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

June 30, 2023

Dear Beloveds,

This coming week, we celebrate Independence Day! July 4, 1776, the day that the Declaration of Independence was ratified, was one of the defining moments for us as a fledgling nation. Moreover, the celebration of July 4th and being a believer in the risen Christ can also hold a beautiful meaning for us. For a person who professes Christ in their lives, the principles of freedom and justice are the very same values that Christ taught while He was here.

We are taught in scripture that all individuals are created in the image of God, and have beautiful dignity and worth, and we are called to care for one another-- no matter who we are--with respect and kindness. The celebration of Independence Day can serve as a reminder for all of us that we are called to continue to pursue these ideals of unity and perseverance as a people and a nation.

More importantly for me, as a child of immigrants who stands in two cultures, I am deeply appreciative of the many people who have gone before me in time and history who have sacrificed so much that I might live the life that I have now. I am reminded as well of the freedom that I have through God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice for me that I may live a life of meaning and worth.

Independence Day is a symbol of so much: the struggle for self-determination, worth, liberty, and so much more. I hope that we can all take a moment to reflect on the rich diversity that makes our nation great, the dialogue that we can choose to engage in with others to learn, and to recognize that this great nation has been created by people from all places and walks of life.

Please join me in taking the time this coming week to honor those who have gone before us, to express sincere gratitude for what we have, to join the efforts for unity and charity, and also to urge us to continue to fight for equality and justice wherever we are.

With great love for you,

Pastor Grace

Pali Pres Prodigals

Pali Pres Prodigals: 10

IKAR: 10

Our church softball team’s historic three game winning streak was momentarily interrupted on Monday in dramatic fashion with a tie game.

The Prodigals were down 10-7 and as the home team had the final at-bat. Dave Vazquez drove in an RBI with a triple making it 10-8. With two outs, Eric Williamson (Pastor Matt’s neighbor and resident long-baller), launched the ball into the stratosphere. Vazquez easily made it home. The tying run reliant on Eric, he rounded second base as the outfielder began to relay the ball from deep left field. Third base coach Will Saunders knew it was do or die, so arms flailing, he waved Williamson home. However, when approaching third, he winced in pain - a tweaked hamstring. Ignoring the pain, he rounded third with tenacity and purpose. A photo finish ensued at home as he stomped on the plate just as the ball soared past his head - tying the game and preventing a loss.

Want to see some of this excitement in person? There are only three games left in the season! Join us next time:

Monday, July 3rd, 9pm, Field 4

Baseball is not a conventional industry. It belongs neither to the players nor management, but to all of us. It is our national pastime, our national symbol, and our national treasure.

- John Thorn

A Successful Book Drive

Our church family is amazing! Thanks to all of you who donated books over the past two weeks as part of our first Pali Pres Book Donation Drive.

We collected 80 boxes of books!  That's a lot of books!

It was such a success, that we've decided to do this again later in the year. So keep an eye on News & Notes for Fall book donation dates.

Gratefully,

Pali Pres Mission & Outreach Committee

Click the VBS flyer above to register!

June Session Notes from Your Clerk of Session     

  The Session held its June meeting on the 20th. Here are some of the highlights of that meeting!  

We are still ahead of budget but continue to monitor our spending. Please remember to keep your pledge up to date as you travel this summer.

As part of our ongoing effort to improve the security of our campus, we will be updating and installing new cameras throughout our property.

The Preschool will be hosting Summer Camp on our campus and is also enrolling new families for the fall.

Vacation Bible School is back! It will be held the week of Aug.7th – 11th.

Music Sunday on June 4th was a wonderful time of worship. The Pali Pres Children’s Choir made its debut to an enthusiastic audience. The Special Music Donation raised an additional $1,167 for our music program.

Session will be taking the month of July off and will meet again on August 15th.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Block, Clerk of Session

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. We need folks to sign up for the rest of the summer. Please contact Refreshment Coordinator Jan Gong.

Thank you to Janice Larson for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Pastor Grace and Charlie!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Lore Meline for donating last week! This week’s flowers are brought to us by Marti Sadowski, in remembrance of Tom Sadowski’s birthday, 7/3/1937.

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

Join us on Sunday as we think on the challenge of community as church family and beyond! We will also share communion together, so we hope to see you!

Give to Pali Pres

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

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

-Galatians 5:1