Community Updates from Pali Pres

Join Us for Worship!

Please join us for worship at Brentwood Presbyterian Church every Sunday at 2:30pm. Recordings of the services are also available via our YouTube page.

CLICK HERE to livestream this Sunday’s worship service!

Six Months of Remembrance and Renewal

In honor of the six month anniversary of the January wildfire, we invite each person to bring something meaningful to worship on Sunday, July 13th. Whether it is a memento or symbol of something that was lost, or a token of something that was found in the ashes, please bring it with you to church as a symbol of grief, growth, and hope. We will be sharing these items together and bringing them forward during worship as signs of hope and resilience, after which they can be taken home again.

We trust that for a brief moment in worship this will be a marker for us to remember, to honor, and to hope together as a family. What are we hoping for? What are we looking toward? Join us on this special day to remember and be resilient together.

“Hope is an act of strength and defiance”

Pictured from left to right: Will Saunders’ viola, our sanctuary cross, Lucy Garcia’s Bible; all spared by the fire.

A Prayer for the Flooded

All of our hearts ache over the devastating floods in Kerr County, Texas. Such destruction and loss of life is beyond words. And yet, we are called to pray for all those impacted by this terrible disaster. Below is a prayer from Presbyterian pastor Rev. Cameron Trimble which may help us articulate our grief and petitions to God. It is titled, “A Prayer for the Flooded.”

O God who weeps with us, our hearts are heavy with sorrow for the lives lost, for the ones still missing, for the parents who wait by the phone, and the counselors who carry stories too painful for words.

Be with them now. Be in the breath that steadies their shaking. Be in the love that will not let them go.

And be in us, too - that we may not turn away, that we may respond with care, and that we may remember, always, that our shared grief is a sign of holy love. Amen.

Pali Pres Family Day at the Skirball Cultural Center

Saturday, July 26, 10:00 AM–11:30 AM

RSVP by July 21 to Ms. Lucy Garcia

Getting There

For their location and directions, click here. Parking is free.

General Overview of Our Visit

9:45–10:00 AM: Check-in at main lobby.

10:00–11:00 AM: Private experience in Noah’s Ark; a Noah’s Ark educator will share an introduction to all. Our group will have some free exploration during your time inside.

Noah’s Ark

11:00 AM: General public enters the Noah’s Ark gallery, but our group is welcome to remain in the space until 11:30 AM.

11:15 AM: Join Noah’s Ark Educators for a musical jam!

Self-Guided Time

After 11:30, you are free to explore the rest of the museum at your own pace. Click here for Information on upcoming programs and exhibits

Monthly Congregational Forums

To help provide our Pali Pres family with information and updates related to our church’s recovery from the January wildfires, the PPPC Session has scheduled “Congregational Forums” on the third Wednesday of each month. The pastors, elders, and members of our church’s “Recovery Executive Team” will be available to present updates on all that we are working on and to hear and address questions from church members and friends.

The first Congregational Forum will be held on July 16 at 6:30pm via Zoom. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Office and Operations Manager, Will Saunders, or Pastor Matt or Pastor Grace.

We hope everyone in our church family will join us for this important time of sharing, listening, and praying or our church and our collective future.

Good News Corner

We are happy to announce that our Sunday School Program will resume its mission component by once again participating in the Brown Bag Brigade. This bi-monthly activity helps our Sunday School kids remember and practice the two greatest commandments, as Jesus taught us, to love God and to love our neighbor. The sack lunches will bless our unhoused neighbors through The People Concern. Thank you to our Pali Pres Missions Committee who provide the supplies, while we provide the manual labor or love!

Job Fair for Fire Survivors

A powerful new initiative is being launched entitled, “Hire a Survivor.” This job fair exclusively for fire survivors was created in partnership with county and state agencies to provide employment opportunities for our impacted community.

Here’s what you can expect:

Resources and service provider booths. Job Fair for organizations ready to hire fire survivors. Health & Wellness Workshops (including CPR certification, medical support, and acupuncture). Free lunch included, along with family activities and live music!

Location:

First Church of the Nazarene (3700 East Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, 91107)

Date: Saturday, July 19th

Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

This will be a powerful day of healing, hope, and opportunity - PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Also, if you are a provider or agency ready to support or hire a survivor, you can host a booth. To find out how, or for more information, contact Elizabeth Jernberg.

Where in the World?

Sadly, much of our church family has been scattered far and wide due to the the Palisades fire. Yet, we remain a singular body of faith and fellowship under Christ. This is by no means an accident! God has worked through all of us to remain united amidst the chaos, inspiring us to take the extra steps needed to stay connected.

In this light, we invite everyone to participate in our new ‘Where in the World’ initiative! If you feel so moved, please download and print the ‘We Love You Pali Pres’ image HERE. Take a picture of yourself/your family holding the picture at your new (or temporary) residence, and email it to Operations Manager Will Saunders, along with your full name, location, and any other details you’d like to share! You and your photo will then be featured in an upcoming Pali Pres Community Update!

Pictured below are Scottie & Dave Dealey with their family at their new residence in Santa Barbara!

You Can Be a Snack Angel!

We have been blessed the last few months by so many churches, friends, and organizations who have donated food and funds for our coffee fellowship hour after church.

We are looking for volunteers from within our own Pali Pres community. On the snack table each Sunday is a sign up sheet for you to select a date to provide snacks for our church family.

If you are unable to physically pick up and deliver the snacks yourself, please make a note next to your name and you can donate $100 to cover the cost of all the food for one Sunday. This donation can also be made online HERE. Please contact Elder Lynnette Shishido, our snack captain, or Pastor Grace for more information and to sign up!

We are so thankful to last Sunday’s Snack Angels, Laurie & Peter Rasmussen, for graciously providing coffee and refreshments. What a blessing! This week’s refreshments are provided by the Nick Family!

USC Journalism Project

USC is hosting a summer journalism program for high school students impacted by the LA fires. As part of their journalism training, students will be in Pacific Palisades on July 22nd between 12:30pm and 2pm to meet and speak with community members about their reflections six months after the wildfires. They are flexible on meeting locations. This material will become part of a publicly available archive at USC, the LA Public Library and possibly public media.

Pali Pres church members and friends who are interested in sharing are welcome to lend their words to this project. This is in an effort not only to document how these fires continue to affect places like Pacific Palisades, but also to bring the community together.

There is also a Palisades listening session on July 19th, led by our student journalists, where you will have the opportunity to share your stories. For more details, please click here.

Please contact the project coordinator for more information and to schedule a time for face-to-face interviews.

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