From the Interim Executive Presbyter

Lent…
You will read this at least a month before Lent 2004 begins but Lent will be nearly over by the time of the next newsletter so this seemed appropriate now.
“You are dust and to dust you shall return”-so begins the 40 days of Lent; that period of time in the liturgical calendar when we examine our lives and our relationship to our Savior, Jesus the Christ. For many of us it is a time for the practice of one or more spiritual disciplines not practiced at other times during the year.
One of my colleagues in the Synod of the Southwest, The Rev. Robert Williams, enriched my understanding of the practice of fasting with the following: “Lent should be more than a time of fasting. It should also be a season of feasting. Lent is a time to fast from certain things and feast on others. It is a season in which we should:

FAST from discouragement; FAST from suspicion;
FEAST on hope. FEAST on truth.
FAST from complaining; FAST from pessimism;
FEAST on appreciation. FEAST on optimism.
FAST from negatives; FAST from worry;
FEAST on affirmatives. FEAST on God’s providence
FAST from discontent; FAST from problems that overwhelm;
FEAST on gratitude. FEAST on prayer that
FAST from Anger; sustains.”
FEAST on patience.

Father Thomas Hand, S.J. writing in a Mercy Center newsletter in 1999, also speaks of fasting...

“Lenten fast conjures up un-enticing visions of skipped or skimpy meals. For sure, daily fasting from food was the great Lenten discipline in the Christian church. I would suggest that it should still be so, but only in line with the original meaning of “fast.” To fast in its root signification has nothing to do with diet. We find its primary meaning in steadfast or to hold fast. Lent is, above all, a time to hold fast to our faith—faith in its scriptural meaning of entrustment. Lent: a time to hold our attention fast on Christ, each day, all day.”

I pray that Lent will be for each of us a time of steadfast faith, of repentance and of renewal.
                                                   Blessings,
                                                   Jane

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MORGAN HILL GROUP RECEIVE GRANT

Part of our One Great Hour of Sharing offering has been returned to our community through a Self-Development of People grant.  Eco- Care Professional Housecleaning is an economic cooperative owned and operated by a group of low-income Hispanic women in Morgan Hill.  Now in their second year, these women, who use non-caustic cleaners in their work, have also learned how to handle scheduling and finances.  They want to do more advertising and marketing so that they can expand their number of clients.  This will provide economic stability for group members and also will enable them to bring more worker-owners into the cooperative.  Self-Development of People is happy to partner with these self-starters by awarding them a $20,000 grant, which will move them closer to self-sustainability and empowerment.

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PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN IN THE PRESBYTERY OF SAN JOSE

Invites all women in the Presbytery
to
An Epiphany Tea

Sunday, January 11, 2004 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Aptos
RSVP by January 9th
Lorraine Morris (831) 688-2453

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INSTALLATION OF HAMM AS MODERATOR FOR 2004

At the December meeting of Presbytery Claudia Hamm was installed as Moderator for 2004. Elder Hamm is a member of Stone Church of Willow Glen and has served terms on many presbytery committees.
In the spirit of Micah 6:8 Claudia said she will work to bind us more closely together as sisters and brothers in the service of Jesus Christ. She will resume the sharing of faith stories by ministers and elders at each meeting, gathering insights from fellow Presbyters.
Claudia plans to use a children’s book, “Grasshopper on the Road”, as both devotional guide and discussion opportunity. “Humor me on this if you must, but these stories carry important theological messages”, she said.

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WHO ARE THE ADVOCATES?

The Presbytery budget provides for Advocates to expand the outreach ministry of our churches by encouraging ministers, sessions and congregations to proclaim the Gospel through education, action and reflection on issues of Justice, Mission and Witness. Readers are encouraged to express their interest and / or specific needs in these mission areas by directly contacting the Advocate by telephone or email. On www.sanjosepby.org the above image links to each Advocate’s most recent report or newsletter.

Commissioners and visitors to recent Presbyteries have encountered Pat Plant, our Hunger Action Advocate in her colorful apron presiding over a table covered with useful resource materials such as games, food collection ideas, children’s or adult’s bible studies, and local hunger action references.
        Contact Pat by email, patplant@pacbell.net or by telephone (408 737 7370) and ask her for a copy of “5 ways you and your congregation cam help reduce hunger nationally and locally”.

Mission Advocates Donald and Dorothy Metzger are developing a Presbytery-wide Network to mobilize support for Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) and other Presbyterian Missionaries through meetings, seminars and forums that highlight the multi-faceted outreach of the PC(USA). Invite the Metzgers to your Sunday worship, class or special event and learn about World Mission, the Presbyterian way.
         The Metzgers are members of San José Trinity Presbyterian church. They can be reached at 408 356 1216 or by email at metzgers@sanjosepby.org. Contact them today!!

Rev Bill Palmer will continue the excellent Advocacy work in 2004 of Renate Frick. In conjunction with Catholic Charities, Bill will work to identify sponsoring congregations and solve the many problems facing newcomers to our country.
Bill will remind us that the “Presidential Determination” allows up to 70,000 refugees to come in Fiscal Year 2004. Not every church can be a sponsor; but all can prepare backpacks, help welcome and support new arrivals. Contact Bill at 408 395 0916 or at wep01@worldnet.att.net

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NEW PASTORS IN OUR PRESBYTERY

At the December meeting, Presbytery welcomed Rev. Linda Lane-Bortell and her husband, Rev. Timothy Lane-Bortell. Their family includes a daughter, Amber, in kindergarten and son, Sean, in pre-school. Linda will serve on the staff of Salinas’ Northminster Church. Both proclaim the church as the visible manifestation of Christ’s presence in the world.
     Welcomed at earlier meetings of Presbytery this past fall were Rev. Dan Hoffman and Rev. Rob Martin.
     Dan was called to be Pastor of Watsonville United Church. Previously Dan was Parish Associate with the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood where he was engaged in adult education and community outreach. With his wife Leslie, four-year-old son Ian and newly adopted 5 month-old daughter Rosalie, Dan is looking forward to serving in Watsonville and partnering with Presbytery in ministry.
    Rob Martin is the Pastor for Palo Alto First church. Rob and his wife, Doreen have a fifteen year old son, Bobby, and a 17 year old daughter, Cali, who have taught their parents much about parenting. The Martin family come to us from Swannanoa, North Carolina where Rob served as head of staff for the Warren Wilson Presbyterian church and as Chaplain for the related Warren Wilson College.

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CATHOLIC CHARITIES CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Long Term Care Ombudsman and Friendly Visitor Programs at Catholic Charities are holding an orientation for new volunteers to learn about advocacy and visiting in Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living/Residential Care for the elderly. Ombudsman training classes will begin January 22, 2004. For more information or to register, please call Peggy Owen, at (408) 325-5238

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OUR VISION

Called by God as a governing body of the Presbyterian Church (USA) the Presbytery of San José exists to serve and be a resource for the health and growth of the Presbyterian congregations within our four counties.

Our Vision is:

We call upon God’s grace and help for the fulfillment of this vision.