As I searched for ministry and devotional Presbyterian resources this year, a couple of books caught my attention this Lenten season. One is Turning Over Tables: A Lenten Call for Disrupting Power by Kathy Escobar, and the other is From Wilderness to Glory: Lent and Easter for Everyone by N.T. Wright. Both are new releases for Lent 2025, published by Westminster John Knox Press and promoted by the PC(USA). Each book offers daily reflections on Lenten themes, accompanied by questions and practices that can be engaged in individually or collectively in groups.

For those grappling with the current political realities—both at home and abroad—Escobar’s work offers a timely exploration of power and the liberating, healing, and transformative (even “empire-subverting”) way of Jesus. Escobar, who was once part of a megachurch ministry, lost her place after confronting what she describes as “unhealthy power”—power rooted in control, domination, and the diminishing of others. She contrasts this with healthy power, which Jesus embodies through radical humility, even to the point of death.

Escobar acknowledges that her book interacts with scripture less than a traditional Lenten devotional, but she is upfront about its unconventional approach. The book is designed for individuals and groups of all ages, genders, life experiences, and backgrounds, with sections centered on themes such as lament, repentance, disruption, and embodiment. She challenges readers to sit with any discomfort that may arise from the reflections, emphasizing that this discomfort is meant to empower and strengthen, regardless of where one is in their faith journey. According to Escobar, “Wrestling, struggling, revelation—that is not only the story of Lent but also the story of progress, change, and social transformation. We need wrestling, struggle, and revelation to get to a new place in our own story, in the world’s story.”

N.T. Wright’s work, by contrast, follows a more traditional Lenten devotional format. As with his other devotional works, readers will find scholarly, historical, and cultural insights presented in an accessible and personal way. Wright argues that the early Christian practice of observing Lent—not just celebrating Christmas and Easter—was meant “to remind themselves, in the weeks either side of Easter, that world history divides into two: the time before Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the time afterwards. New creation has been launched in the midst of old.” He contends that for Christians to fully embrace this reality of new creation, they must adopt the ancient rhythm of lament followed by celebration—precisely what Lent embodies. 

According to Wright, “Being a Christian doesn’t mean pretending that everything is ‘all right really’ when actually it isn’t. To lament is to recognize that things still are out of joint, and that we can and should bring our puzzled sorrow and frustration into God’s presence.” At the same time, he underscores the necessity of genuine celebration: “This is about opening our eyes to the light—and, in astonished gratitude, determining day by day to live in that light.” Wright asserts that observing Lent properly means both lamenting deeply and then rejoicing fully, praising God

for the new creation into which we have been brought. His devotional guides readers through six weeks of daily reflections, culminating in a seventh week of extended Easter celebration. He invites readers to think, pray, and reflect on the stories of Jesus while engaging with the questions he provides for individual and group study.

Of course, you may already have your own devotional resources for Lent. However, if you or someone you know is looking to deepen their faith journey during this sacred season—especially in light of all that has transpired in our lives, our families, our nation, and the world—perhaps these two books could offer much-needed comfort and strength.

May God bless us as we walk through this season of Lent together!

Peter Tan-Gatue

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.

Exodus 34:29

We are fresh off the Season of Epiphany, following Transfiguration Sunday. Those of you who celebrated it may recall the story of Jesus’ radiant appearance on the mountaintop, flanked by Moses, who represented the Law, and Elijah, who represented the prophetic tradition. According to an excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, pp. 148-149), “The Sunday immediately prior to Ash Wednesday is an appropriate time to celebrate the Transfiguration of the Lord, because this event marked a transition in Jesus’ ministry in which he ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem’ (Luke 9:51), where he would die.” It is certainly an ideal onramp for our journey through the season of Lent, leading to the agony of the cross and the victory of the empty tomb on Easter Sunday.

The passage in Exodus is not the transfiguration of Jesus but rather the “transfiguration” of Moses when he ascended the mountain and met with the Lord. After encountering God, he had to veil his radiant face because it was too bright for the Israelites to bear (Exodus 34:35). The light of God’s glory was so powerful that it altered Moses’ appearance. This is often compared to how Jesus’ face shone like the sun (Matthew 17:2). However, the parallels between Moses’ shining face and Jesus’ appearance in glory are limited. Moses’ face merely reflected God’s glory, whereas Jesus’ face shone with his own glory. Jesus is not a reflection of God’s glory—he is its radiance (Hebrews 1:3).

In my recent discussions with new believers and seekers, I often receive questions along the lines of, Why can’t Jesus just make it easier to believe in him by appearing gloriously today or performing an undeniable miracle for all to see? Don’t you sometimes wish you had been there 2,000 years ago to witness Jesus firsthand? Imagine what a difference it would have made to personally see him perform miracles, tell parables, cleanse the temple, or display his incomparable radiance on the mountaintop. If I had experienced that, would it have made me a more faithful Christian? Would I be more willing to serve and sacrifice for him?

Of course, this perspective does not account for the fact that the Israelites witnessed God’s mighty works—such as the parting of the Red Sea—yet their attitude toward Him remained unchanged. When Moses came down from the mountain, he found them worshipping an idol (golden calf), despite having rescued them from Egypt and giving them an explicit commandment not to do so (Exodus 32:7-8).

Similarly, many who witnessed Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and acts of compassion did not come to believe in him. Some followed him, but many others turned away (John 6:60-66). Even one of his own disciples betrayed him after witnessing most of his works. It is not merely seeing the works of God that ignites faith or strengthens faithfulness; it is recognizing God’s glory in those works. A person’s life is transformed when they behold God’s glory and radiance. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians:

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Of course, the concept of God’s glory is vast and difficult to define in just a few words. Some think of it as the manifestation of God’s magnificence, beauty, perfection, and divine presence. Some may perceive God’s glory in Christ, while others may not. Some may experience it through Scripture, corporate worship, creation, acts of mercy, grace, and justice, while others may not immediately recognize it. It takes the light of faith—ignited by God in our hearts—to truly see His glory:

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)

As we enter this season of Lent, may we cultivate a receptivity to sense and see (through the help of the Holy Spirit) the glory of God in our lives. Whether through our Lenten spiritual practices, personal or corporate worship, ministries, relationships, or the circumstances we face, may we remain open to being touched by God’s glory. Even in our broken yet beautiful world, may we be transformed by Christ’s radiance in whatever comes our way.

Blessings,

Peter Tan-Gatue

“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.” “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God…”

Genesis 45:4b, 7-8a

Isaiah 6:1: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

The following thoughts are based on excerpts from my sermon last Sunday on the greatness, holiness, and sovereign rule of God over all things, including our earthly rulers. May this Presidents Day remind us not only of our presidents (past and present) and their leadership and service but ultimately point us to the ultimate Ruler and God of all!

“We have a God who is great and incomprehensible. It is God who reigns. The prophet Isaiah says that it was the year King Uzziah of Judah died. Uzziah reigned for 52 years. We are accustomed to having a president for only four years—or at most, eight years (consecutive or non-consecutive).

For many who lived under Uzziah’s reign, having a king for 52 years meant he was likely the only ruler they had ever known. After 52 years, his reign came to an end. For the most part, Scripture tells us that he was a good king who followed the Lord, but later he turned away from God. His reign marked the height of Judah’s power, during which he fought successfully against other nations and exacted tribute from them. Upon his death, the nation arrived at a turning point.

On one particular day that year, Isaiah looked up and saw a vision of the real King. Even though their earthly king was dead, the great and awesome King was alive and reigning on the throne. Throughout history, kings and queens have come and gone, presidents have come and gone, rulers and dictators have come and gone. But one King always remains. God always remains. Every moment, God is seated on the throne, ruling and reigning, sovereign over all things.

In Isaiah’s vision, God is surrounded by angels called seraphim. In Scripture, angels are described in various ways, but the word picture for this type of angel, the seraphim, is “the burning ones.” In Isaiah’s vision, God is surrounded by these strange but burning beings who are worshiping God. When they speak, the temple and its foundations shake!

Just imagine for a moment—as you sit where you are now—that flaming creatures with six wings each are burning non-stop in their praise around the throne of God, singing of God’s glory. Every moment of your day, the burning ones are singing, “Holy! Holy! Holy!” In holiness, in purity in perfection, God is unmatched. There is no one like God.

Later in Isaiah 40, the question is asked, “To whom will you compare God? Who is God’s equal?” God’s holiness is overwhelming, God’s sovereignty is total. The nations are just a drop in a bucket. All the nations are as nothing before the Lord. Isaiah 40 also invites us to “lift up your eyes on high.” Who created the stars? The hundred billion stars—by the greatness of God’s might, not one of them is missing.

Have you seen the pictures taken on the surface of Mars recently? Did you notice the square-looking structures in one picture on the Martian surface? Did you see the videos of the hills and the landscape? All the mysteries surrounding Mars and each and every star in the galaxy—and yet God knows every single one. There is not one speck of dust or grain of sand on this earth or any other world that is not touched by the greatness of God’s glory.

Is it not then believable that in God’s greatness, God is sovereign? Is it not believable that God rules and is in control of all things? From the events happening in every nation to the events happening in your life—God is sovereign over all things. You can’t really mess with God and the fullness of His glory over creation, over space, time, and history.

As I watched a couple of my kids enjoying and joking around with each other on Valentine’s Day, I marveled at how, for many years, my wife and I prayed to have children, and it seemed like God did not hear our prayers. But as we grew older and felt less and less hope of having children, God brought us into the process of adoption through foster care. In a span of two years, God blessed us with one, then two, then three children. They grow up so fast!

I don’t know how our lives would have looked if we had our own biological children or adopted other children. But out of all the children in the world—God gave us our kids! The point is: God was sovereign this whole time. So however, whoever, and wherever you are in your life, in your marriage, in your family, and in what you do—know that God is sovereign over all things. The God who is great and incomprehensible rules over all things.

May we rest in God’s incomprehensible, incomparable greatness this Presidents Day.

Peter Tan-Gatue

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

Psalm 24:1

I’m reminded by this verse of an important truth and implication: God owns the world and this includes everything contained within its boundaries. The world belongs to God. We are called to live in light of the truth of God’s ownership of everything.

I am grateful for this opportunity to live out this truth through this new ministry call as Associate Executive Presbyter with its focus on being the Presbytery’s business manager. It is a half-time staff position with responsibilities that include overseeing Presbytery finances, helping manage Presbytery

property, and also being of support to sessions who need assistance in managing their own financial and property resources. This role is not exactly new in the sense that I am simply taking part of the responsibilities that Sam Bang carried out quite recently when he used to be on staff. It is my hope that I can do my part, through God’s grace, in furthering the mission of Jesus Christ in our Presbytery through, as the ministry description puts it: “facilitating effective management of presbytery resources and supporting congregations in doing the same.” I am currently in the process of finishing my stint as

Moderator of the Presbytery and I didn’t anticipate that God will put me in this new role. For the past 10 years I have been serving as full-time solo pastor of Praise Community Church with prior experience also in the area of hospital and hospice chaplaincy before that. Prior to God’s call in my life to full-time pastoral ministry, my career and education was in the field of business and finance for corporations. It is interesting how God has placed me back into a business role where I can use my business and finance gifts for the Presbyterian Church instead of the general corporate marketplace. I welcome your wisdom, support and prayers as I aim to serve using all the gifts (pastoral and business) that God has given or developed in me throughout the years.

My other call as Pastor of Praise Community Church in Covina continues in a revised half-time role. I am grateful for my church for supporting me in obtaining this new half-time call in the Presbytery. I am closely working together with the Praise Community Church Session and members so we can continue doing our best with God’s help in being the Presbyterian (USA) church serving the communities of Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, other surrounding communities of the San Gabriel Valley.

Meeting you all as Moderator has been quite a blessing, especially since I have not really been with the San Gabriel Presbytery or the Presbyterian Church (USA) that long compared to others among you who have the honor of being lifetime Presbyterian Christians. I look forward to being further blessed and hopefully returning the blessing back as I work with you and our great staff if you have issues that pertain to the areas served by this new ministry. May we all together, as the body of Christ, live in light of God’s overall ownership and sovereignty in all things!

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Peter Tan-Gatue

Pastor, Praise Community Church
Associate Executive Presbyter, San Gabriel Presbytery