I’m still reminiscing on the beautiful and spiritually intimate time that we had together last week during Zoom church! Thank you familia for pivoting so quickly as we took precautions to stay safe on the roads during this week’s winter storm. I am still chuckling at all the fun banter we had with our lively Zoom chat. I hope you all spent many a time snuggling by a fire, drinking hot tea, or sitting on the porch listening to the rain (or walking in it and not catching *the pneumonia, Bobby! LOL).

Our communal sermon reflecting back on the story of the prodigal son was rich and nourishing. Your perspectives and curious questions made the familiar text alive like I haven’t seen in my own personal time in a long time! May you feel the love and delight of God who watches out for all of God’s own children. May you know that God loves AND is looking out for you every minute of every day and may you feel that in our beloved familia!

February Fun!

A few reminders of our communal rhythms for the next couple of weeks:

• Sabbath Sunday – Feb. 11 – Something about a game and a football? 🙂 We invite you to plan ahead and gather friends in the spiritual practice of fun and fellowship. Community can still happen even when we don’t gather in the sanctuary on a Sunday (remember Nicola’s sermon, y’all).
• Ash Wednesday service – Feb. 14, 7:00pm – Pasadena Mennonite Church (PMC) has invited us to participate in this in-person service designed for the beginning of Lent, the service invites people to consider where they are in their spiritual journey by thinking about Christ in the images that bread offers. Six types of bread are linked with six aspects of Lent. The service has the rhythm of presentation and tasting of breads interspersed with song, Scripture, and the receiving of ashes. No childcare is available at this time, but children are welcome to attend.

Lunar New Year + Black History Month Resources

There are several opportunities that our local community puts together on an annual basis to celebrate history and heritage. For those on or near Pasadena, please visit Pasadena community resources celebrating Lunar New Year. This is the year of the Dragon and LNY runs from Feb. 10-24. Pasadena Black History Event calendar also has several local celebrations and activities to continue to learn and be engaged.

Our Unforming Book Study for Fuller Students

Dr. Cindy Lee and Pastora Inés will be hosting a 5-week book study centered around Dr. Lee’s book: Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation. We invite current Fuller students/alumni to join us for we value having a safe traveling community to unlearn/relearn what we are processing in the seminary journey. We have a free book available for the first 10 students who sign up! The book small group will start on Wednesday, February 21, 6:30-8:00pm at Pastora Inés’ house in Monrovia. Please sign up via our ChurchCenter App.

Familia, I look forward to seeing you all again hopefully on Ash Wednesday as we enter into this season of Lent with our fellow sister congregation. May you be rooted and grounded in the soil of God’s own love for you.

Gracia y paz,

Inés