Pastor Joel’s Encouragement

2/10/23

God is near, inviting us deeper into Himself
and into His good and redemptive work all around us…
we want to respond.

Dear FPC Monrovia Church family,

As you've heard me say more recently, our mission is "Making Flourishing Disciples of Jesus Christ." Today, I'm very excited to announce our next step in pursuing discipleship together!

You are invited to participate in our “God is Near” Lenten Small groups that will meet for six weeks, February 26 - April 2.

During the Lenten season, our children, youth, and adults will be studying the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13. Each week, our sermon series will focus on one verse from the Lord’s prayer, and our small groups will gather around that particular verse as well.

Did I mention I’m very excited about this opportunity we have?! All our generations will be immersed in this rich passage of scripture at the same time.

Beginning this Sunday, February 12, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up for a "God is Near" Lenten small group at the Welcome table in the Narthex.

Here is some of what you can expect by joining a Lenten group:

Fellowship with others in your church family who want to go deeper in Christ

A warm welcome in a casual atmosphere with coffee/tea and treats

Bible study and book discussion centered on Matthew 6:9-13 and “The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught” by Pastor Adam Hamilton. The book is $10 and you can purchase it on Amazon. If you need financial help purchasing a book, no problem. We will have one available for you to pick up in the church office.

Growth in your Christian discipleship

Over the course of the 6 weeks, we will be discerning as a group, a particular way that the Spirit is directing us to serve our church or neighborhood together. How might God be asking us to step out in faith to make his love more tangible, and to bring his goodness and redemptive work outside the walls of our weekly meeting!

I would love to see 50 of us participating. Prayerfully consider joining a group as we seek to become flourishing disciples of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Joel

2/3/23

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

It's February already! Remember, way back at the end of 2022, when we celebrated Christmas?

Stores have had 75% off Christmas sales going through January, but by now, most all the Christmas decorations are long gone.

We're now looking toward Valentine's Day, and Ash Wednesday is less than a few weeks away on February 22nd.

But, remember Christmas? Indeed, I have been looking more toward Lent these days, but Christmas came back to my attention today as I looked at my bookshelves. I have a small book of poems, and the first poem, "The Risk of Birth" by Madeleine L'Engle captured my attention this past Christmas. She writes,

This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late.

That was no time for a child to be born,
In a land in the crushing grip of Rome;
Honor & truth were trampled by scorn—
Yet here did the Saviour make his home.

When is the time for love to be born?
The inn is full on the planet earth,
And by a comet the sky is torn—
Yet Love still takes the risk of birth.

Christmas is a memory God wants us to hold on to the entire year, even in early February.

In remembering Christmas, we recognize that God is still with us. Emmanuel.

God's presence is with us and in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is constantly assuring us of the hope we have and that we belong to Christ Jesus. This constant reminder gives us strength amid our world's chaos.

It's a striking thought. Even despite all the chaos, God took the risk of birth. That's how much he loves us and longs to see our world redeemed.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Joel

1/27/23

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

During this first month of 2023, I felt it was vital to set our course for where we are heading as a church. There are many "good" directions in which we could give our collective energies. However, through much prayer, various conversations, and reflecting on our denominational movement ECO, it has become apparent what is essential for us; Making Flourishing Disciples of Jesus Christ.

In fact, we are given this clear and decisive direction in Jesus’ words to his disciples in Matthew 28:18-20.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Our discipleship is lived out by being with Jesus, listening to him, obeying him, and being sent out in mission to a hurting world. As we grow together as his disciples at FPC Monrovia, we’ll continue to unpack this rich and wonderful invitation Jesus gives, “Come, follow me!”

Practically, it means we will evaluate everything we do through the lens of discipleship.

Everything.

Any ministry we have to infants, toddlers, children, youth, young adults, families, singles, and the third third of life will all be seen through the lens of discipleship. How exciting that Jesus has given us clear direction in his word! We don’t have to guess or wonder what our mission is as the church of FPC Monrovia.

Making Flourishing Disciples of Jesus Christ. This is what we are about at FPC Monrovia.

Many blessings to you, dear church!

Pastor Joel

1/20/23

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

As you may know, our elder leadership team, “Session,” meets monthly on the third Wednesday of the month, and our Deacons meet on the first Saturday of the month.

Since our elder team gathered this past Wednesday, I wanted to fill you in on what it looks like to be an elder!

Our elders are Scott Giannini, Ted Goodman, Barbara Hamill, Phil Hogan, Jeff Platt, Renee Smith, and Nick Zappia. Our faithful clerk of Session (as well as our volunteer Office Manager) is Linda Cass.

I’ve been part of many elder meetings in the past in various locations. Some elder teams approach the meeting as “business first” and the main reason for gathering. Indeed, business is an integral part of our church administration and stewardship, but I believe Scripture teaches us that elder teams are more than just a business team; elders are the spiritual leaders of our church.

I’m grateful that I participated in many good elder meetings for eight years with one of my mentors, Dan Baumgartner, former pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Dan would always tell us that we could accomplish both business and spiritual discipleship in our elder meetings. I’ve found this balance essential on the teams I’ve served on and led.

So here’s a sketch of what our elder meetings look like at FPC Monrovia.

First, we circle up by the fireplace in the Fireside Room. This is more like a small group setting than sitting around tables far away from each other.

I call the meeting to pray, and we approve the former meeting’s minutes. (We’re off to a riveting start, aren’t we, folks?!)

Then, I will have a passage of Scripture for us to look at together and discuss. This week, we covered this Sunday’s passage, Galatians 3:10-18. We made observations, asked questions, and discussed how this passage applies to our church. Sometimes we’ll discuss stretching ministry situations we’ve been in recently or identify those in our lives we are praying for to know Christ and how we can share the gospel appropriately.

We’ll hear from our Children’s Director, Fawn Zappia, how the preschool is doing and what needs there are.

I give a pastor’s update on some of the life-giving experiences I’ve had in the past month and some of the items I’m engaging. This week, I commented on the rich blessing that our mid-week prayer times were for those gathered. We also discussed our encouragement in our simple mission as a church; Making Flourishing Disciples of Jesus Christ.

We’ll cover finances and discuss future goals. We take time to give thanks for what God is providing.

Stewardship of staff and property, ministry administration, vision casting, and more are all part of what it looks like to gather once a month.

Prayer is interspersed throughout, because we are dependent upon God.

But at the heart of what we do as leaders is service. Jesus spoke about leadership saying,

“You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-26)

What a privilege and joy it is to serve you, FPC Monrovia!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Joel

1/11/23

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

-Hebrews 4:16

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

When I was going through the call process with our church, I was excited that prayer was such a deep value in our church. This value resonated with me greatly!

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, once said, "God does nothing except in response to believing prayer." Indeed, this is a bold statement. I believe God works on our behalf, even despite us. However, this quote also reminds me of the urgency, agency, and, most importantly, the gift of prayer in our relationship with God. Prayer is essential in our discipleship and ministry as a church.

This week, I'm asking you to partner with us in prayer as we are early in 2023. Tomorrow (Thursday), you're invited to meet in the Sanctuary from 12-1 pm for a prayer walk around campus. If you cannot join us in person, here are some ways you can pray this month.

-For God to lead us by his grace, in his will, and to guide us as a faith community in 2023.
-For God to deepen our discipleship this year; with our children, youth, families, and those in the third third of life.
-For our relationships to deepen and flourish as we share life.
-For God to use us as we place ourselves in ministry situations that stretch our faith.
-For God to help us be attentive to the opportunities for outreach he brings our way.
-For our stewardship and that God would meet our financial needs as a church.
-That God would give our preschool teachers wisdom and energy and bless our preschool ministry to families in our community.
-That people would come to the faith through our ministry, and there would be baptisms.
-For God to fill us with joy as we participate in his ministry at FPC Monrovia.
-Pray for others and needs you know of in our faith community.

May God bless you as you spend time with him in prayer.

Pastor Joel

1/6/23

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

Today, January 6th, is Epiphany in the church calendar! I didn't grow up celebrating Epiphany, but I grew up curious about these Magi visiting Jesus. My grandmother stenciled three vibrant wise men every Christmas on her large kitchen windows. It had the effect of a stained glass representation of the Magi, and it was captivating. My large family, full of some followers of Jesus, some atheists, and some seekers, all seemed to be intrigued by these vibrant, stenciled figures on the kitchen window.

The church recognizes Epiphany as the celebration of Christ revealing himself to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. (Matthew 2:1-12) In tandem with this celebration, Elisha has introduced me to the French celebration of "Three Kings Day," or I should say, La Fete de Rois, where everyone eats a King cake, a buttery, almond pastry where a tiny bean, or porcelain figurine of the baby Jesus is hidden in a cake slice. If you find the tiny porcelain baby Jesus in your cake slice, you get to be "king" or "queen" for the day! This King cake has become the last hurrah of the Christmas season in our family.

This morning I met with our preschool teachers and shared some of these fun facts and a couple of scriptures that can focus our attention on Epiphany. I want to share them with you as well. The gospel of John 8:12 says, "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

Also, in Matthew's gospel, as Jesus teaches his sermon on the mount, he gives his followers this deep encouragement; "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

These two scriptures placed together are astounding to me. THE Light of the world also tells us that we are the light of the world. Christ in us, the hope of glory, is displayed to the world through our lives. The world sees Christ in how we live out our faith in our families, workplaces, church, and community.

This Sunday, we will delve a bit more into this theme as we spend one more moment around the birth of Jesus Christ when he is brought to the temple, and Simeon and Anna recognize him as the Savior. We will also have the opportunity to have prayer and anointing with oil toward the end of our worship service. Prayer and anointing are meaningful ways to begin our year, surrendering our lives again and plans to Jesus Christ. We will also have a few opportunities next week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, to gather during the lunch hour from 12-1 pm and pray over the ministry of FPC Monrovia and that God would lead us in his will in 2023.

I invite you to join us this Sunday for our special prayer and anointing service and any of these prayer opportunities next week.

May God's peace and blessing be on you in 2023,

Pastor Joel

12/28/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

Merry Christmas! I love these 12 days of Christmas leading up to Epiphany. In the liturgical calendar, we often refer to these as “Christmastide.” What a joyous ring that has to it! I sure appreciate these twelve days to let the meaning of Christmas sink in more deeply.

These days after Christmas, leading up to New Year and Epiphany, may also be days we reflect on the past year. Where have I experienced Christ’s presence in 2022? What relationships am I grateful for? What challenges has God seen me through in the past year? What good have I experienced that I can celebrate?

As I reflect on the past year in our church, I want to say “thank you.”

Thank you for warmly welcoming my family to FPC Monrovia in late February. I’ll never forget walking out from the worship service and seeing tables beautifully set with white tablecloths and a lunch feast!

Thank you for the many ways you give your time so generously. Some of you serve as elders or deacons. Some of you plan Bible studies or special events. Some of you set up a coffee (and treat!) table each week for us to linger at after the service and greet one another. Some of you come and serve in the church office administratively, whether through stewarding our finances, answering phones, or meeting workers on our property. You pray faithfully for people throughout the week and after the church service. Many of you came together and planned a Centennial celebration this year! And so much more.....Wow!

Thank you for your generous financial giving unto the Lord. Your sacrificial and faithful giving is a testimony to God’s work in your life. This year we took a unique offering for the churches in Ukraine, we hosted families transitioning toward permanent housing, and we’ve begun a partnership with Young Life, reaching out to local middle schools and high schools. You donated coats, food, and more to a young couple expecting a baby and traveling from Indiana. (The correlation between serving this couple and the Nativity story 2000 years ago astounds me! What a privilege to serve God in this way!)

Thank you for your sincere devotion to the Lord. Your willingness to try new things, questions about the scriptures, and hospitality to newcomers all display your love for the Lord.

Indeed, this is not a comprehensive list, but it is just a start! I appreciate your serving the Lord with your time, talents, and resources. Thank you, church!

Warmly,

Pastor Joel

12/21/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

Tonight, December 21, is the longest night of the year. This afternoon will be cut noticeably short as the sun will set at 4:46 pm and not be seen again on the West Coast until tomorrow at 6:54 am. The winter solstice is a physical event where the North Pole reaches its farthest tilt away from the sun, which results in the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It's also a night to embrace a spiritual significance, yet cold reality; without Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, we are lost in complete darkness and without hope.

It's a theme, I believe, is exquisitely captured in Christina Rosetti's poem, "In the Bleak Midwinter." Originally published in the American journal "Scribner's monthly" and titled "A Christmas Carol," her poem was later set to music by Gustav Holst in 1906. Since then, it has been heralded as the world's most excellent Christmas Carol.

The first two paragraphs of the poem place us firmly in the year's longest night.

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago..."

Living on this earth can sometimes be bleak. Who among us has not felt anxious, depressed, lonely, fearful, or without hope? Who has not experienced a loved one's passing that brings us grief and sadness? Who among us has not looked at the world's events and sufferings and not been angry or overwhelmed? Most likely, we have all felt these things at one point or another because we are….human.

Yet, Rosetti's poem teaches us a greater truth amid a "bleak midwinter." She continues,

"Our God, heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ."

Our God, heaven cannot hold him!

Jesus did not and will not stand idly by in the bleak midwinter. Coming in human flesh, Jesus came to our "hard as iron" and frozen earth. The great "de-thawing" of the earth's winter has begun, so to speak! Jesus will come again, though we know not the time, and He will reign forever. All creation will be redeemed, finally, from a bleak midwinter. Then, our tears will be wiped away when Christ himself comes again.

On this darkest night of the year, we will remember that the sun will rise tomorrow. Christ will come. Amid our bleak midwinter…He has come!

Christmas Blessings,

Pastor Joel

12/16/22

….for it is good to be children sometimes,
and never better than at Christmas,
when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Stave III

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

Christmas is the time of year we feel the permission to be like children. We delight in treats, warm drinks, stories of wonder, and cozy blankets. It’s also the one time that can remind us of the invitation to live more like children the whole year.

When we grow up, we sometimes call this "adulting." Indeed, there are important responsibilities we are entrusted with keeping as adults. There are bills to pay, houses to maintain, friends to enjoy, and a church family to love and serve.

However, every Christmas, we are reminded of the story of a child. The baby Jesus then grew into a man and seemed to enjoy being with children! He took time to notice them, bless them, and heal them. At one point in the gospel of Mark, when Jesus spoke deeply about discipleship, he taught about children.

As the disciples famously argued over who would be the most important and significant in Jesus’ kingdom, Jesus sat them down and taught them, saying;

“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them and taking it in his arms he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’”

There are a lot of characteristics that we learn from children and instruct us on how we relate to God. Our relationship with God involves trust, delight, obedience, presence in the moment, and dependence, among so much more.

Jesus could have come to earth in so many ways, but he chose first to be a child, even a baby. May we choose a childlike path this Christmas, wholly dependent on the birth of Jesus, our Lord, and Savior.

Joyfully,

Pastor Joel

12/9/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

I imagine you have a Christmas story, movie, or devotional that you look forward to dusting off this time of the year. My family loves "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (both years 1966 and 2000 versions!) Elisha and I have a tradition of wrapping our gifts with "It's a Beautiful Life" playing in the background. "Home Alone" is another one of our classic movies this time of year. We've also collected many children's stories and kept them in a medium-sized, red suitcase all year. It feels like Christmas when we unzip and unpack that suitcase.

However, one devotional book remains on our shelf all year long. It's a collection of writings from Dietrich Bonhoeffer called God is in the Manger. As you may know, Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who lived an all too short but unquestionably, meaningful life. Bonhoeffer was a pastor who spoke out against Nazism and how it was infecting the German church during World War II. His involvement in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler was an ethical dilemma Bonhoeffer wrestled with intensely.

Ultimately, the assassination plot was discovered, and Bonhoeffer was sent to Tegel Prison, waiting to be released. He waited to be reunited with his fiancee Maria von Wedemeyer and for the war's end. Powerless in prison, Bonhoeffer's friends and former students were killed in battle, and his parents' home was bombed. However, in prison, he wielded a mighty pen, wrote about God, Advent and Christmas, and communicated with his family from his bleak surroundings.

As the Third Reich toppled, Hitler ordered the execution of some political prisoners involved in overthrowing him. Bonhoeffer was one of those prisoners. He was executed just ten days before the German surrender and three weeks before Hitler's death. Bonhoeffer was just 39 years old.

One devotional he wrote titled "Look Up, Your Redemption is Drawing Near" says this;

"Let's not deceive ourselves. 'Your redemption is drawing near' (Luke 21:28), whether we know it or not, and the only question is: Are we going to let it come to us too, or are we going to resist it? Are we going to join in the movement that comes from heaven to earth, or are we going to close ourselves off? Christmas is coming - whether it is with us or without us depends on each and every one of us.....Just be aware, be watchful, wait just another short moment. Wait and something quite new will break over you: God will come."

In our Advent journey, may we all stay open-hearted, curious, and watchful for how God is breaking over us. Let's "look up" to wonder how God might appear in our families and the people surrounding us. Ultimately, let's "look up" and wait with expectation for that final Advent of Christ's coming. After all, we received a promise in scripture....God will come.

Peace and joy,

Pastor Joel

11/30/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

In this Advent season leading up to Christmas, we are immersing ourselves in the Biblical story of Christ’s coming through our sermon series and devotional “The Road to Bethlehem.” We’re delving into some characters in the Nativity story, such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi, and others. In doing so, we’ll learn more about their experience of encountering Christ and surrender ourselves to Christ’s work this season.

Frontier Fellowship has created our Advent devotional guide, a ministry committed to

creating avenues of access to the gospel for those who have not yet heard it and working for the flourishing of communities. Each year, I’ve appreciated receiving Frontier’s devotional in the mail, and I want to share it with you!

I include today’s devotional below (11.30.22), and you can also print and access the pdf on our website under “Resources.” I encourage you to read the devotional each day during Advent. In this way, we reflect together as the church body.

Today’s devotional centers on Elizabeth and Mary’s friendship. Their friendship reminds me that this season is something we share with others. Advent and Christmas are not meant to be just my story or your story but our story. Though this season can be a lonely time for many, it is not meant to be shared alone. Your friends, companions, mentors, family, and church family are here to journey with you toward Christmas and Christ’s future return.

Devotional:

“WHEN ELIZABETH HEARD MARY’S GREETING, THE BABY IN HER WOMB LEAPED. SHE WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND SANG OUT... ‘YOU’RE SO BLESSED AMONG WOMEN, AND THE BABE IN YOUR WOMB, ALSO BLESSED!’”

—LUKE 1:41-42 (MSG)

"Elizabeth, descendant of Aaron, was righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments. After years of barrenness, she was suddenly pregnant with the forerunner of the Messiah. What an overwhelming surprise, and a lot to process. Thank God she had her young cousin, Mary!

The two had so much to talk about—angelic visitations, holy words to ponder, their miraculous pregnancies. Together, they likely shared their excitement and fears, anxieties and insecurities. They could pray with, encourage and strengthen one another. During Advent, as we wait for Jesus to return, do we need to wait alone? Is it possible that God could surround us with holy friendships—people with whom we share and reflect, watch and wait?

In least-reached regions of the world, followers of Jesus are often few and far between. Holy friendships in these settings are a precious gift. Jane, a teacher at the Afghan Refugee Academy (ARA) in South Asia, was born into a Muslim family. She began to follow Jesus in her teens and suffered mightily for her faith, but a Bible study fellowship helped her grow and flourish. Jane now participates in an ARA Bible study for staff and students, where she and some of the girls share together about how Jesus' hope, joy and peace can help them navigate the concerns, anger and worry they experience as refugees and Christ-followers. This community of friends has provided vital encouragement for both students and teachers in a region of the world where it is difficult to be a follower of Jesus.

We all need people who will remind us that all things are possible with God, people who will encourage and strengthen us as we walk with Jesus."

See you Sunday,

Pastor Joel

11/23/22

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more - a grateful heart…
Not thankful when it pleases me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart, whose pulse may be Thy praise.

George Herbert, “Gratefulness”

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

Greetings from Edmond, Oklahoma! My family is visiting my younger sister’s family, and my parents have also come in from Ohio. Thanksgiving week is a beautiful gift to hit “pause,” reflect, and celebrate God’s abundant blessings he has lavished on all of us.

In the poem above, George Herbert envisions his body and life as a constant heartbeat or “pulse” of gratitude. It is also how God envisions our lives as we grow in the costly grace of Jesus Christ. As God gives his grace, we respond with gratitude.

The word “gratitude” comes from the Latin gratia, which means “grace” or “graciousness.” Likewise, in greek, “grace” and “thanksgiving” share the same root…charis. In fact, grace and gratitude belong together.

It takes just as much energy (if not more!) to complain or whine when I could just as quickly give thanks. How about you?

This week is a gift in which we “calibrate” our pulse to gratitude. We breathe grace in, and we breathe gratitude out.

One blessing in my life is our new faith community here in Monrovia! You have been warm and kind in welcoming my family. Your love for Jesus is evident in your care and friendships with each other. You have a “heart” for service and are generous with your time, gifts, and financial giving. I give thanks for your love for Jesus Christ and one another.

This Thanksgiving, may your pulse be one of gratitude. May you be blessed richly and enjoy the gifts God has given to you!

Blessings,

Joel

11/10/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

This week, we continue to explore our mission and values as a congregation within ECO. (Evangelical Covenant Order). A Liveable Theology is the second value we share and involves how we live out our Reformed beliefs relentlessly contextually.

This is demonstrated by:

-Our zealous view that the sovereignty of God drives our ability to risk.
-Our call to deeply influence culture with the Gospel, not just protect theology.
-Our passion that renewed minds lead people to embody their faith in Jesus every day.

When it comes to influencing culture with the Gospel, we often fear this will compromise our deep convictions and Biblical standards to reach others. But this need not be the case.

As we’ve been studying Galatians, I’ve been intrigued by Paul's ability to stay convicted about the Gospel. He stayed convicted within and outside the church walls.

Outside the church walls, Paul went to Athens. Acts 17:16 tells us he “was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” Paul’s tact and winsomeness in handling this situation are unparalleled next to Jesus! In Athens, Paul spent time observing the objects of worship in the city.

Then at the Areopagus, a gathering place to discuss and debate philosophy, he began with affirming their religiosity, but ultimately proclaiming to them, “The God who made the world and everything in it…Lord of heaven and earth.”

The one thing I want to point out about this story is that Paul met people on their “turf," so to speak. He was winsome and wise with how he took the Gospel in these places, but he wasn’t afraid to go out and be in the world's messiness. He trusted he could hold his convictions and speak them as the Holy Spirit provided the opportunity, and ultimately he believed and witnessed that this Gospel would influence the culture.

I note this story of Paul because, next week, I’d like to invite you to meet on Monrovia’s “turf," known as Library Park!

Thursday, November 17, from 5-9 pm, the city of Monrovia is hosting a Thankful and Grateful Holiday Gathering. There will be live performances, arts and crafts, hay rides, and our town’s Holiday Tree lighting.

I'm excited to report we'll host a booth for FPC Monrovia, where we will have invitations to our Christmas Children’s Musical “Angel Alert!” and our Christmas Eve 5 pm service! We’ll also have some games for kids, some books and Bibles for visitors, and maybe some goodies too. Most importantly, we’ll show up, be there, and see what God does! I invite you to be part of the Holiday gathering and gather at our FPC Monrovia booth as your schedule allows.

I understand that Library Park is hardly the equivalent of the Areopagus of Athens! But it is a small step and one way to continue to move beyond our church walls and expect God to meet us in those spaces.

See you soon,

Pastor Joel

11/4/22

Dear FPC Monrovia church family,

As we continue to seek the Lord for our unique, Kingdom call in Monrovia, we are guided by our ECO denominational values, The Complete Local, A Livable Theology, Our Mutual Spurring, and Your Leadership Acceleration. I’ve spent some time in this space familiarizing us with these values because I feel it is so important for us to have the “big picture” of what our values and vision will be as we move forward as a church. We are a church family “in it” together. What a joy and adventure it is for us to know we are part of something bigger in God’s Kingdom, but also to discover the incredible calling that God has for us locally, and particularly, as FPC Monrovia!

In tandem with our value The Complete Local, another value we have is called A Livable Theology.

A Livable Theology has to do with how we live out our Reformed beliefs in a relentlessly contextual way. This is demonstrated by

-Our zealous view that the sovereignty of God drives our ability to risk.
-Our call to deeply influence culture with the Gospel, not just protect theology.
-Our passion that renewed minds lead people to embody their faith in Jesus every day.

Personally, this line “our zealous view that the sovereignty of God drives our ability to risk” was the one that kept grabbing my heart and nudging me toward accepting the call to FPC Monrovia. It put into words something about God’s sovereignty that helped me trust Him and keep moving forward.

The Sovereignty of God is a conviction that ultimately God is overseeing, caring for, and loving all creation. As scripture says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs on your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Mt. 10:29-31)

Looking back over my years walking with the Lord, I can with conviction, say that God has overseen my days and my life. For example, though my wife Elisha and I went to the same high school, I was “too cool for school” to talk with her as I was a senior and she a freshman. However, five years after high school, it just so happens that we both separately attended a swing dance lesson. Coincidence? I don’t think so. One of her friends invited her to the lesson, and I was a youth pastor at the time and my youth group was attending the dance lesson. In this dance class, on a cold and snowy Ohio evening, Elisha and I became dance partners for good!

There is a great mystery with God’s sovereignty that cannot be completely mined in a short email post. What I’ve come to understand is that when we belong to Jesus Christ, there is a freedom we have to take risks in our faith. Why? I believe, ultimately, he oversees our days, holds our lives, and will get us where we need to be, and he won’t let us go. It is often when we look back over our lives that we can see God’s hand, his direction, and his unwavering love for us.