A Letter to Park Parents
Dear Park Parents,
I keep coming back to one number: 52. If your family is here every Sunday, and I mean every Sunday, our Family Ministry team gets about 52 hours a year with your kids. You get the rest: car rides, dinner tables, bedtimes, and the hard conversations that come at 10 p.m.
Our students are walking through Deuteronomy right now, so it’s fitting that Moses says it best: “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut. 6:7). Faith gets formed at home. The church comes alongside.
Sorry for the golf analogy, but here it is: our job is to tee it up; your job is to drive it home. We put biblical truth on the tee, clear and simple and said again and again, so you can take the swing all week long. (Unlike my golf game, this one works if you just keep showing up.)
What your kids are learning:
Preschool (3 months–Pre-K): God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever. In October the big idea is simple: God’s got it! The kids will hear it through Moses at the burning bush, the Red Sea, Elijah and the widow, and King Hezekiah’s prayers.
Elementary (K–5th): Three big truths run through the year. God is good, so I can trust Him no matter what. God loves me so much that He sent Jesus to rescue me. The Holy Spirit helps me live and love like Jesus. October’s theme is God is my strength. Each week has a “bottom line” the kids will say over and over, like “God is strong, so I can be brave.” Ask them about it on the drive home.
Middle School: In Better This Way, students hold culture’s promises up against God’s Word. Culture tells them truth is personal, identity is self-made, and love is just a feeling. The series shows them that Jesus offers a completely different life, built on Him.
9th–10th Grade: Sunday mornings are in Deuteronomy, with a weekly Big Idea and small group discussion. On the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays, youth group meets at our home from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. We’re working through Francis Chan’s What Is a Christian?
Our Sunday morning rhythm
- Preschool: Doors open at 9:45 for free play. An opening activity introduces the story, then large group at 10:20 (worship, memory verse, Bible story). Snack comes with a story recap and prayer, then hands-on activities until pickup at 11:05.
- K–3rd: Classes open at 9:45 with an opening game. Large group runs 10:20–10:40 (Bible story video, song, memory verse, bottom line), followed by snack and an activity. Dismissal is at 11:05.
- 4th–5th: Kids start in worship with the whole church. Around 10:35 they head to class for an icebreaker, large group, discussion, and an activity. Dismissal is at 11:05.
My commitment to you
I sat down with our team and walked through this curriculum, and I want to make you a promise: this is the format going forward. There may be one or two Sundays a year when we step outside it, but those will be the exception.
You’ll also see two new things. Each week's key lessons will be posted at check-in. And every week we’ll provide a monthly Parent Cue resource [at Check-In kiosk], so you know exactly what’s on the tee.
Shannon and I raised our boys in this community. We watched other adults know them, love them, and teach them, and those people shaped our boys in ways we never could have alone. That is a gift, and I’m confident our Family Ministry team will create that same space for your kids.
Questions? Reach the team anytime at jen@theparksa.org.
With love,
Scott
Upcoming Events
Men's Social
Come hang out at Taroko Sports on Thursday, October 8th for a laid-back evening of fellowship and friendly competition. Think you're better at baseball than Reed Kirksey? Taroko has batting cages, batting simulators, and pitching mounds to prove it once and for all. Not into baseball? No worries, you can still demonstrate your masculinity by competing in darts, mini bowling, or other arcade games. On a budget? Entry is free, and they've got big screens, so feel free to just come and hang out and watch some Thursday Night Football with other guys from The Park. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Click here to let us know you'll be joining us.
Blueprint Fall Service Project
Put faith into action and help love our city well! On Saturday, November 7, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, The Park is partnering with Blueprint Ministries for a morning of serving our neighbors through home repair, construction, and neighborhood beautification projects. This is a wonderful opportunity to roll up our sleeves, build relationships, and make a tangible difference in our local community.
Families are welcome! If you have children ages 13 and older, there will be hands-on construction opportunities where you can serve together as a family.
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When: Saturday, November 7 | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
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Where: Blueprint Ministries
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Registration: Sign up online here
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Questions? Contact Kevin Tsui at kevin@theparksa.org
Space is limited, so please register early to help us plan teams and projects effectively.
School of Theology
School of Theology starts in two weeks, so there's still time to register to join us for this converation around Hospitality. Hospitality was central to the mission of the early Church, not simply entertaining friends, but welcoming the stranger and caring for those who could not return the favor. This fall, join us for our bi-annual School of Theology as we explore what it means to practice genuine Christian hospitality in a world marked by loneliness, isolation, and need.
Over four weeks of teaching and discussion, we will dive into Scripture, Church history, and the theology of hospitality alongside Christine Pohl’s classic work, Making Room.
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When: Sundays, October 18 – November 8, 2026 | 8:30–9:30 AM
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Book: We recommend purchasing the 25th Anniversary Edition of Making Room for updated content and a timely afterword. You can also purchase a copy at our Resource Table on Sundays.
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Registration & Childcare: Register today here to save your seat and reserve childcare.
Missional Partner Highlight
Fostering Faith Project
As a church family, we are deeply committed to loving and supporting vulnerable children and teenagers entering the foster care system. Through the Fostering Faith Project, an initiative within The Park’s Foster & Adopt Ministry, we have a tangible opportunity to offer comfort, dignity, and hope to young people in transition. While the journey toward fostering or adopting can take time, we can make an immediate impact today by surrounding these children with care when they need it most.
Starting next Sunday, October 11, a collection box will be available at the Family Ministry Check-In before service. We are gathering new items to bless these youth with both essentials and comforts including: backpacks, duffel bags, non-spiral private journals, school supplies, hygiene products for all ages, basic clothing items in all sizes, stuffed animals, and fidget toys. Anything that helps a child of God feel seen, valued, and cared for is welcome. All donations can be placed in the collection box. If you have any questions or feel called to support this effort, please reach out to Liesel Lemcke at lieselclaire06@gmail.com.
Connect
Community at The Park
At The Park, the community doesn’t stop on Sundays; connection continues as we share life together throughout the week. Our communities gather in living rooms, around tables, and on back porches to grow in their faith and follow Jesus side by side. Whether it’s a Bible study, book club, movie night, or something uniquely you, every group carries the same heart: discipleship in everyday life.
There’s a place for you here. Explore current groups and what’s new at theparksa.org/groups. And if you’re considering starting a group of your own, we’d love to help you think through what that could look like, you can reach out to Nancy Gaines at nancy@theparksa.org.
Movie Dudes
Movie Dudes is a low-key, fun way for guys from The Park (and beyond) to connect over a shared love of movies. Once a month, we meet up at Alamo Drafthouse Park North to catch a film, hang out beforehand, and stick around after for casual conversation. It’s a relaxed environment to build friendships, invite friends, and maybe spark deeper conversations along the way. Come for the movie, stay for the community. Join the group here to be added to the group chat.
Romans Bible Study
Looking to go deeper in Scripture this fall? Join us for an in-depth study of Romans using Precepts Bible study materials. This group meet twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays, at the home of Guy and Rebecca Gould in the Thousand Oaks/Henderson Pass area beginning with dinner at 6:00 PM and Bible study from 7:00–8:30 PM. This study is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or marital status. No childcare is provided. Contact Guy Gould at ggould210@gmail.com for the address and more information. New faces are always welcome!
Ladies Book Club
LBC is a group of women who are reading a book together a chapter at a time. We meet every Tuesday evening 7:00–9:30 PM to discuss the assigned chapter, eat snacks and talk and before we pray together to end our meeting we share our prayers, praises and confessions as we feel comfortable. We just kicked off this week at Beacon House reading Redeeming Eden but there's still time to join. The study will run for 13 weeks. For more information contact Des Leiloglou at des@theparksa.org.
High School Youth Group
Our High School Youth Group has kicked off with a great group of students! Join us this Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Austin's! It’s going to be a great space to hang out, connect with new friends, and dig into faith together. If your student is interested in joining us, reach out to Nancy Gaines at nancy@theparksa.org to get all the details! We can't wait to see everyone there.
The Park Mom's Club
A simple way has been created for moms at The Park to connect and support one another in this season of motherhood. By filling out this Google Form you will be included in a shared directory of moms who are open to things such as babysitting swaps, playdates, and meeting practical needs. Feel free to pass the link along to your community group or other moms at The Park. For questions you can contacat Kelsey Cody at kelsey.cody2015@gmail.com.
Fall Serving
As we step into a new season, we are looking for new volunteers to join our teams and help make fall happen across our church family.
If you’ve been looking for a place to get connected and make a difference, now is the perfect time to jump in! We have open opportunities in Family Ministry, Connections, Operations, Media, Hospitality, and more.
Ready to find your spot this fall? Click here to learn more and sign up.
Spiritual Formation Resources
Explore Deuteronomy Resources
Want to go deeper throughout the series? We’ve put together a dedicated resource page on our website featuring recommended readings, study guides, and context tools to help you follow along. Visit theparksa.org/deuteronomy to check out the resources and prepare your heart for this Sunday!
Worship at The Park
Worship through music is an integral part of our practices at The Park. Whether you leave our services wanting to know “What was that song?” or want to come prepared or need a way to sit in the presence of the Lord during your week, here is a playlist of the songs we’re currently worshiping with at The Park.
Follow The Park's Worship Playlist on Spotify
Follow The Park's Worship Playlist on Apple.
Mental Health Advising and Wellness
We aim to support our congregation and community through companionship, guidance to relevant services, mental health education, a vetted referral list, and, when needed, help with crisis care costs. The goal is to offer love and presence during mental health needs, crises, or ongoing care. Contact us for mental health resources