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

February 9, 2024

Dear Pali Pres,

February is Black History Month, a time set aside to celebrate black men and women who made significant contributions in American and world history.  This month is an important reminder that our diversity is a gift from God; as it says in the very first chapter of the Bible, we are all made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1: 26).  Black History Month is also a valuable time for us to recommit ourselves to the pursuit of racial equality and the end to racial discrimination and racism.  This is an ongoing challenge, but one that is worth all our efforts and prayers as sisters and brothers in Christ.

In that spirit, I share with you a wonderful prayer from Rev. Demanya Kofi Akoussah, who is a pastor in the United Church of Canada.  Originally from Togo in West Africa, Pastor Akoussah crafted this prayer based on texts from Isaiah, Genesis, and the Song of Solomon. It certainly spoke to my heart, and I hope it speaks to yours too.  Let us pray…

It pleases me greatly to know that I am made of soil

and in the end will return to dust.

So why should I be worried

by the contempt of those who pay no heed to this truth

when they insult and discriminate against me

because of the colour of my skin?

Can the potter be ordered about by the pot,

or the clay instruct the artisan kneading it

into a chosen form?

O, my God, how can I not praise you?

I give thanks to you, my Creator,

for you have made me with intelligence and wisdom,

and I am proud to have been created Black.

I thank you, Lord, for my sister, who you made so beautiful,

her skin polished by the sun.

To paraphrase the Song of Songs,

I thank you, O God, for having made us diverse,

for giving humanity such wonderful harmony,

just as many different flowers together create a garden’s beauty.

Lord, I pray for those who harbour hatred for people of colour.

Heal them of their ignorance

that they might realize the vanity of their lives.

For whatever they may be today,

we all shall return to dust.

Lord, empower us to be wise and humble

so that we may love one another

as you have loved us and come to have true LIFE. Amen!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt

Calling all Scouts and Scout Volunteers!

During worship this Sunday, there will be a special time of recognition for all the Scouts and Scout Volunteers in our church community. If you are a part of a Scout program in any way, we invite you to join us in your Scout uniform/attire and come forward to receive some encouragement, love, and a blessing from the congregation!

Lenten Calendar 2024

As we enter into the season of Lent, we invite you to take a colorful Lenten calendar from the Narthex table. It was designed for children and their families, but can be used by anyone for their Lenten journey.

Pali Pres 2024 Per Capita Appeal

Presbyterians are connected in many ways: through worship services, small groups, mission and outreach events and, on a larger scale, through our denomination. During 2024, Pali Pres is obligated to remit $48 for each active member as a way for us to share in the support of our denomination’s three governing bodies (Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly). In order for our church to conserve your generous contributions and our other sources of income to support our various ministries, we encourage each member to consider reimbursing the church for the $48 tax paid on your behalf. You may do so by check (marked Per-Capita) or on the church website. Thank you!

To read more about what per capita is—why it is important, what it is used for—check out this article from the PC(USA).

Join us for our Livestream Worship!

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

Our apologies - the livestream experienced technical difficulties on Sunday, February 4th. In ‘Last Week’s Service Part One’, the video freezes at 3:23 and the audio continues until 10:55. Then, in ‘Last Week’s Service Part Two’, the livestream continues in the middle of Pastor Matt’s sermon. We appreciate your understanding as our tech department works to resolve these technical issues.

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 The Frazier Family for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Caroline Nick!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Pastor Grace & Charlie Park for providing last week’s sanctuary flowers. This week’s flowers are a gift from Tove Hoch, in appreciation of our church musicians!

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 coming Sunday is Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday. We will look at the rather mysterious yet profound story of Jesus’ transfiguration from Matthew 17. Be sure to join us!

Give to Pali Pres

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

Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit on his side and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

-Ezekiel 9: 3-4