General Assembly 2008
Presbytery of the Pacific Blogs
Elder Sandra Mader
Moderator, Presbytery of the Pacific
Earlier Entries
Sunday June 22
Wednesday June 25
Friday June 27:
- JUNE 27
MODERATOR ON THE LAM
Instead of working on the floor as an usher as I had previously volunteered for this Friday evening's business meeting, I'm on the couch at home in Pasadena with my left leg elevated. Seems that I fractured the fifth metatarsal as I fell on a sidewalk on Wednesday. I drove home on Thursday to visit our family orthopaedist (we fall a lot!), and he has ordered me off my feet. Next time you see me, please compliment me on my great taste in footwear.
- I'm observing some humble acts of justice and kindness from the commissioners at GA. They are also taking actions that will not seem just or kind or consistent with Biblical teaching to some in the church. We will be having some hard conversations. In her sermon on Sunday, Moderator Joan Gray explored Jesus' teaching: Love one another as I have loved you. How did Jesus love us? By taking on flesh and coming face to face with us, eating with us and loving us - broken humans - with an in-spite-of love. Joan's image of agape love: breathing each others' air . . . breaking bread together.
- I pray for us, Presbytery of the Pacific, as we enter this next season. As faithful followers of Jesus, we're called to love one another. How about standing close enough to breathe each others' air? See you at the table.
Webservant's note: Please keep Sandra in your prayers for quick healing and an ability despite the fancy (but medically required) footwear, that she be minimally impacted in continuing to do the things she wants/has planned to do.
- WEDNESDAY JUNE 25
TECHNO-PAIN
Here we are in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the planned paperless meeting is becoming dependent on printed copies of the business in order to proceed! I'm observing in the back of the hall where we don't have the wireless connection we anticipated. The commissioners and advisory delegates in the front of the hall were asked to use eternet connections to PC-biz, but they don't seem to be able to make connection either. Our moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow inspired us on Sat. evening with the prospect of a church communicating in new ways, as he did during his campaign for moderator. Maybe tonight will bring the promised material. I'm working this evening as an usher to check badges of those entering the areas reserved for commissioners, advisory delegates and corresponding members. Maybe I'll catch site of our delegation. We've been wearing our PoP blue shirts, and we hope to send you a photo. Are there special prayers for healing all the techno-pain? From my lips to God's ears.
- Sunday June 22
YOU GO, GIRL!
Photos
Who knew? A banquet room full of Presbyterian women could be moved to gales of laughter and then to tears of joy and thankfulness to God at 7:30 on a Sunday morning in San Jose. Downtown San Jose was still getting cleaned up from a hopping Sat. night when we found our way to the Women of Faith Awards Breakfast. Among the 3 recipients of the award given at each GA by Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries/Presbyterian Women ministry area was our Rev. Ann Hayman. Introducing Ann was Elder Shari Stump from Covenant Pres., who narrated how Ann ran with her BA in Music Ed. and German, an M.Div. from SFTS and ordination as a pastor in PC(USA) to live out her faith and serve God for almost 28 years with street prostitutes in SoCal. One of Ann's specialties is providing workshops on the use of humor as a survival tool. Well she and Shari showed us how it's done. And the faces of Ann's family members at the table reflected her belief that "grace abounds, that faith sustains and God's love prevails."
Among those standing in celebration of God's love and Ann's faithful service were Linda Culbertson, Leslie Evans, Sue Fisher, Laura Krauss, Donna Lee Merz, Nancy Munn Smith, Shari Stump. I look forward to having Ann share her faith story with all of us in POP!
MORE WOMEN . . . I'M ON A THEME!
Maybe it's because I'm the mother and grandmother of girls, but I'm unabashadly encouraged to hear our Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow tell us that he was raised by a Committee of Women. . .and then watch him take the podium to be installed as Moderator of the 218th General Assembly of PC(USA) corralling his two young daughters ( about 4 & 7) as his wife walks elbow to elbow with their oldest daughter (11). . .and then hear the Installation Prayer by his mother and oldest daughter. This father of three daughters relies daily on God's grace to help him navigate the shoals of parenthood. May he also experience God's grace as he leads our church.
Presbytery of the Pacific
