And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Matthew 2:12

Happy New Year!

This year, I am feeling more hope than I have for several years now. But New Year’s Day turned into a weekend, which was just confusing enough to remind me that while some things feel “normal,” we will do best to resist trying to return to the past, and instead take confidence in God’s road ahead.

I am seeing signs of normalcy that are reassuring. At one church that was hit hard by COVID, one of their three music groups has returned to lead in worship. Churches that have been without pastors throughout 2022 are seeing progress: one has just called a new pastor, one is deciding among a short list, and a church that looked like they were headed for closure has stabilized and learned to continue without a pastor. For us Japanese, this was the first year since 2020 when we weren’t worrying about where to find mochi, which must be eaten on New Year’s Day. Even the fact that the Rose Parade holds to their traditional “Never on Sunday” rule (a throwback to old Christendom days, when Sundays were held to be sacred—remember that?) shows that some things haven’t changed. And thank God that while we have had some rain, it isn’t raining on our parade!

But there are adjustments. At any given church, communion may still be served with the little COVID packets, and a few or many folks wear masks (and given the high incidence of various illnesses, masks are recommended indoors, for the protection of others, as much as for the protection of the wearer).

Most churches are livestreaming their worship services—which meant that even though Filipino Community United Presbyterian Church in Azusa met on New Year’s Eve, we could wish a happy new year to friends in the Philippines, for whom 2023 had already begun. And between FCUPC’s Saturday worship and Rose Parade traditions, what might have all happened on January 1 became a three-day celebration!

Now these adjustments can be disorienting. Folks still struggle to open those COVID communion kits without spilling juice on themselves. At any given event, there is at least one person getting over a cold (or worse). At FCUPC, we joked about how we had to keep telling ourselves “it’s Saturday” even while we were doing our normal Sunday morning activities. And on Sunday morning, I kept thinking I should turn on the TV to watch the Rose Parade as I cooked for New Year’s. On a deeper level, several people near and far passed away on New Year’s Eve, reminding us of the many loved ones we have lost in the past year.

But there are signs of the new that are most welcome. On January 16^th, Wendy Gist will begin her work as the new Immigrant Accompaniment Organizer! She is incredibly well-qualified, with experience as a mission co-worker in Nicaragua and mission enabler for both our presbytery and San Fernando. Wendy worked closely with Kristi Van Nostran, and has always helped with advocacy and church education work on immigration and other mission priorities. Wendy will continue with her current work, which means she will be almost full-time with us. As the senior staff member on our staff, Wendy’s commitment, faithfulness, and effectiveness is well-known, even as she continues to stay current with the ever-changing landscape of immigration policy. Thanks be to God!

Then, on February 1^st, Bruce Reyes-Chow will begin a three-month bridge pastorate with FCUPC in Azusa. You might recognize Bruce, who was our WinterFest plenary speaker two years ago, and is a former GA moderator, the first Filipino moderator and at the time the youngest. Bruce continues to be an innovator and faith leader for many. Bruce’s goal with FCUPC is to work with the church to discern and develop a mission plan for the next chapter of their ministry in Azusa, as they consider new pastoral leadership after the retirement of Pastor Rollie Baybay. Though Bruce will be part-time, he has offered to do something with the presbytery. We welcome Bruce for his time with us, and commit to limit our demands on him (Bruce has a pretty severe case of long COVID, and continues to struggle with fatigue).

And yesterday, Rev. Harlan Redmond served communion for the first time for Interwoven. People have told Harlan that there were people weeping at his ordination service on December 18^th, but it was yesterday’s worship at Interwoven that gave me hope, feeling the joy of the members, hearing Harlan’s message which as usual offered new perspectives, and giving thanks to God for bringing us new leaders and friends into this old Presbyterian family.

As we live into the hope that God provides for 2023, we know there will be stumbles along the way. As I heard from Harlan’s message (and as I considered Herod’s murderous response to Christ’s birth), we cannot become paralyzed with fear that mistakes will be made, nor that resistance will rise up against Christ’s actions on behalf of God’s people. We will live with faith that imperfect as we are, broken as the world is, God is yet in charge, and God asks us to take the risk of being obedient, that we may be agents of God’s will.

We have been through a lot. And there may be more trials ahead. But we are God’s people, and as we accept the call to be Christ’s hands and heart on earth, as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and as we continue to trust God in spite of unexpected turns in the road ahead, we will be bearers of Christ’s light for this hurting world that has become a little too used to the darkness. Let us trust in God’s plan that we cannot understand, but may we see glimpses of God’s grace in our lives, and in the world.

I will be taking the second half of my sabbatical this month, so if you need anything, you can call Ally Lee at (626) 614-5964, or email presby@sangabpres.org and Ally or Sam Bang will respond. Cyndie Crowell returns as COM Chair as Sophia Eurich-Rascoe takes some well-deserved time off. I will be going to Israel January 13-30, but will see you at WinterFest starting February 1. Please pray for me in my rest and my travels, and I continue to be so grateful for the partners in ministry we have in San Gabriel Presbytery and throughout the Synod and denomination.

We have reason to hope, and I pray that God’s hope in us is realized as we live with faith and love— for God, for our neighbors, and for each other. As we continually seek out and encounter Christ in our lives, may we receive and follow God’s will for us.

Blessings for you and our churches throughout 2023,

Wendy

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2

It’s been a little chilly lately, and the chill makes me think about that holy night when the baby Jesus was born, unprotected from the elements in a cow’s stall. And the fact that the light of the world was born in the quiet and darkness of night focuses our attention on the liminal nature of Christmas.

The word “liminal” is one of those terms loved by seminary types. It’s often used to describe that “in- between” state when we (or, in this case, the world) are at the threshold of major change. Certainly this is true of Christmas, as the birth of Jesus Christ was God’s best and last attempt to lead God’s people to reconciliation with God and with each other. But it’s interesting to reflect on the earlier use of the word, when the threshold was not major change, but perceptibility. The liminal nature of Christmas works both ways: Christmas is not just the inbreaking of God’s kingdom on this earth, but this revolutionary act was noticed by almost no one.

Christmas nowadays is a global marketing phenomenon and, for some, a moment to connect with family and friends and our hopes for a better world. But that first Christmas, for us Christians, was a rare moment when the barrier between heaven and earth was broken, and in the Christ child, humans were able to witness the Divine inhabiting and transforming our mortal state. (Another such moment was Good Friday, on the other end of Christ’s journey on earth.) And who witnessed it? Mary and Joseph, the angels who appeared to a few shepherds, and the animals who shared their stall with the holy family. Despite our aspirations to spread the gospel to all the world, Christianity grew out of a small minority of people living in a small, occupied state, not as a conquering empire.

And this is good news, I think. God often chooses small entry points into world history, and of course Christmas is the most dramatic example. If God can become one of us through a poor couple, displaced by geopolitical forces beyond their control, God can surely work today through small voices, little churches, and perhaps even more people who are displaced by geopolitical forces beyond their control. We seem to be crawling out of the pandemic, but there is no major declaration that it is over. Instead, we take one tentative step at a time out of the darkness, still uncertain and with heightened awareness to the dangers of illness and climate change, racism and poverty, war and hatred.

And yet we do see light—and we have the opportunity to reflect the light that we receive. On Saturday, Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church presented a Messiah Sing-a-Long, sharing the news of Christ’s birth through beautiful music. Yesterday, Westminster Presbyterian in Pasadena was the beautiful setting and host for Harlan Redmond’s ordination, a service that brought together people from over a dozen Christian church traditions and at least a couple of folks who themselves are preparing for ministry—a moment when new ministry was celebrated and inspired, and people from many backgrounds and perspectives could come together and rejoice in our shared love for Christ and for our brother Harlan. Tonight, Claremont Presbyterian hosts the third talk in their series on “Indigenous Peoples/Native Realities” which not only enlightens us settlers on the Indigenous experience, but also offers insights on relations with the Creation and each other that are new or have been forgotten. And we are thrilled to have offered the Immigrant Accompaniment Organizer position to a very well- qualified person—we are not yet able to announce the name, so you’ll have to hear the good news in the new year!

I see Christ’s light shining through this presbytery; sometimes I feel shy to admit it because the dominant narrative of the world is so negative. And certainly there is much we need to be wary of (get your boosters and your flu shot, and don’t be afraid to wear your masks!), and much need that we must respond to. But it occurs to me that we are now the small group of folks who are witnessing God’s inbreaking into today’s world, and it is our job to share the good news to this land of deep darkness.

We know there is darkness, but out of darkness comes new life. Out of the darkness of trial comes compassion and the strengthening of the human spirit. Out of the darkness of space comes the warm and life-giving light of the sun. Out of the darkness of night and Mary’s womb comes the baby Jesus. May we give thanks for the darkness and the light, knowing that in all circumstances, God is with us. May we give thanks for the darkness and the light, and for the companions who take us through it all. May we give thanks for the darkness and the light and point this world to the new life present in both.

Most of all, may our hearts be filled with the hope that comes with Christmas, and may we live into that hope—in our churches and families, in our work and our play. I look forward to seeing Christ’s light shine through you, throughout 2023 and beyond. Merry Christmas!

In Christ’s love,

Wendy

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This is Thanksgiving week, and while it’s good to give thanks—at all times and in all circumstances— it’s nice to be able to look back and see what we can be thankful for this past year. Actually, they say it’s good for our mental health to live with an attitude of gratitude, and while we should not discount hardship, we know that there is always reason to give thanks. And as I look back on the life of this presbytery, I can give thanks to God for an infinite number of blessings, but let me just share the first ten that come to mind.

Thanks be to God, and for the Bible who tells us about God, and how God would want us to live our lives. We know we would not be here at all, or in a state of despair and confusion, if not for the life and love God has given us in Jesus Christ. Our reason for being is to appreciate and live out of our understanding of what God has given us, including the invitation to participate in God’s mission in this world. May we continue to rely on and build from this foundation of faith and purpose.

Thanks for the churches, church leaders, and pastors who continue to serve faithfully through all circumstances. We spend energy and time bringing up new leaders and new worshiping communities, but of course the energy, leadership, and mutual support of our presbytery come from our established churches, and I should never take that for granted. Every member, and every congregation, has gifts and a piece of God’s wisdom, and we are far better positioned to discern and do God’s will if we have more people involved in the leadership of the presbytery. We seem to hover right under 100 leaders every year, though we can certainly welcome more!

Thanks for the fellowship of support and generosity lived out in the life of the presbytery. I was texting with one of the presbytery leaders this last week, who mentioned being “really grateful for our Presbytery because it feels as if we genuinely like each other and want to include everyone.” So thanks again to the leaders who have been around for a while, who not only serve their own ministries but expand their welcome to folks who bring new perspectives of God and the church to our presbytery. I experienced this directly at our last presbytery meeting (the first in-person meeting in almost three years), as the host pastor spoke of the partnership of Christian bodies serving together at West Covina; a new pastor became instant sound board technician; another pastor shared persimmons from his tree; we shopped for gifts from a sister church and a recipient of our Self-Development of People grant; we gave gift cards to a family finding peace in our community after fleeing war in Ukraine; and most of all, we enjoyed sitting together at tables but also connecting with friends in San Diego and Oakhurst by Zoom.

Thanks for the polity that facilitates the way we do mission together. While many cringe at the demands of our polity, I know that many people are Presbyterian specifically because of it. For myself, I believe the polity is the codification of what we believe as Christians. And it has become a combination of guardrails to keep us from getting into trouble, practices that facilitate our work as we don’t have to recreate everything on our own, and flexibility and even challenge to develop policies and practices that work best for our context.

Thanks for the larger church that provides counsel, vision, and resources so that we can look ahead to our future work, with the knowledge that we need not go it alone. Many folks are aware that our national church has offered the vision of Matthew 25, which includes the commitment to confront racism, and the Synod provided $150,000 to help our churches get through COVID and matches funds for new worshiping communities, and Synod executive/Stated Clerk Rev. Mark Hong provides constant support, including participating in our presbytery meetings and serving in every way he can, including consulting with churches and even providing pulpit supply in a pinch. What you may not be aware of is the constant interaction of church leaders across the denomination providing mutual advice and support, and the training for moderators, clerks, executives, permanent judicial commissions, and all things General Assembly, including guidelines for considering the many recommendations we will be considering in the next several months. The network of mutual support is not always obvious, but our life together would be much more difficult without it.

Thanks for resources that enable our little presbytery to try new things, support those in need, and provide staff to facilitate our life and mission together. We do have financial and property resources that enable us to support our member congregations and the larger mission of the presbytery in many ways. Several churches and ministry partners do their work at properties managed by the presbytery, we have funds to help churches and individuals in financial crisis, we have designated funds to support new worshiping communities, and we are able to provide staff to support the work of the presbytery.

Thanks for the staff who are dedicated to God’s will for our churches and for San Gabriel Valley. Thanks to Stated Clerks Ally Lee and Steve Salyards; Associate Executive Presbyter Sam Bang; Chaplains for Retired Presbyterian Church Workers Diane Frasher, Harlan Redmond, and Rob Crowell; and Mission Advocate Wendy Gist. They are all faithful, gifted, creative, caring, trustworthy, and dedicated to the ministry of the presbytery. I am most grateful for these wonderful colleagues, and I expect that any of you who have come in contact with them can attest to the blessing they are.

Thanks for the “Trust Clause” of the PC(USA), and for our presbytery’s understanding of it. I may be the only person who lifts this, but as I look at our presbytery and the ways we are better positioned to serve our community than most presbyteries in the denomination, I think the fact that our church leaders understand the trust clause is a big part of it. In essence, the trust clause means that the property of our churches is not the personal property of the congregation, but entrusted to each congregation in order to do God’s work in that community. If a congregation is not able to serve effectively to that neighborhood, the church leaders are expected to raise the concern to the presbytery, and they do. The presbytery works with the church to support the current mission, but also to consider ways to partner with others to meet the changing needs of their neighbors. This is an act of faithfulness and joint ministry that is highly unusual, and a remarkable sign of Christian community that keeps our ministry relevant.

Thanks for new worshiping communities in our midst, bringing new voices and new awareness to us. Sometimes new worshiping communities are seen as a form of institutional survival, but what I have gained from our new groups is a new awareness of neighbors who had not been reached in our past. This is not a failing of our current churches, but a reflection of the ways San Gabriel Valley continues to evolve, sometimes differently from the trajectory of the Presbyterian Church. So as we become aware of more of God’s children seeking to grow their faith and connect with other, more mature disciples, I thank God that we have new spaces and new fellowships to welcome them into the family.

Thanks for new friends and leaders who have come into the life of our presbytery, bringing amazing gifts and experience and expertise, and a willingness to contribute. At our last meeting, I listed the folks who we officially received as pastors and minister members just this last year: John Scholte, Amy Mendez, Tom Eggebeen, Daniel Lee, Chris Choi, Erik Wiebe, Kyung Mo Koo, Andrew Ritiau, Sam Bang, Kate Wiebe, and Harlan Redmond. And that doesn’t include folks under care of CPM, and of course members of our churches and fellowships! Surely God has blessed us richly with these wonderful friends and ministry partners.

As you can see from this long column, there is so much we can be grateful for as a presbytery. And I know that we can focus on any one area and see the many blessings showered on every community, every congregation, and every individual life. How can we do other but give thanks continually, and in every circumstance? Truly God has given us everything we need, and more, and has entrusted us to receive and share what we are offered.

Thanks be to God!

Wendy

[E]ndurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Romans 5:4-5

Yesterday, an elder who had just finished leading in worship told me that she woke up that morning with joy in her heart! While I’m not a morning person, as the weekend wound down, I realized that the whole weekend was a time of joy.

It didn’t necessarily start out that way. As we were finalizing details for Saturday, our first almost-fully in-person Presbytery meeting since January 2020, Ally texted me to let me know COVID had hit her house. We made some last-minute adjustments, but we were able to hold the meeting, which was planned to have very few viewers on Zoom, with no Zoom-based presenters, to a meeting with three presenters via Zoom, and with new and borrowed audio equipment! This was possible due especially

to Ally and Amy Mendez being well-organized, a very helpful and resourceful staff, and Andrew Ritiau coming to his first in-person Presbytery meeting early enough to help us with the audio (among many skills, Andrew knows sound systems, and actually had worked on the same board at Arcadia). And thanks for everyone’s patience, as we set up the system. God does provide, and this weekend I was especially appreciative of how God provides though God’s people!

That was the highlight of the Presbytery meeting, in my mind. We received Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe from Santa Barbara Presbytery, and approved the ordination of Harlan Redmond. We approved two celebrations of ministry coming up soon:

• Dr. Erik Wiebe (who happens to be Kate’s husband) will be installed as Associate Pastor for Adult Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Care at San Marino Community Church on November 20, 2022, at 10 am.
• Harlan Redmond will be ordained as Organizing Pastor of Interwoven on December 18, 2022, at 4 pm. We announced that the service would be at La Cañada Presbyterian Church, where Interwoven usually worships, but it’s quite possible that the service will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. We’ll send out an invitation once this is confirmed.

Bong Bringas reported on behalf of the Committee on Representation and Nominations. He pointed out that while we enjoy the diversity of our leadership, including our COM that speaks 6 languages (he corrected the report to state that COM spoke 7!), we have not done as well in receiving younger members into leadership. For myself, I’ve become more aware of the limits of my perspective in seeing young people in our churches. More on that later. But he also presented an excellent slate of leaders elected for 2023, and we gave thanks to those who have completed their terms. We are blessed with almost 100 volunteers who are elected to leadership in the Presbytery.

We were also blessed with the partnership of the larger church. We were greatly inspired by the sharing of Bridget Meckley, Director of Formation & Mission at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church in San Diego Presbytery. With great humility, she recounted their decision to convert two of their rooms to provide shelter for Haitian refugee families. This was especially helpful for us, because as we re- visioned our Immigrant Accompaniment Ministry, we have thought about focusing some of our attention to asylum seekers awaiting entry into the US in Tijuana, possibly with extra care for Haitians.

In my annual report, I was able to recognize our most excellent staff, and also mentioned that we are receiving applications for the Immigrant Accompaniment Organizer position now, thanks to the grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. If you are interested in applying, you can send a resume to me by December 1 at wendytajima@sangabpres.org.

Rev. Amy Mendez, as host pastor, shared the good news by speaking about the partnership of the Community Presbyterian Fellowship at West Covina, the Presbytery, International Theological Seminary (ITS) as it celebrates their 40^th anniversary, Shining Light Ministries (who lent us their sound equipment and internet connection), and Iglesia de Jesucristo La Nueva Senda. She also mentioned the national meeting of Hispanic/Latina Presbyterian Women in Orlando, Florida; 14 women from San Gabriel Presbytery attended this joyous reunion, thanks to the grants from San Gabriel Presbytery and the Synod of Southern California and Hawai‘i. Amy and Rev. Dr. James Lee, a member of our Presbytery and the President of ITS, served communion for the Presbytery. And many thanks go to the dedicated members of Community Presbyterian Fellowship for being our most hospitable hosts.

The Presbytery did even more on Saturday morning, including:

• Approved the 2023 budget, and set the 2023 apportionment at $70/member, returning to the 2020 level
• Affirmed 9 of 33 proposed amendments to the Book of Order
• Announced the next WinterFest for February 1-4, 2023, with the theme The Past is Prologue for a Reimagined Church
• Remembered the Christmas Joy Special Offering, 27-Dec. 18. This offering is shared equally by the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, and Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color
• Heard about our new Benefits Policy and updated documents for CPM
• Shopped with plants and crafts from our recent SDOP recipient, Planta Colectivo, as well as our own Puente de Esperanza and others from Refugee Children’s Center.

Immediately after the Presbytery meeting, many of us went to give thanks for the life of Rev. Doug Edwards, long-time member of San Gabriel Presbytery. Several hundred people attended the memorial service at PPC and/or the reception at Westminster Gardens, sharing many memories of Doug’s friendship and faith, even in the last year as he dealt with brain cancer. The event was also a family reunion of sorts, bringing together friends from Westminster Presbyterian, Temple City, Trinity Presbyterian, PPC, Westminster Gardens, and the larger community. I was able to catch up with one of my first mentors in ministry, the newly-retired Rev. Dr. Frank Alton, who was a good friend of Doug’s.

On Saturday, I got to touch base with Northminster Presbyterian Church, Filipino Community United in Azusa, and Interwoven, and I saw three churches who are looking forward with eager anticipation for God’s good plans for their future. And I saw people of every generation, from beloved seniors who have labored long and very well, to young adult elders in their 30s and 40s, to young adults new to the Presbyterian Church through Interwoven, where I sat behind one baby not yet one year old, and down the row from another not yet 4 months old. We are in ministry with all generations, if we have eyes to see and paths to enter into leadership.

As Amy shared, we can move from hope to hope, especially with companions on the journey. And as Elder Yvonne Harmon shared, we can wake up with joy in our hearts, thanks to the goodness of God.

With gratitude for our shared ministry,

Wendy

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:1-2

This Saturday, we are trying to move into post-pandemic life as a presbytery. We will hold our first meeting that is designed to be in-person, this time at the West Covina Ministry Center. If needed, people can meet by Zoom, but we are hoping to have nearly everyone join us at 9 am in person. If you must meet by Zoom or have questions, please contact Ally Lee at ally@sangabpres.org. And however you join us, we are asking that you pre-register for the meeting by clicking HERE.

We expect the meeting to end by 11:30, so if you are going to the memorial service for Doug Edwards (at 1:30 pm at Pasadena Presbyterian Church), you would have time to grab a quick lunch and get to Pasadena—it takes at least 30 minutes to drive there from West Covina.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of preaching at our Occidental and Eagle Rock churches, and mentioned Doug Edwards. At Occidental, the clerk of session shared how Doug became their moderator of session 30 years ago after a crisis in the church. Not only did Doug stabilize them and gave them hope for the future, he also instituted systems for keeping records and managing finances that the church follows to this day. The clerk shared that the church would not have survived if not for Doug. At Eagle Rock, Doug was remembered as a former Associate Pastor, which I had never heard before—but I’m learning that many respected pastors began their ministries at Eagle Rock. I continue to be grateful for the many ways Presbytery members serve over the years. For example, without doing thorough research, I know that Doug served in multiple churches, with the Synod and at Westminster Gardens, and he helped to develop New Theological Seminary’s Certificate for Spirituality and Aging and our Presbytery’s Chaplaincy for Retired Presbyterian Church Workers.

Even though we mourn the loss of long-time friends and colleagues, we are also blessed to be able to welcome new friends coming into our presbytery. This Saturday, we will receive Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe, a psychologist who has done outstanding work with churches and other organizations that have experienced trauma. She shared with COM how she was PDA’s lead responder to the horrible mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School at Newtown, Connecticut, and she helped to hold her presbytery accountable in their financial management. We will also examine Harlan Redmond for ordination. Harlan has already made a significant impact on the Presbytery in his ministry of reconciliation as he leads Interwoven New Worshiping Community, participates in our working group on reparations, and was recently called to be Outreach Chaplain for Retired Presbyterian Church Workers.

We also anticipate new ministries to come. We are grateful that PDA has approved a new grant for our Immigrant Accompaniment Organizer. We hope to receive applications this month, in anticipation of filling the position in early 2023. In the meantime, the ministry has not stopped; we hope everyone brings to Presbytery gift cards for the Shpak family, who recently fled the war in Ukraine and are being surrounded with love and support from Knox Presbyterian Church and Monte Vista Grove Homes.

Truly, God blesses us by sending us angels in colleagues and neighbors. This Saturday we will remember those who have gone home to God this past year, and we will consider new leaders in our midst, new friends from other countries, and we will elect new leaders for the Presbytery in 2023.

Thank God for sending us angels for the journey, every stage along the way.

See you Saturday,

Wendy