3.7.2023 PBPC Family Bulletin
PBPC Family,
The following is an excerpt from Richard Foster's book, "Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home." I commend it to you as a wonderful resource on the many forms and practices of prayer. The section below is a description of what he calls "Simple Prayer."
"God receives us just as we are and accepts our prayers just as they are. In the same way that a small child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer. So we are brought to the most basic, the most primary form of prayer: Simple Prayer.
Let me describe it for you. In Simple Prayer we bring ourselves before God just as we are, warts and all. Like children before a loving father, we open our hearts and make our requests. We do not try to sort things out, the good from the bad. We simply and unpretentiously share our concerns and make our petitions. We tell God, for example, how frustrated we are with the co-worker at the office or the neighbor down the street. We ask for food, favorable weather, and good health..
[...] Very simply, we begin right where we are: in our families, on our jobs, with our neighbors and friends [for] the only place God can bless us is right where we are, because that is the only place we are!"
This week, may you bring your whole self before God - the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the put together, and the quirky - and be with God. In this posture, receive God's love which embraces and blesses you right where you are. Not where you want to be or who you hope you can become - right where you are!
Pastor Calvin
"God is a Reckless Farmer"
Matthew 13:1-9
Pastor Calvin Sodestrom
Lectionary Readings for March 12
Lenten Book Study: Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30pm
Join us on Zoom for our Lenten Book Study on "Hope: A User's Manual," by MaryAnn McKibben Dana. Tonight we will discuss the second section - "What Hope Is" (pp. 37-58). HERE is the Zoom link for tonight's meeting.
Food Pantry - March 8
Our next food pantry is scheduled for today, February 8 from 5-6pm. Please note the time change - we've moved it an hour earlier because of the shortening daylight. Please arrive at 4:30pm to help set up. If you'd like to help, you can register HERE.
Churches Have Left Their Buildings: March 8
Each Wednesday in March from 7-8pm, we will gather with other churches for a time of prayer, education, fellowship, and food. On March 8, we will meet at St. John's Episcopal (1707 Gouldin Rd). There will be no meal served - just snacks and wine. The program will begin at 7pm.
Food Pantry - March 8
Our next food pantry is scheduled for today, March 8 from 5-6pm. Please note the time change - we've moved it an hour earlier because of the shortening daylight. Please arrive at 4:30pm to help set up. If you'd like to help, you can register HERE.
Project Peace - March 11 @ 9-12pm
Saturday is the next Day of Service through Project Peace. You can register to serve at various locations through their website - www.projectpeaceeastbay.org
Daylight Savings - Spring Forward
Don't forget to turn your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed on Saturday, March 11. If you don't change your clocks, you'll be very late to church. And please pray for all parents of young kids - Daylight Savings is a parental nightmare!
Love Offering for George + Richard
We are collecting a love offering for George and Richard and their years of faithful service at Park Boulevard. If you would like to contribute, use the link below for Giving. If writing a check, just write "Love Offering" - do not write any names on the check.