A New Face for the Church Office:  The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is excited to announce that we have welcomed Phoenix Rayne as our new Office Administrator!  Phoenix will begin her work with us on Monday, Aug. 31. 

Upcoming Worship Series for the Season of Creation: Beginning in September we'll enter the Season of Creation with Salt+Soil+Seawater, a five-week worship series exploring God's creation, our relationship with the natural world, and our calling to care for it. Join us as we reflect on the beauty, wonder, and wisdom of creation through worship, Scripture, and community. 

Common Read for the Season of Creation: Join Pastor Angel as we read and discuss "Love in a Time of Climate Change: Honoring Creation, Establishing Justice" by Sharon Delgado. Our first session will discuss the intro and Part 1, pp. 1-44 on Wednesday, Sept 2 at 6:30 PM in the Children's Center.

"Wisdom from the Past, Hope for the Future": As part of his Northern California speaking tour we welcome David Worthington, Global Ambassador for Methodist Heritage Sites with the Commission on Archives & History, to First Church on Sept. 8 at 6 PM. David will share the story of the early Methodist movement and explore how knowing our Methodist heritage can inspire us to be at the heart of our communities, both spiritually and socially. A Q&A  and discussion will follow.

 Nature Walk:  Join Pastor Angel on Sunday, September 13 for a pre-worship nature walk at Maidu Regional Park (1550 Maidu Drive). We’ll gather at the Veterans Memorial Rose Garden at 8:15 a.m., enjoying a brief contemplative walk and a pause in the garden for quiet, guided reflection.

Opening a Conversation About Gun Safety: Please join the Ring Out Danger team on September 20 in Heritage Chapel after worship to watch and discuss two short Oscar-winning films about the heart-wrenching aftermath of gun violence. 

• If Anything Happens I Love You — winner of the 2021 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
• All the Empty Rooms — winner of the 2026 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film

Watch, reflect, and share your thoughts as we seek ways to continue this important conversation.

Save the Date: All Church Picnic - Saturday, September 26, 11:00 AM.–3:00 PM,  Bethel Lutheran Church Campus  (1050 Douglas Blvd.).  The All-Church Picnic is back, and we hope you'll join us!  We're especially grateful to our Lutheran siblings for generously sharing their green space with us after discovering that all of the city parks were already booked through October. More details about food, activities, and ways to participate will be coming soon.  

Children's Center:  Our Children’s Center is open during Sunday worship for families who may need a space for their child(ren) but will be unstaffed, so parents or guardians are asked to remain with their children while using the space. The room does include audio and video access to the worship service so families can continue to participate in worship together. 

 'Follow' Pastor Angel's Observations - The Circuit Birder: Pastor Angel has launched a Facebook page called The Circuit Birder -- a nod to the Methodist tradition of circuit riders while drawing on the joy of birding: observing, noticing, and sharing what is discovered along the way. Through "field notes" from his travels, he'll offer reflections on ministry, stories from congregations across his area of the district, and observations from life on the trails.