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

November 22, 2024

Dear Pali Pres,

As you peruse this week’s newsletter, you will likely notice an overwhelming truth: the Advent Season is upon us! I know, I know… technically Advent does not start this year until December 1st. However, there are already so many events and opportunities planned to share with the church! I do hope you will take the time to notice all that is taking place at Pali Pres over the coming four weeks as we prepare ourselves for Christmas and the birth of the Christ Child.

On that note, I’d also like to encourage everyone to take a deep breath (go ahead and do so now…it’s ok to stop reading my blog for a second!) and ready our hearts and minds for all the busyness that will make up this season. As grand and special as Christmas is, and as glad as I am that we have such a variety of Advent offerings (focused on study, service, worship, and fellowship), I also recognize that there is such a thing as “too much” when it comes to our calendars this time of year. As Isaac Newton once said, “Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.” So, while I want us all to enjoy and take advantage of the multiplicity of activities and events taking place at Pali Pres this Advent, I do not want us to overlook the truth, which is simple and of primary importance: God became flesh through Jesus Christ.

May all that we do over these coming weeks (and for many of us, that will be a lot!) never cause us to lose sight of the simple truth of this season. Let us all ready our hearts and minds (and take another deep breath) as we prepare ourselves, once again, for the coming Christ Child.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt

St. Andrew’s Sunday

Be sure to join us this coming Sunday for bagpipes as we celebrate our Presbyterian heritage that connects us with Scotland! The bagpipes will be playing promptly at 10 AM, so this is a Sunday you want to make sure that you’re on time to worship!

Join the Pastors for our Annual Advent Bible Study!

Pastor Matt and Pastor Grace invite you to ready your heart for Christmas by joining a conversation around the Advent study, “Finding Our Place at the Manger.”

Throughout the Advent season we see the nativity scene all over the place—on greeting cards, under Christmas trees, and on front lawns. The purpose of this study is to look beyond the traditional presentation of the nativity scene so that we can find our place at the manger. Each session will examine what we know about those who were there to witness the birth of Jesus: Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men. Throughout each session, we will not only look at these characters in scripture, but we’ll also reflect on how they speak to us in our modern world so that we may find where we fit in as we await the joy of Jesus’ birth.

Classes will be held via Zoom from 6:30-7:30pm on Wed. Dec 4th, Wed. Dec 11th, Wed. Dec. 18th, and Mon. Dec. 23rd.

Copies of the Advent resource are FREE! Simply email Pastor Matt for your copy and to RSVP for the class. We hope you will join us!

Mission & Outreach Update

The Mission & Outreach (M&O) committee is pleased to announce a contribution of $9,920 to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) fund, thanks to a $3,000 donation from M&O and an additional $6,920 in generous donations from our congregation. This donation will support vital aid and relief efforts for those impacted by recent hurricanes Helene and Milton. Through PDA, these funds will provide emergency assistance, long-term recovery, and tangible support for the affected communities. Thank you to everyone who contributed to help bring hope and healing to those in need.

Angel Tree Giving Opportunity

It's that special time of year!

Once again the church is working with Angel Tree to provide gifts to the children of incarcerated parents. Gift request tags are available at a table as you enter the church. Gifts/gift cards of $25-$30 are appropriate. Please bring all wrapped gifts to the church with the tags attached by no later than Sunday, December 8 so that they can be delivered in plenty of time for Christmas. Thank you, as always, for your love and care for these families in need!

Yours in Christ,

The Mission Committee

Thanksgiving Interfaith Worship Service—Monday, Nov. 25th at 7pm

Come take part in this annual tradition hosted by The Ministerial Association of Pacific Palisades! Through song, prayer, and scripture we will join fellow Palisadians in giving thanks for our unity and many blessings. A special collection will be taken to benefit the Westside Food Bank, and a reception will follow the service. Location: Corpus Christi Church, 880 Toyopa Drive, Pacific Palisades. We hope to see you there!

Christmas Poinsettia Dedication

Everyone is invited to donate and dedicate a poinsettia to adorn our sanctuary this Advent Season! Dedications are $15 each and will be noted in an upcoming newsletter. To make a donation/dedication, simply complete one of the forms in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate, or do so online here. The deadline is December 15th.

Join us for this three-week series on gratitude and thanksgiving:

Week #1 (Sunday, Nov. 10)—“Being Thankful in All Circumstances”

Week #2 (Sunday, Nov. 17)—“Being Thankful in Our Hearts & Minds”

Week #3 (Sunday, Nov. 24)—“Being Thankful in Our Actions”

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 Staci & Clay Mitchel for last week's refreshments! This week’s goodies are brought to us by Jubilee Park!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Lyla & Cindy Corrales for last week’s sanctuary flowers. 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!

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Sun, Nov 24th: Saint Andrew’s Sunday

Mon, Nov 25th: Interfaith Worship Service at Corpus Christi

Thu, Nov 28th - Fri, Nov 29th: Thanksgiving Holiday; Campus Closed

Sun, Dec 1st: First Sunday of Advent; Sunday Funday

Fri, Dec 6th: Pali Pres Annual Christmas Dinner

Sun, Dec 15th: Christmas Recital

Mon, Dec 16th: Women’s Cookie Exchange and Potluck

Sun, Dec 22nd: Christmas Caroling at Atria

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

-John 1: 40-42