Presbytery of San José

July 10, 2025

In our worship services, whether it be following the Assurance of Pardon, or part of the Lord’s Table, or as a greeting, when we say, “The Lord be with you” you all know to respond “And also with you.”

At our weekly staff meeting today, I read from Luke 24:36-53, which is the Gospel text for today from the Revised Common Lectionary daily readings. There in verse 36, Jesus offers a simple greeting, which is a soothing balm for the fear, confusion, doubts, and anxieties engulfing the disciples. His greeting is only two words in the Greek: “εἰρήνη ὑμῖν” (eirene humin, “Peace be to you.”) In that simplicity lies the profundity of what the risen Lord offers to his disciples in the first century C.E., and what he continually offers to all of his followers since then and into tomorrow. The Lord Jesus offers that greeting, together with the visible testimony of the stigmata of his crucified hands and feet, which all occurs within the context of a meal. He then shares a little homily about God’s mission, which he connects to deploying the disciples to be his witnesses (v. 48), blessing them (vv. 49-50), with the resulting testimony of the Lukan community, that they were praising and worshipping God, with great joy (vv. 52-53). Here’s the profundity in the simplicity – “Peace be to you” – what Jesus offers to his disciples is not a magic amulet called “Peace” nor an entity nor a philosophy or an idea called “Peace.” What he offers is himself. Ephesians 2:14 amplifies this: “For he (Jesus) is our peace.” He isn’t just the source of peace or the giver of peace. Jesus Christ is Peace.

There’s so much we carry in our personal and professional lives, and the lives of those around us – neighbors and strangers alike – I don’t need to enumerate them. Our prayer list for intercession for our self care, for our loved ones, for our communities, for the nation, for the world, I am sure that list can fill volumes and we would be in prayer all day long and still not get through the list. Because it is overwhelming, and the sheer volume and velocity of human suffering, human struggle, and the existential threats to the planet itself – all of this on the micro- and macro- scale, we need the Holy One who is our Peace. He who abides and abounds toward us doesn’t take us away from it all, but holds us and the world in his heart, so that we can live, pray, work, and love for another day.

We need community. We have at least three opportunities for us to encourage one another and to recalibrate our minds, bodies, and souls individually and as a community. The first is our second NEAR Gathering (Nurture, Equip, Advocate, Resource), which will be on Saturday, September 6th from 8:30am-1:30pm at First Presbyterian Church, Mountain Avenue. We will worship together, celebrate Communion, bless and commission Commissioned Ruling Elder Tim Parmentier, receive the preaching of Fuller Seminary’s President Emeritus Mark Labberton, who will also serve as our keynote conversation partner as we focus our attention on the character of God and God’s mission. We will have a panel discussion with representatives of local ministry partners, have a mission exhibit fair of different organizations and agencies, and do so with breakfast and lunch. Everyone is invited, teaching elders, ruling elders, deacons, congregation members, your friends and family, people of all ages. The event is free, so please register.

The second place we will meet Jesus who is our Peace is our Clergy Retreat from September 9-11 at the beautiful setting of St. Francis Center in San Juan Bautista. If you are a teaching elder serving in a called position, or a member at-large, or honorably retired, come and join us for FUN (Framing, Unpacking, Now What?). We’ll have Ellen Baxter of Pneumatrix join us for a visioning exercise as we frame and unpack ministry challenges and opportunities, and discern and reflect together on the “Now What?”. . . practical ways to engage those questions. We’ll meet Jesus over meals, worship, small group reflections, rest, and, yes, fun and games. Register for this two night, three day retreat. Scholarships are available and space is limited.

The third place where we will encounter Jesus who is our Peace is for those of you who are clergy of color or commissioned ruling elders of color. Join the annual Leaders of Color retreat at Zephyr Point in Lake Tahoe this October 13-16, with other Leaders of Color of San Francisco Presbytery, North Central California Presbytery, and Redwoods Presbytery. This will be a time for renewing, relaxing, and recalibrating with meals, worship, facilitated conversations and reflections on the work for justice, with invited facilitator and storyteller Jessica Vazquez Torres of Crossroads. Register early as the deadline is September 15 for the few spots that remain. Scholarships are also available. 

Speaking of community. The Presbytery’s Unity Candle will be at First Presbyterian Church, Mountain View this coming Sunday, July 13. Let us lift up prayers for our siblings of First Pres and of their pastor, Kim Dorr-Tilley, and how they are engaging in God’s mission.

What about you? How and where is Jesus Christ calling you to participate in God’s work? In all things and in every way, continually receive that word of faith, hope, and love, “Peace be to you.”

In Joy and Justice,

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

(408) 763-5004 | Neal@sanjosepby.org

#CalledToCommunity

#CommittedToJustice

• The Rev. Dr. Neal Presa was commissioned by the Presbyterian Foundation to provide commentary previews for the Gospel texts for July 2025 lectionary readings. Here they are for your reference and resource.

• The Rev. Annnada Barclay, Temporary Associate Pastor at Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church, will represent Presbytery of San José and the Presbytery’s Mission and Outreach Working Group in a multi-presbytery delegation to Peru with Jed Koball, Global Ecumenical Liaison for PC(USA) Interim Unified Agency, and led by PC(USA) Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly Tony Larson. The itinerary includes visits to Callao, La Oroya, and Moyobamba in the high jungles of Peru. The delegation will be listening and learning about extractivism, indigenous rights, human rights in general, climate change and more.

• Recurso de Fuerza village, "Resource of Strength," village for the unhoused got the greenlight by the city of Watsonville to be built behind the church gym of Westview Presbyterian Church Groundbreaking will be July 21, and the completion target is November 2025. Please consider sponsoring a room, or making a welcome basket, and please be in prayer for the transformation of the lives of those who will get to live and heal at Rucurso de Fuerza!

• Nursery/Childcare Worker sought at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara (FPCSC). Please see https://reachingthevalley.org/jobs

• The 2025-2027 Book of Order (PDF) is in effect as of July 4, 2025

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

6 Sept, 8:30am-1:30pm N.E.A.R. Gathering at 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.

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

www.sanjosepby.org

View as Webpage