This past Sunday I had the honor and pleasure of representing the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii at one congregation’s Mission Sunday. OK, so it was my own church, but it was still a joy presenting the mission of the Synod and meeting many more individuals and groups with ties to the Synod.
The preaching for worship (thanks Ruth) was based on Jesus’ sending out the disciples in Acts, specifically
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ [Acts 1:6-8]
One of the important points is that in this passage Jesus sends them, just as the word “mission” come from the Latin “to be sent,” not “to go.”
So — Mission Connections to the Synod. Where has the Synod “been sent?” One of the important ones for my church is that it was established as a new church development by the Synod. Almost 50 years ago, when this then-distant suburb of Los Angeles was still mostly orange groves the Synod invested in the land and provided loan funds to get our congregation going. Now, I am pleased that our congregation is “repaying” the debt (the loans have been paid off for a few years) by regularly contributing to the Racial Ethnic Pastoral Leadership Program.
But looking around at the other mission organizations present it was great to see others with Synod connections. The La Casa Community Center which, like our church, began as a mission of the Synod. Westminster Gardens retirement center where many retired church workers with ties to the Synod live. And Angel Interfaith Network, a ministry that also has roots with the Synod and whose executive director, Don Smith, was a long-time employee of the Synod.
And that is just one little corner of the Synod. I’m sure that throughout our eight presbyteries we could find numerous examples of where God has sent the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii.
Praying for our Churches
Hanmi: Holy Faith Presbyterian Church, Cypress
Los Ranchos: Village Presbyterian Church, Ladera Ranch
Pacific: Formosan Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles
Riverside: Victoria Presbyterian Church, Riverside
San Diego: Northminster Presbyterian Church, San Diego
San Fernando: Horizon Community Church, Palmdale
San Gabriel: Filipino Community Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles
Santa Barbara: First Presbyterian Church, Santa Barbara
