{"id":26753,"date":"2022-01-24T21:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?p=26753"},"modified":"2023-08-01T15:20:14","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:20:14","slug":"healthy-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sangabpres.org\/healthy-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.14.2″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″ header_2_text_align=”left”]

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord\u2019s.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Romans 14:8<\/em><\/h2>\n

As we are moving into the new year, I am painfully aware of the losses our presbytery family is facing: losses from deaths, pastoral transitions, and the constantly changing requirements of COVD. Thank God we have the assurance of eternal life, and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, and we are welcoming new members into the presbytery, but the losses are grievous.<\/p>\n

In the past month, we have heard that death has come too close to several members of the San Gabriel Presbytery family. After a few short months in Pennsylvania near her inlaws, Becca Bateman lost her mother-in-law, who died suddenly at the age of 58. Incoming Presbytery member Amy Mendez moved here to be near family, including her sister who had been battling cancer; her sister died right before Christmas. David Pak\u2019s sister also died from cancer on Christmas Day. Nancy Moore\u2019s husband Stan died right after New Year\u2019s. And this weekend we just learned that Bryce Little\u2019s wife Phyllis and San Gabriel minister member Andy Jarvis passed away. As far as I know, none of these deaths were caused by COVID, though it makes things more complicated and it restricted the time that some people could spend with their loved ones in their last days.<\/p>\n

We also have a number of churches saying good-bye to their pastors. In the last several months, several pastors have retired or announced plans to retire: Sam Kim (Divine Light), Martha and Twining Campbell (Westminster Pasadena), Mariko Yanagihara (New Hope) and Bruce Myers (West Covina). Erik Dailey (Eagle Rock and Occidental) took another call in San Fernando Presbytery. Several associate pastors have left their churches for new chapters in ministry: Becca Bateman (San Marino), Ally Lee (Knox), and Steve Wiebe and Hyosub Lee (Pasadena).<\/p>\n

And COVID rages on. According to the LA Times <\/em>data tracker, <\/a>cases in LA County are 32.7% higher than two weeks ago, and deaths are almost triple the rate two weeks ago. So we are not yet on the other side of the Omicron surge. There is a new order requiring all employers to have free respirators (N95, KN95, KF94) available for employees. Omicron spreads so quickly, several of our churches have already moved back to online worship. Thank God we are able to be agile, but the changes are dizzying.<\/p>\n

The County is constantly updating information and infographics, such as a list of Best Practices for<\/a> Communities of Faith <\/a>and a handout on upgraded mask options. In the Best Practices document, there\u2019s a list of guidelines for performers or presenters\u2014in other words, worship leaders, choirs, and preachers:<\/p>\n