Familia,

We hope that whether you had sweet potato or pumpkin pie, tres leches, or ube pan de sal as desserts this week, you pulled up a chair around a table with friends, chosen family, or biological family and laughed and made memories. I know I’ve been cheering with my son Nash watching multiple World Cup soccer games. I may or may not be preaching in a soccer jersey this Sunday– but which team?! Come and see 😉

As we turn our hearts towards Advent this upcoming Sunday, it’s hard to believe this is around the corner! We invite you to tenderly enter with us into this season and our new sermon series: Honest Waiting. Advent means “visit” or “waiting” and a lot can be held in seasons of waiting. I will be preaching for the next two weeks and my hope is that we would anticipate this season with open hands and open hearts. My spiritual director shared with me this week that “God’s current address is the present moment.”

And friend, I pray you will be present in every moment, even in the waiting. And that every waiting moment would be met with great grace and God’s face. I don’t know about you, but I’m weary and longing for a Savior to sit with me and us. Even as you read this sentence, know that you are always loved.

We want to remind you of 2 exciting initiatives we are embracing in the next few weeks. What we love about these initiatives is how empowering they are and how they’re tethered to people in our church familia that work to bring shalom and justice to these spaces all year long. Our church will be investing in both of these initiatives from our Community Partnership fund. If you’re able to, would you consider joining us?

Snuggle Day

Our very own Alicia McCormick is inviting us this year again to join in Snuggle Day, an initiative to buy gifts for social workers who will in turn purchase Christmas gifts for their case families. We invite you to bring new and unwrapped gifts, suggested price range of $15-30, for ages 0-18 year olds, for the next two Sundays. The deadline to bring gifts is Sunday, Dec. 4th! This initiative not only supports social workers but foster moms like Alicia who do the work day in and day out the rest of the year!

Gilbert Community Center – Affordable Christmas Store

Our dear Caleb Parker works with teenagers at the Gilbert Community Center, which is part of OC United, in Fullerton. This is a community that he loves and he often speaks with joy about how empowering the teens and parents are. They elevate their voices for change, change by them and for them. This year, we get the opportunity to serve the families so that parents are able to purchase gifts for their teens in a way that is empowering and dignifying. Would you help us purchase gifts for the GCC teens? Caleb and his team have put together a wish list here where you can buy gifts and they will be shipped directly to Caleb. The deadline to receive these gifts (please check shipping & handling times) is December 12 as the event will take place on December 17 in Fullerton!

Last but not least, fun, food & fútbol this weekend if you’d like to join us before church!

World Cup

The World Cup is finally here and Serena Smith and Nash McBryde are coordinating the first viewing party! If you’re a soccer fan or just want to come and share the global experience with some of our church familia, we invite you to join us on Sunday, November 27, 10:30am to 1:30pm for the Spain Vs. Germany match at the Schaupp’s Home in Eagle Rock. We invite you to bring a potluck dish to share. Space is limited to 20 participants so please RSVP here to sign up!

Beloved, we are together in the waiting and with us is Emmanuel,

Gracia y paz,

Inés