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

May 5, 2023

Dear Pali Pres,

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an important time to celebrate the progress made to raise awareness around mental health and to encourage folks to seek help. It is also a time to acknowledge that people living with mental illness continue to face stigma and, often, discrimination.

As people of faith, we are called to follow in the ways of Jesus, whose life and ministry were rooted in compassion and the healing of people—physical healing, but also emotional, spiritual, and mental healing. May we hold in our prayers all those struggling with mental illness as they/we seek support and treatment. The following is a portion of a beautiful prayer written by Rev. Susan Gregg-Schroeder, founder of Mental Health Ministries. May we join together in prayer as we recognize Jesus’ ongoing healing work among us.

Divine One, you love each one of us just as we are and you walk with us on our individual journeys through life.

Give us courage to face our challenges and open us today to the many ways you are already working in our midst. Inspire us as we seek to overcome fear, acquire knowledge, and advocate for compassionate and enlightened treatment and services. Enable us to find ways to be inclusive of persons living with mental illness in our everyday lives. Be with doctors, therapists, researchers, social workers, and all those in the helping professions as they seek to overcome ignorance and injustice with care and compassion.

Sometimes, Divine Spirit, we feel discouraged and hopeless in the face of so many challenges. Help us to see ourselves as you see us…persons of value and worth… persons of creativity and potential. May we come to understand the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit in bringing about health and wholeness. And may we go forward into our communities with a renewed sense of vision, hope and possibility for the future. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Matt

Installation Sunday

Congratulations to Bill Hamm and Evelyn Moyer for being installed last Sunday as offices of our church!

A Great Day of Learning

Thank you for joining us on Saturday morning April 29 for our wonderful learning event! We had close to 60 people join us to learn about the importance of resiliency, and what it means for us and our faith! A big thank you to Dr. Cynthia Ericksson and Fuller Seminary for their partnership. Special thanks to Margaret Keene and Cynthia Block for their support and help to make this day a very special one for our church family.

Celebrating the Life of Bob Nathan

Our dear friend and long time church member, Bob Nathan, went to be with the Lord last month. As a way to celebrate Bob’s life and his gift to our church and our world, Bob’s family will host a special fellowship time on June 11th after worship. This will take the place of our normal Sunday coffee fellowship time and is open to everyone. Please mark your calendars now and be sure to join us for a time of celebration and sharing memories with Bob’s family and friends.

Announcing the Passing of Rev. Shelby Larsen

Our love and prayers go out to Chuck Larsen and family on the recent passing of Rev. Shelby Larsen. Shelby was a retired Presbyterian minister who faithfully served the Lord here in the Pacific Presbytery. Upon retirement, Shelby attended Pali Pres along with her husband, Chuck. The memorial is scheduled for June 17th at 2pm. Cards may be sent to:

664 Palisades Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Pali Pres Prodigals

Pali Pres Prodigals: 7

Westwood Presbyterian: 13

Even though they didn’t win, the church softball team played hard and put in a real team effort. Each week they are improving, in the field and at the plate. They’re having a great time this season and hope to see more church members in the stands as the weather warms and sun stays out longer!

Hats off to preschool parent and fellow Prodigal, Kevin Homsy, for hitting the first homerun of the season!

The next game is against Westwood Methodist at 7:30pm on Monday, May 8th, Cheviot Hills Rec Center, Field 3.

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” - Babe Ruth

Calling All Graduates!

The Children and Family Ministries committee will be honoring our high school graduates for the Class of 2023 on May 21st in our worship service. If you have a graduating senior, please let us know, as we would like to take a moment to celebrate this very important milestone in our young people’s lives.

Also, if you have any children that will be "stepping up" from preschool, elementary to middle school, or middle school to high school, we would like to acknowledge them in our newsletter.

Finally, please let us know of your children's college graduation so that we may congratulate them.

Please contact Ms. Lucy Garcia, Dir. of Children and Family Ministries.

Children and Family Ministries Updates

Thank you for all who have registered for Vacation Bible School so far. The Early Bird Registration will go through May.

We will have refreshments in the Youth Room to commemorate the reopening of the Youth Room on May 21st immediately after worship service.

Family Picnic and Softball Night

Everyone is invited to join us on May 22nd at 6pm, for a fun evening out with the family. BYOP (bring your own picnic) and something to share. Come cheer on our church softball team, the Pali Pres Prodigals!

Cheviot Hills Rec Center, 2551 Motor Ave, Picnic Tables at Field 3

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. We need folks to sign up for spring. Please contact Refreshment Coordinator Jan Gong.

Thank you to The Iannaccone Family for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Dave Kidd!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

This week’s flowers are brought to us by Vidda & Bruce Brough, in honor of 50 years of wedded bliss!

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

This Sunday we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper and reflect on Jesus being the Bread of Life. Be sure to join us!

Give to Pali Pres

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

What’s Happening in May

Sunday, May 7th: Ladies’ Tea - 11:15am

Monday, May 8th: Prodigals vs. Westwood Methodist - 7:30pm

Sunday, May 14th: Mother’s Day

Monday, May 15th: Prodigals vs. Adat Shalom Chaverim - 7:30pm

Monday, May 15th: Pastor Grace Sabbatical Begins

Sunday, May 21st: Graduation Sunday

Monday, May 22nd: Prodigals vs. Bev Hills/Brentwood Pres - 7:30pm - Church Picnic Before the Game at 6pm!

Sunday, May 28th: Pentecost Sunday

Monday, May 29th: Memorial Day (Campus Closed)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.

-Romans 12: 1-2