Then Jesus turned to the host. “The next time you put on a dinner, don’t just invite your friends and family and rich neighbors, the kind of people who will return the favor. Invite some people who never get invited out . . .” Luke 14:12-13 (The Message) Next week is...

As many of you are aware, our previous General Assembly in 2022 approved a new “D” section of the Book of Order, now renamed the Church Discipline section. This received the concurrence of the presbyteries and entered the Book of Order with the 2023-2025 edition. This...

Dear Friends, "We do not do things because we know of its successful outcome; we do things because they are worthy of being done." This powerful quote from theologian Ralph Winter has been a guiding light for me in on this journey of church planting. It’s reminders...

Stewardship and Service: Reflections on My Role as Administrator An administrative leader is like the steward of a household. The Bible has much to say about effective stewardship, and a good administrator is like a faithful steward who manages the household and...

Last week at our monthly presbytery staff meeting, the Rev. Wendy Tajima had a great suggestion of having us introduce ourselves through the Monday Morning Updates. I elected to start the ball rolling this week. Hi everyone, my name is Melinda Forbes. I am married to...

Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. Acts 17:4 As Presbytery staff, my preaching schedule runs roughly opposite of most pastors. I often joke that I am rarely asked to fill...

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.              Psalm 34:13-14                           It’s now been ten days since General Assembly (GA) ended, but some of us are still talking...

God has sent me to proclaim release to the captivesand recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:18b-19 General Assembly ended last week, as we all came home on the 4th of July. Thanks to technology,...

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.In old age they still produce fruit;they are always green and full of sap,showing that the LORD is upright;he...