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

September 29, 2023

Dear Beloveds,

This past Sunday we held a very informative and important class for our church. Thanks to our Stewardship elder George Browning, we had two incredible attorneys, our very own Joanna and Elan Darvish, present a class on Estate Planning. It was a remarkable afternoon of learning, and we are so thankful for their efforts and time.

Perhaps you have everything all sorted out for emergencies and your death, or perhaps you think that you don’t have much of an “estate” to think about; we learned that no matter your age or your financial situation, planning for the future now is not only wise, but also a loving thing to do for your family.

Elan and Joanna walked us through many details, from PourOver wills, Living Trusts, and one of the most important items that seems to bring people anxiety, a Health Directive. Having a health directive is crucial for ensuring your medical wishes are honored and respected when you are unable to communicate them. This enables your medical team and more importantly, your loved ones, to have clarity and peace of mind during crucial situations. This important legal document safeguards your autonomy and some control of your preferences during treatment if you cannot speak for yourself.

Joanna and Elan told us that as estate attorneys this is one of the items that seems to delay a lot of planning, as people have understandable anxiety and concern about deciding on these things. As a chaplain intern at Cedars Sinai and also in my work as a Hospice chaplain, I cannot tell you the numerous times that I have seen families in a horrific situation where their loved one who is the patient cannot speak for themselves and does not have a health directive, and the trauma that it brings to the family at an incredibly stressful time. Families are forced to make excruciatingly painful decisions in a time when everyone is under a great deal of duress.

It is my strong belief that having an advanced health directive aligns with our values as disciples of Christ, as we are honoring stewardship, compassion, and the sanctity of life. By creating a directive for yourself you can ensure that your medical decisions are guided by your faith even if you're unable to express them in the future. It is also a very loving gift to your family, as it relieves them of the burden of making difficult decisions on your behalf knowing that they are following your wishes in accordance with your faith. By taking this proactive and mindful step, you can demonstrate your trust in God's plan for your life!

Talking about death and dying is not fun, but important for us to face bravely and thoughtfully as a people of faith. As a postscript, I invite you to join me in reading a book I just started: The Good Death: An Exploration of Dying in America by Ann Neumann. I have only read the first few pages, but it is quite captivating!

For more information on this topic, including how to complete your own health care directive, you can visit this link.

With great love for you,

Pastor Grace

Sunday School at Pali Pres is all geared up with new teachers, volunteers, and curriculum. The children will be covering the Bible in a School Year, learning memory scriptures, and adding new songs to the Children’s Choir repertoire. We are very excited to roll out the new plans as well as officially welcoming some of our VBS Counselors turned Sunday School Teachers. Exciting things happening in the Family Corner. Stay tuned for more!

Trunk Or Treat Volunteers Needed

Trunk Or Treat Anyone?

The neighborhood favorite returns this fall to Pali Pres!

Contact Lucy Garcia if you would like to participate by decorating your trunk and giving out treats at this special event on October 29. lucy@palipres.org

It’s Nominating Season at Pali Pres!

The work of the Pali Pres Nominating Committee is underway, as we seek to discern those whom God is calling to serve our congregation as a Deacon, Elder, or member of the 2024 Nominating Committee. Your input is vital to our prayers and work. Beginning today, you will find a Nomination Form in this newsletter, in the church office, and in the narthex. Utilize this form to nominate one or more persons to any of these leadership roles or, should you feel an inner call to serve our congregation yourself, we truly welcome self-nominations. Copies of the job responsibilities of each of these positions will also be available in the church office and in the narthex. If you are not ready to be an officer but have an interest in serving on any of the committees of the church or just learning more about them, you will be able to indicate that as well.

If you have any questions, please contact any member of the Nominating Committee or email us at nominating@palipres.org.

Cynthia Block, co-chair, Tom Keene, co-chair, Courtney Caverly, Linda Grant, Tove Hoch, Jerry Kaczorowski, Dean St. Clair  

Scan or click the QR code below to access the survey!

September Session Notes from Your Clerk of Session

The Session held its September meeting on the 19th.  Here are some of the highlights of that meeting!

• Julie Baczewski, our preschool director, gave her Fall Update to Session, highlighting the successful Summer Camp program as well as a great start to the new school year.

• Our campus security updates are mostly completed: cameras installed and monitored in the church office as well as the preschool office; on campus security guard in place and a new intercom system installed.

• Our income remains above budget – thank you for your gifts!

• Children & Family Ministries hosted our Fall Kickoff on September 17. A great time was had by all attending.

• Our Congregational Meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2023 to consider some changes to our by-laws and to elect new officers for 2024.

• Buildings and Grounds has decided to replace our sanctuary roof.

The next Session meeting will be October 17, 2023 

Sincerely,

Cynthia Block, Clerk of Session

Presented By

Cynthia Eriksson, Professor & Dean at at Fuller Seminary & Lauren Van Vranken, Psy.D. student at Fuller Seminary

You’re invited to Supper Club on Sunset, our annual Pali Pres fundraiser! The festivities will take place Saturday, October 14 at 5:30pm in Janes Hall where guests will be transported back to the golden days of the Rainbow Room and Copacabana, enjoying drinks, dinner, and live music all while taking part in our silent and live auctions. Want to help? We are looking for donations such vacation home stays, restaurant/retail gift certificates, themed gift baskets (food or game-night, be creative!). One of Pali Pres’ most popular auction items – hosted parties where volunteers host a game/move night or themed dinner. Stop by the Supper Club on Sunset information table after church to RSVP, pick up a donation form, or for more information!

RSVP HERE

PAY HERE

Download your Auction Item Donation Form HERE

Download your Hosted Party Donation Form HERE

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 Sylvia & Jon Boyd for last week's refreshments! This week's goodies are brought to us by Linda Grant!

Sunday Sanctuary Flowers

A BIG thank you to The Singh Family for donating last week! This week’s flowers are in celebration of World Communion Sunday.

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.

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

Come and join us for World Communion Sunday! Christians across the nation and world will be celebrating together! We hope to see you to reflect together on the blessings of communion and community.

Give to Pali Pres

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

Save the Dates

Sat, Sept 30: Adult Education, “Embodying Resilience: How Our Bodies Help us Thrive”, 9:30am

Sat, Oct 7 - Mon, Oct 9: Mission Trip to Tijuana

Sun, Oct 8: Deacons Meeting

Sat, Oct 14: Fallderol Fundraising Auction, 5:30pm

Tue, Oct 17: Session Meeting

Sun, Oct 29: Trunk or Treat

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

-1 Corinthians 11: 26