The One Great Hour of Sharing offering had its origins in the enormous needs generated by World War II. In 1949, Protestant church leaders formed an ad hoc committee to organize an appeal. Using a script written under the direction of playwright Robert Sherwood, and with a cast including Gregory Peck and Ida Lupino, a program was broadcast on March 26, carried by major networks and independent stations. The broadcast was called the One Great Hour, and estimates are that more than 75,000 churches participated in the offerings encouraged by the broadcast.

The offering has been an ecumenical effort, with participating communions varying from eight to twenty-nine. Currently there are ten Christian denominations which take the offering and which work in cooperation with Church World Service, the relief, development and refugee assistance arm of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A.

Relief in times of crisis continues to be one use of the offering’s proceeds, through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance program. In addition, the Presbyterian Committee for the Self-Development of People (created in 1971) and the Presbyterian Hunger Program (created in 1975) are funded through the offering. The Community Pantry of San Benito County has recently received $10,000 from the Presbyterian Hunger Program, to purchase vans for transporting food.

Projects supported by One Great Hour of Sharing are under way in more than one hundred countries, including the United States and Canada. In the 1990’s, ecumenical receipts have exceeded $20 million annually, with Presbyterians giving about $9 million of that. (In 1998, thirty-one churches in the Presbytery raised a total of $80,157.)

Elder Commissioner to the 211^th General Assembly will be Ted Brown, a member of Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos, for over 30 years. While serving in the Coast Guard in Alaska, he took leave to serve as Navigator of the M/V Anna Jackman, a vessel once used by the Presbyterian church to minister to the remote villages of Southeastern Alaska. He has been a Deacon, Superintendent of Children’s Sunday School, and has served a total of 15 years on the Session. He is a member of the Presbytery’s Committee on Preparation for Ministry.

Minister Commissioner will be the Rev. Dr. Richard L. Spencer, pastor of Saratoga Presbyterian Church since September 1991. Ordained by the Presbytery of Los Angeles in 1965, he has served churches in LaJolla, Westwood, Pasadena and Arcadia. He has been an adjunct faculty member at Fuller Seminary since 1974 and has been a visiting professor at Azusa Pacific University and at Bethany College. He is currently moderator of the Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission.

Youth Advisory Delegate is Scott Monroe, member of the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos. He has been actively involved in the youth group, has participated in special activities such as a church play, and teaches Sunday school. He leads a weekly Bible study class for high school freshmen at Calvin Presbyterian Church, San Jose, and serves as youth leader there.

Alternate Elder Commissioner is Ted Swift, West Valley Presbyterian Church, Cupertino. Alternate Minister Commission is the Rev. Dale Bracey, Associate Pastor, Presbyterian Church of Sunnyvale.

Issues likely to be considered at this General Assembly include a policy paper on "Building Community Among Strangers" to be presented by the Assembly Committee on Social Witness Policy. The policy received some criticism in the 210^th GA when it was still in its study phase.

Also on the Assembly agenda will be a report which recommends affirmation and continued support of the National Network of Presby-terian College Women; this report also comes in response to a GA action calling for evaluation of the NNPCW.

The General Assembly meets from June 19-26 in Fort Worth, Texas.
 

The Rev. Lynne Vandercook has been called as pastor of the San Martin Presbyterian Church, effective February 5, 1999. The Rev. Mark Burnham has been called as pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, effective March 15, 1999. Both pastors are coming "home" to the Presbytery of San Jose where both were candidates, the Rev. Vandercook through Covenant Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, and the Rev. Burnham through Trinity Presbyterian Church, Santa Cruz. She transfers from the Presbytery of Sacramento, and he from the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley.

The Rev. Wendy Tajima, has been called as half-time pastor of the Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church, Hawaii, and half-time Associate Conference Minister of the Hawaii Conference of the Unity Church of Christ for the Kaua’i Association. The Rev. Toby Nelson has been called to a church in North Central Iowa Presbytery.

The former pastor of Westhope Presbyterian Church, Saratoga, the Rev. Richard E. Panaluna, died on January 16, 1999 in Arizona.

Callers to the Administrative office of the Presbytery can now phone toll free on a new "800" number. The number can be reached from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Canada. The number is

The Presbytery of San Jose exists to serve and be a resource for the health and growth of the Presbyterian congregations within our four counties.

Our Vision is:

• To support our congregations in reaching out to all people in the name of Jesus Christ;
• To challenge a diverse community to hold fast to the foundations of our faith;
• To build a diverse community unified by the unique gifts of the Holy Spirit for the great work of the church.

In several recent issues, I have expressed my concern regarding the continuing membership loss that has impacted so many of our congregations and has in turn resulted in membership loss for the Presbytery.

It is with great joy, that I am able to tell you that the slide has finally been reversed.  After nearly fifteen years of gradual erosion of membership, our Stated Clerk reported to me the fact that during 1998 our numbers increased by a total of 42 church members.  Now, a gain of 42 members, throughout the entire membership of the Presbytery, may not seem like much of a gain, but it sure beats a loss of 42 members.  We still have many congregations that continue to experience membership loss, but the gains on the part of other congregations more than offset those losses during 1998.

I would like to congratulate those congregations that contributed to the reversal of the downward trend.  The are listed below in alphabetical order, by city, together with the membership gain for each of the congregations.

Felton +5 Gilroy +54 Los Altos +11 Los Gatos +11 Milpitas +28 Monterey, El Estero +2 Monterrey +41 Pacific Grove +6 Palo Alto, First +12 Salinas, First +43

Salinas, Lincoln Ave +5 Salinas, Northminster +15 San José, First +2 San José, Santa Teresa +12 San José, Stone +20 San José, Westminster +15 Santa Cruz, Bonny Doon +3 Santa Cruz, Trinity +1 Saratoga +21 Saratoga, Taiwanese-Am +11

The above list is a remarkable collection of congregations that shatter the stereotypes many people hold about which congregations should be showing growth.  Among them are some of our most liberal and most conservative congregations.  Some are urban and some are suburban.  Some are very large congregations with expansive programs, while others are small congregations with fewer than one hundred members.

What they have in common is they are reaching out and welcoming those who have not previously been members of our congregations.  In many cases they have taken risks to make their congregations a welcoming and hope-filled place for others.  For that I give them thanks, as I also give thanks to God.
Yours in Christ,

Paul J. Masquelier, Jr.

                         Executive Presbyter

A Conference on Worship, sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, will feature a keynote address by Melva Costen, who chaired the committee which produced the Presbyterian Hymnal (1990). She will present the conference theme: that a constant struggle exists between the many varieties of worship styles, and that worship tries to balance diverse styles. She will also present a seminar on the theme, asking whether "we can be all things to all people."

Seminars include one on visual arts for worship, presented by Nancy Chinn, well known in the Bay Area for her work in liturgical art; an organ seminar by Instructor Michael Burkhardt, from Scottsdale, Arizona; liturgical dance by Kerri Sutter, Albuquerque; on using the Book of Common Worship by the Rev. Dr. Paul Detterman, Louisville, Kentucky; on the Minister of Music as Worship Leader, with Dan Bird, Solano Beach, California.

The conference will be held in Albuquerque July 18-23, 1999. Conference information from Mark Zwilling, First Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102; (702) 384-4554; e-mail:markorg@aol.com.

ANOTHER opportunity for musicians is offered by the program committee of the Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference Center at Lake Tahoe. A Summer Seminar for Church Choir Directors will be offered on July 31 to August 4, 1999. Dean is Mel Olsen, Music Director at Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church, Sacramento, and founder/director of the Sacramento Area Bach Festival. Workshops include voice training for the church choir singer, conducting, selecting choir anthems, creative worship and worship planning. Information from Zephyr Point, (775) 588-6759.

A CHOIR DIRECTOR is wanted by Westminster Presbyterian Church, San Jose, beginning in the fall of 1999. The position is 12-15 hours a week; the candidate should have a BA or MA in music, a background in church music, and a commitment to musical diversity including classical, traditional and contemporary music. For information contact Ginny Barret, (408) 629-2642 or (408) 294-7447.

A DAY OF REST AND PRAYER is a day-long retreat for persons wanting to deepen their experience of God. To be held March 20, 1999 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Santa Cruz from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Cost is $15.00, including lunch. Phone Beverly at the Presbytery Administrative office (408) 279-0220.

Part-time Positions Available: A Book-keeper and Church Administrative Assistant are wanted by First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto. Phone (650) 325-5659 for information.

Equipment Available: A risograph machine for volumes of 100,00 to 500,000 impressions per year, and two wooden desks are available at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church. Phone Dick Aldrich at (408) 739-1892, or e-mail dick@svlpres.org.

SING-ALONG HANDEL: The Messiah will be presented in a sing-along performance on Monday, March 29, 1999 at 7:00 pm at the West Valley Presbyterian Church, Cupertino. Further information, (408) 252-1365.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, Presbyterian Men’s Conference, April 9-11, 1999. Former U. S. Senator Paul Simon is Key Note Speaker. Registration information in Presbytery Administrative office. Phone Alice at (408) 279-0220.

MISSION IN THE 21^ST CENTURY: World Mission Conference, July 23-26 at Asilomar. Keynoter will be Dr. Ofelia Ortega, President of Matanzas Evangelical Seminary in Cuba. Workshops, Music and Worship led by Jim and Jean Strathdee. Information from Hugh Wire, (510) 845-8958, or watch for brochures at Presbytery.