I’m very excited to share with you about an upcoming opportunity that we’ll be offering here at MPC. Starting on Sunday, April 11th I’ll be hosting a weekly gathering called “Parenting In A Digital World”. This workshop is for parents, teachers, grandparents, students or anyone who wants to learn more about ways that they can help kids better navigate our digital world.
I really hope you’ll join us as we learn and grow together, and hopefully make some new friends along the way.
The schedule is:
Sundays 10:30-11:30AM in Wilkinson Hall
April 11 – Week One: The Lay Of The Land April 18 – Week Two: The Big Questions April 25 – Week Three: Restrictive, Preparative and Redemptive Parenting May 2 – Week Four: So Now What?
Sean Meade, Director of Youth & Family Ministry, 805-529-8422, x106
A native of sunny Southern California, she attended Fuller Theological Seminary.
Following seminary she served at Calvary Presbyterian in South Pasadena and is currently at San Marino Community Church.
She is grateful to have known Pastor Keenan for many years and is grateful to know him as a colleague but also as the minister who married her and her husband.
They, their two children and three dogs, live in Pasadena.
In her post pandemic life she hopes to begin to enjoy more wine tasting, playing soccer, and worshiping in an air conditioned sanctuary during the summer.
During the height of the Mid-East conflicts, Alan Stewart, who had a grandson serving in the Marines, recognized the need for a MPC group to provide support to those serving and their families. This Military Family Support Group, MFSG, has met once a month since then at the church to pray for those serving, update their status with the group, and provide assistance to the families. For those being deployed, the group provided a book to their children explaining why their mom or dad was away from them.
MPC had more than 30 people associated with the church serving on active duty in the military. Each month, the pictures and status of those serving were posted on the MPC website. Over the years, this number of active duty personnel decreased as many of those serving completed their service and the number of active conflicts decreased. Today, we have two active duty members, Tyler Van Dam and Jeff Behrman.
Our family found out the value of the group as our son was stationed in Iraq. While he had already served overseas in both Korea and Germany, during his year in Iraq, every time there was a knock at the door or the phone rang, our hearts would stop. On Christmas Eve that year, we received a video from our son with pictures of the troops there set to a song by Dustin Evans called “If I Die Before You Wake”. Click HERE to watch the video. The MFSG provided a forum for us to meet with other families coping with the same situation. The support and prayers were invaluable during this time.
As more service members transitioned to civilian life as veterans, the MFSG continued to track their progress and continued to pray for them in the transition. The group also puts together a Veterans’ Day video honoring all those who served their country. The group continues its function by email during the pandemic. While the pandemic has disrupted normal life for many of us, those serving still must continue to do their demanding jobs and deal with the pandemic at the same time.
There are a number of ways the congregation can support our troops and their families. You can get added to our mailing list and attend our monthly meetings when they resume. You can add service members to those on the MFSG’s prayer list. One of the simplest things to do is pray for the safety of all our troops, comfort for their families, and wisdom for the leaders who make the difficult deployment decisions. There are also several groups who provide support to our troops and veterans who welcome donations. On the local level, For The Troops in Simi Valley has a massive operation providing care packages to all those deployed. On the national level, both Wounded Warriors and Tunnels to Towers provide assistance to our disabled veterans and their families.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
What are your Hobbies/Interests? I like traveling, gardening, kayaking, swimming, and exploring museums.
What are your Favorite Vacation Spots? I like San Diego,CA, Whistler, Canada, and Maui, Hawaii.
Family? I have 3 adult daughters, Talia, Cathryn, and Marlena. They were raised in MPC.
How long have you been at MPC, and what’s your favorite experience at MPC? I am an original Charter Member at MPC. I moved and lived 9 years in NJ, then moved back 2 years ago. My favorite experiences at MPC are small groups, fellowship, learning and growing in my spiritual community of Christ.
What is your favorite Bible verse? “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
What is one kind of ice cream? Chocolate Mint Chip Ice Cream
Holy Week – The week leading up to Easter is filled with a few different ways to worship and experience all that Christ would call people to.
TODAY, Thursday, April 1-Maundy Thursday-7:00pm Our gathering will be in the sanctuary at 7:00pm in a more reflective and introspective worship style. Readings from the Scriptures, Prayers, a Message and Communion will be the heart of this service. You can experience the service live in the sanctuary or online as a live streamed event. No ASL available at this service. Click HERE to pre-register for this service.
Friday, April 2-Good Friday-12:00pm This time of reflection will take place on the MPC Campus at our very own labyrinth at 12:00pm. Bring your own chair and be led through a reflective spiritual listening exercise having to do with Jesus’ last words from the Cross. This event will be presented live. No online access available. No ASL available at this service.
Sunday, April 4-Easter Sunday-9:00am & 11:00am Easter Sunday. This is the very height of the church’s celebration all year long. We will have 2 opportunities to gather.
The 9:00am service will be inside, and indoor participants will be limited to 85 people. Overflow will be extended to outside. It will be livestreamed with ASL. Click HERE to pre-register for 9:00am.
At the 11:00am service, we will gather outdoors and celebrate under the sun. The 11:00am service will not be livestreamed and with no ASL. Click HERE to pre-register for 11:00am.
MPC’s tradition of a flower cross continues this year. You are invited to bring flowers from your own garden on Easter Sunday to add to the beauty and aroma of this display. Don’t have any flowers in your yard? You can also add flowers that we will have there for you to place as well. We look forward to seeing what this beautiful arrangement will look like.
Holy Week – The week leading up to Easter is filled with a few different ways to worship and experience all that Christ would call people to.
Sunday, March 28-Palm Sunday-9:00am We will worship in the Sanctuary at 9:00am. This will be a celebratory Sunday with worship music that reflects the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of Holy Week. You can experience the service live in the sanctuary or online as a live streamed service. ASL available. Click HERE to pre-register for this service.
Thursday, April 1-Maundy Thursday-7:00pm Our gathering will be in the sanctuary at 7:00pm in a more reflective and introspective worship style. Readings from the Scriptures, Prayers, a Message and Communion will be the heart of this service. You can experience the service live in the sanctuary or online as a live streamed event. No ASL available at this service. Click HERE to pre-register for this service.
Friday, April 2-Good Friday-12:00pm We had originally planned to meet at the Simi Cross. However, for a variety of reasons, this time of reflection will take place on the MPC Campus at our very own labyrinth at 12:00pm. Bring your own chair and be led through a reflective spiritual listening exercise having to do with Jesus’ last words from the Cross. This event will be presented live. No online access available. No ASL available at this service.
Sunday, April 4-Easter Sunday-9:00am & 11:00am Easter Sunday. This is the very height of the church’s celebration all year long. We will have 2 opportunities to gather.
The 9:00am service will be inside, and indoor participants will be limited to 85 people. Overflow will be extended to outside. It will be livestreamed with ASL. Click HERE to pre-register for 9:00am.
At the 11:00am service, we will gather outdoors and celebrate under the sun. The 11:00am service will not be livestreamed and with no ASL. Click HERE to pre-register for 11:00am.
MPC’s tradition of a flower cross continues this year. You are invited to bring flowers from your own garden on Easter Sunday to add to the beauty and aroma of this display. Don’t have any flowers in your yard? You can also add flowers that we will have there for you to place as well. We look forward to seeing what this beautiful arrangement will look like.
