Here We Are, We Are Here
The year may be winding down, but things at Sacred Place are just getting started!
Every year I say to myself; “Self, the year has gone by so fast.” This year has been no different. For me, this year is broken down into 3 seasons:
- Sacred Place found a place!
- Sacred Place learned to play!
- Sacred Place is turning it’s new house into a home!
At the beginning of this year, none of us imagined that we would be here right now. In March we found our new church home. In June, Pastor Matthew went on sabbatical and the rest of us learned play together with a summer full of food and fun. Now, renovations on our building are moving forward, so that this place, and the people in it, can function better and meet the needs of our community! It’s a lot of change—and a great deal of work—done in a short amount of time. And yet, it is good work—and oh, so worth it.
The holiday season is here. It started with Halloween. Our Reformation Fall Festival was a success! We had costumes, games, candy, and a lot of laughs. Thanks to everyone who helped. We hope that you had a good time.
—Bryan
This Week’s Construction Update
This week, demolition started on the kitchen, and in the next week, new cabinets, countertops, and appliances will be installed. The goal is to have the kitchen completed by Thanksgiving, so that we can have a meal as part of our Thanksgiving Celebration as a church family. Save the date for that on Sunday, November 19. Work continues on the outdoor storage to make it water tight and weather-safe. The kids space is temporarily moving to the Family Room for the next couple of weeks and we’ll do fellowship time in our main gathering space.
November Events
Tuesday, November 7, join Bryan online for the Sacred Place Book Club. We’re reading The Gospel of Mark, by Amy-Jill Levine. We’ll be spending six weeks diving into the text with video and discussion on Zoom from 6:30– 8:00 PM on Tuesdays. Sign up here where you can also get the meeting link.
Our annual Thanksgiving Celebration returns with (hopefully) a new kitchen! Even if we have to have food brought in, we’ll be joining together to celebrate Thanksgiving with a meal on Sunday, November 19. We’ll get to break out the good china and have a wonderful time together as a family. We do ask that you RSVP so we know how much food to prepare.
Join us on Sunday, November 26, at 10:30 AM for the first annual Sacred Place Advent Festival. We will have crafts, games, and cookies to prepare ourselves for the Advent season. Need a new Advent Wreath for home? Then you’ll be in the right place. Advent starts on Sunday, December 3, so this is the perfect time to get in the spirit of the season.
Updates from the Pride Center
Pomona Valley Pride is hosting two events in which Sacred Place is participating:
C.A.R.E. - Thursday, November 9
Thursday, November 9, we are hosting a C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness Reduction & Education) event at the church from 4:00–5:30 PM.
Community Awareness Reduction & Education is a weekly educational series which brings awareness to substance use disorders and the impact on the community. The workshops show individuals how to apply harm reduction and prevention skills.
Edgar Jacuinde-Torres and Cristan Retana will be here, sharing about the work of the Pride Center: what they do, what they are working towards, and how we can help. They will provide info on current and upcoming events and facilitate what I hope is the first of many conversations and future collaborations.
Community Cultural Event - Saturday, November 18
November 18 is Friendsgiving at Pomona Valley Pride! Join us at PVP’s new location for a celebration of friendship and community from 4–7 PM! Come have a meal with us and share the things for which you are thankful.
