Disability Ministry in Churches

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face. We are also curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.

Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:

Commentary: Take Heed UM Churches and Youth Will Stay Away

Visa Canada Finds Online Oversharing Putting Young Adults at Risk for Fraud

Pasadena City College: Local Community Colleges Face Cuts

Money Questions for Young Adults

Hollow of God's Hand. . .

We are all held in the hollow of God's hand,

loved children of the universe,

born from the life which flows from God,

freed to the fullness of God's creation,

with all its beauty and variety.

We are all worth dying for in Christ Jesus,

all called to risen life in Christ's rising.

The way of Jesus gives us footprints for our following,

and our trials and longings are known

in the frailty of Christ's birth among us

and the courage of Christ's walking with us.

We are called to new things in the Spirit,

in the hope that stirs in unlikely moments,

in the home we find in the wastelands of our wanderings,

the warmth we touch in the coldness of our need,

the opening of our hearts to adventures in belonging

and in the gathering in of those without a home.

Amen.

-Affirmation of Faith from The Uniting Church in Australia

Prayers of the People

God of Love,

Be with us on this Lenten Journey. We need You. We need You in this wilderness - in the places that feel like desert, in the places that feel unsettled, in the places that don't feel fully formed. We ask that You would accompany in this season, that You would accompany us every day of our lives. Be with us.

Holy God, help us to be with one another. Help us to listen with intention. Help us to speak with gentleness. Give us discerning hearts and intuitive spirits, that we might accompany one another on this journey and in these days.

Give us Your holy and life-filled words to speak to one other. Help us to be Your hands and feet in this congregation and in this city as we are surrounded by people who need friendship, care, compassion, justice, and love.

We pray that You would be a home for the homeless, and as we find our rest in You, help us to work hard so that women, men, and children have roofs over their heads.

We pray that You would be food for the hungry, and that as we find ourselves nourished by your presence, You would send us out from this place to work so that no one begins his day or ends her day desperately hungry. This shouldn't be.

We pray for those who need jobs.

We pray for children who are terrified to go to school because they're unsafe - often unsafe with their peers, perhaps even by some of the adults who are there.

We pray for those who need human touch.

We pray for those who are grieving so deeply, those who have lost spouses, parents, siblings, friends, and children. Give us arms that are willing to embrace those who are walking through this difficult journey.

We pray for those who are sick, for who are unsure about their health and the days of treatment ahead. We pray for those who know more questions than answers. Help us to be attentive to one another.

Help us to be a community where people are heard, valued, and given the dignity they deserve.

Help us to walk this Lenten Journey with You and with one another, mindful of the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, saying. . .

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.

Amen.

-A prayer of Pasadena Presbyterian Church

North Koreans Risk Lives For Freedom

Being an Innovative Church!

We believe that Pasadena Presbyterian Church is in a season of dreaming. Who are we? Where have we been together, and how are we called to move forward now? How is God stirring our hearts and minds?

As part of our ongoing mission and call, we want to be Sacred Space for the City. And in that posture toward the people and neighborhoods around us, we are curious about innovative forms of ministry and mission that are happening within our larger PC(USA) denomination and in other churches and community groups. We are also interested in questions being asked around us - by those who have a long-time faith commitment and by those who do not.

We have much to learn from everyone!

Here are some news stories and blog posts. We hope they will call us anew to be an innovative, creative church that meets the needs of people around us!

Church Appoints Theologian for Earth Stewardship

New Vision for Collegiate Ministry: Task Force Outlines Ways to Reach, Love, Teach College Students

Sojourn Community Church's Medical Clinic in Louisville, Kentucky

Pastor Erin Tamayo Organizes Alongside Carwash Workers

PCC is for Cookies!

Question: Why do we give cookies at Pasadena City College?

We'll tell you!

We are members and friends of Pasadena Presbyterian Church, a congregation that is located at 585 E. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena. (We're the church on the corner of Colorado and Madison with the cool bell tower! Here's a picture below).

We really love students, and we believe that cookies for FUN (with no catch!) is a great way of demonstrating that we care for students! This is true for students of any religious persuasion and no religious persuasion. We've enjoyed getting to know you when you've received these cookies. Thanks for smiling with us, telling us your names, sharing what you're studying at PCC, and telling us what kind of day you're having.

And we offer an invitation. We want to know you. We believe that churches have a lot to learn from students and young people like you. You have gifts to offer us.

And we want to provide a sacred space to provide care and meaningful intergenerational relationships with students. We want to serve together, to ask questions of faith together, to worship together, to dialogue together, to pray together, and to love together.

You are invited into a relationship. Thanks for giving us a chance to start that on the campus of PCC. You are also invited to join us in worship at PPC. (By the way, the PCC and PPC thing gets really confusing. Similar acronyms! ACK!)

We're a tri-lingual congregation. At 10 am, we worship in English in the sanctuary and Spanish in the chapel, and at 12:30 pm, we worship Korean in the sanctuary.

So who are you? What do you care about? How can you add to the mission of God in this church, on this campus, in this city? We want to know!

Ash Wednesday at Pasadena Presbyterian Church

We invite our congregation, friends, and neighbors to join us Wednesday, February 22nd at 7pm in the Freeman Chapel of Pasadena Presbyterian Church for our Ash Wednesday Service.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day contemplative period before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we turn in repentance and consider God's love toward us, even as we recognize our own fragility and mortality. We invite you to enter deeply into spirituality and community during this season.

Our service on Wednesday will be a Taize Service, a style of worship that includes silence, contemplative singing, and meditative prayer. We will also have the imposition of ashes.

An Agape Meal will be held at 6pm before worship in the Fellowship Hall, and worship begins at 7pm.

Please join us. All are invited!

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face. We are also curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.

Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:

PCC Students Protest Class Cuts, President Responds

More Young Adults Into Social Smoking

Pasadena City College Series to Highlight African-American Heritage Month

Young Adults Bear Brunt of the Recession

Medical Benevolence Foundation: National Report Series

Lenten Small Groups 2012

"In wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small. . . When you send your Spirit, they are created and you renew the earth."

-Psalm 104:25, 30

PPC's Lenten offerings, Calvin DeWitt's Earthwise and Sam Hamilton-Poore's Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God's Creation, echo the words God commanded us. This Lenten season, let us focus our thoughts and prayers to God's amazing creation - the Earth, and all that is in it.

The groups meet weekly for six sessions from the week of February 26 through the week of April 1.

Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God's Creation

How are Christians to respond as stewards of God's creation? Explore through prayer the interconnecting love that binds God, humankind, and creation -- forming a sacred trust. Earth Gospel uses the power of prayer to encourage care of God's creation. Each devotional reading includes scripture, hymn texts, beautiful poems and reflections from sages across time, and blessings. Featured voices include Emily Dickinson, Wendell Berry, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther, e.e. cumings, Julia Esquivel, Annie Dillard, Henry David Thoreau, Catherine of Siena, and many others. Earth Gospel will deepen your appreciation and commitment to creation. Use it daily, and it will change your life.

Earthwise

The care of God's creation is a way of life; to be a Christian is to care for God's creation. We will explore the caring processes of God in nature, and discover together the wonders, the recycling, and the rejuvenation of homeostatic creation. For the author, the Bible is a virtual "handbook of ecology" where the Psalms come alive. We will experience the richness and regularity of God's sustaining creation, and recognize the processes that are inhibited and even overturned by human machinations, as has happened geometrically in our modern era of science, technology, and unbridled economic growth.

Pick up your Lenten study brochure on the patio following worship and fill out the insert located inside.

What Is Evangelism? How Do You Fit?

Oh. . . the E Word.

Evangelism. It's a word that many Christians are afraid to hear or think about. Yet it's a practice and a way of living to which we are called. Rather than staying afraid, we can be empowered and affirmed to live in this way.

So why are we afraid?

It's not difficult to discern some of the reasons we shirk away from the word 'evangelism.' First of all, many of us have had negative experiences with being evangelized. We associate evangelism with people who are determined to convince us that they have it all together and know all the answers to the important questions in life. We have memories of watching people act in ways that are disrespectful of cultures and religious traditions different than their own. We often associate evangelism with some obnoxious and unattractive ways of speaking and interacting. But that isn't what evangelism is about.

And the media doesn't help us either. The Biblical meaning of evangelism is quite beautiful. It means 'good news-ing,' living in response to God's good news for our world and sharing how that good news has changed our lives. In American culture, however, an 'evangelical' is most frequently defined as person who adheres to a list of political positions. This is a very limited and narrow definition of evangelism, and it involves an enormous shift from its original meaning!

So what is evangelism? And where do you see yourself in this picture, living in ways that call you toward 'good news-ing?' How do you fit into this way of life?

Evangelism is Proclamation and Worship.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to speak words of hope, challenge, and conviction to one another and to the people we encounter in our city. Our mission is to worship the Triune God. We do this through prayer, speech, song, physical movement, action, and public witness. We can all proclaim God's good news through worship!

Evangelism is Mission and Service.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to serve our community and the people we encounter in our city. Our mission is to enact social justice and to stand alongside those who are marginalized and considered 'outsiders' in our world. We can all proclaim God's good news through service beyond our walls!

Evangelism is Discipleship and Membership.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to invite people into a ministry of discipleship, following Jesus Christ in our city. We can invite people into the fellowship of our congregation. Our mission is to include others on the journey of discipleship, honoring their God-given gifts and experiences. We can all proclaim God's good news through invitation!

Evangelism is Welcome and Hospitality.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to practice ministries of welcome and hospitality toward our city. Our mission is to include others in the gracious love of God. We can all proclaim God's good news through hospitality!

Evangelism is Care and Healing.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to care and provide healing for people in our city. Our mission is to reach out to those who struggle with profound human needs through listening ears, loving forms of presence, and hands that seek to heal. We can all proclaim God's good news and live as healers in this world!

Evangelism is Art and Culture.

Through God's love and vision for our lives, we are empowered to engage music, art, language, dance, film, literature, poetry, and a multitude cultural expressions in our city. Our mission is to discern God's Spirit and to speak in and through the many gifts of our lives together. We can all proclaim God's good news and celebrate the beauty that is found in our world!

Where do you fit? How are you called to live a life of good news?

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on Interfaith Relations

Kairos International Prison Ministry

Young Adults in the News!

As a young adult community, we want to stay aware of the particular gifts that young adults bring to our world as well as the particular challenges that young adults face. We are also curious to learn about culture and trends among young adults.

Here are some recent news stories and blog posts that concern young adults:

For Young Adults 18-34, the Bad Economy Means Life-Alterning Changes

Psychologist Perspective on the Young Adult Brain

Young Adults Who Quit Smoking Feel Better Quickly

Reducing Violence Against Teens, Young Adults a Duty for All of Us

Prayers for Greece. . .

Our prayers are with the people of Greece this week as they struggle through debates and riots concerning the austerity measures that were voted into place by the Greek parliament yesterday. The government is making major economic cuts in order to avoid bankruptcy and a possible exit from the eurozone.

Among other provisions, these austerity measures will eliminate 15,000 public sector jobs and reduce the minimum wage by twenty percent.

Protesters are rioting in Athens, and many Greek citizens are losing hope in the midst of such a dire economic situation. Please read the stories below to stay informed on this crisis, and please keep the people of Greece in your prayers.

May we all be a part of the very prayers we make.

What Greek Austerity Looks Like

Greeks Clash With Police Over Latest Austerity Measures

Greece Riots Aftermath

Sermon: Transgressive Healer

Transgressive Healer

Mark 1:40-45

Sermon preached by Renee Roederer

Friendship Sunday

February 12, 2012

Pasadena Presbyterian Church

* This sermon was given on the occasion of a celebration called Friendship Sunday. Members and friends of Pasadena Presbyterian Church invited friends to a worship service to honor and bless friendship in the 2012 year.

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, 'If you choose, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I do choose. Be made clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, saying to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.' But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the world, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

This story is outrageous. This little story at the beginning of Mark’s gospel is completely outrageous. And it’s more than outrageous. It’s scandalous. This is how Jesus chooses to begin his ministry in Galilee? Outrageous.

When Mark starts his Gospel, he hits the ground running. There’s no birth story here. It’s almost like there’s no time for it. Mark starts out full speed ahead. And so much happens in this first chapter. It almost like Mark is capturing little snapshots and piecing them together for us in flashes, like some trailer for an action film. He strings these small stories together with words that become characteristic for him. This story – “and” -- This story – “and” – This story. “And, and, and.” “Immediately” this. “Immediately” that. Mark uses the word “Immediately” over and over in his gospel.

So much happens in this first chapter! The Gospel of Mark starts out this way: “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Then we’re off. John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, baptizing. Three verses about John baptizing Jesus. Immediately the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. Two verses about his temptation there. Jesus calls his first disciples. And Jesus stuns a synagogue of people when he casts out an unclean spirit from a man. “What is this?” they say. “A new teaching – with authority!" And immediately, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law from her fever right after they leave the synagogue. And then the whole city gathers around her door, asking Jesus to heal people of their diseases. And then Jesus goes on a preaching tour, doing the same type of work all around Galilee.

All of this is in one chapter! What’s going on here? Mark starts out building Jesus up in this amazing way. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” A baptism. Healing. New authority! A city at a door! Jesus' reputation is building. . . and then, WHAT?

Jesus has an encounter with a leper?

Wait a second. Mark, this is really where you want to throw this story in? Right here? Just when you were building up Jesus in every way? Really? Outrageous.

Now granted, Mark didn’t put chapter numbers and verses in his gospel. The early church eventually did that. But Mark puts this story right at the beginning – right after a huge string of stories that give Jesus an immense amount of credibility. And then, this story -- this scandalous story.

A leper approaches Jesus and falls on his knees begging. This is scandalous in itself. A leper was someone who could have had a variety of skin diseases that were considered to be unclean by Levitical law. According to the law, people with leprous diseases were supposed to wear torn clothes, keep their hair disheveled, cover their upper lips and cry out everywhere, “Unclean! Unclean!” They had to announce their own condition everywhere. They were seen and known only through this label. Lepers were supposed to live alone, and they were supposed to stay outside the camp or city.

So what gave this leper the audacity to approach Jesus? Who did he think he was? Or maybe a better question is this: “Who did he think Jesus was?”

“If you choose, you can make me clean.”

Here was this sad outsider – an outcast – on his knees, kneeling and begging. He must have been trembling there, terrified. He had approached Jesus when he was supposed to remain as far as possible from him. And this was more than a simple break of the rules. He could defile Jesus! He was ritually unclean, and at any point, if he contacted Jesus, he would make Jesus unclean too. He could damage him. He could ruin an entire preaching tour.

But he had audacity because he had faith. He must have known that there was something different about Jesus. “If you choose, you can make me clean.”

And Jesus was different. He was moved with compassion. The word used in the Greek text says that his compassion was bodily. He was gut-wrenched about this. And perhaps he was angry about it too. Why did this man have to constantly be overlooked, to live with continual stigma, to be isolated from his family – from the entire community – when he too was a Child of God?

Then Jesus does the outrageous. He does what is utterly scandalous. Willingly, he chooses to touch this man – this man! with leprosy! “I do choose. Be made clean!” Jesus has broken the social custom of his day. He’s obliterated it. He’s touched the one who was labeled and stigmatized to be untouchable.

And there’s that word of Mark’s again: “Immediately,” the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. But things hadn’t returned to back to some simple state. In one touch, Jesus and this man with leprosy have exchanged places. The healed man goes into the open – into the city, where he has been forbidden, with new life and newfound freedom. And because he spreads the word about his new life, Jesus can no longer enter a town openly. He stays out in the desert places, and because of the word of this leper, people come to Jesus from every corner to join him there. Jesus is on the outside now, among desperate people. In one willful touch, Jesus has chosen to become a leper.1

Who is this Jesus? Who is this One who goes against the social norms – even the law! – if it will restore people to true worth and dignity? Who is this Jesus that Mark is portraying – this One who goes on to do so many scandalous things in this gospel – telling a paralyzed man that his sins have been forgiven, no matter the rage of the scribes who witness it? Who is this one that heals on the Sabbath – who time and time again, puts human need first? Who is this one who continues to be touched by the ritually unclean – a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years, longing to only touch his garment and be healed? Or a dead twelve year old girl whose corpse was ritually unclean, but who Jesus willingly touched and restored? Who is this Jesus who eats with tax collectors and sinners? Who is this Jesus who chooses common fishermen to follow him – who chooses 1^st century women to be disciples? Who is this Jesus who says, “Let the children come to me?” Who is this one who is constantly, willfully choosing to break every social custom to serve human need and dignity first? Jesus is one who transgresses what is expected. Jesus, who did not sin toward God, was constantly sinning against what society told him was the norm. Jesus is a healer. Jesus is a Transgressive Healer.2

What would it take for us to do the same? What would we risk to become the healers we are? Here we are, together on a simple, routine Sunday. We're gathered with our friends. Some of us have invited dear friends to this service today. Others of us have known the members and friends of this congregation for decades, and when we are gathered together on Sundays, we are often among the dearest people of our lives. Have you ever considered that friendship is a gift that can change the world? What happens when we show up in the lives of others, to be with them in their darkest hour - to know their gifts and their beautiful qualities, yes - but also to know the most painful and difficult aspects of their lives? What happens? How does the human presence of friendship change the world?

And what happens with the love of friendship spreads beyond itself to include those who are on the margins of society? What happens when we take the love we've received and we give it to the very ones who make us feel uncomfortable?

What would happen if we did that? In light of this outrageous story that we've heard today - in light of this scandalous and transgressive healer Jesus, as we are gathered with our friends today, may this be true: May the 'yes' between us say 'yes' to a world beyond us. May the 'love 'between us say 'love' to a world beyond us.3

We're called to be healers. We are called to be healers in this world, not necessarily because there’s anything extraordinary about us, but because we belong to Divine Healer of this world who enters our pain, suffering, and stigma. We follow a Divine Healer who is so very Human. He chooses our condition. And this is the One we follow.

Who are the lepers of our modern day culture? Who is being told day-in and day-out that they belong on the outside? Immigrants? Undocumented workers? People who are gay? People who don’t know where their next meal is coming from? People with a skin-color that society defines as unacceptable? People with terminal illnesses? People who live alone and who are desperately lonely? People with mental illnesses? People with stigmatizing disabilities? Children who are abused and neglected? Young people in the foster care system? Or what about people who are belittled for their religion? What about Muslims who are feared and stereotyped in this country?

You are ministers, and Jesus Christ, the Transgressive Healer, dwells in you. May the 'yes' between us say 'yes' to a world beyond us. May the 'love' between us say 'love' to a world beyond us.

May your friendships invite you to live as the healers you are. Thanks be to God. Amen.

1 I am indebted to Rev. Dr. John Alsup, D. Thomason Professor of New Testament Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, for this observation.

2 I am indebted to Dr. David Hadley Jensen, Professor of Constructive Theology and Associate Dean at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He used this title for Jesus in Responsive Labor: A Theology of Work.

3 I was grateful to first hear this language in a wedding sermon given by the Rev. Ben Johnston-Krase, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Racine, Wisconsin.

Congregational Life Takes You To Pasadena Museum of California Art!

It's right across the street from PPC, but the big blocky building remains a mystery to many. If you haven't yet visited the Pasadena Museum of California Art - or if you love the rotating displays and want to catch the latest - come along with Congregational Life on Saturday, February 12.

We will have a sandwich lunch after English language adult education, about 12:20 p.m., and then stroll over to the museum. Congregational Life is picking up the tab for the food, beverages, and admission. Whether you understand art or just "know what you like," join Congregational Life for a quick bit of lunch and culture.

Group Collects Items For Homeless Veterans

Friendship Sunday! (Just Four Days Away!)

We are very excited for a special celebration that will take place in English Language Worship this Sunday at 10am. We're celebrating Friendship Sunday!

So. . . what's Friendship Sunday?

We are asking members of Pasadena Presbyterian Church to invite friends to worship with us this Sunday because we want to honor friendships and bless them for the 2012 year. We will consider the value of friendships through songs, sermon, and litany together.

What does it mean to be friends? How can friendship move beyond two individuals or a tight-knit group of people to share compassion and justice in a hurting world?

We invite YOU to do some invit-ing so that we can celebrate our friendships together this Sunday.

Our newcomers will receive some homemade baked cookies, made by some of our young adults and distributed by some of our children. This should be fun!

And if you're interested, you and your friends can join us for a light lunch and a free trip to the Pasadena Museum of California Art after our worship service.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

27 Million Slaves in This World. . .

Black History Month 2012

Each year in February, communities around the United States celebrate Black History Month, a time to explore and celebrate the many contributions of African-Americans. We do this by broadening our knowledge of history and also recognizing the numerous ways that African-Americans continue to add knowledge, activism, creativity, innovation, and vision to our communities.

Have you ever wondered, "What is the origin of Black History Month? And what do some young people think about this celebration?" Feel free to click the first link below.

And what are particular communities doing to celebrate this month?

The Origin of Black History Month

Pasadena School's Celebrate Black History Month

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Celebrating Black History Month

United Methodist Church: Global Ministries - Black History Month

News From Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Seminaries

Want to know what's happening with our PC(USA) seminaries? Here's some news as of late!

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Short and Long-Term Missions in Latin America

Columbia Theological Seminary: Will Dedicate Vernon S. Broyals Jr. Leadership Center on March 7

Debuque Theological Seminary: Offering Lay Pastor Education

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary: Spanish-Language Lay Training at Louisville Seminary Provides Biblical, Theological Education, Contextual Curriculum

McCormick Theological Seminary: Seminaries Educate Informed Leaders

Pittsburgh Seminary: Professor Wants Students to Always Make a the Connection Between Theology and Practice

Princeton Seminary: Professor Nurtures Spiritual Formation in Students to Provide Effective Pastoral Care for the Church

San Francisco Theological Seminary: Retreats Offered By San Francisco Seminary Offer Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

Johnson C. Smith Seminary: Professor of Missiology Trains Church Leaders to Serve in Both Local and Global Contexts

Union Presbyterian Seminary: Union Seminary Provides Resources for Churches and Individuals to Explore Connection Between Theology and Film

Bullying. . .

Many children of all ages face bullying daily in their schools. Our prayers are with elementary, middle school, and high school students who feel unsafe in their schools with peers or adults. . .

Here is what some people are doing about it:

Stop Bullying!

Dealing With Bullying

Huffington Post: Preventing Bullying Begins With Us

What is PTSD?

Faith communities are increasingly becoming aware of how to share compassion and care to those who are struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. What is PTSD, and how might we be supportive of those who are experiencing these symptoms?

Posttramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This Emotional Life, PTSD Treatment

Faith Community Addressing PTSD Issues

Loving The Creator: Care For the Creation

For the next few Sundays at Pasadena Presbyterian Church, we are having an Adult Education Class directly after English-Language Worship to explore our relationship with God as Creator and to consider how we can care for creation. The class is called Loving the Creator: Care for the Creation.

Please join us to think about ways to honor God by using our resources wisely!

Friends of Music: John Weaver This Saturday!

Saturday, February 4th at 7:30 PM: Organist John Weaver

When the Presbyterian Church (USA) decided to produce a new hymnal in the 1980s (the one with the blue cover we now use at PPC) one of the people selected for the committee was John Weaver; in fact, a good deal of his communion and service music is in the back of The Presbyterian Hymnal (Nos. 565-571).

John Weaver will be the featured artist on the next Friends of Music concert at PPC on Saturday, February 4 at 7:30p.m. He will be leading a hymn festival, playing many of his organ pieces based on hymn tunes, and the congregation will sing hymns accompanied by the Kirk Choir.

Dr. Weaver, who served for 35 years as Director of Music and Organist at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, has been concerned the dean of Presbyterian church musicians for many years. He was also the chairman of the organ department at The Julliard School from 1967-2004. Weaver traces his love for the "King of Instruments" back to his childhood. His formal musical studies began at the age of six in Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory when it was discovered that he had perfect pitch. At age 14, he became organist of a Baltimore church and played his first organ recital. His undergraduate study was at The Curtis Institute from which he graduated in 1959. Dr. Weaver was appointed Director of Music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, a post he held for 11 years. During this time he also spent two years in the Army as organist/choir-director of the Post Chapel at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary, studying with Robert Baker.

He has written numerous articles for organ and church-music magazines, has served as President of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. The American Organist magazine named him among the 101 most notable organists of the 20th century.

This is your chance to experience the artistry of a Presbyterian Church legend.

FREE ADMISSION.

Caring Across Communities: Helping immigrants and refugee students succeed