Tag: Lunch Bunch

This Week at First Baptist (2/1/17)

  • CalendarThursday, February 2, 7:30 PM: Church Choir in the Parlor.
  • Sunday, February 5: Fifth Sunday After Epiphany
    10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School:
     “Letting the Light Through,” Psalm 112:1-10; Isaiah 58:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Rick Mixon preaching.
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: “Speaking in Parables.” We will spend some time looking at Jesus’ Parables, using Bill Herzog, John Dominic Cross and others as guides.
  • Sunday, February 5, 1:00 PM: Lunch Bunch at Chef Chu’s on the corner of San Antonio and El Camino, 1067 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos. Please let Melanie Ramirez or Alan Plessinger know if you are planning to attend.
  • Tuesday, February 7, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos

Note from Pastor Rick (11/30/2016)

Thanks to everyone who stayed to help decorate the church for the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany season. The sanctuary looks beautiful. Afterwards we gathered in the Parlor to consume a pot of “Stone Soup,” using stock from the Thanksgiving turkey and the contributions of those who stayed, including some kale and a rutabaga! Twelve people gathered at the parsonage on Thanksgiving Day to share the feast. I think a good time was had by all. Certainly no one went away hungry. The event seemed to work well enough that we will most likely repeat it next year,

I don’t want to be a nag about the Time and Talent Surveys, but so far only 10 responses have been received. As I said last week, I’m no big fan of surveys but it would be really helpful to the church leadership in planning for the future to know what your interests are and something about your willingness and ability to serve our congregation. Even if you think we already know what you’re doing and willing to do, please take time (only a few minutes) to fill out the form and turn it in.  You may discover something new or different that interests you. You may want to be liberated from something you’ve done for a while. You may come up with some creative ideas we hadn’t thought about. Take this opportunity to communicate with us. It will be much appreciated.

Advent continues this week with an emphasis on Peace. The text from Isaiah is his magnificent hymn to the “Peaceable Kingdom.” Both this text and the Psalm for the day invoke a style of leadership that is marked by justice, righteousness, wisdom, and shalom. Perhaps he will want to pray such prayers and sing such as songs as we consider a transition of leadership in our own land. In the gospel reading, John the Baptist excoriates the religious leaders of his day for the failure to grasp the need for such leadership among themselves. He predicts that One is coming who will sort this all out and make things right. Pastor Gregory will be preaching this Sunday and we will celebrate Communion.

In Adult Spiritual Formation we will continue our exploration of Jesus’ birth and the meaning of incarnation in his time and ours. Afterwards, the Lunch Bunch will gather at Mike’s on Middlefield. Let Melanie Ramirez or Alan Plessinger know if you’re planning to attend,

Plan to join in the joy of the day, beginning with worship at 10:00 AM and continuing through the education hour and lunch. Bring someone else along to share the day with you.

Together, let us strive…to know God’s love!

Pastor Rick   

This Week at First Baptist (11/30/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • Thursday, December 1, 7:30 pm: Choir Practice in the Parlor. Everyone is invited to share in the fun and the music.
  • Sunday, December 4, Second Sunday of Advent
    10:00 AM: Worship for the Whole Family with Communion
    “Growing Together,” Psalm 22:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12; Romans 15:4-13, Gregory Stevens preaching.
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: “Saving Jesus Redux: Jesus’ Birth: Incarnation” Another session in our ongoing exploration of this challenging video series.
    12:45 PM: Lunch Bunch at Mike’s Café, 2680 Middlefield, PA
  • Tuesday, December 5, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, December 7, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Bill’s Cafe, 3163 Middlefield, Palo Alto. All the men from our Church family are welcome.
  • Wednesday, December 7, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group at Eileen Conover’s, 1075 Space Park Way #217, Mountain View.

Looking Ahead:

  • Sunday, December 11: Children and Youth Sunday School Party. Let’s build messy, sticky, awesome Gingerbread Houses!
  • Sunday, December 11, 4:00 PM: Christmas Caroling and Chili

Note from Pastor Rick (8/10/2016)

Thanks to Pastor Gregory for his excellent sermon explaining the “Rapture” to us and to Anthia Lee Halfmann and their beautiful music Sunday. We had a good group at Lunch Bunch, concluding with a birthday celebration for Dona Smith-Powers’s friend, Larry, complete with chocolate cake and strawberries and whipped cream. After Nana’s ample Patio Hour, we all went home “well-fed” in every way.

This Sunday we will continue our consideration of “Coming Home,” this time focusing on Jesus’ parable at the very end of the “Sermon on the Mount” in which he encourages his followers to “build their homes on solid rock.” Again we will ask what is meant by home and how we might construct such a “home” for ourselves and our congregation. We have a fine building but is that enough? Is it even what Jesus is looking toward we he exhorts the work crew? Continue reading Note from Pastor Rick (8/10/2016)

This Week at First Baptist (6/1/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • Thursday, June 2, 7:30 PM: Choir Practice in the Parlor
  • Sunday, June 5, Fourth Sunday in Pentecost
    10:00 AM: Youth Sunday Worship for the Whole Family with Communion
    “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss: Oh, the Places You Will Go”
    12:00 noon: Lunch Bunch: place to be determined. Everyone is invited to join in a meal for the whole community.
  • Sunday, June 5, 7:00 PM: A Night of Hope, a one hour candle light service commemorating the first anniversary of the shooting at  Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, Sunday, June 5 at 7:00 PM at First Congregational Church, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto, CA.
  • Tuesday, June 7, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, June 8, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos.

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Thursday, June 9, 8:00 PM: Free Movie Night- Michael Moore’s Where to Invade Next, Los Altos Youth Center in Los Altos, CA
  • Sunday, June 12, Fifth Sunday in Pentecost
    10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss: The Lorax,” Genesis 2, Job 12:7-10, followed by Patio Hour.
  • Sunday, June 12, 2:00 – 7:00 PM: Communications in the Church- Pacific Coast Baptist Association Spring Conference including worship, panel discussion, and dinner. Grace Baptist Church, 484 E. San Fernando St., San Jose. Pastor Rick will be one of the panelists. Registration forms are available in the entry way and the church office.

This Week at First Baptist (5/25/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • Thursday, May 26, 11:30 AM: Women’s Brunch at Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant, 4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. All women of our  church community are invited to join in.
  • Thursday, May 26, No Choir Practice. We will resume on Thursday, June 2, 7:30 PM, in the Parlor
  • Sunday, May 29, Third Sunday in Pentecost
    10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Peace Now,” Micah 4:1-4; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 12:9-21, Rick Mixon preaching.
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation in the Parlor. “Blessed are the Peacemakers: Negotiating the Nonnegotiable: How to Resolve Your Most Emotionally Charged Conflicts.” We will look at the work of Dr. Daniel Shapiro, founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program which pioneers innovative strategies and teaching methodologies to address the human dimensions of conflict resolution, from heads of state and corporate executives to struggling families and couples.
  • Tuesday, May 31, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, June 1, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Bill’s Cafe, 3163 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto (note change of venue!). All the men from our Church family are welcome.
  • Wednesday, June 1, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group in the Parlor.

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Sunday, June 5, Fourth Sunday in Pentecost
    10:00 AM: Youth Sunday Worship for the Whole Family with Communion
    “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss: Oh, the Places You Will Go”
    12:00 noon: Lunch Bunch: place to be determined. Everyone is invited to join in a meal for the whole community.

Holy Week: Death and Life

easter_cross.fwEaster Sunday was surely a day of celebration as we looked to claiming our own “ressurection power” to make a difference in this world in the name of the risen Christ.  Thanks to everyone who helped make it a special day – to Jan, Daniel Ha, Daniel Ramirez, Dominique and the choir with extra singers for wonderful music; to Pastor Gregory fo his work with the children and youth and fo his work, alongside Carolyn Shepard and Soo Kim, in making the Sanctuary so beautiful; to Laurie Cudworth, Thelma Tuttle, the Satterlees, among all those who helped with the lovely brunch; and to Chip Clark for – well, only he knows all he does! I agree with Thelma Parodi and Pastor Gregory in the their celebration of our wonderful church “family.’

With the advent of April comes a special emphasis on “Loving the Earth.” Since Earth Day is April 22, this seems like the right time to take up our opportunities and obligations to share with God in good stewardship for all of creation. Pastor Gregory is taking the lead in this programming with some wonderful offerings from people whose life and work is focused on loving the earth. I hope you will “think outside the box” – that is, consider participating beyond your own version of “church as usual.”  I know I will.

Worship will be focused on loving the earth as will the education hour afterward. Even if you don’t usually attend Adult Spiritual Formation, I think you will want to take advantage of these sessions. There will be a couple of film nights for the whole family on the first and third Wednesdays and an all church Earth Day pot-luck on April 17. There are selected books in the library, if you want to do some background reading. “The Earth is God’s and the fullness thereof.” Let’s gather as a community to learn and to celebrate.

This Sunday Pastor Gregory will be preaching on “Easter Ecology,” following John 20:19-31. The education hour will feature Greg Grifffey, who is a farm boy from Appalachia and a fan of the great American essayist and poet, Wendell Berry, in addition to being a hospice chaplain. He will share with us about spirituality and love of the land.

This would be an especially good time to invite others to join you in sharing these experiences celebrating creation and loving the earth. Join us at 10:00 AM for family worship and communion, followed by adult education and Lunch Bunch at 12:45. Let’s carry the joyous spirit of Easter throughout these 50 days of Eastertide and beyond.

Together, let us strive…to know God’s love!

Pastor Rick

 

This Week at First Baptist (3/30/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • Wednesday, March 30, 7:00 pm: “Being Different Together: Experiencing Palo Alto, Perception and Reality.” Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road. This will be an evening focused on whether or not racial bias exists in Palo Alto. Keynote: Dr. Jospeh Brown, Associate Director of Diversity at Stanford; remarks from city council members; panel moderated by Pastor Kaloma Smith, University AME Zion Church.
  • Thursday, March 31, 7:30 PM: Church Choir in the Parlor. Join us!
  • Sunday, April 3- Second Sunday in Easter
    10:00 AM: Worship for the Whole Family with Communion
    “Earth Month: Easter Ecology,” John 20:19-31, Gregory Stevens preaching.11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: “Learning to Love Creation,” a four-part series. This Sunday will feature Greg Griffey sharing about his love for the land and its spiritual roots.

    12:45 PM: Lunch Bunch  at Hobee’s Restaurant, 4224 El Camino. Please let Melanie Ramirez or Alan Plessinger know if you plan to attend.

  • Tuesday, April 5, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, April 6, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Palo Alto Breakfast House, 2706 Middlefield, Palo Alto. All the men from our Church family are welcome.
  • Wednesday, April 6, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos. All are welcome.
  • Wednesday, April 6, 7:00 PM: Creation Care Film Discussion Let’s all gather in the Youth Room to watch a documentary style film about God’s good and beautiful Earth. With buttery popcorn to munch on and a good discussion to follow, we would love for you to join us as we unravel what is means for our church to participate in God’s healing of the world. “The Story of the Universe” by Brian Swimme who teaches at California Institue of Integral Studies. This is a classic! Hands down one of the all-time best movies.

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Sunday, April 3- Third Sunday in Easter
    10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Earth Month: Mountain Sunday,” Rick Mixon preaching.11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: “Learning to Love Creation,” a four-part series. This Sunday will feature Dr. Elizabeth Singleton, eco-theologian and graduate of Claremont School of Theology.

This Week at First Baptist (2/10/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • NO CHURCH CHOIR this week. Rehearsals resume on Thursday, February 18, at 7:30 PM in the Parlor. Join us in joyful song in the new year.
  • Sunday, February 14: 1st Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Sharing Bread on our Journey” Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Rick Mixon preaching
    11:30 AM: All Church Valentine’s Potluck in the Fellowship Hall. “Love Makes the World Go Round: The Fuel that Sustains all our Relationships.” Bring a main dish, salad or dessert to share. Beverage provided. Join us as we celebrate love in all its many forms.
  • Sunday, February 14, 4:00 PM: Installation of Pastor Jeremy Carlton at Shell Ridge Community Church, 200 La Casa Via, Walnut Creek
  • Tuesday, February 16, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, February 17, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Palo Alto Breakfast House, 2706 Middlefield, Palo Alto. All the men from our Church family are welcome
  • Wednesday, February 17, 2:30 PM: Meditation Group led by Charlotte Jackson at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos.
  • Wednesday, February 17, 12:00 noon: Baptists Lunching Together featuring Greg Sneller, Assistant Director of Development for the American Baptist Board of International Ministries, Grand Lake Gardens, 401 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland. $10.00 for lunch. RSVP to Joan Thatcher, (510) 350-7008, by February 15

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Sunday, February 21: Second Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Trusting God,” Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Rick Mixon preaching
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation:     Learning to Walk in the Dark, Barbara Brown Taylor; discussion led by Rick Mixon.
    11:30 AM: Membership Discussion     in Youth Sunday School Room. For friends of the church to talk about their ongoing role in our community and the possibilities of membership. Let one of the pastors know if you are interested in attending.
  • Monday, February 22: Deadline for March Spire
  • Thursday, February 25, 10:00 AM: Women’s Brunch at Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant, 4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. All women of our church community are invited to join in.
  • Thursday, February 25, 12:00 noon: Senior Connections Book Group. Our book is Life at the Bottom: The Worldview that Makes the Underclass by Theodore Dalrymple. This book is “a searing account of life in the underclass and why it persists by a British psychiatrist who treats the poor in a slum hospital and a prison in England.” Brown Bag Lunch (beverage will be provided).
  • Sunday, February 28: Third Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Praise God Completely,” Psalm 63:1-8, Rick Mixon, preaching
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: Learning to Walk in the Dark, Barbara Brown Taylor; discussion led by Rick Mixon.

This Week at First Baptist (2/3/16)

CalendarThis Week at First Baptist

  • Friday, February 5, 7:00 PM: Homebrewed Christianity Podcast Live in the Youth Room. Email Pastor Gregory to register (gregory.stevens@me.com).
  • Saturday, February 6, 2016, 6:30 – 8:30 PM: Parent Mission Trip Rally at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave, 94610. Let Pastor Gregory know if you have interest in this mission trip for youth and young adults to New Orleans in August.
  • Sunday, February 7, – Transfiguration Sunday
    10:30 AM: Worship with Communion for the whole family
    “    Fully Alive” Luke 9:28-36, (37-43), Rick Mixon preaching.
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation
    Saving Jesus Redux: Who Was Jesus? – We will continue our discussion of this video series.
    12:45 PM: Lunch Bunch
    Oreganos, 4546 El Camino (at San Antonio), Los Altos. Please let Melanie Ramirez or Alan Plessinger know if you plan to attend.
  • Tuesday, February 9, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.
  • Tuesday, February 9, 2:30 PM: Meditation Group led by Charlotte Jackson at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos.
  • NO CHURCH CHOIR this week. Rehearsals resume on Thursday, February 18, at 7:30 PM in the Parlor. Join us in joyful song in the new year.

LOOKING AHEAD:

  • Wednesday, February 10, 6:30 PM: Ash Wednesday We join our friends at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 East Meadow for a simple meal in the Fellowship Hall at 6:30 PM and at 7:30 PM we will gather in the sanctuary for a quiet and meditative service, concluding with the imposition of ashes.
  • Sunday, February 14: 1st Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Sharing Bread on our Journey” Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Rick Mixon preaching
    11:30 AM: All Church Valentine’s Potluck in the Fellowship Hall. “Love Makes the World Go Round: The Fuel that Sustains all our Relationships.” Bring a main dish, salad or dessert to share. Beverage provided. Join us as we celebrate love in all its many forms.
  • Sunday, February 14, 4:00 PM: Installation of Pastor Jeremy Carlton at Shell Ridge Community Church, 200 La Casa Via, Walnut Creek
  • Wednesday, February 17, 12:00 noon: Baptists Lunching Together featuring Greg Sneller, Assistant Director of Development for the American Baptist Board of International Ministries, Grand Lake Gardens, 401 Santa Clara Avenue, Oakland. $10.00 for lunch. RSVP to Joan Thatcher, (510) 350-7008, by February 15
  • Sunday, February 21: Second Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Trusting God,” Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Rick Mixon preaching
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation:     Learning to Walk in the Dark, Barbara Brown Taylor; discussion led by Rick Mixon.
    11:30 AM: Membership Discussion     in Youth Sunday School Room. For friends of the church to talk about their ongoing role in our community and the possibilities of membership. Let one of the pastors know if you are interested in attending.
  • Monday, February 22: Deadline for March Spire
  • Thursday, February 25, 10:00 AM: Women’s Brunch at Dinah’s Poolside Restaurant, 4261 El Camino Real, Palo Alto. All women of our church community are invited to join in.
  • Thursday, February 25, 12:00 noon: Senior Connections Book Group. Our book is Life at the Bottom: The Worldview that Makes the Underclass by Theodore Dalrymple. This book is “a searing account of life in the underclass and why it persists by a British psychiatrist who treats the poor in a slum hospital and a prison in England.” Brown Bag Lunch (beverage will be provided).
  • Sunday, February 28: Third Sunday of Lent
    10:30 AM: Worship and Sunday School
    “Praise God Completely,” Psalm 63:1-8, Rick Mixon, preaching
    11:30 AM: Adult Spiritual Formation: Learning to Walk in the Dark, Barbara Brown Taylor; discussion led by Rick Mixon.