As my family trekked the quiet streets of Monrovia last night, making our annual pilgrimage to a local church’s nativity scene, I couldn’t help but think of families in Palestine. While we safely strolled from our house in peace and quiet, more and more lives are being lost as deadly violence continues in Gaza.

This Sunday, Pastora Inés will invite us to draw near to Jesus who visits us this year “under the rubble”. To embody and express God’s solidarity with the suffering, we are partnering with Pasadena Mennonite Church and Conexión Pasadena to construct a Nativity scene at the front-facing corner of our church that imagines Jesus set among stones – a God-honoring countless lives lost in the face of destruction and despair.

Our three churches are each asking our congregants: Can you bring a piece of rubble? Perhaps a rock, a stone, a piece of concrete, or a brick, to add to our Nativity Scene this Sunday? We will move outdoors at the end of this Sunday’s service and will add to the pile together and share a prayer around the rubble. This display will be up until Dec. 31st and lit at night so our neighbors can see and engage as well.

Snapshots of Shalom

As we shared with you recently, our Shalom & Justice Team made an emergency donation three weeks ago to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund in the amount of $500. We just received this notice in return and wanted to pass it on to you:

Despite immense and complex challenges, your generous contributions have enabled PCRF to provide over $6,000,000 and counting in medical relief supplies and humanitarian aid to children and families in war-torn Gaza. This impactful support delivers crucial life-sustaining resources like food and baby formula during times of hunger, as well as medical supplies and medicine in the face of severe shortages. Furthermore, hygiene supplies are distributed to ease the harsh living conditions. To bring joy to children who have lost everything, toys have been distributed in shelters, reaching 6,000 children so far, offering a glimmer of happiness amidst the devastation. This medical and humanitarian aid transcends mere essential items; it serves as a lifeline in this urgent humanitarian emergency.

On a local level, we recently came together as a church familia to purchase toys for teens with OC United. This week, Caleb Parker sent us an image of those donations (these are just for the 7-12th graders!) and the picture is such a snapshot of our beloved community’s generosity:

Advent Rhythms

Las Posadas

Join us for Las Posadas at the historical Plazita Olvera, next Wednesday, December 20th. We’ve invited PMC & Conexión to join us in this beautiful event. Here’s the flow:

• 5:30pm – tacos at one of the many food places on Olvera Street
• 6:30pm – Children’s Piñata
• 7:15pm – follow the Living Nativity Procession which lasts about 20 mins
• Afterward, we’ll circle up with members of PMC & Conexion to process & pray together.

Sabbath Sunday

Please remember Christmas Eve Sunday (December 24) is a Sabbath Sunday. No in-person or online service that day. Just be present to yourself, your loved ones, and your Jesus who draws near to you just as you are, right where you are.

New Year’s Eve Online

And we’ll close the 2023 year with our annual Hello/Goodbye Zoom Living Room service, online at 10:30 AM (yes! morning!) on Sunday, December 31st. Our very own Elizabeth Hogsten will be leading us in a time to contemplatively reflect on the year that was while wholeheartedly looking ahead to one that will be.

Beloved, you are loved with the unfailing love of Christ Jesus. May we continue to lean into and be held by a God who suffers in solidarity and who comes to us in justice and shalom.

Bobby