Christian Education

Healthy Living through Community, Food, and Movement

~~Sunday, February 12, 4pm~~ WILL BE RESCHEDULED

Cynthia Chin-Lee, Joy Lee, and others talk about healthy living through community, food, and movement. An elder of the church, Cynthia received a cancer diagnosis in March 2021 but declined most conventional care, including surgery and radiation. Instead, she revamped her diet and ate a low-methionine vegan diet, exercised, and maintained her support communities through the church, clubs, and social networks. She got a PET scan 8 months after her diagnosis that showed her to be cancer free. Joy Lee, a yoga instructor for Body and Brain yoga centers, will also show easy yoga movements which anyone can do. (Not confirmed yet: LindaGrace Frost, veteran yoga instructor, will share movements and breathing techniques to help you become calm and centered).

BEING A PEACE CHURCH IN THE TIME OF WAR IN UKRAINE

Sunday, November 20
4 pm Zoom
Our Fall 2022 series of study sessions will conclude with a discussion led by Byron Bland: Being a Peace Church in the Time of War in Ukraine. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, what is our role as a self-declared Peace Church within the Presbyterian Church, the PC(USA)? Our statement on being a Peace Church is can be found HERE.

Watch recording HERE

FALL MONARCH ADULT STUDY & ORIGAMI BUTTERFLIES

Registration: https://bit.ly/FPCPAAdultStudy

Video instructions by Derrick at Reach & Teach on how to create an origami butterfly can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWWMNv0c9E

Photo of Monarch in the First Pres Garden

The Christian Education Committee is offering a four-week study this fall based on the life and lessons of the monarch butterfly. Rev. Kelly Wiant will lead these sessions, which will be held on Zoom at 4:00 PM (PST) on Sunday afternoons. The sessions will include learning, discussions, small groups, and opportunities to pray for God’s beautiful creation. We will meet on September 25, October 9 & 23, and November 6.

The Adult Study sessions are as follows:

September 25

Monarch Ambassadors & Origami Butterflies

We will continue making origami butterflies as we discuss the important role of monarchs in conservation.

Video of September 25 Adult Study

October 9

Wisdom from a Monarch Mama

Eleanor Laney, fondly nicknamed the Monarch Mama, will share her passion and information about the monarch and its life cycle.

Video of October 9 Adult Study

October 23

Transformation
“God did not say: You will not be troubled, you will not be belabored, you will not be disquieted; but God did say: you will not be overcome.”

– Julian of Norwich, Showings, chapter 68

We will study the monarch’s transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly, allowing their experience to inform our own. While we often use the word transformation within the church, we rarely consider what it requires of our communities and us. We will discuss the struggles and gifts of transformation within our own lives and within the church.

Video of October 23 Adult Study

November 6

Migration is Beautiful

We will use the wonder & beauty of the monarch migration to discuss human migration as personal and political.

Origami Butterflies
Regardless of whether you participate in the Adult Study, everyone is invited to create origami butterflies. We ask that you return your folded butterflies to the church by Sunday, October 30. They will then be made into a liturgical art installation for the sanctuary as part of our celebration of All Saints Day on November 6. You can pick up origami paper in the church office. If you do not live locally, please contact the church office to have origami paper mailed to you. Video instructions by Derrick at Reach & Teach on how to create an origami butterfly can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVWWMNv0c9E

Video of November 6 Adult Study

BEING A PEACE CHURCH IN THE TIME OF WAR IN UKRAINE