before, just you wait!  We give thanks to God for our old model (which had a great run of over two decades) and all the services, weddings, memorials, concerts, and special events that it helped make possible here at Pali Pres.

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 Correne Gichuru for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Caroline Nick!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Pat & Bill Moran for donating last week! This week’s flowers are brought to us by Marion Belt, in celebration of her TEN great-grandchildren!

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 at will@palipres.org 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 coming Sunday we will celebrate Holy Communion and reflect on what Jesus meant when he said, “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life” (John 6: 27). Come join us!

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Mon, Sept 4: Labor Day, Campus Closed

Tue, Sept 5: First Day of Preschool

Sun, Sept 10: New Members Class, Before & After Worship

Sun, Sept 17: Fall Kickoff, After Worship

Sun, Sept 24: Estate Planning Seminar, 11:30am

Sat, Sept 30: Adult Education, “Embodying Resilience: How Our Bodies Help us Thrive”, 9am

Sat, Oct 7 - Mon, Oct 9: Mission Trip to Tijuana

Sat, Oct 14: Fallderol Fundraising Auction, 5:30pm

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; my rock and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me.

-Psalm 144: 1-2