May 15th Meeting of Presbytery
will be at La Jolla Presbyterian Church

The May Meeting of Presbytery will begin at 2:30 pm on May 15 at La Jolla Presbyterian Church, 7715 Draper Avenue, La Jolla [map].  Rev. Dr. Tim Beal will preach at the worship service on the subject, “Worthy of Trust.” 

A Pre-Presbytery Meeting will be feature a presentation by Karen Vietmeier, director of finance and property of Los Ranchos Presbytery, on the subject of the Covenant Presbyterian Insurance Program.  Church administrators and treasurers are encouraged to attend. 

Check this website for your commissioner’s packet.  And be sure to make dinner reservations.

Andy Smith’s Daughter In Recovery After Scoliosis Surgery

Linda Therien reports (April 19): 

“As many of you are aware - Aimee Smith, the eleven-year old daughter of Andy & Susie Smith underwent major surgery this morning for scoliosis.  The surgery was intended to correct the problem and involved the application of cutting-edge technology.  I am told that as many as twenty-seven physicians observed the operation.

“I just had a call from Andy and needless to say he was pretty emotional but Aimee has come through the procedure with flying colors and is now in recovery.  It has been a tense morning for the Smiths and all those praying for Aimee and the family.  Andy told me that the hospital let Aimee take a stuffed animal with her this morning and that brought everyone to tears. Aimee was really been a trooper.

“I would ask that you all continue to keep Aimee and her family in prayer and she faces a significant time of recovery.  “Thank you all for your concern.  Blessings.”

Therien adds (May 2):  “Aimee is home and recovering and is expected to be back in school in three weeks.”

Inez Ellerd Accepts Call to Minister
To Native American Community on Alaskan Island

By Clio McEuen, Em Cummins and Bob Battenfield

Inez Ellerd has packed her bags and driven off in her SUV, bound for Metlakatla, a Native American fishing village on Annette Island, Alaska, where she has accepted a call to be pastor at Metlakatla Presbyterian Church. She visited Annette Island and gave her candidacy sermon on April 4. Ordination of the Word and Sacrament took place April 29 at Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Edwin Piper preaching on the subject, “I Become All Things to All People.”

Having come under care of the Presbyterian Church in 1995, the year she obtained a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, Ellerd, who has worked in escrow and real estate, has waited for 12 years for this call.

Most recently Ellerd has been completing a Doctor of Ministry; the final project is to “develop a seven-stage model of discipleship where no disciple stands alone, but will experience the transforming love relationship in community that is healing to the human soul.”

Other Christian ministry work experience includes a ministry of in-home care for the elderly and dying, service in pastoral counseling and marriage, family and child therapy.

Ever the professor, COM Committee Member Em Cummins further researched the location:

Metlakatla is located on Annette Island, 15 miles southwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. It is near the southern end of the Alexander Archipelago, a chain of hundreds of rugged, glacially carved islands interwoven with deep fjords and protected passages. It is located approximately midway in the Inside Passage between Seattle, Washington, about 600 miles to the south, and Skagway, Alaska, 600 miles to the north.

Metlakatla, Alaska is a community of Tsimshian people who followed a missionary of the Anglican Church of England, Mr. William Duncan to a new home in the United States of America from their previous home in British Columbia, Canada. The United States Congress granted recognition to the new community in 1891 by creating the Annette Islands Reserve, a federal Indian reservation. Today it is the only reservation in the State of Alaska. The community has prospered due to an abundance of natural and human resources. Its people exhibit a great variety and diversity of skills in numerous fields, from native art in the ancient style to advanced computer skills necessary for today's communication requirements.

Although the majority of its population is Tsimshian, Metlakatla also is home to many individuals with diverse tribal affiliations such as Tlingit, Haida, Aleut, Yupik and other Alaska Native peoples. These others are allowed to become members of the Metlakatla Indian Community by virtue of a clause in Metlakatla's charter that specifically allows such membership. In the ancient Tsimshian culture there were several individual tribes, each with its own chief and governing council. Within the tribes there exists a closer society--that of the four major clans. The clans are the Eagle, or Lachsgeek; the Raven, or Gunhada; the Wolf, or Lachgeebuu; and the Killer Whale, or Gisbuutwada. {source: www.Metlakatla.com}

“It sounds like a remote community of mostly Native peoples, and it will certainly take a special type of person to conduct ministry among them.  Kudos to Sister Inez for venturing so far from the comforts of Southern California to the distant panhandle of Alaska to lead Christian ministry among these folks,” said Cummins.

What makes this story all the more sweet is that Inez is no youngster – she admits to being more than 70 years old! 

	xx
Rev. Inez Ellerd - Ordination 29 April 07 at MSPC		Packing for Alaska 2 May 07
Photos: Clio McEuen

Westminster Escondido Completes
Construction of New Sanctuary

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Escondido, has finished building a new $3 million, two-story sanctuary. The new construction has 10,567 sq ft which seats 340 on the first floor and will accommodate 160 people in the balcony (which is framed but not furnished yet).  Construction started in October of 2005 and the building was finished in March 2007.

The sanctuary features a new Schantz Pipe Organ, thanks to a generous donor.  The organ was dedicated at the Sunday, April 29 worship service.  The organist was Michael Burke accompanied by a violin and flute.  A recital with the new organ will be given May 18 at 7 pm by organist Ty Woodward.

The new building also includes a classroom, bride’s room, cry room, and a choir rehearsal hall as well as restrooms, storage and areas for communion preparation. Later on will be added more pews, chairs, and an A/V system.

A celebration of the new sanctuary is planned for May 18, 19 and 20 (see following story), coinciding with the church’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. The church is located at 1500 S. Juniper, Escondido.  [map]

To see a photo page PDF of the building in phases of construction, click here.

Westminster to Dedicate New Sanctuary May 18-20

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Escondido, will celebrate the dedication of its new sanctuary, a new 2,286 pipe organ, and 50 years of serving God and our community during the weekend of May 18-20.
 
You are invited to an Organ Recital featuring world renowned organist, Ty Woodward, who will perform on the new Schantz organ on May 18 at 7 p.m.   Mr. Woodward has played concerts all over the US and Europe, and most recently performed a remarkable recital on the Spreckles organ in Balboa Park.  His most recent positions include Organist at Santa Monica Methodist Church and he is currently Director of Music Ministries at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Scottsdale, AZ.

Presbytery is invited to an Invitational Service on Saturday, May 19 from 2-5 p.m., which will include a homily by Pastor Jim Rauch, songs from all choirs, and music from the new pipe organ.
 
Tours of the new Sanctuary will also occur on May 19 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Dedication/Anniversary Worship Celebration will be held on Sunday, May 20, with two worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  

Please RSVP if you plan on attending the Saturday afternoon invitational tea to Mary Eidsen, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 760-745-3225 or MaryWPC@pacbell.net.

The church is located at 1500 S. Juniper St. in Escondido.  [map]

Faith, community and time —
That’s the remedy amid emotional return for Virginia Tech students

By Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — As classes resumed Monday (April 23) at Virginia Tech, life in the small college town of Blacksburg following last week’s shootings has been a “mixture of fear and anxiety and strength and community,” according to the Rev. Alex W. Evans, pastor of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.

Evans has been close to the aftermath of the deadly April 16 shooting rampage by 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho, the loner student who killed 32 Virginia Tech classmates and faculty members before turning the gun on himself.

“In addition to a little bit of fear and anxiety, there’s been this sort of strength in community that we’re going to carry on here,” Evans said. “That’s really been wonderful.”

The 49-year-old Evans, who also serves as a Blacksburg Police Department chaplain, assisted authorities with the brutal task of providing death notices to grieving family members in the hours following the tragedy.

He and other Presbyterian leaders said this week that they were not aware of any Presbyterians students or faculty members being among the fatally wounded. However, at least one Presbyterian student, who worships at Evans’ congregation, was among the injured.

Amid a shattered community in the days since the bloodshed, Evans and other area clergy have found themselves faced with finding new ways to help members come to terms with the unthinkable event that happened in their midst, the irreplaceable losses, and to somehow try to understand the violence behind the madness.

“It’s been grief, beginning with shock, and disbelief in trying to provide comfort and in trying to find a way to move on from this,” Evans said. “Not moving on, but saying you know what? This is tough. We live in a dangerous world but we look to God for all things. We’re people of faith and hope and love and we have work to do.”

PC(USA) Study Guide Available On-Line Advocates
Legalization of Undocumented Immigrants

The PC(USA) General Assembly has helped to develop a study guide, Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States, which is now available on-line at www.PCUSA.org/washington.  Among its recommendations are these:

Approve the Resolution Calling for a Comprehensive Legalization Program for Immigrants Living and Working in the United States, and call upon the members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its governing bodies to take the following actions:

a. Advocate the establishment by law of a comprehensive legalization program for
undocumented persons already living and working in the United States.

b. Advocate the reform of current immigration policies and procedures to ensure a more timely and humane process, with special attention to family reunification and to those persons who have been waiting for their immigrant visas and for naturalization.

c. Adamantly oppose the exploitation of any and all workers as a violation of the humane and just treatment due to all children of God.

d. Join with interfaith and secular organizations that are working for comprehensive legalization.

e. Direct the Office of the General Assembly (OGA) to communicate the above actions to the president of the United States, members of the United States Congress, the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS), and the national and international ecumenical organizations to which the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) relates. {source: www.PCUSA.org   |   PDF}

April Synod Meeting Report

By Clio McEuen

(April 14, 2007)  Approximately 35 Synod commissioners met at the Lutheran Cathedral in Pasadena with Kaleidoscope Institute to start setting a vision for the Synod of Southern California & Hawaii.  Members reflected on the history of Synod and assessed the present strengths and weaknesses of Synod’s organization and goals.

A retreat will be held May 11 and 12 at the Lutheran Cathedral to further refine the vision.  Presbytery Moderator Rev. Neal Nybo and Vice Moderator Elizabeth Crews will attend.

Attendees at the April session expressed a strong feeling of loss for the annual Mission and Stewardship Rallies, which served 800-1200 people.  The strengths of Synod were identified as the Men and Women’s groups and their Peacemaking/Justice commissions.  The Synod’s support of Racial/Ethnic/Sexual issues was mixed.   Competition for finances, donations and giving is a struggle the Synod is going through.  Lack of congregation and pastor communications to and from Synod as well as support from pastors was also mentioned.

Eric Law of Kaleidoscope Institute presented an analogy of culture using an iceberg with external cultural aspects of seeing, hearing, touching and smell belong above water and the internal cultural values, beliefs, patterns and myths are to be found below water (beneath the surface).

Then Law asked if the Ministry OF the Synod, IN the Synod and the STRUCTURE of the Synod was in balance.  The Ministry OF the Synod was strong in Peacemaking, WARC, REPL and in loans and grants to churches.  The Ministry IN the Synod was deemed strong in personnel, communication, and staff support and training.  The STRUCTURE of Synod was considered weak with no clear line of communication and command; it was likened to LAX airport with four interconnecting hubs and little cooperation.

Synod’s web site has the information gleaned from the meeting.  Go to: www.Synod.org

People in the News —
Arab Ministry and Reality Changers

	Chris Yanov, right, with student Jonathan Villafuerte
	Pastor Mofid Wasef

Featured in the April Edition of Good News, etc., a Christian newspaper published locally, are two mission programs within the Presbytery of San Diego – the Arab Ministry of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church headed by Rev. Mofid Wasef, and Reality Changers, directed by Christ Yanov, which operates at the Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana in San Diego.  To read the articles, go to www.GoodNewsEtc.com and click on Archives, then April 2007 Edition.

People

Rev. Michael Mudgett was ordained May 6 at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church.  He has accepted a call to Malibu Presbyterian Church.

Rev. John Moser, who recently accepted a call to Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church, will be installed May 20 at 4 p.m.

Upcoming Events

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN IN THE PRESBYTERY PRESENT
“GATHERING” MAY 25 AT TRINITY SPRING VALLEY

Nuhad Tomeh of Middle East Council of Churches to Speak;
Also Will Preach May 27 at Grace Presbyterian in Vista


Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh

Presbyterian Women in the Presbytery of San Diego will present “Gathering” on Friday, May 25, at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley.  Rev. Dr. Nuhad Tomeh, associate general secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches for Iraq Relief and Rehabilitation, will be the featured speaker.  Events begin at 9:30 am with coffee and fellowship, devotion and business at 10 am and the program at 11 am, follwed by lunch.  To make reservations, contact Pat Palmore at 619-444-6736 by May 21.  Cost is $7 per person.

The Rev. Dr. Tomeh is also preaching on Sunday, May 27, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Vista at both services, 9 am and 10:22 am.  At the end of, and following second service will be an interactive discussion with the audience amid samplings of Middle-East snacks.  For those who plan to attend the 10:22 service, RSVP (760) 724-0077 to allow them to prepare.

For more information about Rev. Dr. Tomeh, go to www.PCUSA.org/missionconnections/profiles/tomehn.htm

National Black Presbyterian Caucus 39th Convention
Celebrate our Heritage and Embrace our Hope

July 11–15, 2007
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sheraton Society Hill Hotel
800 325-3535

The 39th National Black Presbyterian Caucus Convention
commemorates 200 years of advocating
for liberation, justice and peace
as African-American Presbyterians. 
Go to www.PCUSA.org for registration details.