Neighborhood Church of Palos Verdes

09/11/2026

A prayer for today. A prayer for the victims, their families and friends, the first responders, and all who are still dealing with the consequences of this day even now.
-Pastor Scott

Holy One, it’s hard to believe that it will soon be 25 years since that terrible day. And yet, the impact of the fear and anger, the shock and chaos still lingers because 19 hijackers chose senseless violence. We have cried out for answers, for peace, for justice. We have shed countless tears for lives lost, for families ripped apart, for people missing and injured.

No matter how many years pass, we will not forget the beauty of each soul that fell that day – the promise that their lives held, the hopes they had for the future.

We remember the innocent victims at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, about 2,500 people who were on the ground and on the planes. Bless their grieving families. [

We remember over 400 innocent first responders who lost their lives: firefighters, police, EMTs, and others. Help us carry on their legacy.

We remember more than 9,000 innocent victims who have died of illnesses related to the attacks that day.

Holy God, we know that you hold their lives in your hands. Though they have fallen here, they are not lost forever. Through your Spirit, you have lifted them up, close to your heart where there is no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

We cry out to you once more this day, Almighty God. Teach the world to resist the corruption of hatred. Speak to those who would be lured by the power and madness, the violence and the evil that is terrorism in our world. Show them that this seeming power is never the final victor. Touch their hearts so that they may see that love is stronger than death, that goodness is stronger than evil, that light casts out all darkness. Give them a way forward so that the world may be a home for all of us.

Gracious God, hear our prayer. Amen.

09/07/2026

A Prayer for Labor Day

God of the rough-worn hands, as we honor workers this day,
let us not forget those whose work is without honor:
those homemakers who watch over children and homes
but are not recognized as workers because they are not paid;
those who are forced out of jobs by corporate changes,
those forced into early retirement,
those who are denied employment because of their age;
those who live far from home,
struggling to save a bit of money to sent to their loved ones;
those who must work illegally in order to survive;
those who lose jobs because employers use undocumented labor.

Christ of the aching back, you worked the rough wood,
you walked the long and dusty roads,
you know the bitter thirst of the poor.
Let our thirst become a passion for justice.
Help us to work toward transformation of economic policies
that allow only a few nations to hoard the world's wealth,
policies that pay women as only half a person or less,
policies that do not recognize the worth of labor exactly without pay

Spirit of creative power, move among us this day.
Heal the wounds we carry because of jobs we hate but must do,
jobs we want but cannot have.
Heal all those who labor to survive.
Renew in us our sense of vocation.
Help us discern your Presence in even the lowliest tasks we face.

-Rev. Bob Cornwall

A blog about Christianity, theology, religion and public life.

08/29/2026

Looking for a way to help after the flooding in Nepal and Tibet? Here are ways to donate.

Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to aid survivors along the Nepal-China border after catastrophic floods struck the region Wednesday.

08/26/2026

The Neighborhood Church UCC wishes all Palos Verdes Peninsula Schools students, teachers and staff a Happy First Day of School! And blessings on the rest of the year!

08/23/2026

We are in the middle of a serious heat wave in the South Bay. Please try to stay inside as much as possible, stay hydrated, and check in on your friends and neighbors.
-Pastor Scott

The heat is upon us, and it will only get hotter this week.

08/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Summer Sunday Sounds concert with JP Smiley!

07/20/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out for our second Sunday Summer Sounds concert featuring Camila Lima and Ruby Folguera!

07/05/2026

A Prayer for Independence Day from the National Council of Churches:

Almighty and Everlasting God,

We come before You with grateful hearts, thanking You for the gift of this nation and for Your steadfast presence through every generation. We praise You for the promise of America and for the people who have dared to believe that liberty, justice, and opportunity belong to all.

Today, we give thanks for the builders of this nation, for Indigenous peoples, for the enslaved whose labor helped lay its foundation, and for immigrants who crossed oceans seeking hope. We give thanks for generations of educators, farmers, workers, artists, health care professionals and caregivers, business owners and entrepreneurs, clergy, first responders, and public servants who continue the work of building America every day.

God bless America. Bless the nation we celebrate and the nation You call us to become. Close the gap between the ideals we proclaim and the lives we live. Grant us the courage to be justice seekers and justice supporters. Grant us willing hearts to love our neighbors as ourselves.

God bless America. Bless those who lead this nation. Give them humility to listen and the courage to do what is right. Give them compassion for those whose voices are too often overlooked.

God, bless America and strengthen Your Church, in all its traditions. Make us visible in compassion and reliable in service. Help us to be unwavering in hope that we may be a faithful witness, bringing light where there is darkness. May we be hope where there is despair and healing where there are wounds.

Help us now to stand together, across traditions, cultures, and communities as one Body, bearing witness that Your kingdom is greater than every earthly kingdom and Your love is stronger than every force that seeks to divide.

As our country marks 250 years, may we not only celebrate our history but shape our future. May we be the good news that builds bridges instead of barriers and chooses community over division. May we be the ones who leave this nation stronger, fairer, and more faithful for our children’s children and the generations yet to come.

And now, God, Bless America.

Bless America until what we sing becomes who we are.
Bless America until our practice reflects our promise.
Bless America until liberty and justice truly belong to all.

And may the God who has brought us this far lead us still.

In the matchless name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.

07/02/2026

An update on how you can help earthquake victims in Venezuela.

-Pastor Scott

🙏🏾 The UCC is launching an urgent appeal to support both immediate life-saving aid and long-term recovery. Working through our trusted partners on the ground like Global Ministries (Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ) and ACT Alliance we are delivering emergency relief to displaced families, distributing food and water, and offering pastoral care to those facing profound loss and trauma.

👉🏾 Please consider making a gift today: https://ow.ly/Gf8T50ZjPiR

06/29/2026

It’s a full house for our first Summer Sunday Sounds Concert of the season. Thank you to Gravity 180 for bringing the music and joy to the South Bay!