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

March 17, 2023

Dear Pali Pres,

As you’ve already heard, numerous times, our church has an official softball team called the Pali Pres Prodigals. In the cold, dark, wee hours of Monday night (9pm to be exact), we played our first game of the 2023 season. I won’t mention the outcome or final score, but I will say that our team (consisting of church members, staff, preschool parents, and even one of the priests at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church) had a great time!

A number of years ago when I was an Associate Pastor at a local westside church, I partnered with one of our church elders to establish the West LA Interfaith Softball League. Our vision was to bring together people of different faiths in a spirit of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition. This year, the league is up to seven teams representing diverse houses of worship from the westside of LA. The other six teams are:

Adat Shalom Synagogue

Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church & Brentwood Presbyterian Church (a joint squad)

IKAR Jewish Community

University Presbyterian Church (located near the campus of UCLA)

Westwood Presbyterian Church

Westwood United Methodist Church

While the league is always trying to grow and include new houses of worship, I find it pretty amazing that we are able to come together with these worshipping communities once a week to laugh, cheer, and recognize our unity in God. Some of our religious traditions are more charismatic than others, while others are more traditional. Some more liberal in their theology and approach to social issues, while others are more conservative. But in the end we are all sisters and brothers of the same Creator, in whose image and likeness we were formed. In fact, to start each game all players from both teams gather at the center of the diamond to join in prayer. It is not a Christian prayer or a Jewish prayer, but a prayer of thanksgiving to the God who gives us this day and one another.

I wanted to share this blog with you, members and friends of Pali Pres, as an encouragement to us all. Not necessary an encouragement about winning softball championships, but about the value and reality of interfaith relationships. It may sound a bit silly, but this softball league really gives me hope. It shows that with a little effort on our part, God can and does provide his Spirit of unity and peace to his people. As Paul says, “So far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

May we all find ways to live at peace with one another, including with those who have different beliefs and traditions that we have.

Go Prodigals!

Pastor Matt

Easter Lily Dedications

Our annual Easter Lily Dedication is here! For $15 you can sponsor a lily that will adorn the sanctuary for Easter Sunday. You can take the lilies home with you after the service, or choose to leave them behind and they will be given to someone in need of some extra TLC this Easter!

Order forms are in the sanctuary pews; please attach to them cash or check with the paperclip provided and place them in the collection plate. You can also pay online, but dedications are limited to 50 characters. If your dedication(s) exceed(s) 50 characters, please contact Will in the church office.

The deadline for orders is Palm Sunday, April 2nd.

Easter Sunday Volunteers Needed

The Children & Family Ministries Committee is looking for helpers this Easter. Here are some ways you can help!

1. Filling Easter Eggs: We will provide 24 recycled plastic eggs. You can help by donating and assembling (fill with wrapped nut-free candy, small toys, or stickers).

2. Craft Table: You can help children make a simple Easter-themed craft.

3. Vacation Bible School Tent: We will be providing and taking down information from families looking to sign-up their children for VBS.

4. Event: You can help us hide eggs before service on Easter Sunday or assist during the Easter Egg Hunt to make sure the children are safe.

Sunday School: You can help by being on-call to assist our teachers, as historically Easter Sunday is the most well-attended service of the year.

Please see Ms. Lucy during the coffee hour after Sunday Service or contact her if you wish to sign up as a volunteer

Session Retreat

We held our annual Session retreat in Janés Hall this year. Our faithful elders met for a day of sharing, encouraging, and planning for our church family. Please keep our elders and pastors in your prayers as they lead our church into its bright future!

Barbara ‘Babs’ Nathan Memorial

A memorial service for our beloved church member and friend, Babs Nathan, will be held at our church on March 25th at 2pm. A reception will follow in Janés Hall.

The service will be livestreamed HERE.

Cards may be sent to:

Bob Nathan, 19191 Harvard Ave #227, Irvine, CA 92612

Pali Pres Softball Team Recap

Final Score

Adat Shalom: A Lot

Pali Pres Prodigals: A Little

Like a recommissioned battleship, the Pali Pres Prodigals have some rust to remove, some decks to swab and some upgrades to institute. That being said, there were many bright spots and flashes of glory and we have a lot to be hopeful about moving forward. While Adat Shalom may have won last night’s battle, the war for a league championship is far from over. They very well may have awoken a sleeping giant.

We hope to see you next Monday at 7:30pm as we take on the hybrid Brentwood/Beverly Hills Presbyterians!

Brentwood/Beverly Hills vs Pali Pres Prodigals

Monday, March 20th, 7:30pm, Field #4

Cheviot Hills Rec Center, 2551 Motor Ave, 90064

Join us for our Livestream Worship!

Join at 9:50am on Sunday Morning to enjoy the prelude, with worship beginning at 10am.

Our Condolences and Prayers

Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Marion Lintner, who passed away on February 16, 2023 at the age of 92. Marion was a former longtime member of Pali Pres and was known for her humor and adventurous spirit. May she rest in peace in God’s everlasting arms.

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 midwinter and spring. 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 Dianne Jerome and Beverly Keese!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to The Deacons for donating flowers last week!

This week's flowers are brought to us by Bill & Pat Moran, in gratitude of our church family.

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. The flowers will then be taken to one of our members/friends after the service.

Thank you for helping make our sanctuary even more beautiful!

Sunday Sermon Teaser

Be sure to join us this Sunday as we explore an ancient religious tradition, the practice of pilgrimage. How can this ancient spiritual practice be a part of our lives today? Join us as we learn together!

Pledge & Other Giving Income

February 2023 Actuals: $29,493.34

January - February Actuals: $79,320.41

January - February Budget: $61,210

Pali Pres relies on your consistent giving to meet our regularly scheduled expenses. Thank you to everyone who is able to give!

Give to Pali Pres

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

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

Philippians 3: 7-9