Presbytery of San José

August 6, 2025

A Pastoral Letter to the Presbytery of San José

The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, Executive Presbyter

August 6, 2025

Dear Friends of the Presbytery of San José,

Grace and peace in Christ in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit! It’s hard to believe it’s August already. Where did summer go?

A friend who teaches at Princeton Seminary is walking the famed Camino de Santiago. He’s been posting about his pilgrimage on Instagram. It brought back memories, photos, and the chronicle I kept of when our eldest son, Daniel, and I hiked the Camino four years ago. In fact, on this particular day, August 6th, four years to the day, Daniel and I arrived at the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. It’s said that the pilgrimage didn’t end; it was the continuation of the lifelong pilgrimage we all take as we navigate the terrain of this world and of life. Such fond memories of a transformative experience for him and for me.

Psalm 103 has much to say about calling us to not forget the goodness of God. These particular verses came alive for me when I had the blessing to dine with the great Calvinist scholar, the late Hughes Oliphant Old, and his wife, Mary. Hughes, or Scoti (as his friends call him), was a prolific writer, having written numerous books on Reformed theology, worship, and liturgy. He had written his magnum opus, a multi-volume work on the history of preaching. He was later recognized by the Princeton Seminary with a Distinguished Alumnus Award for a lifetime of scholarship in service to the Gospel. Scoti was visually impaired, so when he did archival research, Mary would have to transcribe notes. As the three of us sat at their dining table, his mealtime prayer were the words of Psalm 103:1-2. Scoti had to write from his memory of that which he strained to read from the thousands of materials he had found over the years.

I may sound old(er) by saying this, but as I approach my 49th year of life, I’m recounting the memories of experiences of many encounters, with family and friends who have gone home to be with the Lord, and others scattered in different parts of the world. I look at pictures and recall those moments.

Recently, I posted how we cannot and ought not forget what is happening in Gaza and the utter devastation that is happening to Palestinians, and the mass starvation, genocide, and apartheid that is being inflicted on God’s precious children. I remember going to the Holy Land in 2008 and then as Moderator of the General Assembly to Lebanon and Egypt in 2013, and the faces and places with whom we engaged in holy conversations and meals. Those etched memories in the heart connect with faith’s imperatives and our community’s commitment in answering God’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).

We cannot and ought not forget that 80 years ago on this day, August 6th, was the fateful day of the U.S. nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, and then three days later, of Nagasaki. There, a land across the Pacific, devastated in an instant, the hundreds of thousands who perished, displaying the pernicious violence that human beings can inflict on fellow human beings. We cannot and ought not forget.

A couple weeks ago, I joined colleagues from the North American Academy of Liturgy, as we are collaborating on a book project based upon our colleague Dr. Bruce Morrill, Anamnesis as Dangerous Memory. Essentially, when we remember Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we are joined to Christ, and in that solidarity, Christ is actually joining us to work for justice in the world because he is about justice in the world. Thus, remembering is dangerous in that it unleashes active resistance, faithful protest, prophetic words. That is why it is important to recount stories, to share the narratives of past experiences, to listen to perspectives and testimonials, to archive and receive oral histories while the subjects are still living. Memories matter, because one day our memories will fade.

Your own lives, your own family lore, your own congregations and ministries – filled with pain and strain, joy and sorrow, love and anger, division and reconciliation. It’s memories of human stories, of being human, of being alive. What memories do you have that bring hope and joy to your mind and heart, memories of the goodness of God? And how do those memories encourage and inspire you to live for today and tomorrow, to make your slice of this big world a little bit better for those around you and who are with you?

Let me close in sharing this familiar note from Philippians. It’s one of my favorite pastoral word to God’s beloved and which I offer to you, beloved ones of the Presbytery of San José:

 I thank my God for every remembrance of you,  always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy  for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (1:3-6, NRSV)

In Joy and Justice,

Neal D. Presa

Executive Presbyter

408.763.5004 | Neal@sanjosepby.org 

#CalledToCommunity

#CommittedToJustice

Please Pray for the host of our Unity Candle

August 10, our Unity Candle travels to Bonny Doon Presbyterian Church. Please pray for the congregation and for Stated Supply Pastor and Presbytery Treasurer, Rev. Edd Breeden.

A prayer for Hiroshima Day, August 6

God of our weary years and our silent tears,

This day of solemn remembrance, we remember the destruction wrought on Hiroshima, on Nagasaki, and we pray “never again.” Yet, so many long years since witnessing the dreadful cost of nuclear war, we are still divided, still at risk, still unwilling to lay aside weapons of mass destruction. A real threat of nuclear warfare is risen among us and it is clear we are still afraid.

We confess to you, God of Peace, our ongoing participation in cultures of death

               the ways we benefit from military might and the threat of nuclear destruction,

               our failure to resolve simmering disputes and build a future for all children free from fear.

Forgive, O loving God, the failure of your children that is represented in all war. In your loving mercy forgive our failure to make peace with one another. Grant pardon and turn to a new way, to all who have contributed to war’s progress through ambition, belligerence, falsehood, suspicion, arrogance, animosity, and terror.

We thank you for those who even now work for peace and healing through diplomacy. And we praise your name for the gifts of generosity, healing, courage, wisdom and love which are daily demonstrated by those who aid those who are uprooted, injured and dying in war’s terrible wake. Grant them strength.

Triune God, grant us strength, mercy, and peace:

   …the strength of your love that conquers fear and evil

   …the mercy of your Son, who rebuked the way of violence by laying down his life             

   …the peace of your Spirit, beyond our divisions, to bind us together as one family

in your kindom of mercy and peace.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus

Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

reprinted from https://pcusa.org/resource/prayer-hiroshima-day

Visit the Holy Land and Jordan, November 20 - December 1, 2025.  A new trip is available, sponsored and led by my colleague Lani Lanchester and me. On this 12-day pilgrimage, there will be opportunities of learning, feasting, and engaging in dialogue/reflection with theologian, Rev. Dr. Yohanna Katanacho.

Many of our fellow Presbyterians from Stone Church and Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church participated in a Holy Land Pilgrimage with Rev. Dr. Libby Boatwright and me in 2019.  Our wonderful guide, Sufian Abu Hanna, will guide this trip.  

The first question is most likely, is it safe?  Yes. 

Sufian is an extremely experienced and licensed spiritual pilgrimage guide. He selected the locations to walk where Jesus walked and pray where Jesus prayed. Flights will be to/from Amman, Jordan.  

I was recently in Israel and Palestine in May this year and was safe the entire time. Lani was in Bethlehem for about 3 weeks as well, for study. We both have friends and professional connections in the Holy Land. We have both visited the Holy Land on many occasions. Visiting the Holy Land is a transformative, spiritual experience.

Please click here for details of the pilgrimage. Please signup soon. Minimum participants: 10. Max: 30

September 6 NEAR-II Gathering is only one month away.

On Sept 6 EP Neal Presa will conduct a "winged chairs" conversation with guest Rev. Mark Labberton as part of the NEAR-2 event programming.

Agenda

First Pres. Mountain View

1667 Miramonte Ave, Mountain View, CA

Saturday, September 6, 2025

8:30am-9:00 Breakfast

9:00-10:00 Worship (with Communion and commissioning of CRE Tim Parmentier)

10:00-10:30 “Winged Chairs” Conversations with Mark Labberton

10:30-10:40 Break

10:40-11:40 Panel Discussion: moderated conversation with 3-person panel of local ministries

11:40-12:00p Small Group Discussion Reflection

12:00-12:30 Plenary Q&A with Mark Labberton

12:30-1:30 Lunch

12:30-1:30 Mission Fair Exhibit (during lunch) Visit tables and learn about various ministries, agencies, and organizations.

To reserve an exhibit table for your congregational mission project or affiliated non-profit, please contact EP Neal Presa or Presbytery Moderator, Rev. Dr. Libby Boatwright ASAP. Space is limited!

7-8 Aug, Global Leadership Summit, First Pres. Mountain View.

11 Aug, Trauma-Informed Advent Planning at SF Theological Seminary.

23 Aug, Soul Shop for Faith Leaders, Zephyr Point NV

30-31 Aug, Silicon Valley Pride, Caesar Chavez Park SJ

31 Aug, 1pm St. Philip's Presbyterian Church 101st Anniversary Party, Northminster Pres, Salinas.

31 Aug, 4-6pm Art of the Duo Jazz Concert, Westhope Pres Saratoga.

6 Sept, 8:30am-1:30pm N.E.A.R. Gathering, First Pres Mountain View.

6 Sept, 2-4pm Open House at Immanuel House in San Jose.

6 Sept, 6-10pm 100th Anniversary Celebration for Westminster Pres.

13 Sept, Horizons Bible Study at Grace Presbyterian Church, Walnut Creek.

9-11 Sept, Fall 2025 Clergy Retreat for all Teaching Elders.

11-14 Sept, APA Pacific Region Conference at Zephyr Point.

16-19 Sept, Bridging Generations Older Adult Ministry Conference Colorado

8 Oct, Sacred Land, Shared Futures (Affordable Housing workshop)

13-16 Oct, Leaders of Color Retreat at Zephyr Point.

19-24 Oct, Preparing for Proclamation Worship Planning at Zephyr Point

www.sanjosepby.org

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