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

December 27, 2024

Good Tidings, Pali Pres Family!

As we continue to bask in the joyous good news of Christ’s birth, Pastor Grace and I want to extend to all in our church family the blessings of this most holy season. May the hope, peace, joy, and love of Jesus Christ fill your hearts this Christmas and always.

From our families to yours, Merry Christmas!

Pastor Matt and Pastor Grace

Hark the Herald, Angels Sing!

Last Sunday, members of our congregation gathered after church to bring Christmas cheer to the residents of Atria, the nearby assisted living facility. Pierre Tang, our Director of Music, led the practice session and accompanied the group on piano during the performance. The carolers sang beloved Christmas tunes that filled the room with joy and holiday spirit. The residents were delighted to join in the singing, creating a heartwarming connection through music. Special thanks to Amy Berggreen for organizing this wonderful event. We look forward to making this a cherished annual tradition and hope to see even more singers participate next year.

The Mission Committee will be holding a drive in January and early February to collect canned food, gently used coats and sweaters, as well as hand-knitted blankets and socks. These donations will be given to local charities to be distributed to those in need. Please bring your contributions to the narthex during the month of January. If you have any questions, please contact Margaret Knowlton or Lynn Anderson.

A Great Preschool Starts with Great Teachers!

Thank you to our incredible preschool staff for all their wonderful ministry to our students and parents. We celebrated last week with a staff Christmas luncheon.

Mission & Outreach Committee Summary

This fall, our Mission & Outreach (M&O) Committee organized several impactful initiatives, including the Angel Tree project, which provided 70 gifts to families in need, and a caroling event at Atria Assisted Living to spread holiday cheer. Looking ahead, we are gearing up for the "Cans, Coats & Comfort" drive in January to support those in need during the winter months. These efforts demonstrate our congregation’s commitment to helping those in need in our local community.

Since the start of our new fiscal year earlier this year (July 1), M&O has directed financial support to several core organizations that align with our mission of purposeful giving:

Sisters of Sojourn / The People Concern ($2,500): Provides support for victims of domestic violence and individuals facing homelessness through programs that offer housing, outreach, and recovery services.

Homeboy Industries ($2,500): The world’s largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program, helping former gang members transform their lives.

Habitat for Humanity ($2,500): Builds and renovates affordable housing to support families and revitalize communities.

Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness (PPTFH) ($2,500): A volunteer organization addressing homelessness in the Palisades by connecting individuals to resources and support.

PATH ($2,400): Provides transitional housing and support services to help individuals and families achieve permanent housing stability.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) ($3,000): Offers emergency relief and long-term recovery support to communities impacted by disasters. In addition to this M&O contribution, members of our congregation generously donated another $7K for hurricane relief this fall, for a total of $10K.

These contributions reflect our shared goal of fostering relationships and creating lasting impact with these core organizations, through both financial and hands-on support. As we enter 2025, we remain committed to expanding our mission and outreach efforts by providing more opportunities for direct participation from within our congregation.

Sunday Sermon Teaser

This Sunday we will continue celebrating the birth of Christ as we also look forward to 2025. Be sure to join us in worship (and remember, there is no livestream this Sunday only).

Reminder: No Livestream Worship this Sunday

Worship this week will only be in-person, however you can catch the December 22nd service and the 9pm Christmas Eve service using the buttons below.

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 Dick & Jane Lopatt for last week's refreshments! This week’s goodies are brought to us by Amy Berggreen!

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!

Give to Pali Pres

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

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

-John 3:16-17