Dear Members and Friends of the Presbytery of San José,

Grace and peace in Jesus Christ in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Next week I begin a 2 week vacation with my family. I’m actually going to fully unplug – no laptop in tow, no emails, no social media. This family vacation is a birthday gift as I celebrate the big 5-0 in September. My wife and I are mindful (and heartful) that as our young adult sons have left the coop, with our youngest set to graduate college next year and they embark on their respective careers and have families of their own, times for just the four of us are becoming fewer and fewer.

I also have become more aware of and honoring of the days we have on this earth and how each passing moment matters. I know I sound like an old soul. Nothing morbid about my thoughts; it’s an ounce of circumspection, a pound of humility, and a ton of gratitude for God-given times that we can’t take life and those around us for granted. Just in the past week, I have learned of deaths of precious saints of our faith, people with whom I have fellowshipped and enjoyed good times many years ago, and now they are gone. And while I don’t do many funerals these days as I’m not pastoring one church, I did do one for a community member last week as their nuclear family was connected to Stone Church of Willow Glen. This is all to say, I have become more reflective about who I am, what I’m called to be and to do. It can be summed up with three words: peace and purpose. I have deep peace, depth grounded in the tried-and-true faithfulness of our God, steeped in the reality and experience of knowing that God has our back through and through. As for a purposeful life, I remember the words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes: “The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.”( Eccl. 12:13)

Steven Charleston (formerly Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Alaska, president/dean of Episcopal divinity school, and professor of theology at Luther Seminary), a member of the Choctaw tribal nation, wrote this in a poem titled “A Borrowed Life” in his Spirit Wheel: Meditations from an Indigenous Elder (Minneapolis: Broadleaf, 2023):

I live a borrowed life on loan from the Spirit.

One day my words will be forgotten.

My voice an echo drifting on an ocean breeze.

Images of me will be dust,

My most precious possessions powder.

Even those tied to me by the double helix

Will not recall my name.

But I do not despair of my short span

Or wish my memory immortal.

The One who loaned me this life with not forget.

The Spirit will come to claim it, calling me by name

A borrowed life returned, redeemed by endless love.

In Joy & Justice,

Neal



Rev. Neal D. Presa, Ph.D, Executive Presbyter

(408) 763-5004 | Neal@sanjosepby.org

#CalledToCommunity

#CommittedToJustice

August 9: Preaching at Trinity Presbyterian Church-Santa Cruz (10:30am)

August 10-23: Vacation

August 30: Preaching at Westview Presbyterian Church - Watsonville (10:00am);

Preaching at San Martin Presbyterian Church (1:00pm)

September 2: Mid Council leaders of Northern California retreat - San Damiano Retreat Center, Danville

September 6: Northminster Presbyterian Church-Salinas preaching (10:00am) and 102^nd anniversary of St. Philip’s Presbyterian Church-Salinas preaching (11:30am)

September 9: Co-hosting retired clergy luncheon at Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos (11:30am)

September 10-16: Personal Leave - visit parents in Guam

September 19: Attending ordination (if the way be clear with Presbytery’s action) of Veronica Ota - First Presbyterian Church, Altadena, Presbytery of San Gabriel

September 26: NEAR Gathering IV - Gilroy Presbyterian Church (9:00am-1:00pm)

If you would like to invite the EP to guest preach, facilitate a class, lead a retreat, help with strategic visioning/planning, or grab a cup of coffee, email neal@sanjosepby.org or call/text (408) 763-5004.

Featured

Called Special Meeting –

Today at 7:00 PM via Zoom

A called special meeting of the Presbytery will be held Friday, August 7, at 7:00 p.m. PT via Zoom. Members will consider several important items of business, including the validation of a new Presbytery Peacemaking and Justice Minister position, recognition of Good Growth Gardens as a worshipping community, the ordination and installation of Ms. Veronica Ota, and a request from Westview Presbyterian Church regarding the sale of its manse.

Register here if you have not already done so. The Zoom link will be provided upon registration - Check confirmation email sent via Google Forms.

Please log in by 6:55 p.m. to allow time for admission before the meeting begins. View the full docket and call to the meeting here. Members are encouraged to review the meeting materials in advance.

Questions may be directed to Stated Clerk Grace Kaori Suzuki at gracekaori@sanjosepby.org, Executive Presbyter Neal Presa at neal@sanjosepby.org, or Communications & Executive Support Associate

Colin Richardson at colin@sanjosepby.org.

In Memoriam

Presbytery staff learned recently of the death of two honorably retired minister members of the Presbytery. The Rev. Insik Kim, who attended Daesung Presbyterian Church in Sunnyvale, completed his baptism on July 18, 2026. He was 87. Before retiring and becoming a member of the Presbytery, Rev. Kim was the longtime Area Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific for the Worldwide Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In that role, he worked closely with global ecumenical partners and mission co-workers in the region. He provided key leadership to Asian American ministries in the PC(USA). His daughter, The Rev. Sue Kim Ahn, is a former PC(USA) minister, now serving an ECO congregation in Danville, CA.

Here is an obituary of Rev. Kim: https://www.skylawnmemorialpark.com/obituaries/insik-kim/obituary

We also recently learned that The Rev. Darrell Yeaney, honorably retired, completed his baptismal journey on November 1, 2025. He was 93. He was a parish associate at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Santa Cruz. He was tireless advocate for justice and a leader in campus ministries across the country.

Here is an obituary of Rev. Yeaney: https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/obituaries/darrell-yeaney-scotts-valley-ca/

We honor and give thanks to God for these two servants of the Lord, precious ones who find their rest in our Creator, in the realm of the everlasting Ancestors.

Denominational Service

Beyond the Presbytery, did you know that our immediate past Executive Presbyter, The Rev. Joey Lee, honorably retired, serves on the Board of Directors of the Board of Pensions of the PC(USA), and recently became a member of the Board’s executive committee? 

Did you also know that our immediate past Stated Clerk, The Rev. Erica Rader (associate pastor at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos), serves as the co-moderator of the General Assembly Funding Model Development Team, established by the 225th General Assembly (2022) and will be offering its final report to the 228th General Assembly (2028). Here’s more about that Team’s work: https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/church-structure/general-assembly/committees-commissions/ga-committees-other-groups/funding-model-development-team

Yesterday, our Executive Presbyter, The Rev. Dr. Neal D. Presa, was elected to serve as a co-chair for the PC(USA) delegation (see photo) to the Fourth Round of Bilateral Dialogue between The Episcopal Church and the PC(USA) from 2026-2032, having previously served as co-vice chair of the Third Round of Bilateral Dialogue from 2019-2024. Here’s more about the Fourth Round: https://www.pc-biz.org/search/3001506



Speaking of the denomination, remember to join us for a virtual townhall Zoom gathering on Thursday, August 27 at 6:00pm with our teaching and ruling elder commissioners – The Rev. Deborah Troester (Santa Teresa Hills) and Ruling Elder Beth Wylie (Westhope-Saratoga) and Young Adult Advisory Delegate Kemal Munkem (Santa Teresa Hills) as they share about the recent 227^th General Assembly in Milwaukee. Join the Zoom meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88944015745

This Week

World Communion Offering

*New Grant Opportunity for Mid-Council Initiatives

Faith communities across San José are invited to join an interfaith conversation exploring how church-owned land can better serve congregations and their surrounding neighborhoods. Hosted by SV@Home in collaboration with Partnership for the Bay's Future, the gathering will explore policy changes that could give faith communities greater flexibility to better steward their properties.

Participants will learn about the City's proposed policies, share their ideas, and discuss possibilities such as affordable housing, community resource spaces, and other mission-driven uses of faith-owned property. The conversation comes just days before the San José City Council considers these proposals on August 18, making this a timely opportunity for ministries to help shape the discussion.

Congregations are also invited to add their support to a coalition letter encouraging the City to expand opportunities for faith-owned land to serve the common good; read and sign the coalition letter here.

The gathering is open to clergy and lay leaders from faith communities across San José. Visit the registration page here to learn more and RSVP. For questions, contact Molly Kron, Partnership for the Bay's Future Fellow, at mkron@coroca.org.

In addition to GA resources, the Presbytery will host a Town Hall via Zoom on August 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM, in which our commissioners and Young Adult Advisory Delegate will share their experiences from the Assembly. The Town hall will be via zoom, with the access link provided below and on the resource document. No registration is required to attend; more details will be shared in the weeks to come.

Virtual Town Hall - Zoom Link

Zoom Meeting ID: 889 4401 5745 

Ministry Spotlight ♱‧˚

Daesung Presbyterian Church Celebrates

50 Years of Ministry

This past Sunday, August 2, members, friends, former pastors, and guests gathered in Daesung Presbyterian Church's Sanctuary to celebrate the congregation's 50th anniversary of ministry. The occasion marked five decades of worship, witness, and steadfast service, while giving thanks for the generations of leaders and members whose faith has shaped the life of the church since its earliest days.

Daesung's story began in the summer of 1976, when a small group of Korean-American Christians first gathered for worship in a private home before moving into shared worship space in Mountain View. Over the years, the congregation grew through faithful leadership, established its Session, was formally received into the Presbytery of San Jose, and eventually realized the dream of a permanent church home with the purchase and dedication of its Sunnyvale campus in the mid-1990s. Along the way, the church expanded its ministry to include English-language worship, reflecting its commitment to serving new generations while remaining rooted in its heritage.

As Daesung celebrates this golden milestone, we give thanks for the congregation's enduring witness within the Presbytery of San Jose and for the many lives touched through its ministry over the past half century. We lift up Daesung this week in hopes that this milestone will serve not only as a remembrance of God's faithfulness through the years, but also as an affirmation of the congregation's continued calling in the years to come.

Support Good Growth Garden

at Community Yard Sale

Westview PC | August 29

Westview Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Community Yard Sale on Saturday, August 29, from 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Donations of furniture, tools, clothing, household items, and more are welcome and may be dropped off on Friday, August 28, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m., or by appointment.

All proceeds will benefit the Good Growth Garden ministry project, supporting its ongoing work to serve the community. For donation information or to arrange an alternate drop-off time, contact Veronica Ota at Veronica@sanjosepby.org.

In Case You Missed It

Last week, faith and community leaders gathered at Gilroy City Hall for a prayer vigil in solidarity with immigrant communities and in opposition to the proposed construction of an ICE detention center in Gilroy.

Representing the Presbytery of San José at the invitation of PACT: People Acting in Community Together, EP Neal Presa offered a reflection on the hope that endures amid struggle: “Hope is when strangers in the night gather at Gilroy, lifting up prayers, embracing the struggle, and living for another day.”

As this work continues, all are invited to join the next ICE Out of Gilroy Freedom Vigil on Sunday, August 30, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. at 7240 Holsclaw Road in Gilroy. Held on the fourth Sunday of each month, this peaceful, interfaith gathering offers an opportunity to stand in prayerful solidarity with immigrant communities and advocate for justice, dignity, and welcome for all.

Special Offerings Webinar Hosted by PC(USA)

September 3 at 4:00 PM PT

On Thursday, September 3, at 4:00 p.m. PT, PC(USA) Special Offerings staff will host a webinar for West Coast presbyteries and congregations about recent changes to the denomination’s churchwide Special Offerings.

Participants will learn about the General Assembly action behind the changes, the causes each offering will support, and a new grant opportunity through the World Communion Offering. The webinar will also include time for questions and feedback.

Registration for the webinar is available at the link here. Those unable to attend live are still encouraged to register, as a recording will be shared with all registrants.

Mental Wellness Resource:

Tailored Sessions

Offered by Rev. Sharon LeClaire

"Anxiety is the number one reason people seek disability financial assistance."

As a result, Rev. Sharon LeClaire of Stone Church Willow Glen is extending an invitation to partake in a series of adult education classes on depression, anxiety, and other aspects of mental health. As anxiety and related concerns continue to affect individuals and families across our communities, these sessions offer a compassionate and informative setting to deepen understanding, reduce stigma, and strengthen the church’s capacity for care.

Classes may also be tailored to explore topics such as brain anatomy, major depression, therapy, medication etc. Each session is approximately one hour, including time for questions, and costs $250. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Rev. LeClaire at sharon.j.leclaire@gmail.com, call 415-302-0088, or visit revsharonleclaire.com.

Pieces on Peace ☮︎

AUGUST EDITION

Veronica Ota · Peacemaking & Justice Advocate

めぐり来しかの日かの時ヒロシマ忌

Here again,

That day, that time –

Hiroshima Day.

At 8:15am on Monday, August 6, 1945 on the outskirts of Hiroshima, a fifteen-year old boy named Yasuhiko Shigemoto was using his shirt to wipe sweat from his forehead when a blast threw him backward and burned his exposed stomach. He survived the first atomic bomb that was used to kill human beings, but most of his family members and friends died instantly or in the days and weeks following.

Sixty-nine years later, I had the chance to meet Mr. Shigemoto in Hiroshima and present him with a copy of my senior honors thesis— a translated compilation of haiku poetry written by hibakusha atomic bomb survivors, including many of Mr. Shigemoto’s poems. Mr. Shigemoto was then 85 years old and still actively writing haiku poetry. Although I felt both nervous and somber as I prepared to meet Mr. Shigemoto, those feelings quickly vanished as he joyfully greeted me with me with excitement and warmth. He shared that he was given hope that a young American woman would take interest in Hiroshima and his poetry. As we said our goodbyes, he shared a heartfelt commission with me, urging me to please continue working to make the world a more peaceful place. I understood at that moment that peacemaking was my calling.

As the only two places that have experienced the horrors of atomic bombs, Hiroshima and Nagasaki ask the world that they be the first and last to know the devastation wrought by nuclear warfare. The last of the Hibakusha survivors of the bombings will soon be gone. I urge you to listen to their stories and learn about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I believe you too will hear a commissioning from the Holy Spirit to pray and work towards a peaceful world that is liberated from the threat of nuclear annihilation.

ヒロシマ記地球はみなの故郷よ

Hiroshima Day,

the earth

is everyone’s home

Unity Candle 𖤝

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara

Santa Clara

This Sunday, we recognize First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara as they host the Unity Candle. Notably, we ask that you lift up their Pastor, the Rev. Dennis Woodsmall, who will be retiring October 4, 2026 after more than three decades of faithful ministry within the congregation. Additionally, we ask that you hold in prayer CRE Chrys Sahgal, and remaining elders and deacons as Santa Clara's congregation and session begin a new period of pastoral transition. Thus, let us dedicate this week's blessing toward their next season of ministry and witness, and give thanks to God for Dennis’s ministry among us and over these next months.

Rooted in a long history of faith and service in the Santa Clara community, FPC Santa Clara seeks to "nurture spiritual growth by encouraging people to become more deeply connected with God and one another." Their sanctuary, which rests on the corner of Homestead and San Tomas, offers opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship that support individuals and families on their alike. Through Sunday worship, children’s ministry, Bible studies, small groups, men’s fellowship, and times of connection like "coffee fellowship", the congregation creates spaces for spiritual formation and community. Their mission extends beyond the church walls through support of missionaries and partnerships with churches in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, including opportunities for members to participate in mission trips and global service.

As First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara receives the Unity Candle this week, we ask our neighboring congregations to lift up its pastoral leadership in prayer. May God continue to strengthen their witness and guide them as they welcome others, cultivate faith, and share his love through worship and service alike.



To learn more about this week's congregation, you can visit their website here:

FPC – Santa Clara

Follow the path of the Unity Candle here:

http://tinyurl.com/SJUnity2025

Presbyter Reminders

Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference 2026

Cultivate Generosity & Leadership Practices

September 21 – 23 | Baltimore, MD

Registration is now open for Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2026, an annual ecumenical conference taking place from September 21–23, 2026, in Baltimore, Maryland. Drawing participants from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and other ecumenical partners, the conference features informative workshops, plenary speakers and networking opportunities aimed toward expanding leadership skills and cultivating stewardship in congregations.

Whether you are a pastor, ruling elder, stewardship committee member, finance leader, or anyone passionate about generosity in the life of the Church, Stewardship Kaleidoscope offers practical tools and fresh ideas to bring back to your congregation. Registration information is available here: https://stewardshipkaleidoscope.org/registration/

The Presbytery of San Jose will cover the conference registration fee for those interested in attending. Those seeking financial assistance with travel and lodging expenses are invited to submit a sponsorship request to EP Neal Presa at neal@sanjosepby.org.

Registration Now for this year's Clergy and Church Leaders of Color Retreat, co-facilitated with the Presbyteries San Francisco, Redwoods, and North Central California. Visit the link below to view event, payment & subsidy information. RSVP deadline is September 30.

Employment Opportunities

The Presbytery and it's partners/affiliates are always hiring. Visit our Employment Opportunities page or read about new opportunities below from congregation and Presbytery-affiliated organizations:

Stone Church of Willow Glen

• Family Ministry Assistant Director *NEW LISTING

First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View

• Part-Time Female Vocalist

First Congregational Church of San Jose (UCC)

• Assistant to Interim Minister

First Presbyterian Church of Snohomish (Washington State)

• Installed Pastor

Urban Sanctuary San Jose

• Part-Time Lead Pastor

www.sanjosepby.org

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