I am a "cradle Presbyterian," meaning I was born and raised in this church. Because my grandfather and two uncles were Presbyterian pastors who held leadership positions in the church and the community at large, because my father was a perennial Presbytery...

I pray that you had a promise-filling and inspiring Resurrection Day. In fact, I had a full and meaningful Holy Week, and hope you did too. I witnessed churches trying new ways of experiencing Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I went to a sunrise service on Easter...

We have just begun Holy Week, that long walk from the shouts of praise and adoration at the entrance of Jerusalem that will land us, in just a few short days, squarely at the foot of the cross. Yesterday we celebrated – we raised our palm branches high and shouted our...

We all have been graced with spiritual gifts. We may not know what they are, but they are part of us and come through whether identified or not. The fact that there are a "great variety of spiritual gifts" is evident when working with groups going to Peru. I am always...

I heard the story about Peter's denial of Jesus in worship yesterday morning. I don't know why this was covered on the third Sunday in Lent, as this reading is part of the passion narrative usually featured on Good Friday. But the pastor believes that one of the...

When I was growing up, I always understood ecumenism, even interfaith cooperation and dialogue, to be an integral part of the Presbyterian tradition. I think there have been certain times and places where this was challenged, but this commitment does live on. At the...

Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of Jonah Hwang. Jonah was an 8-year-old child of First Presbyterian Church of Pomona. On February 20, 2017, Jonah and his family were at a dinner at the home of some other church leaders, the Robinson family. Jonah was...

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. Isaiah 58:12   This coming week is the beginning of Lent. It's been mildly amusing...