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

September 20, 2024

Dear Pali Pres,

Last Sunday was such a great day for our church! We not only came together in a spirit of fellowship and unity for our Fall Kickoff, but we also welcomed four new members into our Pali Pres family.

The reception of new members into a Presbyterian church involves a special worship liturgy. I have included a portion of that liturgy here in my blog as a reminder of what it means to be members of the church:

We are one with each other, sisters and brothers in the family of God. We rejoice in the gifts you bring to us. As you join with us in the worship and service of this congregation, it is fitting that together we reaffirm the covenant into which we were baptized, claiming again the promises of God which are ours in our baptism.

Hear these words from Holy Scripture: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of the One who called you out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

It’s so important to keep in mind that church membership is rooted in our identity as God’s people. It is through our baptisms that we are first brought into the household of God. Once this “original membership” is affirmed, we can then be received as members of a particular church. To put it another way, we have all been given an original identity as a member of God’s family (through our baptism). Then, we are each called to a specific church where we can live out the fruits of that identity in community with others.

This is a beautiful design for our life together as God’s people! Whether we remember our baptisms or not, we are still called to remember that our first identity—our original membership—is into God’s kingdom. With that foundation in place, we then live fully into our calling through the individual church. And it’s all a gift from God!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt

New Pali Pres Members (from left to right):

Megan Price, Peter Rasmussen, Laurie Rasmussen, Michelle Oliver

Congregational Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church congregation will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024, immediately following the 10:00am worship service. During the meeting we will hear a report from the Finance Committee to include the 2024-2025 church budget. The Terms of Call for Pastor Matt and Pastor Grace will also be presented and voted on. All PPPC members and friends are encouraged to attend (only members can vote, however).

Youth Breakfast & Bible Study

Get ready for an exciting start to the school year with our exclusive monthly event for Middle School and High School Students! Join us on the last Sunday of September, October, and November for a special time of spiritual bonding and reading scripture in the Chapel. Youth will enjoy delicious Noah’s Bagels breakfast sandwiches and their favorite Starbucks drink. This session will kick off right after the "Passing of the Peace" in the worship service. Save the dates and let us know if your student will be attending. Your continued love and support mean so much!

Lucy Garcia, Director of Children and Family Ministries

Pali Pres Preteen Sundays

Mark your calendars for our monthly "Preteen" (age 10-12) outings on September 22, October 20, and November 17 during worship (after the "Passing of the Peace"). Join us for a fun time of bonding over Starbucks drinks and a brief Bible story and memory scripture. Please RSVP with your child's attendance and let us know if they'll be bringing a friend… everything is better when shared with friends!

Lucy Garcia, Director of Children and Family Ministries

Fall Kickoff 2024

Last Sunday’s Fall Kickoff was a resounding success! Thank you to everyone who pitched in to make it happen!

Click HERE to see some fun photos!

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 In-n-Out Burger and Hokey Pokey Ice Cream for last week's refreshments! This week’s goodies are brought to us by Amy Berggreen.

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

Thank you to Pastor Matt for last week’s bouquet! This week’s sanctuary flowers are the gift of Lillie Singh and her family, in celebration of Marie Friend’s birthday! 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 coming Sunday we will delve into two thought-provoking passages from the Old Testament, one about a tower reaching into the heavens and one about a king washing in a river. What could these passages possibly have to teach us? Come join us for worship and find out!

Give to Pali Pres

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

Upcoming Children & Youth Events

Sun, Sept 29th: Breakfast and Bible Study - 10 AM Pali Pres, Little Chapel.

Fri, Oct 18th: Bowling Night  - 7 PM to 10 PM - Bowlero in Mar Vista. Youth will meet up with Middle School and High School students from churches in the Pacific Presbytery to have a night of bowling, snacks, and fun. More details to come. ($25 per student includes, a ticket to bowl, arcade card, and snacks.)

Sun, Oct 27th: Breakfast and Bible Study - 10 AM Pali Pres, Little Chapel.

Sun, Oct 27th: Trunk or Treat - 2 PM - Volunteer Opportunity: Decorate the Youth Room and help host this yearly tradition at Pali Pres.

Sun, Nov 10th: Community Service Opportunity - Right after Worship Service - Youth will help serve our community at a destination to be determined.

Sun, Nov 24th: Breakfast and Bible Study -10AM Pali Pres, Little Chapel.

Sun, Dec 8th: Las Posadas - Volunteer Opportunity: Sign up to be part of this wonderful Christmas pageant in either the production or the planning and executing of the festivities. More details to come. 

Save the Dates

Sun, Sept 29th: Congregational Meeting

Sun, Oct 6th: Sunday Funday; World Communion Sunday; Reception in memory of Marti Sadowski

Sun, Oct 13th: Youth Interested Parties Meeting (after worship)

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength, or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

- Jeremiah 9: 23-24