Reflections Blog

That Was the Plan…

That Was the Plan…

Our 2022 Hispanic/Latino Pastors and Leaders Retreat was a success and a great blessing. On May 12-14, fifty-two sisters and brothers from the Presbytery of Los Ranchos and other presbyteries had a unique time to worship, rest, learn, and play together. When you look...

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Responding to Hate with Love and Justice

Responding to Hate with Love and Justice

Responding to Hate with Love and Justice Report to Presbytery on May 26, 2022 from Presbytery Co-Executive for Vison & Mission, Tom Cramer Greetings, siblings in Christ. Grace and peace to you. As you well know, the recent weeks, and even days, have brought loss,...

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A Pastoral Letter from Tom Cramer

A Pastoral Letter from Tom Cramer

Dear Colleagues and Friends, Over the past weekend, we experienced two unspeakable acts of gun violence on our nation’s soil, one in our own presbytery at the campus of Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, and the other at a neighborhood supermarket in Buffalo,...

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A Story of Resurrection in Boyle Heights

A Story of Resurrection in Boyle Heights

One of Los Ranchos’ newest New Worshiping Communities, Iglesia Cristiana De Las Americas in Boyle Heights, occupies the building that was once the home of El Divino Salvador Presbyterian Church, whom we remember with gratitude for their more than 100 years of...

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Faster, Higher, Stronger

Faster, Higher, Stronger

The opening ceremony of the Olympics, winter or summer, always brings me great cheer. I love seeing athletes from all over the world joining together on a single stage. For me, it is a vision of what God wants for humanity, metaphorically speaking. When we bring our...

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Our Superpower

Our Superpower

When You are Afraid While I was in worship recently, the Director of Family Ministries invited the children to follow her to Sunday School. She had just delivered an engaging message upon which the rest of the morning promised to build. Near the chancel in the second...

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Tell Me a Story

Tell Me a Story

by Susan Young Thornton Yesterday I returned from a holiday trip to visit family in the Pacific Northwest. Snow, icy roads, and extended family travel delays prevented some of us from getting together. And apropos to the season, I was advised to return home by another...

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So Long, Farewell…

So Long, Farewell…

So many thoughts. How shall I say goodbye? Perhaps like this: a collection of tidbits, any of which might make a whole column in itself. At best, you can think of them as something like Luther’s Theses. Or maybe they’ll be more like Buddhist koans, and I’ll leave you...

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A Friend and Colleague

A Friend and Colleague

Forrest’s New Call You have all heard by now about Forrest’s new call to The Synod of the Trinity. For eight years Forrest has been a faithful Co-executive and Stated Clerk, serving our community with uncommon wisdom and expertise. His knowledge of Presbyterian polity...

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