youth

Note from Pastor Rick (9/22/2016)

Thanks to Stefanie Bruggeman for sharing so well the work of the Opportunity Center last Sunday. Pastor Gregory with the children and youth made a good start on a “Youth Garden” (see here). Two things to keep in mind – the upcoming “Blessing of the Animals,” on Saturday morning October 1, 10:00 AM – bring your own critters and/or share the word with others. The service will be on the lawn and brief, with individual prayers of blessing for each animal. Also, don’t forget the Crop Walk on Sunday October 2. Carolyn will have a sign-up sheet for anyone who wants walk or anyone who wants to contribute to team FBCPA.

This week we will conclude a brief series on creation with a focus on the Cosmos. The texts are from Psalms, Proverbs, John, and Colossians. Psalm 148 is one of those great Psalms of praise that end the collection. All creation joins in praise of God. The other texts all speak of the interconnections of the Godhead and how all creation models that interconnectedness. With Wisdom and Christ and the Spirit and God, in the beginning there was the relationship! There is much to celebrate here and much to learn as we grow in wisdom and understanding, faith and love.

Come for Worship and Sunday School at 10 AM. Stay for Adult Spiritual Formation, where we will resume our consideration of the video series, Saving Jesus Redux.

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

Pastor Rick

Pastor Gregory Says (9/22/2016)

This past Sunday the youth group explored the theme of creation care with a short lesson in the youth room and then a garden dig outside. We had a blast! We planted a variety of herbs from cilantro to a chocolate mint; we also plan on digging a flower garden and will start with the flowers Clara brought. It was a wonderful intergenerational morning of learning and play that ended in a tasty cook out (thanks Grill Master Don Ha!) and ASF class with guest Lauren Ng. I look forward to many more Sunday’s just like this! You can find more pictures on our Facebook page, too.

Adult Spiritual Formation with Lauren Ng.

Pastor Gregory Says… (7/6/16)

We will have a Summer Open-Forum Parent Meeting this Sunday July 10th after church service – I hope you and your family can join! We are hoping to hear from you: how are things going? how would you like things to go as we move forward? Let’s think together as we conspire new and creative ways to form intergenerational connections and faithful followers of Jesus Christ. I will also be preaching this Sunday and am exciting to explore Matthew 25 where Jesus reminds us of our mission to care for “the least of these” among us. It’s a challenging text for us with so much privilege but a welcoming parable for us as we begin to turn our whole lives over to God’s Beloved Community. I will see you Sunday and hope to hear some of your ideas for the ministry we shape together.

Much love, Gregory

This Week at First Baptist (7/6/16)

This Week at First Baptist

Choir is on hiatus for the Summer.
Wednesday, July 6, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Bill’s Cafe, 3163 Middlefield, Palo Alto. All the men from our Church family are welcome.
Wednesday, July 6, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos.
Sunday, July 10, Eighth Sunday in Pentecost
10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School
“Welcoming the Stranger: Radical Hospitality and Holy Disruption,” Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 13:1-6, Pastor Gregory preaching.
11:15 AM: Patio Hour
11:30 AM: Open Forum Parent Meeting in the Youth Room. We will discuss our Summer plans and begin looking forward to the Fall Semester.
Tuesday, July 12, 10:30 AM: Bible Study at Marylea McLean’s apartment, 373 Pine Lane, #4204, Los Altos.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Wednesday, July 13, 10:30 AM: Meditation Group at Thelma Parodi’s house, 543 South El Monte Avenue, Los Altos.
Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 PM: Church Council meeting in the Parlor.
Sunday, July 17, Ninth Sunday in Pentecost
10:00 AM: Worship and Sunday School
“Welcoming the Stranger: What Does God Require?” Deuteronomy 10:12-22; 1 Peter 4:7-11, Pastor Rick preaching.
11:15 AM Patio Hour
Wednesday, July 20, 8:30 AM: Men’s Breakfast at Bill’s Cafe, 3163 Middlefield, Palo Alto. All the men from our Church family are welcome.
Monday, July 25: Spire Deadline
Thursday, July 28, 11:30 AM: Women’s Brunch at Country Gourmet, 1314 South Mary Avenue, Sunnyvale (Note change of venue). All women of our church community are invited to join in.
Friday, July 29 – Sunday, July 31: Lead Through Story, an All-Church Retreat with Daniel Pryfogle. See details.

Mission Offering for June: Granholm Scholarship Fund (6/29/16)

Recognizing the tremendous costs of higher education today, we have established a fund, in honor of Don and Mary Granholm, to help support our youth with their aspirations of pursuing a college education. This fund is part of our Special Funds portfolio in hope that the money will grow into a larger fund. Through this fund we can provide a small gift that might be used for books or other needs.

To date we have received $655 toward our goal of $500.

Scholarship applications are a available in the Entryway or the church office. If you have questions, speak to Pastor Rick.

Mission Offering for June: Granholm Scholarship Fund (6/22/16)

To date we have received $410 toward our goal of $500.

Scholarship applications are a available in the Entryway or the church office. If you have questions, speak to Pastor Rick.

Mission Offering for June: Granholm Scholarship Fund (6/15/16)

To date we have received $410 toward our goal of $500.

Scholarship applications are a available in the Entryway or the church office. If you have questions, speak to Pastor Rick.

Mission Offering for June: Granholm Scholarship Fund (6/8/16)

To date we have received $160 toward our goal of $500.

Scholarship applications are a available in the Entryway or the church office. If you have questions, speak to Pastor Rick.

Note from Pastor Rick (6/1/2016)

Last Sunday we continued “violin month,” as we listened to the beautiful playing of James Poe. James will play for us again on June 19 before heading off to New York City for seven weeks of study with Itzhak Perlman. We also concluded Peace Month with a focus on “Peace Now!” and a spirited discussion of Daniel Shapiro’s Negotiating the Nonnegotiable.

This month as we center on our own children and youth, celebrating graduations and the end of the school year, and raising funds for the Granholm Scholarship Fund, our theme will be “The Gospel According to Dr. Seuss.” The beloved children’s author and illustrator, Theodore Seuss Geisel, dispensed wit and wisdom for children of all ages, from one to 100. Each Sunday we will focus on one or more of his works, along with the Ancient Word to see what together they might teach us as people of faith.

This Sunday is Youth Sunday. Pastor Gregory, along with our children and youth, will be leading us in worship. The book they’ve chosen is the classic graduation gift, Oh, the Places You’ll Go. We will also celebrate Communion. Adult Spiritual Formation is on hiatus for the summer. Sunday will be our bi-monthly Lunch Bunch,

June 12 we will begin patio hour and June 19 we will hold our first cook out of the summer in honor of Father’s Day. If you’d be willing to host Patio Hour or help with the cook out, please sign up on the sheet in the Entryway. Also, on June 12, Grace Baptist Church in San Jose will be hosting the annual spring gathering of the Pacific Coast Baptist Association. The theme is “Communications in the Church.” There will be worship at 2:30 PM, followed by a panel on which I am participating, ending with dinner. Registration forms are available in the Entryway and office, or you can let me know if you’d like to attend. Registration deadline is Monday, June 6.

Join us for any of these opportunities beginning with Sunday at 10:00 AM. Invite your family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, acquaintances and strangers to join us on the journey.

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

Pastor Rick

Mission Offering for June: Granholm Scholarship Fund

Scholarship apllications are a available in the Entryway or the church office. If you have questions, speak to Pastor Rick.