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

December 15, 2023

Dear Beloveds,

After church this Sunday we are celebrating Las Posadas and we hope you will join us!

Las Posadas is a wonderful tradition rooted in Latin America that has a beautiful lesson for all of us during the Advent season; the lessons are rooted in the story of baby Jesus, and it is a wonderful way to teach everyone, not just children, about the Christ child.

Las Posadas commemorates the long journey that Mary and Joseph took as they tried to find shelter in Bethlehem. This holds such theological significance, as it weaves the telling of the nativity with the notion of hospitality and hope in the Christmas story.

The baby Jesus was born in a strange land, as a stranger, and was welcomed into this world by people He would never see again; shepherds, magi, and a host of barn animals. The struggle that Mary and Joseph experienced is reflective of the struggle that all humanity has with the uncertainty of our experiences in life. We all desire a place of refuge and hope, and this applies to us spiritually as well. So as we watch Mary and Joseph try and try again to find a place to sleep for the evening, we are reminded that we, as believers, are called to a divine hospitality, to welcome those in need, to open our hearts and homes to those whom we can help, and to open our hearts to Jesus.

Another very important theological message that Las Posadas holds for us is that we belong to a community of faith. We are not in the world alone, if we can let others into our hearts and our lives. After the baby Jesus was born, a rag tag community assembled and worshipped Him together. This new little family was not left alone in the cold and the dark.

Las Posadas can remind us of these things, and can affect our spiritual lives this season when we reflect on gratitude and a mindfulness in seeing God in all things and all events, big and small. It took one stranger and their decision to open their door to a family who brought the Messiah into the world that night. What a beautiful thing to realize!

I hope that everyone will join us this coming Sunday afternoon for a meaningful and life-giving experience of Las Posadas.

With great love for you,

Pastor Grace

Please bring a pack of baby wipes to donate to our Asylum Families Ministry

Family Christmas Card Collage

Hello Pali Pres! We invite you to bring your Christmas photo card and pin it on the bulletin board at the entrance of the sanctuary.  Throughout the season we will add to the bulletin board and create a beautiful collage of all beloved church family!

2024 Stewardship Campaign Update

We’re making excellent progress! To date, we’ve received pledges from about half of the congregation totaling $321,000. As always, our goal is for 100% of Pali Pres members to pledge regardless of amount, but please be reminded that if your circumstances change during the year, you are welcome to reduce (or increase) your pledge. Pledge cards remain available in the narthex, pews or by contacting the church office. Pledges may also be submitted using the QR code below. Thank you for your faithful generosity!

Mustard Seed Ministry

Join us for worship on December 17th as we thank the Mustard Seed Ministry (our church's knitting ministry) which has worked all year to make blankets that will be delivered to County USC hospital!

Beech Street Cafe & Pali Pres Preschool

Beech Street Cafe and Pali Pres Preschool would like to invite you to dine in or order to go TODAY, December 15th, from 11:30am-4pm. Mention Pali Pres Preschool to your server and 10% of all proceeds come back to the preschool!

Christmas Recital

A big thank you to Michael Payne and Dylan Gorenberg for a beautiful Christmas recital last Sunday afternoon! We are thankful that they shared their wonderful talents with us, and are blessed to have them in our church family.

Click this link to see photos and videos from the this lovely event.

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 Lynette Shishido & Shelley Wagner for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Joan & Jerry Kaczorowski!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

This week’s flowers are in celebration of Las Posadas!

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 is the 3rd Sunday of Advent! Join us for worship as we reflect on the theme of “Peace” and the cosmic implications of the Incarnation.

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Sun, Dec 17: Las Posadas

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

Mon, Dec 25 - Wed, Dec 27: Office Closed

Sun, Dec 31: Christmas Carol Sunday (In-Person Only)

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

-Matthew 2: 1-2