We shift our hearts towards this Pentecost and we are excited to welcome the Rev. Dr. Janette Ok to our pulpit for AAPI Sunday! Pastor Ok will be preaching from Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12 to see how the Spirit moves through diversity and the recentering of power. She is a professor at Fuller Seminary and pastor at EKKO Church. She is passionate about raising ministers and preachers in the church. Fun facts: she is diehard BTS Army! Please welcome Pastor Ok to our church familia this week!
Our grant team, in collaboration with many of our AAPI familia, is curating a beautiful service to celebrate the great diversity of history, language, art, heritage, practices, and life! Of course, this will include food so come hungry!
Shalom & Justice Solidarity
Last Sunday we shared that our sister congregation, Conexión and Pastor Juan Pablo, were made aware of 4 Colombian mothers and 7 children living on the streets in LA who are recent arrivals. Pastor Juan Pablo has mobilized our churches towards urgent advocacy to secure housing for these single mothers. Our Shalom & Justice Team has made a donation of $1,000 to help secure the housing deposit.
Our sister-madres sell strawberries for a living and they are being oriented to other community resources to help them get on their feet as they start a new life here as our neighbors. In the following weeks, we may place a request for household items to help them furnish the rental house. If you are interested in helping coordinate solidarity, please email Pastora Inés at ines@thechurchwehopefor.com.
Housing Needs? Looking for a Roommate?
Danielle Harris is new to our church familia and started attending about 2 months ago. She is looking for a roommate to rent her extra room urgently by June 1. She lives in Pasadena and started a job at Occidental College after being on disability for some serious health issues since 2019/2020. Danielle is being brave in putting her need out there and wants to share that this is the first church in a while where she’s felt any sort of connection or draw. She is trying to allow herself to be seen and known (thanks for this honesty Danielle!)
Here is some info in Danielle’s own words:
Rent is $1233 per month, utilities usually run about $80-100 or so per person a month including electricity, WiFi, and gas. There’s two parking spots, laundry on-site, right downstairs, and window AC! And my neighbors are great, I get lots of natural lighting, it’s quiet, and it’s walkable. If you aren’t looking for a place, do you know of a place I could move into by June 1 that allows ESA’s? I have a 65-pound dog that has supported me through my health journey. I appreciate y’all reading this and if you have any leads I’d appreciate them. Love, Danielle (the new dark-skinned Black girl who sits in the back hiding from everyone haha).
Please email Danielle if you are interested or if you can send her any leads! Gracias!
Hiring Update!
We’re officially pursuing a Director of Children and Youth Ministries! Read about this part-time role here and consider applying for the job. We’re asking our familia to pass this along to anyone you might see fit to jump in the journey with us! We have extended the application deadline for public-facing networks to May 31.
Sabbath Sunday – May 26th
We will not be gathering for a shared Sunday Service on May 26th. Instead, that will be a Sabbath Sunday for us as a church. If you’re newer to our rhythms, these are dates throughout the calendar year when we intentionally, and communally practice rest and care and play. And we even encourage one another to gather at shared tables outside of the walls of our church.
May the mothering love of God surround you this week as the Lord works to restore the years that the locusts have taken. God is working for your good and may God’s presence and provision be near to you this month in all the places where it is needed!
Gracia y paz,
Inés