News of the Presbytery of San Jose

But let justice roll down like waters,
     and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:24
We want to keep you informed! Below is a list of current events happening in the Presbytery of San Jose. Also remember to check the Presbytery website, particularly the Events page at www.sanjosepby.org.

SJ PBY logo.
Presbytery Meeting
Dates for 2020

With the passing of the new standing rules, the Presbytery is consolidating the annual number of meetings to four in the coming years. The remaining dates for the 2020 meetings are below. Check back in future months or on the Presbytery website for the respective dockets.

September 19: Location TBD

November 21: Covenant (Palo Alto)


The Mid Council Newsletter may be found here:

Just a reminder that the Presbytery website is full of useful information on various meetings, resources, and dates; including the online application form for Ministry Funding during this difficult time for our churches. Visit us at http://www.sanjosepby.org .
It is with excitement that the Presbytery's Finance Committee would like to announce the formation of the Watsonville Public House, a non-profit community brewery and home to Rev. Robby Olson's established PC(USA) 1001 new worshipping community, Beer Church.

A letter from Sharon Rowser, Chair of the Finance Committee and a more detailed explanation of the endeavor may be found here:


The Presbyterian Association of Musicians ("PAM") has several announcements to share:

1) PAM is offering two separate Worship & Music Conferences this year at the Montreat Conference Center. The first is June 21st - 26th, and the second is June 28th - July 3rd.

Details may be found here:


2) During the June 28th - July 3rd conference, a confirmation class will be offered concurrently.

Details may be found here:


3) Through a generous grant, scholarships to these conferences are available. Scholarship information may be found here:

A lot is happening with Sweaty Sheep and the Presbytery's Hunger Advocate, Rev. Ryan Althaus! To help you stay up-to-date with his ministry, Ryan is working on the creation of his own newsletter. If you would like to receive his specific newsletter and announcements, please submit your email address:

A Message from the Executive Presbyter, Rev. Joey Lee


On June 5, 2020, I participated in an Interfaith Prayer Service for Racial Justice and Peace at the Basilica of St. Joseph in downtown San Jose.  In addition to myself were Buddhist, Catholic, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, and Muslim faith leaders.  Here is what I said:

I’m Joey Lee, Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of San Jose.  As an executive and minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) I bring you greetings, and stand in solidarity and hope.

Later in the service will be a reading of the names of those who have violently died.  There are many others, whose names we do not know.  

America, we need to stop killing Black people.
 
Let us pray:

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way.

We come to you O God, because our hearts are heavy with the grief of injustice.

We come to you O God, because our ears hear the cries of our sisters and brothers.

We come to you O God, because we don’t know how to tell our children, why YOUR children treat one another this way.

We pray for peace, but we also pray for justice.

We pray for calm, but we also pray for equal protection under the law.

We pray for civil discourse, but we also pray for moral and ethical leadership.

For our failure to see each person created in your image, forgive us.
For our failure to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you, forgive us.

For our failure to tear down white supremacy and dismantle police brutality, forgive us.

Heal us as individuals, heal our communities, our nation, and even your world.
Remind us again to seek the shalom of the city in which you have placed us, knowing that in its welfare, we shall find ours.

Restrain those who would use our sacred texts and sacred spaces for their own selfish purposes.

Sustain these faith leaders, whom you have called, that we may be bearers of your peace, but also proclaimers of your justice.  

I pray all this in the name of the one who also was arrested, falsely accused and brutally executed, to ultimately show that life is greater than death, and love is greater than evil, it is in Jesus’ name, I pray.  

Amen.



Phone: (408) 279-0220 Website: www.sanjosepby.org