Dear Ones,

We hope this finds all of you well. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, we pray for Jesus to meet us in profound and beautiful ways. Jesus' birth changed our entire world forever and we rejoice! 

This week, as you may have seen, Southern California will be experiencing a major storm beginning tonight. Our area is expected to receive a month's worth of rain in three days. They are calling for a torrential storm, with the worst of it happening on Christmas Eve. Our local authorities are saying this is a dangerous storm and anyone traveling on Wednesday needs to exercise great caution. Because of this, we want you to know that we are monitoring this situation and will make a decision Wednesday morning about whether we will have services tomorrow night. Storms are unpredictable and all of us need to stay cautious.

Bottom Line: If the National Weather Service and our first responders say we should stay home at that time, we are not going to encourage anyone to be on the road. We want to exercise God's wisdom. 

We pray for all those who will be affected and experiencing the worst of this storm, especially in the burn areas and high flood zones. Please stay safe. 

Jesus is BORN!

Pastors Colleen, Doug, and Phil

————

On this night of wonder, we remember the love of God who sent a Savior to bring light and hope to a weary world. Join us as we celebrate Jesus' birth this Christmas Eve. The 4:30 and 6:00 services are more family-oriented and the 11:00pm is contemplative. All are welcome to join for these candlelight services in the sanctuary.

You are invited to join us for the Longest Night Memorial for those who passed away while experiencing homelessness.

December 21st, the longest night of the year, is remembered annually as Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, a time when we remember the people who lost their lives while experiencing homelessness.

Please join SB ACT for an interfaith vigil on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 5:15 PM to commemorate those who lost their lives experiencing homelessness in Santa Barbara County. We will meet in front of the County Courthouse under the arch, on Anacapa Street.

We are also still looking for names to add to our list of people who have passed. If you know of anyone, please email us at info@sbact.org and we will add them to the list.

For more information, and to RSVP visit www.sbact.org/longestnight

This year’s Christmas Choir will be performing on Sunday, Dec 14 in both services and rehearsing Thursday, Dec 11, 7-8:30 pm in the sanctuary. Reach out to Pastor Doug with any questions. Fill out THIS FORM to sign up.

ALL ARE WELCOME!
Join us on Saturday, December 13th, starting at 4:30pm, for an evening of Christmas caroling and community cheer!

Arrive at 4:30pm to enjoy a cup of tea or hot chocolate and run through a few carols together. At 5:00pm sharp, we’ll walk across Cliff Drive to visit our senior neighbors at Villa Santa Fe, where we’ll share Christmas songs, smiles, and holiday cheer.

We expect to finish around 6:00pm ish. 
Come spread the joy of Christmas and help us brighten the season for our senior neighbors and ourselves!

After spending the fall looking at peacemaking in our Encounter series, we are struck by the realities of violence, conflict, and division in our world. Rather than turning away from the brokenness we see, or becoming overwhelmed and numb to the heaviness, the practice of lament invites us as God's people to voice our sorrows, anger, and even protests to God directly. During advent, we wait for the Light of the world to be born, but first we must sit in the darkness. Please join us as we bring our laments to the Prince of Peace, and look with hope to the day he comes again.

Calling all women for our annual Christmas party! This event is always filled with laughter, singing, great food, fun, games and reflection on the coming of our Savior. Invite a friend or neighbor as we would love to expand and open our circles wider this Christmas season. Joy to the world, the Lord has come! That is what we hope to embody when we gather together for a joyous party on December 8th.

For the party please bring:

Your favorite Christmas Mug

An appetizer or dessert to share

An item for Unity Shoppe! They are looking for non perishable food items that have not expired.

We are offering free babysitting at the church on 12/6 from 12-4 pm so you can make Christmas preparations without little ones around (or just take a much needed rest). Children must be 2 years and older and potty trained. There is also a $5 pizza lunch provided.

Sign up by filling out THIS FORM. If you have any questions, email childcare@fmcsb.org.

Join us on November 23rd for a Service of Gratitude at 10:15am under the tent. In this service we will worship, reflect on the things we are grateful for, and rejoice in God's faithfulness together. Immediately following the service we will share a Thanksgiving meal together prepared by Chef Michele and her team.

To contribute to the meal, we ask that you bring a side dish that could serve 10 people (please include serving utensils). Drop it off in the kitchen foyer before the service.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! Please consider helping to make this event happen. Thanks!

VOLUNTEER HERE

MISSIONS MARKETPLACE

On November 16th, from 8:00am - 12:30pm in the Upper Room, MISSIONS MARKETPLACE will be offering you the opportunity to find gifts for the Christmas season, and beyond, while supporting and partnering with some great global ministries. 

 There will be products from Heavenly Treasures (East Africa, etc), "Turn the Page Uganda,"  Touch of Love (India), and Sarobidy Creations/ Sarobidy Birth Center (Madagascar).

Come and shop with a purpose!

Hey FM YOUTH,

We're going bowling on Friday, November 14, 5:30-7:30pm.

For $25 you get bowling for 1.5 hours, shoes, soft drinks, cheese pizza and fries. 

Invite your friends! The sign-up deadline is Sunday, November 9.

Don't miss out on this fun night together!!

Let’s Shower Pastor Nikki & Alex with Love (and Laughter!)

The whole church family is invited to celebrate the soon-to-be newlyweds, Pastor Nikki and Alex! We’ll enjoy games, charcuterie, sweets, mocktails and a sweet time of prayer as we send them into married life with joy. 

No gifts, please—just bring your smiles, your blessings, and maybe a card to share your love.

All are welcome to a Multi-Church Worship Night on November 7th at SB Community Church. There will be tea and other refreshments provided at 6:30pm, then worship will begin at 7:15pm in the main sanctuary. Come praise, celebrate God's faithfulness, and be refreshed! 

Our annual Fall Family Festival is happening Saturday, October 25th, from 11:30am-2:30pm! Our parking lot will be transformed into a “fun zone” with bounce houses, games for all ages, a cotton candy machine, prizes, Trunk or Treat, and more! Lunch is also available for purchase during this event. This is a free event for the community, so all are welcome to attend. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors, and dress up in something fun (no scary or violent costumes, please).

We look forward to seeing you there!

VOLUNTEER AT FFF
Can you help us put on this party for our community? Volunteers serve food, set up and decorate, spend an hour running games for the toddlers/preschoolers or elementary school children, monitor the bounce houses, set up their cars for Trunk-or-Treat, and help tear down/clean up. Can you share an hour of your time for the children of our community?

VOlunteer HERE

Women! We could use your help preparing for our annual Fall Family Festival. Meet at Pastor Nikki’s house at 5:30pm for some pizza, then everyone will head to the church to do some last minute prep for this amazing event. It’s a fun time of fellowship and service, so we hope you will join.

College students, come hang out around the fire pit in Joe and Pat Wheatley’s backyard with us! Enjoy a s’more (or two), some apple cider, and the chance to meet someone new. Kate Overton-Smith will be sending a reminder with the Wheatley’s address next week! If you need a ride there, talk to Kate!

FMCSB MEN'S RETREAT

September 20, 9am-4:30pm, Toro Canyon Park

"Strength Through Surrender: Finding true strength in reliance on God." with speaker, Pastor Charles Latchison

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

$25 General Admission | $10 for College students/young adults 30 & under (Use code COLLEGE)

REGISTER HERE

Young adults, join us for a friendly game of volleyball at East Beach! This is tournament style, so invite your friends to represent your church. Bring a cold drink to share!

Vitalant is bringing their bloodmobile on Saturday, September 13th from 9:00am-12:30pm for a blood drive! Whether you have given many times before, or this would be your first time, Vitalant makes it easy. Your donation helps replenish the blood supply- a continued need in our county and beyond. We hope you will consider donating.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

We are excited to invite you all to our All Church Picnic on September 7th at 4:00pm at La Mesa Park.

It will be a great time of connection with one another as we share a delicious meal made by Chef Michelle, play some yard games, and chat with one another. There will also be a bounce house for the kids!

Please bring ready-to-serve dessert to share with everyone and the utensils that may be needed to serve the item.

We could use some extra hands to help make the picnic run smoothly. We need help with some food and drink prep, managing the dessert table, throwing away trash, helping with the grill, etc. If you are willing to help, please contact Cara, cara@fmcsb.org! Thanks!

Young adults from seven churches will be coming together for worship on Friday, September 5th. The evening will start with dinner at 6pm out on the deck*, then we will transition in side for singing. The band will be playing songs that feel like home for each church. We can't wait to worship God together as one body and one Church.

*As we will be eating outside on the deck, please bring a beach chair for a place to sit!

Join us on August 19 as we create care packages for immigrant youth, young adults, and families supported by SBILDC’s Sanación y Conexión program. This is a meaningful way to show compassion during a difficult season for our immigrant neighbors. Alysse Mastromarino, a young adult in our congregation brought this idea to us and we are humbled to support her and her work in the community.

The YALL team will be providing items for the care packages, but additional donations are welcome. Some ideas include notes of encouragement in Spanish, gift cards, or baked goods. Reach out to Alysse (alysse@sbimmigrantdefense.org) or Nikki (nikki@fmcsb.org) for additional ideas or with any questions. 

Shop the beautiful handcrafted artisan items from Madagascar at the Sarobidy Creations Sale. The sale is happening Saturday, August 9th from 10am-4pm at 1534 San Miguel Ave.

WELCOME BACK TO THE WINSLOW FAMILY

Keith, Julie and their family will be with us on Sunday, August 3 to update us on their work in Asia. We have been partners with them for many years and are grateful for the ways they are teammates with the local people in that setting.

They will be sharing an update in both morning services and we will be offering "Extra Time" with them in the Upper Room from 11:45am-12:30pm. All are welcome. 

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. We are honored to be on the team with them. 

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHATTENBERG FAMILY

Jamie, Alissa Shattenberg and their family will be with us on Sunday, July 27 to update us on their work in Madagascar and Kenya. We have been partners with them for many years and are grateful for the ways they are teammates with the local people in each of those settings.

They will be sharing an update in both morning services and we will be offering "Extra Time" with them in the Upper Room from 11:45am-12:30pm. All are welcome. 

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. We are honored to be on the team with them. 

FM Youth are going to Golf' N’ Stuff on Wednesday, July 23rd, from 6-9:30pm. Sign up to attend by contacting Pastor Doug (doug@fmcsb.org) by July 20th! The cost is $25 for an all-park pass that includes 1 game of golf, 4 rides, and Arcade tokens. Bring extra money if you want snacks!

It’s almost summer, and you know what that means: Softball! Come on out to Pershing Park on July 19th from 9am-1pm for a time of friendly competition with other churches in our community. Sign up at Connection Central if you are interested in playing, or just come out cheer us on!