Dear Friends,

I trust you are staying warm on this overcast, cool Friday.

As the Lord’s Day, Sunday January 27 approaches, a few items of note between us:

Adult Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m. in Room #4. Jill Haus continues her study entitled “The Other.” As we look ahead in the topical study Sunday School class, the following is the schedule for February:

Sunday, February 3, Denominational Giving by SGPC: Phil Lacy

Sunday, February 10, “The Other”: Jill Haus

Sunday, February 17, Local Giving by SGPC: Phil Lacy

Sunday, February 24: Introduction to Comparative Religions: Rush Pierce

Following worship on this Sunday, we have a potluck Luncheon whose theme is “Soup, Salad, and Desserts.” If your last name begins A-F, bring your favorite salad; G-R, bring your favorite soup or stew in a crock pot to keep it warm; S-Z, bring your favorite cornbread or dessert. Should be a fun time. Stay and enjoy the good food and fellowship!

At 3:00 p.m. this Sunday, in the Sanctuary, a presentation entitled “No Panic In Heaven: A Conversation with Corrie Ten Boom” will be presented by Marion and Terri Castleberry. Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch citizen who hid Jews in her house from the Nazis in World War II before her family was caught and sent to a concentration camp. The presentation is free. I do hope you will come and participate.

As we look ahead, please note that the Annual Meeting of the Congregation, as required by the PCUSA Book of Order, will be held on Sunday, February 10, immediately following worship. At this meeting, the congregation will receive the church’s budget for 2019 approved by the session; vote on financial terms of call for the pastor for 2019; receive the Annual Report of the Session and its Committees for 2018; elect members to the Officer Nominating Committee (ONC) for 2019. This is a very important meeting in the life of a Presbyterian congregation. Please make every effort to attend this meeting.

Our Children, Youth, and Family ministries under the leadership of Toni Howell is growing! To house this growth, Room #3 is being renovated by our Property Committee. The work began this week and is continuing. Many thanks to all those who are dedicating their time and expertise to this exciting cause. Stop by and take a look as Room #3 comes to life for a new and dynamic purpose.

Be safe. Do good work. See you Sunday if you are able. Grace and Peace, Pastor Bill

Dear Friends,

I trust you are well in the Lord, despite wherever life has landed you at present. Know you are loved and remembered.

Many of you have asked me about a memorial service for our beloved Connie Gibson. Connie died suddenly on December 27. Her son would like to have a memorial service for Connie at SGPC and will be planning toward that over the next few weeks. I will keep you informed when a memorial service for Connie is determined. On a similar note, many of you may remember Glaucia Vasconsuelos Wilkey. Glaucia, and her husband Jay, were regular attenders at SGPC for years and sang in the choirs. Jay died about two years ago and SGPC hosted his memorial service. I have received notice from the presbytery and others that Glaucia has died. I do not know any other details presently. But I know many of you knew Glaucia and Jay and I wanted to pass this news along.

As the Lord’s Day, Sunday January 13 approaches, a few notes of interest between us.

Adult Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m. in Room #4. Jill Haus is teaching a course entitled, “The Other.” Jill began this study last week and I have heard very positive feedback this week on both the curriculum and Jill’s teaching skills. I do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to gain some theological insight into the divisions, suspicions, and discriminations that so permeate our culture today.

During worship on Sunday, George Hejtmanek, elder chair of our Missions Committee, will bring a minute for mission summarizing our mission efforts at SGPC in 2018. Though we are not supposed to be proud of our accomplishments, let me say that we should be grateful for the banner year SGPC had in 2018 in mission to the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank each one of you for the generosity of your time, energies, and monies to mission through the life and work of this congregation. We are known in this community, and beyond, as a congregation that steps up to serve. Come and hear George tell you the amazing things we accomplished in mission in 2018.

As we look ahead, please note a fellowship opportunity on Sunday, January 27, immediately following worship. It will be a Soup, Salad, and Desserts lunch at the church. If your last name begins A-F, bring a salad to share. If your last name begins G-R, bring a soup in a crock pot. If your last name begins S-Z bring your favorite cornbread or dessert. Please sign up for the Soup, Salad, and Dessert lunch in the Narthex over the next few Sundays so we can have an accurate count of how many to expect. I love these events and I do hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to stay after church on Sunday January 27 and enjoy!

Also on Sunday, January 27, at 3:00 p.m., we will welcome Marion and Terri Castleberry who will enact a conversation with the famed Dutch activist Corrie Ten Boom who hid Jews in her home from the Nazis during World War II. Please plan to attend this special presentation and discussion and welcome the Castleberry’s to SGPC. The presentation is free of charge.

Be safe. Do good work! See you Sunday if you are able to attend worship.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bill

Dear Saints of San Gabriel,

What a glorious Friday morning after days of rain upon cold rain! Happy New Year to you. I trust you had a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year. I am excited as a new year begins for SGPC and its life and work. The congregation had a great 2018 and I am looking forward to even better things in 2019. We are truly blessed to be together in such a viable, thriving, caring and serving community of Jesus Christ.

I want to thank the congregation for your generous financial support of the church staff this Christmas. Your monetary gifts to the church staff for Christmas were bountiful and most definitely appreciated. I can speak for my household in thanking you for the richness of your Christmas gift to the Pedersons. I also want to thank you for your financial generosity in pledges for 2019, to use the Apostle Paul’s words, “for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). Your Finance Committee will report to you soon on the details of pledges for 2019. It is truly a joy to be pastor of such a generous congregation of Jesus Christ!

As the Lord’s Day, Sunday January 6 approaches, a few notes.

First, it is still Christmas in the church! Yes, I am sure by now that for most of us, we have had our fill of our cultural Christmas celebration. But in the church, the season of Christmas lasts twelve days, culminating each year on January 6 which is the traditional celebration of Epiphany in the western churches. It just so happens that Epiphany, January 6 each year, falls on a Sunday in 2019 – this Sunday. Epiphany means “shining” and it is the traditional celebration of the visit of the Magi to the Christ child – according to the gospel of Matthew, led by a shining star to the light of the world, Jesus Christ.

This is a first-Sunday as well so we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in worship. Remember that it is custom at SGPC on first-Sunday communions to remember our hungry neighbors with donations to The Caring Place. This Sunday, The Caring Place has requested “CEREAL” for donations. Please remember to bring cereals this Sunday for The Caring Place.

Adult Sunday School begins this week, after a Christmas break, at 9:00 a.m. Please note, Adult Sunday School will remain with its start time at 9:00 a.m. and it will meet in Room #4. Jill Haus will begin a five-week study entitled “Fear of the Other.” The study is written by Will Willimon, a United Methodist bishop and internationally acclaimed scholar and teacher at Duke University. I hope you will take this opportunity, in this new year, to commit yourself to regular Sunday School attendance. Sunday School for children, youth, and Parents Time Out begins at 9:30 a.m. The Nursery will open at 9:00 a.m. for those with children who desire to attend the 9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School class.

I encourage you to review the Gabriel News and your Sunday bulletin insert for information on numerous opportunities for fellowship and study beginning in January. I encourage you to regular worship attendance in 2019 and a commitment to at least one other aspect of the congregation’s life and work.

Be safe. Do good work. See you Sunday if you are able to be present.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bill