Presbytery of San Jose

June 6, 2025

Pastoral Letter, 6/5/2025

"On Pentecost"

Beginning this Sunday, June 8^th, take out your church’s red paraments and let us join the worldwide Church in ringing in the season of Pentecost. The Spirit is on the move!

Read EP Neal Presa's full letter

NEAR II Early Registration

A form is online for early registration to NEAR II at First Pres Mountain Vew 9/6/2025.

We will have as a conversation partner/preacher, The Rev. Dr. Mark Labberton, President Emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary, with the focus on God’s Mission and Character and the Church’s Witness.

Information, Invitations

Images link to larger size or to information

5/16/2025: Rev. Edd Breeden is Temporary Stated Clerk

Presbytery Coordinating Council named our Treasurer, Rev. Edd Breeden, to temporarily hold the position of Stated Clerk effective 5/16/2025, standing in while Rev. Erica Rader is on sabbatical. Please send correspondence to Edd eddbreeden@gmail.com cc: EP Neal Presa Neal@sanjosepby.org.

June 8, 7pm at Sunnyvale Pres.

Pride Kickoff Concert

Flamy Grant, hip-swaying, shame-slaying, singer-songwriting drag queen, is coming to Sunnyvale Pres.Sunnyvale Pres. The concert is open to the public and appropriate for all ages!

From the tickets page on sunnyvalepres.com: Flamy Grant's 2022 debut record, Bible Belt Baby, reached the #1 spot on the iTunes Christian Chart (the first drag performer to achieve this feat.)

Sunday, June 8: the Presbytery's Unity Candle will be at Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos

We're asking all churches and worshiping communities to pray for the host of the Unity Candle each week, including mention in their worship bulletins and pastoral prayer/congregational prayers.

The Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos is a growing church. Sunday Worship is at 10:00 am; the congregation meets in person and services are streamed online. www.pclg.org (photo, below.)

PCLG distinguishes itself through service to the community and world, allocating more than 10% of its annual budget to mission projects and programs. Ongoing mission partnerships include:

Helping Hands for South Sudan, founded by member and former Lost Boy Gabriel Nyok and RE Ron Dickel (subscribe to the group's Youtube Channel.)
Immanuel House Refugee Project, chaired by RE Martha Wills.
Front Door Communities and other services to address food insecurity.
Semi-annual mission trips to Mexico to build homes with Amor Ministries (photo, below.)

PCLG is served by two pastors, Pastor Dave Watermulder and Associate Pastor Erica Rader (who also serves halftime as the Presbytery's Stated Clerk). Leaders from PCLG serve the Presbytery and Synod in key committees, commissions, work groups, and on boards of affiliated non-profit organizations.

2024 Moderator of Coordinating Council, PCLG's Director of Operations, and singer/songwriter Carlo Panighetti writes:

The Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos (PCLG) is grateful to host the Unity candle on Pentecost Sunday and for connectional ministries with our sister churches. Check out our activities and visit us anytime. Everyone is welcome!

Follow the path of the Unity Candle.

15 June, Westhope Presbyterian Church, Saratoga

22 June, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Clara

29 June, Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church

6 July, Daesung Presbyterian Church, Sunnyvale

13 July, First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View

20 July, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto

27 July First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto

Nine more events below this point

Registration at link.

June 12, 9am PT

Gun Violence and Christian Ethics

A webinar with Rev. Dr. Katie Day

A rare chance for people of faith to hear from experts on gun violence who approach their work with the big questions of our faith: What does our faith call us to do about gun violence? In times of intense political polarization, how can people of faith promote community safety so that all can experience God’s peace and flourishing?

Discounted tickets to August 7-8 Global Leadership Summit at First Pres. Mountain View are available June 14-24

See your church as a dynamic force in Silicon Valley, growing impactful leaders who lead from a sense of integrity and purpose in every sector of the church and marketplace. A discount code reduces tickets to $149 each between June 14-24, A perfect gift for students and mentees! More information at sanjosepby.org (image from @glnsummit)

June 20, 5pm, Trinity Cathedral SJ

Hope and Healing Community Action with Supervisor Lee at Trinity Cathedral

in response to ICE action in San Jose

81 N. 2nd Street; Parking at 3rd & St. John.

Rev. Dr. Bryan Franzen (Westminster Pres) and Ruby Ramirez of P.A.C.T. invite you to

join County and Faith leaders in collective action to respond to the need for protections for our vulnerable communities.

RSVP to Ruby Ramirez, P.A.C.T.

June 20-22, Sunnyvale Pres.

Peacemaking Conference

Building Communities of Peace:

A Weekend of Conversations with Peacemaking Partners from Korea and Ireland. Pastor Hardy Kim invites the Presbytery to talk about building peace where we live with people from all faiths and walks of life. https://sunnyvalepres.com/peace/

August 11, 10am-4pm (includes lunch.)

Trauma-Informed Advent Planning

San Francisco Theological Seminary

105 Seminary Road, San Anselmo, Montgomery Hall, 2nd floor Boardroom

Trauma-Informed Advent Planning will focus on trauma implications surrounding the birth of Christ (birth of hope) found in Advent lectionary texts. Join us for meaningful learning, reflection, and advent preparation.

RSVP to SFTSDean@redlands.edu

August 23, Zephyr Point

Soul Shop for Faith Leaders

Join this workshop for ministering to suicidal desperation and equip yourself with skills needed to provide support, hope, and connection to those affected by suicide as a standard part of your work and life as a faith leader. (Image from @soulshopmovement)

https://www.soulshopmovement.org/upcomingtraining

September 13, 10am - 3pm

PW Horizons Bible Study Day

Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek, CA

Finding Resilience, Joy and Our Identity in Jesus Christ with Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter, author of the 2025-26 study.

Contact PWP Moderator, Rosaleen Zisch

Registration Deadline: September 1

Registration Form

Teaching Elder Relocating to Bay Area Seeks Help

A teaching elder member of the Presbytery of Northeast New Jersey, who is presently serving in the Caribbean, is relocating for the long-term within the bounds of our Presbytery, together with his spouse and three adult children. They are looking for rental housing in Santa Clara County beginning June 17^th in the range of $3800-4300/month, as well as an operating vehicle to buy (or lease for the time being). If you know of any prospective properties/vehicles, please be in touch with EP Neal Presa.