PBPC Family Bulletin 11.25.2025
PBPC Family,
Sunday is the beginning of the Advent Season and, as announced, we will be joining the Advent Conspiracy, a movement to reclaim Advent and Christmas from the busyness and consumerism that marks this time of year.
There are a number of ways to engage with the Advent Conspiracy this year. We will have fliers available on Sunday with more info but you can also refer to this email for more information.
- November 30 - Stick around after service to help us pack Blessing Bags to be handed out at our Food Pantry on December 10.
- December 2 at 7:00pm. Our first book discussion of the Advent Conspiracy will be on Zoom at 7:00pm on December 2. We will meet for four weeks on Tuesday at 7pm.
- December 7 - Joint Worship Service. We are hosting other Oakland churches with a potluck following the service. We will need some help with getting the potluck set up and organized. Please reach out if you can help.
- December 10 - Food Pantry from 5-6pm. Please arrive at 4:30 to help pack bags.
- December 14 - Church Christmas Party following the service. Lunch will be provided and we'll play White Elephant Brown Bag Christmas Bingo
- December 24 - Christmas Eve worship at Oakland City Church (2735 Macarthur Blvd)
Looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Calvin
"Worship Fully"
Luke 1:46-50
Calvin Sodestrom
Pre-Service prayer in the Cafe from 9:30-9:45
November Bible Reading Plan
Commitment Cards
If you'd still like to turn in a commitment card for 2026, HERE is a digital copy. You can send them to accounting@pbpc.org.
Pack Blessing Bags - November 30
Stick around after service on November 30 to help us pack the blessing bags to be handed out at our December 10 Food Pantry.
Advent Conspiracy
November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent and this year we are joining other Oakland churches in joining the Advent Conspiracy. The Advent Conspiracy was started 10-15 years ago by a few churches. They wanted to reclaim Advent (and the entire Christmas season) and disengage from the rampant consumerism of our culture. You can grab a free Advent Conspiracy book in church on Sunday. Here are a few things to consider.
- Advent Conspiracy Book Study: Tuesday Evenings in Advent at 7:00pm
- Joint Advent Service: December 7 at PBPC (we're hosting!). Service will be followed by a potluck. We will need help setting up the gym for the potluck ahead of the service, please reply if you're able to help on December 7.
Christmas Offering
Our Christmas Offering will go to support our Emergency Assistance Fund or Door Fund. This fund is used to address the needs that arise in our community. In years past, we've purchased hygiene supplies for the food pantry, gas or transit cards, grocery gift cards, or provided financial assistance to those who knock on our doors. Please write "Christmas Offering" on your check or envelope to give to the Door Fund.
Food Pantry - December 10
Join us on Wednesday, December 10 for our final food pantry of the year. Not only will we be packing food at 4:30 but we will also hand out cookies and hot cider from 5-6pm.
Church Christmas Party - December 14
Join us for our annual Christmas Party after service on Sunday, December 14. We'll have a catered lunch, play White Elephant Brown Bag Bingo (say that 3 times fast!), and enjoy one another's company. For White Elephant Brown Bag Bingo, please bring a fun, silly, or weird gift in a brown bag.
Christmas Eve at Oakland City Church
We will worship at Oakland City Church (and other Oakland churches) on Christmas Eve at 4:00pm.
Harbor House Christmas Store
On Saturday, December 13, 2025, Harbor House will host its annual Christmas Store. The Store is an empowering opportunity for parents from our community to select toys for their children, purchase them at greatly reduced prices ($2 per toy), and experience the joy of watching their children open a gift that they have chosen on Christmas morning. All proceeds raised from the Store provide financial assistance for families with urgent needs. Volunteers are needed to help us set up the Store on Friday, the 13th, and run the Store on Saturday, the 14th. To volunteer for the Christmas Store, please fill out our Christmas Volunteer Form. For any questions about volunteering, please email Nicole.
If you'd like to donate toys for the Christmas Drive, you can purchase gifts on Harbor House's Amazon Wish List. Items purchased from the wish list will be delivered to a volunteer's home and then brought to Harbor House (the deliver address is already set up in the Wish List).