Note from Lisa – What I am/What we are
I believe the best place to start with understanding who we are as Presbyterians is with the Book of Order. The Book of Order is more than just a rulebook; it is a foundational guide for all of us. Our foundation starts with God’s mission (F-1.01). In the second paragraph, we read: “The mission of God in Christ gives shape and substance to the life and work of the Church. In Christ, the Church participates in God’s mission for the transformation of creation and humanity by proclaiming to all people the good news of God’s love, offering to all people the grace of God at font and table, and calling all people to discipleship in Christ. Human beings have no higher goal in life than to glorify and enjoy God now and forever, living in covenant fellowship with God and participating in God’s mission.”
Every church in the Presbytery does its best to fulfill that mission through worship and education. And we are doing our best to live in covenant fellowship with God. But as Presbyterians, we often forget that the covenant fellowship with God extends beyond our particular churches and communities to the Presbytery, the PCUSA, and our Christian siblings throughout the world. It is only in working together that we can find the support and strength to live into God’s mission. It is only by working together that we can find ways to bring good news to those struggling with financial, immigration, and societal issues.
As Presbyterians, we learn from one another, support one another, and find ways to join in God’s mission. We support churches struggling to meet the needs of immigrants in our communities. We support each other as we feed those who are hungry and provide shelter for those who are living on the streets of our communities. We support each other as we rebuild homes in Altadena, return land to its original stewards, and find ways to care for God’s gifts. We support each other by using our voices for those who have none and by marching against injustice. We do not need to do all of these things on our own. We do them as a community, each church doing what it can and supporting those who can’t. Each church specializes in meeting the needs of its neighbors and its community.
Together, we are stronger. In covenant fellowship with God, we find the strength and numbers to be the feet and hands of Jesus reaching out to a hurting world. I encourage you to join us at our Presbytery meetings, dedicate yourself to the work of the commissions and committees, and find ways to support one another so that we can all share the Good News of Jesus Christ with words and actions. Our participation empowers each one of us to make a meaningful difference and deepen our connection to our collective mission.
What I am, what we are, is Presbyterian, more than people who use a particular form of government to be the church, but rather a way of serving God’s mission in the world.