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

June 14, 2024

Dear Pali Pres,

It sure feels like we finally turned the corner into “summer” here in the Palisades. I know…technically summer doesn’t begin until June 20th. But with the weather turning nicer recently and school letting out this past week (both LAUSD and our church preschool) it feels like we have entered a new season around here.

Additionally, this past Sunday was our wonderful Music Appreciation Sunday, during which we celebrated God’s gift of music and the amazing talents of our Chancel Choir and Contemporary Music Band. Our choir will now take a break through Labor Day, though we will continue to be led in worship each Sunday by our soloists and our full band.

In the spirit of the new season we have entered into, Pastor Grace and I have planned a Summer Sermon Series entitled, “Exploring the Parables of Jesus.” Beginning this coming Sunday and going through the end of August, we will explore a new parable each week with an emphasis on the parable’s theological and practical impact. One of the resources I will use in my sermon preparation is Tom Long’s excellent new book, Proclaiming the Parables: Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom of God. To borrow from the book’s description, “Long sees parables not merely as creative figures of speech but as GPS devices taking hearers to those places where the event of God is happening all around us.”

I very much look forward to unpacking several of Jesus’ parables this summer in fresh and creative ways, with an aim for us to further understand how “the event of God” (as Long puts it, which I love!) is happening in our world and in our everyday lives.

I do hope to see you in church—as your summer vacation plans allow, of course—as we delve into Jesus’ timeless parables together!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt

Pali Pres Prodigals: Mercy Rules

Prodigals (8 - 0): 19

Westwood Presbyterian (5-3-1): 1

Mercy is an essential tenet of Christianity. Our church softball team showed profound piety as their lead got so big, the umpire had no choice but to declare the game over by Mercy Rule.

Energized by the tremendous turnout by our loyal fans, as well as by the nourishing spread of snacks and drinks during our annual pregame picnic, the Prodigals came out swinging. Ten hits in a row at their first at bat quickly equated to seven runs batted in - triggering the inter-inning Mercy Rule. Things didn’t slow down after that. The second inning brought in six runs, matched again in the fourth inning with another six. The only thing that drowned out the incessant dinging of the Prodigals bats was the mighty roar of the Prodigal fans.

A special shout out to Michael Aragon for showing great sportsmanship by playing catcher for Westwood Presbyterian who was down one player. Also a round-of-sound for Charlie Ellis’s dog, “Pesky”, who decided to run out to left field and pay Charlie a visit during the fourth inning for some welcome comic relief; a potential mascot in the making for these “Pesky” Prodigals who just can’t seem to lose.

Please join the Prodigals next week as they face their biggest test of the season versus the Westwood United “Fighting” Methodists.

Pali Pres Prodigals vs. Westwood United “Fighting” Methodists

Monday, June 17th, 8:30pm, Field One

“Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it’s because you’ve started to think of failure.”

- Tommy Lasorda

Pali Pres Elder Nominations for Election on June 16, 2024

The Nominating Committee, after much work and prayer, is nominating the following individuals to be elected as elders for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2024: David Wood, Lynette Shishido, and Bill Walker.

The election will be held at our Congregational Meeting on June 16, immediately after worship. All members and friends of Pali Pres are encouraged to attend (though only members may vote).

CLICK HERE to learn more about those being nominated to serve as an Elder!

A vote will also be taken to extend the terms of our Deacons:

Class of June 2025 (term currently ends December 31, 2024)

Bruce Brough & Vidda Brough, Joanna Darvish, Correne Gichuru, Jan Gong, Linda Grant, Janice Larson and Lore Meline

Class of June 2026 (term currently ends December 31, 2025)

Marie-Anne Helgeson, Joan Kaczorowski, Brendan Kim, Staci Mitchel and Evelyn Moyer

Celebrating the Life of Marti Sadowski

Our dear friend and longtime church member, Marti Sadowski, went to be with the Lord on June 11, 2024. Details for a celebration of Marti’s life will soon be shared. Cards and condolences can be sent to:

Jeff and Jennie Tehan & Family

4288 Campton Rd., Eureka, CA, 95503

A Prayer for Father’s Day

Dear God, on this Father’s Day Weekend, we pray for all fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, and fatherlike figures in our lives, may you bless them and have them draw even closer to you. We pray for all the fathers who have passed, may we hold them in our memory and in our hearts.

We pray for expectant fathers and those who long to become fathers, may you guide them and strengthen them in their journey. In the name of our Heavenly Father we pray, Amen.

Youth Ministry Update!

A BIG Thank You, to all who attended the Youth Ministry Interested Parties Meeting, this last Sunday June 9, in our beautiful Youth Room. It was quite encouraging to have such an enthusiastic group gather to brainstorm and pray about our next steps in building this ministry together as a church family.

Our first next steps are two gatherings:

Teen Gathering: Starbucks in The Village with Ms. Lucy on Sunday, June 23rd and July 28th.

Preteen Gathering: Starbucks in the Village with Ms. Lucy on Sunday, June 30th and July 21st.

Stay tuned for more including a Youth Ministry Interested Parties Meeting Part 2. Keep this vital ministry on your radar and in your prayers.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The human mind plans the way but the Lord directs the steps. -Proverbs 16:3,9

Pali Pres & The People Concern

Ms. Lucy, Nina Kidd (not pictured), The People Concern staff, and volunteers met in the Pacific Palisades Library parking lot to deliver the check from funds raised from the Sunday School Kid’s Change for Change Campaign. Thanks again, Pali Pres, for raising nearly $1,000 for this great cause!

Join us for a baby shower after worship on Sunday, June 30th for Will Saunders and his wife Reena, who are expecting their first child in August! All are welcome!

Let’s celebrate and surround Will (our beloved Office & Operations Manager) and Reena with our love, prayers and good wishes!

CLICK HERE to view their registry. Donations for a group gift can be sent to Lynn Anderson or Vidda Brough.

If you have any questions, please contact Vidda Brough.

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 Jan Gong for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Lynn Anderson & Cynthia Block!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to Pastor Matt for providing last week’s sanctuary flowers! This week’s sanctuary flowers are in celebration of Juneteenth!

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!

— Pali Pres Summer Sermon Series —

Exploring the Parables of Jesus

Join us each Sunday as we delve into Jesus’ parables, discovering anew the powerful impact they are meant to have on our everyday lives.

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Sunday, June 16th: Congregational Meeting (after worship)

Monday, June 17th: First Day of Pali Pres Preschool Summer Camp

Tuesday, June 18th: Session Meeting

Wednesday, June 19th: Campus Closed (Juneteenth)

Sunday, June 30th: Saunders Family Baby Shower

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

-Isaiah 64:8