Reflection: Beginnings and Introductions

Greetings,

The new year is a time for resets as we all begin afresh after the hussle and bussle of the Christmas season. At the beginning of this new year and this new decade, I am beginning a new position. I have been involved with the Presbytery of San Gabriel since I began working as the Office Administrator at Knox Presbyterian Church back in 2010. My first introduction to the Presbytery was through Twila French, who ably guided me through the dozens of questions I had about Knox’s statistical reporting and shared mission giving. I was grateful again for Twila when she guided me through the initial paperwork for becoming an Inquirer and kept me on track for meetings throughout that process until my ordination in 2017. It is with great joy, I celebrate becoming a co-worker with her and joining the Presbytery staff ten years later as the Presbyter for Administration and Associate Stated Clerk.

Over these last ten years, I have served in various roles at Knox Presbyterian Church working as the Office Manager and now as the Temporary Associate Pastor. My experiences have taught me that administration is like setting the table for a meal. It is an opportunity to make everyone feel welcome and valued. I look forward to enjoying many conversations with the members of our presbytery both over meals and meetings. As we gather together, I hope to encourage the gifts and talents of our members to flourish as we come together to further the Kingdom of God in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.

A little about me, as I mentioned I am serving as the Temporary Associate Pastor half-time in addition to my work with the Presbytery. At Knox, I work with our children’s and adult education and spiritual formation ministries. I am married to Brian Lee, and we will celebrate our 10th anniversary in March. Brian is writing his dissertation for a Ph.D in Religion, Ethics, and Politics from Princeton University. In June 2019, our daughter Johanna Sequoia was born. We live in Altadena near Farnsworth Park and enjoy walking around our neighborhood with our two dogs. I am originally from the Southeastern United States, so I enjoy potlucks and BBQ.

You can reach me by email at ally@sangabpres.org or by cell at (626) 353-0828. I will be at the Presbytery Center on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 9 am to 4 pm and Thursday mornings from 9 am to noon each week. Other days of the week, I am regularly checking email and answering the phone and am available to meet.

Grace and Peace in your new beginnings,

Rev. Ally Lee 

Don’t forget:

Our first Presbytery meeting of 2020 is tomorrow, Tuesday, January 14, 7 pm, at Monte Vista Grove Homes in Pasadena. There will be two pre-Presbytery meetings, starting promptly at 6 pm, for people who have questions about the proposed dismissal of Alhambra True Light Presbyterian Church to ECO, or the recommended amendments to how San Gabriel Presbytery defines minimum pastoral compensation for the pastors of our churches. We will also have the opportunity to examine and bless Candidate Peter Hawisher, who has been called to Radford Presbyterian Church in Virginia.

And remember to register for WinterFest, February 8, 9-2:30, at Arcadia Community Church. You can register at https://knoxpresbyterian.breezechms.com/form/Winterfest2020