+ WHAT IS A TYPICAL SUNDAY LIKE?

Each Sunday we gather at 10:15am in the lobby space behind the sanctuary for a few minutes to catch up before worship begins at 10:30am. Most people enter through the main doors on Marengo Ave. facing City Hall. Our worship is marked by curiosty and generosity, a balance of tradition, innovation, and sacred rhythms. Sometimes we sing hymns to guitar and drums, other times we join the piano in the Doxology. The teaching/sermon is always a wild trip, exploring the intersection of Scripture with our world. We gather in joy, while also making room for the complexities of life. You can bring your full self into worship, doubts and questions, hopes and desires.

+ What do I wear?

Some folks wear a collared shirt. Others love tank tops, and believe that God loves them, too. More than one kid will take off their shoes as soon as they enter the building. No kidding, it is hard to wear the wrong thing to First Baptist (unless you own a Storm Trooper costume, then you might stand out).

+ It’s in Old Town Pasadena, so where do I park?

We have a parking garage on the west side of our property, and it is free to park on Sunday mornings. The entrance ot the parking garage is off Holly St. Just grab a ticket on the way in, and we can validate at our Welcome Desk in the Lobby/Narthex. We are also right next to the Memorial Park Metro stop, so leave the car at home and take local transit if you want.

+ What about kids and youth?

During worship we have all of our kids (except infants and nursery) with us at the beginning of service. The kids are dismissed during the first half of our service to share some time in their own learning space for the rest of worship. On the first Sunday of the month we have an all-church service where kids stay the entre time, and this is also when we share communion as a community. Our youth (6th grade/11 years old and up) join us in worship in the sanctuary and then gather after for lunch and small group. They meet up in the lobby shortly after worship ends, and we wrap up our youth time at 1:30PM. Email Pastor Lindsay with any questions if you are planning to visit for the first time and want to learn more.

+ I have some religious baggage. Is that okay?

We get it. Lots of people have trauma from a past religious experience. God is love, but church people forget that sometimes. We hope that FBCP might be a place of healing and recovery for your wounds. We will err on the side of grace whenever possible. If your religious trauma is more acute and you would like to speak to a pastor, please contact us and we will sit down over coffee and share our stories.

+ Can I receive Communion if I am new?

There is no cover charge for the body and blood of Christ. Wherever you are in your faith journey, there is room for you at the table. First time in with our church, come on. First time in any church, same thing. Catholic or protestant or I-don’t-do-labels, the bread and the cup are for you, too.

+ What if I am an introvert?

If you are more introverted, then visiting a new church is about as fun as a root canal without nitrous oxide. Here is a possible morning routine for your first visit: Email a pastor and let them know you will be visiting and might lay low for a bit. Arrive early enough to not feel rushed. Come in from the Marengo entrance glass doors, and find the Connections Desk. Someone there will let you know what to expect on that particular Sunday, and will also have a gift for you! The sanctuary doors open at 10:25am, and worship begins at 10:30am. There is a purple card in the pew that will help us get to know you better. You can fill that out and drop it in the offering plate toward the end of the service. After worship, you can slip out as fast as you need to.

+ Can I bring my coffee/tea/root beer into the sanctuary?

Yes. Our building is ancient, and a little liquid can’t hurt it. Using a cover is always a good idea. Our floors slightly slope, so a big liquid spill turns into a fun little river.

+ I want to eat lunch with a pastor. Can we make that happen?

Absolutely. Contact Pastor John Jay, the Lead Pastor, who also loves food and new friends. Current favorite restaurants are Amara Chocolate and Coffee in Old Town, and the Little Jewel of New Orleans in Chinatown.

+ What kind of church is this?

Our roots are in the American Baptist tradition. Baptist is a contested term these days, with some of the most annoying religious voices claiming the label, so sorry for the ugliness coming from our larger baptist family. For us, baptist means we are free as a local congregation to discern God’s Spirit in our time and place. We affirm the full leadership of women in leadership and ministry. We are uninterested in partisan politics, but find the Gospel to be inherently political (it would take a lunch conversation to unpack that last sentence, so see the above question). We are diverse in every way possible, and do not maintain a credal litmus test for belonging. We are committed to living into the paradox of our faith, and never settle for easy answers to complex questions. We believe that God is love, generosity, and joy. We try to be the same.

+ My story and identity is…complex. Will there be room for all of me at this church?

We are a fully inclusive church, so the simple answer is Yes(!) we want to experience the fullest expression of who God has made you. It is a sad reality that church is commonly a place where people are scared to show up in vulnerability and truth. Definitions of identity are swirling in the larger culture, and we hope church is a place where we learn how to be fully ourselves, only more so and more truly. So yes, you are welcome here. All of you. That might all sound well and good, but what about when things get “official?” Beyond participating in congregational life, what about when you feel compelled to become a member, serve or offer institutional leadership? Membership/leadership is not contingent on sexuality, gender, race, income, or doctrinal minutia. Our deepest concern: is the confession “Jesus is Lord” becoming more true to your life. We want to introduce people to the living God, revealed in Jesus and active in God’s Spirit even still. Do you want to help us do that? Then welcome aboard. We have been waiting for you! To read more about our inclusion practices, you can read this church letter.