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

November 24, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving Pali Pres!

I pray this blog reaches each of you enjoying a day off with your family and friends, indulging in some leftover turkey and pumpkin pie (or whatever your Thanksgiving delicacies of choice were this year), and feeling thankful for your many blessings. A special blessing for our family this year is that Luke’s birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day! Our little baby is now 5. Where has time gone?!

In pondering what to focus on in this week’s blog, I did some searching for the perfect Thanksgiving quotation or prayer to share with you. Within three minutes of looking, I quickly ran into a problem—there are WAY too many wonderful reflections on the theme of gratitude to pick only one. Therefore, I decided to share with you a few of my favorites in the hopes that they will each speak to you and help make this Thanksgiving weekend even more special.

The first comes from the book of James, and is a simple but important reminder of God’s goodness to us:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

The following is a line from George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789:

"Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."

I really like the way author Jonathan Safran Foer describes the comprehensive nature of Thanksgiving:

“Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.”

I also really love this quotation from the late US Ambassador and Presbyterian pastor Henry Van Dyke:

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”

And last but not least, Marcie’s famous line from A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving:

“We should just be thankful for being together. I think that’s what they mean by Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown."

With gratitude for all of you,

Pastor Matt

2024 Stewardship Campaign

A very grateful thanks to all who have sent in their 2024 pledges or brought them to the communion table on Dedication Sunday. To date, we’ve received pledges from about one-quarter of the congregation totaling $188,900 (about 63% of our 2024 pledge forecast). So, we have a way to go to achieve the pledge results that will be needed to help meet our 2024 expense budget. For those who wish to pledge before year-end, pledge cards are available in the narthex, in the pews or can be requested by contacting the church office. Also, pledges may be submitted digitally using the QR code (below). As always, our goal is to achieve pledge commitments from 100% of Pali Pres members, regardless of amount, in order to prepare a reliable budget for next year. Thank you for your faithful generosity!

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, as in previous years. Gifts of $25-$30 are appropriate. Please bring all wrapped gifts to the church with the tags attached by no later than Sunday, December 2 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.

Join the Pastors for an Advent Book Study!

The temptation is the same every year: to rush into Christmas.  However, Advent is a season of preparation that takes time and care. Think of the anticipation that comes when we host loved ones for Christmas dinner: We begin by extending an invitation and making our plans.  As the event draws closer, we begin our preparations. Ultimately, we open the door and welcome our guests.  Finally, we celebrate! Advent should feel the same way—a time to make ready for the long-awaited birth of Christ.

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 (Nov 29th, 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.  If you need a complimentary copy, please contact Pastor Matt.

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

Pardon our Mess!

 Our beautiful and beloved sanctuary is getting a much-needed new roof!  Work began this week and should be completed the following week.  During this time, the organ will not be in use and there may be a bit of dust in the sanctuary. Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Westside Food Bank Food Drive

Ends November 27th

Please help us in this great cause! Come by the church office between 8am and 4pm and drop off the following items in the barrel located outside:

Peanut Butter (in plastic)
Cans of: Soup, Vegetables, Tuna, Pork and Beans, Stews/Meats, Fruit
Dry Pasta, Beans, Lentils
Mac & Cheese
Instant Soups
Hot & Cold Cereals
Fruit Juices
Baby Foods (for baby food glass is ok, otherwise, no glass please)

Join us for our Livestream Worship!

Our apologies for technical difficulties with last week’s live stream and recording. The livestream was interrupted midway. Below is the service without interruption.

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 George Browning and Evelyn & Geoff Moyer for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Brendan & Jesselyn Kim!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Ash Park for donating last week! This week’s flowers are in celebration of Thanksgiving and all for which we are thankful.

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 we will reflect together on the theme of thanksgiving! The Bible has so much to say about this topic, so please join us as we learn and worship together.

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Thu, Nov 23: Office Closed

Fri, Nov 24: Office Closed

Mon, Nov 27: Limited Office Hours, 9am to Noon

Tue, Nov 28: Limited Office Hours, 9am to Noon

Wed, Nov 29: Advent Zoom Bible Study Begins

Sat, Dec 2: Pali Pres Christmas Party

Sun, Dec 3: Congregational Meeting

Sun, Dec 10: Christmas Recital

Mon, Dec 11: Women’ s Cookie Exchange

Sun, Dec 17: Las Posadas

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

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid to waste The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah - he will bring the king of Assyria.

-Isaiah 7: 14-17