A Thought on Mental Health and Faith, by Pastor Sharon LeClaire

Reset and Restart

There are a lot of changes this time of year which could be hard to manage. For those kids heading back to school it will take a few days to get them back on a sleep and wake schedule. There are ways to help with sleep schedules and basic changes of this time: It can help to do these things. 1. No screen time (TV or device) an hour before bed. 2. Closely watch caffeine intake and limit—none is best. 3. Limit expenses, like new clothes, especially if the student is still growing—think about donating clothes that no longer fit. And 4. Be patient as your students reacclimate to there “new life”=new kids, new teachers, new class schedules and mostly try to remember that they are growing into new bodies and minds. I have a friend who was a middle school principal for 40 years and she would tell parents to “remember, middle school kids are hormones with feet.”

As fall begins, September 22nd, be aware that there is less light outside. SAD = Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression) is very real. Get as much sunlight as possible or buy a SAD lamp which, for many people, will help with just ½ hour a day. Anxiety can also increase at this time. Encourage your students to stop and breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth at least 5 times when anxious.

Remember, 120 days until Christmas!

If you need support, here are some channels:

Teaching Elders/Ministers in the Presbytery, can contact Neal Presa, Executive Presbyter and he will connect you to the Pastors Supporting Pastors (PSP) program.

As well, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit through the Board of Pensions for six free 1-hour sessions with a licensed therapist and unlimited 24/7 crisis counselor phone calls.

For anyone (clergy and anyone) experiencing suicidal ideation, you should immediately contact 988 or 911.

Please Pray for the host of our Unity Candle

August 31, our Unity Candle travels to Watsonville Public House. Please pray for Rev. Robby Olson, the non-profit's board and its patrons!

Follow the path of the Unity Candle

Sept 6 N.E.A.R. Discussion Panelists Announced

The Sept 6. NEAR Gathering,"The Character of God and God's Mission" is a special event that is not a business meeting. N.E.A.R. gatherings seek to "Nurture, Educate, Advocate and Resource" everyone in the Presbytery! All are invited.

Reserve your seat today

This week, Presbytery Moderator Rev. Dr. Libby Boatwright confirmed members of the discussion panel scheduled for the Sept 6 N.E.A.R. gathering at First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View, 1667 Miramonte Ave, Mountain View, 8:30am -1:30pm.

The Character of God and God's Mission - Panelists

Discussion will be moderated by Rev. Deb Troester, Pastor, Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church.

Josh Celo, Bill Wilson Center, San Jose
Representative from Rapid Response Network
Tim Oey, Zero Waste, Sunnyvale
Natalie Tha, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley

The Character of God and God's Mission - Order of events

Open to all, 8:30am-1:30pm, breakfast and lunch are included!

Details: sanjosepby.org/near-sept2025

Worship, Communion
Commissioning ceremony for RE Tim Parmentier (Trinity Pres., San Jose)
Keynote Conversation with Executive Presbyter, Rev. Dr. Neal Presa and Rev. Mark Labberton of Fuller Theological Seminary
Panel Discussion moderated by Rev. Deb Troester
Mission Exhibits during lunch

Leaders of Color Retreat, Oct 13-16

Zephyr Point Conference Ctr., Lake Tahoe, NV

Open to TE and CRE within the Presbytery of San Jose, San Francisco, Redwoods, and North Central CA. Registration: $200

Last Call to Register for these September events

All-Clergy Retreat, Sept 9-11, St. Francis Retreat, San Juan Bautista

Open to TE and CRE within the Presbytery of San José. Deadline 9/2.

Full Stay: $250/two nights single-occupancy plus meals (scholarships avail.)

Commuter registration: $90

APA Pacific Region Conference, Sept 11-14, Zephyr Point (info) Deadline 9/1.

Registration Form. Late applicants contact Susan Weir (First Pres. Monterey).

Open to all PC(USA) church administrators as well as Christian education staff.

Presbyterian Women Horizons Bible Study Day in Walnut Creek, CA Sept 13.

Deadline 9/1.

Executive Presbyter Neal Presa is on Vacation

EP Neal Presa has been invited by the Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church to offer the "Faith (In) Forming" Lecture on Sunday, September 7 at 6:00pm-7:30. The lecture will be based on his recent book, Worship, Justice, and Joy (Cascade 2025). This is a free, ticketed event. Tickets at this eventbrite link.

August 22-27: Vacation
August 31: Chartering Process Meeting with First Thai Presbyterian Fellowship-San José
September 2-4: Faith & Artificial Intelligence Summit at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN with PC(USA) Stated Clerk delegation
September 6 morning: NEAR Gathering II at First Presbyterian Church, Mountain View
September 6 evening: 100^th anniversary of Westminster Presbyterian Church, San José at The Holiday Inn-San José
September 7 morning: Preaching at Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church
September 7 evening: Faith (In)Forming Lecture at Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church
September 9-11: Presbytery Clergy Retreat at St Francis Center, San Juan Bautista
September 12-13: Teach CRE course on Homiletics and Hermeneutics for Presbytery of San Francisco
September 29-October 1: Synod Leaders Forum Retreat at Zephyr Conference Center, South Lake Tahoe