"Having Words With Jesus: Finding the Lost" This Sunday we move from a text that might have caused confusion or discomfort, where Jesus tells us to hate our friends and family, to a text that most all would happily agree with. "Find the Lost." We are happy to look for the lost. We are happy that Jesus is willing to venture out to find those who have strayed and to bring them home for a celebration. Luke 15:1-10 is a warm and welcoming sort of passage, at least until we look deeper and consider the radical preference for the outcast, for the wanderer, for the sinner.  Those who are already a part of the church celebrate their place in the fellowship of the church. They live the party that is the kingdom of heaven right now. They claim the family that the kin-dom of God has given to us. They rejoice in the gift of the church that is enjoyed as a part of their identity. But this is not a right to be hoarded, nor a due that is owed to anyone. Jesus is asking us to open our eyes to the possibilities around us, to the people who have been overlooked, to the populations on the margins. We must ask ourselves: do our prayers and actions cover only ourselves, our own needs, or our own forgiveness? Or are we lifting up our community and the opportunities for mission and ministry, evangelism, and comfort that we could provide? This Sunday, let's be reminded that there is always more room at God's table and that Gos is asking us to offer an invitation on God's behalf to those who have not felt they've received one yet. Our worship this Sunday will not only be about receiving marching orders or getting our weekly assignments, but also a reminder that we are a people with a mission and that we cannot become complacent. Pastor Christian

Fiery Spirit Children's Choir Resumes  As our adult choir director takes time to recover from surgery, we are excited that sweet voices will once again fill our halls as Children's Choir Director Stephanie Draper resumes rehearsals this Sunday at 10:30 am. The children will begin preparing music for our Children's Sabbath celebration on October 16. Whether your Kindergarten through sixth-grade child has participated in Fiery Spirit before or is new to Children's Choir, we'd love to include them in the learning and the fun. Contact Stephanie with questions or to register your child.  Stay tuned to find out when our adult choir will be back in session. Please keep director Jill Coady in your prayers as she recuperates at home.

Save These Dates For Family Ministries! LM1's Earth Care Ministry invites members of the church and families of the Children's Center to help care for our environment by participating as a team with I Love A Clean San Diego's 38th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, September 17 from 9am to 12pm. We'll meet at Lake Murray (5540 Kiowa Dr., La Mesa) Meet at the flag pole at the end of the parking lot, next to the boat dock. Email Diana Larsen to express your interest in participating. All ages are welcomed. And in October . . .  Oktoberfest, September 30-October 2: Look for the Chicken Coop at LM1, providing a quiet, calm and cool place for parents to care for infants and toddlers along with our regular parking lot fundraiser. Blessing of the Animals, October 2: bring your pets for a special blessing to celebrate St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day from 11am to noon. Children's Sabbath, October 16: a Sunday to recommit ourselves to caring for the next generation with a kids parade to McArthur Park following worship.  Children's Center Halloween Carnival, October 21: this is an annual "can't miss" event held on the Fireside from 5 to 8pm. Spooky Organ Concert, October 31: partnering with the Village Association, LM1 will offer a short 15-20 minute organ performance for kids to hear spooky music in the sanctuary before trick-or-treating in The Village from 4-6pm.

Oktoberfest: How to Plan And How to Help Did you know that attendance at this year's Oktoberfest celebration  is expected to surpass 100,000 people? Our quaint section of Downtown La Mesa will be transformed into a bustling street celebration complete with oompah bands, food vendors and beer gardens. If you plan to be near the church or Children's Center between September 30 and October 2, know that street parking will be at a premium. You may need to plan extra time to find a parking place that Sunday morning as well if you attend in-person worship. So, parking hassles are the downside of Oktoberfest. The upside, is that we are able to host our most successful fundraiser of the year by opening our parking lot for paid parking. Staffing this venture is a big task. If you are able to sit for a two-hour shift (under ample shade!) in our parking lot to host and collect money, we need your help. Each shift utilizes two people so you can register with a friend or let our organizer Rubye Roberts pair you up with a new friend! Contact Rubye for more information or to sign up. Thank you!