Hope & Peace
Oops. I scheduled this email for the wrong week. You’ll get another email reflection from me on Friday, but below, you’ll find an updated version of what Bryan intended for me to send out already.
Pride Night with The Ontario Reign is TONIGHT! 🏒🥅
Tonight, we’re joining our friends from Pomona Valley Pride at as they are honored by the team. The game is at 7 PM at the Toyota Arena (former Citizens Business Bank Arena) in Ontario. As our hockey enthusiast, I have a few extra tickets available still. Text me at (909) 689-4433 if you want one of them. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Pride Center.
Sunday, December 10 Preview
Big news! We have folx lined up for both in-person music and childcare this Sunday! We’re still searching for a permanent Family Ministry staff person, but we’re finding coverage until we do. Details will be coming on Friday once we have things fully confirmed.
—Pastor Matthew
Notes from Bryan:
Holding on to hope and finding peace in a season of great change. That’s a pretty good set of words to string together, Beyond just sounding nice, what do they mean?
If you have been around the Mission Center at all in the last 8 weeks so, you see evidence of change everywhere. Today there’s a new hole in this wall. Yesterday that wall was a different color. Oh, there are black spots on drywall and ants in the Kitchen? There were never ants in the kitchen before the remodel. If anything, it’s cleaner in there now! Change has happened. Change IS happening, and it’s uncomfortable. To me, it’s an almost perfect picture of what Advent is.
The story of Advent is the story of the struggle to make things better and the tension that exists in those moments between what we long for and what we receive. Advent is about going through the process, because we believe that what is coming is better than what we can see right now. And for me, Advent is proof that God meets us in the middle of it all and somehow does what we can’t do. That thought helps me find peace and gives me hope.
Advent means that it’s all just a work in progress, and it gets better.
—Bryan
Construction Update
If Santa’s workshop has a construction team, I’m sure at least some part of the North Pole looks like our building right now!
Framing for the ramp and new door in the kid’s room has started. This week, the painting and electrical should be finished in the main gathering space.
We’ve been working on cleaning up the Justice Room so it can be painted this week and cabinets can be installed soon. Boxes of kitchen stuff are being unpacked an finding homes in the kitchen. All of this to say; work continues.
Believe it or not, we’re beyond the halfway point!
Christmas Time at Sacred Place
Let’s Bake Cookies! | Tuesday, December 12 • 5:30–7 PM
We want to host a cookie baking party! It’s really just an excuse to do something fun and get people together. Join us Tuesday, December 12, @ 5:30 PM. It’s easiest if you bring your dough pre-mixed (slice and bake is fine too). We’ll have some snacks so it’s not just a sugar fest for the kids.
Christmas Eve: Story + Song • 10:30 AM
You asked, so we’re offering a second Christmas Eve gathering in the morning at our usual Sunday time. Like our evening gathering, we’ll have readings, carols, and songs after our usual time of fellowship. We’ll have refreshments and probably some candles still.
Christmas Eve by Candlelight • 5:30 PM
Join us for our traditional Christmas Eve gathering with carols and candles. Pastor Matthew will read the Christmas Story interspersed with traditional carols as we celebrate the birth of God with us. We raise our candles high as we sing “Silent Night” early enough to head home for our family traditions.
A Night of Hope | Thursday, December 21 • 6:30 PM
Join Pastor Matthew on the longest night of the year during the season which isn’t always filled with joy. This time of year can be hard for many of us as we remember those who are no longer or can’t be with us during the holidays. We look together for that glimmer of Christmas light in the darkness.
Putting a pause on the Book Club.
We’ve decided to postpone the book club meeting for the month of December and relaunch in January. Please reach out to Bryan for more info
Pomona Valley Pride Grand Opening of the New Location
Pomona Valley Pride is moving to a new location! On January 6, 2024, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and an open house to celebrate the beginning of this new adventure for them.