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

June 21, 2024

Dear Pali Pres,

This past week (June 17, to be exact) marked the birthday of one of the great pillars of the world-wide Christian church, John Wesley. Wesly was born in England in 1703 and is considered the founder of the Methodist denomination. As Presbyterians, our “founding father” would be John Calvin. However, the enormous impact John Wesley had on the universal church is worthy of admiration and thanks from us all.

Wesley was a lifelong Anglican whose vision was to form small groups for Bible study and regular prayer within the Anglican church. To that end, Wesley spent much of his time traveling on horseback through the rural areas of England, Ireland, and Scotland. All along the way, he would preach, hold prayer meetings, and lead Bible studies. Wesley’s impassioned efforts resulted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ spreading like wildfire!

Before long, missionaries in the new “Methodist” movement brought John Wesley’s approach to the North American colonies. By the 1850s, the new Methodist denomination was the largest denomination in the US. It was hugely popular among those on the American frontier, as well as among both enslaved and free African Americans.

Today, the United Methodist Church is collection of approximately 10 million members in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States. And to think, it all began with one dedicated preacher who rode the English countryside on horseback some 300 years ago! It truly is amazing how those mustard seeds can grow!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt

PS—one more interesting fact: the term “Methodist” was originally derisive and was used by some of Wesley’s classmates at Oxford because of his strict and methodical style of study, prayer, and fasting.

Join us for a baby shower after worship on Sunday, June 30th for Will Saunders and his wife Reena, who are expecting their first child in August! All are welcome!

Let’s celebrate and surround Will (our beloved Office & Operations Manager) and Reena with our love, prayers and good wishes!

CLICK HERE to view their registry. Donations for a group gift can be sent to Lynn Anderson or Vidda Brough.

If you have any questions, please contact Vidda Brough.

Pali Pres Prodigals: Diamond of Destiny

Prodigals (9 - 0): 8

Westwood United “Fighting” Methodists (8-2): 7

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. After last Monday’s game, James Park (preschool dad and husband to Lynda, Assistant Preschool Director) falls into all three categories of greatness.

It was the bottom of the final inning, two outs, and the home team Prodigals were tied 7-7 with the game winning run at second base. Silence encompassed the field like a thick, pensive fog, as the music which had blared from the Methodist dugout the entire game was suspended. For a brief moment, time stood still. James stood eye to eye with destiny.

Preschool dad Mario Martini had kept them in the game with two home runs. Catcher Jim Palladino came up clutch with a bare handed grab behind home plate. The outfield had robbed the Methodists all night of mighty hits that could’ve easily blown the game wide open. A team effort had allowed for an individual moment of glory.

The last pitch seemed to hang for hours, until the deafening silence was finally broken with a crack of James’s bat. A hellfire grounder pierced the infield, passed second base and ambled into the outfield. Eric Williamson (former preschool dad) ran with reckless abandon towards third base coach Will Saunders. Basic physics told Will there was simply no slowing Eric down, so he signaled him towards home plate; it was now or never. Like a kid on a slip and slide, Eric left his feet. Some would call it a slide, others, a belly flop. A cloud of dust blinded the crowd, but sight was irrelevant, as the umpire proclaimed, “safe!”. The dust settled, and all that remained in it’s stead was the Prodigals’ perfect record.

Join the Prodigals next week as they continue their pursuit of perfection!

Pali Pres Prodigals vs. Adat Shalom Chaverim

Monday, June 24th, 8:30pm, Field One

“They throw the ball, I hit it. They hit the ball, I catch it.”

-Willie Mays

Celebrating the Life of Marti Sadowski

Our dear friend and longtime church member, Marti Sadowski, went to be with the Lord on June 11, 2024. Cards and condolences can be sent to:

Jeff and Jennie Tehan & Family

4299 Campton Rd., Eureka, CA, 95503

Please save the date for the Pali Pres Church-Wide Estate Sale on Saturday, August 24th!

Donations will be accepted beginning on Sunday, August 18th. Please save your treasures to donate to this important fundraiser.

If you would like to be on the volunteer committee, the next planning meeting is in late July.

If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Nadel, Nancy Gillette, Lyla Corrales or Stephanie Hubsch.

Happy Birthday, Beverly!

A very happy birthday to our super volunteer, Beverly Keese on her 90th birthday! Bev is amazing and helps us in so many different way around church and our preschool, and we are so grateful for all her love! Happy birthday, Bev!

Summer Youth Events at Pali Pres!

Teen Gatherings: Starbucks in The Village with Ms. Lucy on Sunday, June 23rd and July 28th.

Preteen Gatherings: Starbucks in the Village with Ms. Lucy on Sunday, June 30th and July 21st.

Beach Day at Will Roger’s State Beach: July 28th at 3PM

Vacation Bible School: Counselors Wanted! August 5-9th

Vacation Bible School Training Day & Luncheon: August 4th

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The human mind plans the way but the Lord directs the steps. -Proverbs 16:3,9

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 Lynn Anderson & Cynthia Block for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Lynette Shishido!

Sunday 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!

— Pali Pres Summer Sermon Series —

Exploring the Parables of Jesus

Join us each Sunday as we delve into Jesus’ parables, discovering anew the powerful impact they are meant to have on our everyday lives.

This Sunday: What can we learn about ourselves from the story of the unforgiving servant?

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Monday, June 24th: Prodigals Softball

Sunday, June 30th: Saunders Family Baby Shower

Thursday, July 4th: Campus Closed (Independence Day)

Sunday, July 7th: Sunday Funday

Sunday, July 14th: Elder Installation

Sunday, July 14th: Deacons Meeting

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

-John 6: 37-38