PazNaz Update | September 29, 2026
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Dr. Brad Strawn
“The Howling Man”
Mark 5:1-20
Quotes from the Sermon
“I think when the church becomes a place of hope and healing, people will come. And people will find Jesus. And then all the confession and all that other stuff will work itself out.”
Challenge for the Week
Come out of hiding. Come to Jesus. Come to the church. Let us be a place of hope and healing for you.
All Church Events
Beginning Sunday, October 4, we’re excited to offer two new Sunday School classes! Our first class is a young adults class with Pastor Aaron and Pastor JP and will be meeting in the Ramirez Room inside the PepperTree. Our second class is for young families and will be led by Pastor Danilo and Emily Aguilar in the Administration Conference Room. We look forward to growing in faith and building community together!
Everyone is cordially invited to the third annual Gallery Doxa art show opening on Friday, October 9, 6:00 - 8:00 pm in Gilmore Hall. The Friday opening celebration will be a chance to meet and support the artists, enjoy some delicious snacks, and see the God-given creativity of PazNaz/Pasadena on display. The theme of the show is All Shall Be Well and will include more than 40 works of art. The Gallery will also be open on Saturday, October 10, 12:00 - 2:00 pm and Sunday, October 11, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Gallery catalogs with images of the artwork will be on sale for $20 at the gallery opening on Friday and in the PepperTree following the show. Proceeds from the sale of gallery catalogs will support arts ministries at PazNaz.
Are you interested in becoming a member at PazNaz? Learn what it’s all about at our next membership class on Sunday, October 25, at 11:00 am, location details pending. Please sign up by October 21. Signing up is mandatory if you need childcare.
Join us for a fun-filled evening at our Trunk or Treat on Wednesday, October 28, from 6:00–7:30 pm! Bring the whole family for an evening of creative trunks, delicious treats, and plenty of festive fun.
Enjoy Chick-fil-A while the kids trick-or-treat from trunk to trunk. Whether you’re coming to enjoy the festivities or you’d like to decorate a trunk and join the fun, there’s something for everyone!
Want to enter your car as a trunk? Scan the QR code or click the button below to register your trunk and start planning your creative display. We’ll have awards for several categories, so bring your best ideas!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Rhythms of the Church
These include any single or recurring event from one of our ministries at PazNaz.
Join us for Common Table! Dinner is served at 5:00 pm, followed by classes at 6:30 pm. Below, you’ll find the menu, sign-up information, and a list of our current classes and groups.
September 30 Menu:
Bacon Cheeseburgers, Salad, and Dessert
Dinner is served on Wednesdays, 5:00–6:15 PM.
$7 with a reservation by Tuesday at 4:30 pm | $9 after Tuesday or at the door.
First-time guests (who don’t currently attend PazNaz) eat free with a reservation by Tuesday afternoon.
How to reserve:
Reserve on Sunday at the Welcome Center
Call the church office at (626)351-9631
Click this button to reserve and pay online (Note: Be sure to show your confirmation at the check-in table)
Common Table Classes Fall 2026
Book Group: The Book of Love, by Richard Beck
Led by Dr. Brad Strawn | The Pepper Tree, Ramirez Room
If you would like to learn and discuss how to read the Bible well, join Pastor Brad as he walks through the book "The Book of Love." The author offers a bold and compassionate reimagining of how we read the Bible. Drawing from personal experience, theological insight, and psychological depth, Beck challenges the fear-based, legalistic interpretations that have long dominated many Christian traditions and invites us to approach Scripture through the lens of love--God's love for humanity and our call to love one another. If you would like to join this group, please register and purchase a book as soon as you can.
Resident Aliens Living in a Foreign Culture: At Home with Jesus – Out of Sync with the World
Led by Dr. Walker Railey | Reed Hall, 248
This class will focus on how Christ uses us as disciples to live faithfully and forcefully in a hostile and secular culture: serving as Christians, sharing the virtues of the Kingdom of God. Informed by the writings of Karl Barth, Stanley Hauerwas, John Howard Yoder, General Superintendent Scott Daniels, and Methodist Bishop Wil Willimon, this class will focus on the biblical, ethical, theological and practical realities of Christianity 101.
Grief Support Group
Led by Pastor Darwin Ng | Reed Hall, 247
The PazNaz Grief Support Group provides a safe space with support, care, and teaching as you journey through grief.
Oasis (Special Needs and Disabilities)
Led by Gretchen Moss | Reed Hall, 246
For teens and adults with special needs, Oasis Bible Study is a night of fun and fellowship! Contact Gretchen Moss at gretchenmoss66@gmail.com.
Wednesday Praise and Prayer
Led by Mike Eggehorn | Reed Hall, 246 (Temporarily)
Gather for worship and prayer for PazNaz and other concerns.
At the Table - Women of Faith
Led by Kimberly Marsh and Marlene Moncada | Gilmore Hall, South
Join our women’s book study, Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ. Together, we will dive into biblical truth, silence the lies of insecurity and build a deep, supportive community that is rooted in Christ. Your true identity changes everything. Come grab a seat at the table!
Women in the Word Fall Study
In this eight-session Bible study, author and theologian Katie J. McCoy will guide us through the Book of Deuteronomy, an invitation to abundant life found through faith-filled devotion to the Lord alone. This series begins on Tuesday, September 22 at 9:30 am in Gilmore Hall. ChildCare is provided. Zoom options are available. For more information, please contact Darlene G. Weaver at darleneGweaver@gmail.com.
MomCo Launches at PazNaz Tomorrow!
There is still time to register! MomCo will be meeting at 5:30 pm in Meguiar Hall, 134.
BroCo ALSO Launches Tomorrow!
While MomCo is an official nationwide ministry, BroCo is officially PazNaz’s thing! We don’t want our dads to feel left out, so we’ve launched a ministry just for them! BroCo will meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, coinciding with the MomCo schedule. Our first gathering will be Wednesday, September 30 in Gilmore Hall! This fall, we’ll be going through a video study of Live No Lies by John Mark Comer. Each BroCo gathering will include dinner, fellowship, and time to grow together in faith. We’d love to see you there!
Widowers’ Gathering
The Widower’s Gathering meets again on Saturday, October 3, at 5:00 pm, at Denny’s Diner in Duarte. Join this special group of Christian men to share in food, fellowship, and companionship. You won’t be disappointed. Call Dick Matlock for RSVP or questions at (818)482-5825. Address: 1060 Huntington Dr, Duarte.
Oasis Talent Show
Your favorite event of the year at PazNaz has almost arrived! Join us Saturday, October 17 at 6:00 pm in Lee Chapel for the 4th Annual Oasis Talent Show, presented by our Special Needs Ministry! Come celebrate the gifts and talents of our Oasis community with music, skits, and more — all in the spirit of this year's theme: everyone has a seat at the table. Free admission, all ages welcome, refreshments to follow. We can't wait to see you there!
PazNaz Youth Fear Factor
Calling all junior high and high schoolers! Get ready for one of Pastor Hudson’s all-time favorite events: Fear Factor! Join us for eating challenges, friendly competition, prizes, and plenty of fun. Come ready to compete, cheer each other on, and maybe step outside your comfort zone! We’ll see you Sunday, October 25, at 6:00 pm in the PazNaz Gym.
PazNaz Care
Here you will find ways to pray, resources, serving, and giving opportunities.
Prayer List
Judy Barr, Kathy Blake, Sam Bowers, Vance Bowers, Byron Buttes, Armando Castaneda, Aubrey Castro, Christina Curtis, Emily Denney, Carl Divens, Cody Divens, Norman Durazo, Jim Dusserre, George Eastis, Lilia Echeverria, Vivian Fithian, Joyce Forsee, Fabian Gavilanes, Shirley Gillette, Letty Gochez, Joel Goodwin, Ares Gregory, Arnitra Harris, John Hansen, Sandy Hausner, Anita Lim, Pat Lindgren, Sara Lopez, Robert Machulla, Laura Miranda, Trudi Mullen, Davion Olgtree, Jerry Port, Linda Preston, Steven Randall, Abby Regan, Al Rivera, Ken Rozelle, Annie Sakamoto, Doug Sakamoto, Stephen Salmons, Walter Seetal, James Siebels, Helen Spencer, Berta Street, Margaret Street, Nan Tirado, Jerry Todd, Pat Todd, Carol Wagstaff, Walter Ware, Dan Whitaker, Larry Wilson, Victor Valencia, Kevin Young
Global
Haiti, Middle East, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Venezuela
Local
Rebuilding of the Altadena Fountain of Life Church of the Nazarene
In Memoriam
The memorial service of Brian London will be on October 10, Saturday, at 10:00 am in Lee Chapel. Brian is the son of H.B. And Beverly London, our former senior pastor and son in-law of Neil and Elva Rimington. Reception will follow on the patio.
Christina Wobser Reed’s memorial service will be on Saturday, October 17, at 10:30 am in Lee Chapel. She is the granddaughter of Wes and Eleanor Reed, after whom Reed Hall is named.
Bill Fields, husband of our preschool director Barbara Fields, passed away on September 24 after a brief illness. Memorial service details are pending.
Opportunities for Prayer
Early Christians - PazNaz’s weekly prayer group, meets in person on Fridays at 7:00 am in Reed Hall, Room 247. Please contact Jakob Kanis at Jaapkanis@hotmail.com or (626)692-1751 for more information.
Sunday Morning Prayer - If you would like to spend time in prayer for our church and the greater Pasadena community, join with others in Reed Hall, Room 247, at 8:30 am on Sunday mornings. For more information please contact Isolina Gaus-Hoyt at medardagaus@gmail.com.
Wednesday Evening Praise and Prayer - Gather in Lee Chapel at 6:30 pm for worship and prayer for PazNaz and other concerns on Wednesday evenings. For more information contact Mike Eggehorn at mike.eggehorn@gmail.com.
Helping Hands currently provides groceries to over 700 families each week and a team of faithful volunteers is needed to keep the distribution system running smoothly. If you are interested in serving, please contact Jim Yang at jwyang57@gmail.com or click the Serve Form button in the section below.
Distribution Team - Fill grocery bags, direct traffic, check in families, and load groceries into cars of community members as they drive by to pick up food.
When: Wednesdays from 8:00 am–12:00 pm
Where: PazNaz Helping Hands area
Warehouse Team – The Warehouse Team unloads food boxes from the truck, transports them to the warehouse, and then stores food in an organized manner.
When: Tuesdays from 8:30–11:30 am
Where: PazNaz Helping Hands area
Interested in Serving at Church?
We would love your help. If any of these areas interest you, click the button below to fill out the serve form.
Behind the Scenes – Are you handy with a hammer or have a skill in painting? You could serve in the “invisible spaces” of the church! Contact Melody Bundy at mbundy@paznaz.org for more information.
Cart Drivers - Drivers are needed to help people with limited mobility get from the parking lot to the Sanctuary. Please contact Pastor Darwin Ng at dng@paznaz.org for more information.
Church in the Park - Volunteers are urgently needed to help the Church In The Park ministry team with food preparation, distribution, and clean-up. People of all ages are welcome to get involved. For more information or to get connected with the ministry, please contact Godwin Shen at godwinsh@gmail.com or Vanessa Hadikusumah at gpiggy@gmail.com.
Media Team - Are you interested in volunteering as part of the Media Team? We need camera operators, photographers, and more. Contact Pastor Mateo Meares at mmeares@paznaz.orgfor more information.
Kitchen Help - If you enjoy cooking or serving food, please conciser serving on the Common Table kitchen crew on Wednesdays, 3:00-6:30 pm.
Welcome Team - A team of people is needed to make sure everyone feels welcome on Sunday mornings. Contact Melody Bundy at mbundy@paznaz.org for more information.
Give to PazNaz
We are grateful for the continued faithfulness of those who support PazNaz with their tithes and offerings. If you would like to give to the church, you can do so using any of these five ways:
Place your offering in the offering plates that are passed during the 9:30 am Sunday morning worship service.
Give online at: paz.nz/give
Text a dollar amount to: 626-727-9631
Drop off your tithe at the church office: Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Mail your check to: First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
