PresbySpeak

Prayers of Our People on the Journey to the Cross

On January 18, 2018, the Presbytery gathered at Doylestown for their Stated Meeting. In honor of MLK Day, Leadership of the Presbytery recited Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream." May we never turn back.

This week we feature our presbytery's take on Minutes in Brief from our recent Stated Meeting hosted by the faithful of Doylestown Presbyterian Church. Our first go as a full-fledge hybrid meeting, roughly 70 gathered in person with another 70 or so convening online. Thanks to all who made that possible. This November meeting was full of sacred opportunities to gather together for important business matters, fellowship with one another safely in the midst of an on-going pandemic, and to worship as a reminder of the hope and light we find in being called the people of God and church of Jesus Christ. Among so many holy moments was the examination of Isaac Baah for Ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament, who will be ordained an installed as Pastor of the United Ghanaian Community Church in a few weeks. We also elected the next moderator and vice moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. Ted Mingle and Elder Zandra Maffett respectively, our commissioners and young adult advisory delegate called to represent us at next summer's General Assembly, and new members of committees and commissions in this body. We celebrated the ministry of outgoing Transitional Executive of the Synod of the Trinity, Rev. Susan Wonderland, our faithful attorney, Bill Bradbury, who is retiring after 23 years of work together, and recognized the ten-year anniversary of Elder Betsi Moise, our Website, Social Media, and Publications Manager, who has served this presbytery office and our people so well. Our Moderator of the Presbytery, Rev. Ashley Rossi, shared a report from the Leadership Collegium, which not only underscored the ongoing work of antiracism, but also acknowledged the abundance of ordinations and installations that have occurred this fall- a reminder the Spirit is alive and well in these sacred vocations. Our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, then called attention to the significant work and development of our Presbytery's Disaster Assistance response team after recent hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and more within in our region, and highlighted the launch of our Lilly Endowment-funded initiative, Cultivating Enough in the Care of Clergy, as we come alongside pastors serving our small congregations, congregations of color, and church plants/replants. The meeting concluded with a service of light, which hinged on seven meditations on Scripture from seven voices within our presbytery. We give thanks for their words and witness that assure us, as one preacher noted, as long as there is God, there is hope. What follows are these beautiful and relevant homilies by Revs. Wonjae Choi, Todd Stavrokos, Carla Jones Brown, John Wilkinson, Heidi Hankel, Randy Barge, and Susan Wonderland. We invite you to listen and share and find assurance that, as we say over and again, this is Christ's work that shapes our collective witness. Be well, faithful of Philly.

This year's Fall Fest was once again on-line and in a new format. Rather than workshops and breakout rooms, we gathered for a morning of learning alongside Rev. Paul Roberts as he spoke about “Leading in the Wilderness. Rev. Roberts recently led a gathering with our pastors participating in our Cultivating Enough in the Care of Clergy venture. Their conversations were so genuine and life-giving that many of members of our leadership wanted to extend a similar opportunity to our whole presbytery. Rev. Paul T. Roberts, Sr. Paul is the President of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, one of the 10 theological schools of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Paul preaches and teaches nationally, and is a contributing writer for the Presbyterian Outlook. He is an advisory board member for the Macedonian Ministry of Atlanta. He received degrees from Princeton University and Johnson C. Smith Seminary, and is an Academic Fellow of the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Celilgny, Switzerland. Lesson One “Moses at the Burning Bush” (Exodus 3:1–6) Lesson Two “Moses Called” (Exodus 3:7,10 paraphrase) Small Group Break Out (15 minutes) Have you ever asked “Why me, Lord?” What did you conclude? (15 minutes) Lesson Three “Moses Empowered” (Exodus 4:18a) Lesson Four “Ministry Is Complicated” (Exodus 18:5–18) Small Group Breakout (15 minutes) Moses had Jethro. Today we have technology. What resources do you have at your disposal that you can make better use of to support your wellbeing and your ministry? Lesson Five “Moses Witnesses God's Glory” (Exodus 33:17–23) Lesson Six “Shining Moses” (Exodus 34:29—31) Lesson Seven “Transfiguration Station” (Matthew 17:1 – 8)

We are pretty excited about the conversation we have for you on this episode. As many may know, one of our ecumenical ministries we have supported for over a decade has been the Welcome Church. An ecumenical worshipping community partnership of the local Lutheran Synod of Southeastern Pennsylvania and our Presbytery, Welcome Church especially hinges on ministry alongside people experiencing chronic street homelessness. We sat down with our own Rev. Schaunel Steinnegal, Associate of the Welcome Church, and Rev. Violet Little, founding minister of the Welcome Church. They shared a number of stories and we talked quite a bit about how their inclusive and empowering love of neighbor. However, we were most eager to share about their 2018 and 2021 Covenant Fund Initiative, Sanctuary Village, which is a Tiny Home project embraced by the City of Philadelphia that will be a vital and collaborative effort to provide housing and community to those presently unhoused. So lean in, God's Spirit is alive and well in and through these saints. Side note, if you are interested in collaborating with the Welcome Church, you can check out a helpful resource on this episode page or by visiting www.presbyphl.org and clicking Welcome Church on the Ministry Associations dropdown. Be well friends!

What we have for you today is a second episode featuring reflections from two pastors engaged in the Vital Congregations initiative. You can learn more about this church revitalization venture of the PCUSA and our 11 participating congregations at www.presbyphl.org and click Vital Congregations under our Ministry and Leadership incubator Tab.  So much good stuff is available there.  This week, Courtenay Willcox, moderator of what we call the VCI Discernment and Startegy Team, and I sat down over ZOOM with Rev. Cheryl Pyrch of Summit Presbyterian, and Rev. Peter Sulyok, Transitional Pastor of Carmel Presbyterian Church. Both of these congregations are uniquely exploring questions and curiosities related to congregational vitality that are sure to speak into your own ministries and musings about what it means to be the church of Jesus Christ. Also, stick around at the end of the episode as our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace offers once again a Blessing of Vitality for our congregations. Finally, before we go farther, a quick plug for our upcoming Fall Fest on Saturday Nov. 6. This year we will simplify this on-line leadership equipping event by welcoming Rev. Paul Roberts, President of the Johnson C Smith Seminary. Rev. Roberts will lead us in reflections on Leadership in the Wilderness. More information is available on our website under the tab News and Events. We hope to see you there!

This week we have a gem of a conversation with Rev. Gadiel Gomez and Pillar Gomez-Cortes of Iglesia Central in Norristown. This congregation serves as an incredible witness in their community, embodying holistic and intergenerational ministry as a Matthew 25 congregation. Whether they are discipling youth through a leadership and spiritual formation academy, extending pastoral care to congregants and neighbors who have immigrated to this nation and face a number of challenges, annual baptism celebrations or festivals in the parking lot, and hosting Bible studies that also collect offerings to distribute to those facing a number of personal and financial challenges, this congregation is Spirit-filled and a faithful extension of our Presbytery. Iglesia Central is also our only predominantly Spanish-speaking congregation, which is especially relevant as we lean into Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month. And given the numerous nations represented in their congregation, our recent conversation is sure to remind us of the sacred and sending and universal call of Christ's table. So, listen in as Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace and Rev. Greg Klimovitz talk with Rev. Gadiel and Pillar.

We are back for the fall with a lineup of conversations and stories we hope will encourage you all as you continue to be expressions of the gospel in your communities throughout Greater Philadelphia. To start the new season of PresbySpeak, each of the next three months we will feature reflections from pastors and leaders engaged in the Vital Congregations initiative. You can learn more about this church revitalization venture of the PCUSA at www.presbyphl.org and click Vital Congregations under our Ministry and Leadership incubator Tab. So much good stuff is available there. This week we begin with Rev. Anna Grant-Borden of Mt. Airy and Rev. Peter Ahn of Olivet Covenant. Also, stick around at the end of the episode as our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace offers a Blessing of Vitality for our congregations.

After nearly 18-months of virtual gatherings, the Presbytery of Philadelphia convened once again for an in-person Stated Meeting at the beautiful Kirkwood Camp and Retreat Center in the Poconos. God's Spirit moved in and through the over 150 people who safely gathered for worship and work on this hot Saturday in July. As we leaned into the meeting, we began with a video montage to remember how these sacred grounds served countless children, youth, and adults in their spiritual formation for over 60 years. We then paused to honor the indigenous Lenni Lenape peoples, to whom this land belonged long before Presbyterians set foot in the region. While this marked the end of an era for our Presbytery's ministry at Kirkwood, as the camp is presently up for sale, the Stated Meeting was also an opportunity to reaffirm our identity and celebrate in the midst of the grief and loss.   There were many reasons to rejoice at this Stated Meeting. What follows are the uncut reports from both our Moderator, Rev. Ashley Rossi, and our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace and the profound and faithful word delivered by our guest Preacher, Rev. Dr. David Davis, who serves as the pastor of Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, NJ. Music as performed and led by Dan Myers, Praise and Worship Director at the First Presbyterian Church of Ambler. More info and media from gathering: https://presbyphl.org/july-17-stated-meeting-minutes-in-brief/

A sermon delivered at the July 17, 2021 Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. Text: Romans 8:18-27

There has been so much emphasis over the last twelve months on adaptive ministry, pastoral care, and how to engage safely our congregations and communities in the midst of all things COVID-19. When it comes to the impact of this pandemic on mental and spiritual health, youth of our churches and neighborhoods are among the most impacted. This has warranted an intentional shift in approaches to youth ministry in efforts to care for our youngest neighbors and church members who have experienced significant isolation, digital fatigue, and even increased awareness related to the intersection of socio-political and religious questions. In this episode of PresbySpeak and Conversation at the Well, we listen into leaders serving in diverse youth ministry contexts in our presbytery as they share their learnings, leanings, and how they have pivoted their approaches to discipleship alongside teenagers. Our specials guests today are Elder Contina Lee Lundy, who serves as Director of the Freedom School at First Presbyterian Church of Germantown, Rev. Alex Evangelista, Associate Pastor at Swsarthmore Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Brian Russo, Associate Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. Our conversation facilitator was Vice Moderator of the Presbytery and pastor of Lower Providence Presbyterian Church, Rev. Ted Mingle.

Ministry often pulls pastors in between the two polar opposites, the fear of scarcity and the obsession with abundance. Over the last few years, our Presbytery has intentionally worked to cut through these debilitating narratives and come alongside pastors with a third way as alternative, cultivating a theology of enough. The Scriptures are saturated in stories, proverbs, psalms, and parables that remind us God has provided all we need to participate in the rhythm of life dreamed up in the very beginnings. Even Jesus' prayer teaches us to pray not for abundance, but daily bread. In the fall of 2020, yes, at the height of the pandemic, we received word that our application for a five-year, million-dollar grant through the Lily Endowment's Thriving in Ministry program was approved. We could not have been more grateful, aware that what we were imagining would especially serve our pastors in small churches, communities of color, and church plants/replants so very well as they navigated ministry in these especially trying and despairing times. The aim of the initiative will hinge or caring for clergy as whole people, to remind them they are enough and beloved children of God- not merely producers in this ecclesiastical machine. What follows is a conversation with the newly hired director of the program and longtime member of this presbytery, Rev. Sarah Colwill. You can read more about her on the website: https://presbyphl.org/cultivating-enough-in-the-care-of-clergy/

It is no secret that the last fifteen months have posed an abundance of challenges and questions for the church related to how we gather, worship, and care for one another when our buildings are closed and in-person gatherings are not feasible and/or limited. But we would be foolish if we thought 2020 and 2021 were not also opportunities for the faithful to ask questions related to the intersection of the gospel, congregational witness, and the socio-political realities that deeply impact our neighbors, communities, and larger nation and world in our time and place. As the Confession of 1967 reminds us, "Wherever the church exists, its members are both gathered in corporate life and dispersed in society for the sake of God's mission in the world." On this week's episode we are thrilled to have with us as a special guest, Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, who models this call so very well and whose ministry is to help us discern what this might look like. The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins is the Director of the PCUSA Office of Public Witness, which has recently merged with the PCUSA Office to the United Nations. Before accepting the role of Director for the Office of Public Witness, Rev. Hawkins served as pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in New Hope Presbytery. He previously served as the yoked pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Holmes Memorial and Trinity Presbyterian in Peaks Presbytery. He has a background in the area of youth ministry as a program director of Presbyterian Camps in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as campus ministry intern for Salem Presbytery. Rev. Hawkins’ denominational service includes serving on committees of the PC(USA) including as GA and synod commissioner, as well as presbytery committees and administrative commissions. His community advocacy includes serving as a leader for the Moral Monday Movement since its start in 2013. He is a member of the NC NAACP Executive Committee and has advocated on issues of social justice before congressional and state legislative leadership. We could go on...but it's best to just sit back and listen to this gem of an episode as you and your congregation discern your voice for public witness. **This episode was originally a ZOOM webinar through our monthly "Conversation at the Well." You can check out the video on our Facebook page or on our YouTube Channel.

This past week the Presbytery of Philadelphia gathered for our spring stated meeting. There was so much goodness wrapped up with in this sacred gathering. We sustained an examination for yet another candidate for ordained ministry; our Leadership Collegium report highlighted various ways our congregations, ministries, and leaders throughout the region have embodied the gospel in this most-challenging, strenuous, and soul-searching season; the executive team underscored the bravery of our people who dare to practice resurrection hope, seminarians in our ministry and leadership incubator whose questions and courageous witness continues to hold space for innovation and creativity, our 11 churches participating in the Vital Congregations Initiative that are being revitalized by the waters of baptism, and how we continue to expand our digital platforms as a means of grace and support one another in the midst of the pandemic. The Covenant Fund was also launched again to steward grant dollars for relevant ministry and a Lilly Endowment grant has led to the recent hire of Rev. Sarah Colwill to direct our Cultivating Enough in the care of Clergy. Friends, the Spirit is alive and well in this Presbytery. Yet, what follows is the Keynote address from the Rev.Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr. Rev. Dr. Aloyo, Jr. serves as the Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity and Community Engagement and has been the primary facilitator of conversations on antiracism with our Presbytery's Leadership Collegium, which will lead to broader engagement throughout the Presbytery in the months ahead. Stay tuned. In addition to a brief devotional as a part of the worship service, Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr. keynoted in the business meeting on Life Shattered/Life Restored, reflecting on the Emmaus road story and the faithful questions of life lived after the resurrection. Listen in to this powerful word to all of us. If interested in more related to this meeting, other episodes of PresbySpeak, or upcoming gatherings, resources, and connectional content, check us out on the web, facebook, twitter, instagram, or any of your favorite podcasting platforms. Grace and Peace saints of this Presbytery and beyond. https://presbyphl.org/events/april-20-2021-stated-meeting/ Music performed and provided by Paul Lee, member of Podowon Presbyterian Church. "What a Beautiful Name: Break Every Chain."

This past week our Conversation at the Well was facilitated by the Commission on Ministry. This commission of the Presbytery, commonly referred to as COM, is a primary vehicle for the collaboration, communication, support, strategizing, and equipping of our congregations. As churches leverage their unique work and relevant leadership structures for the sake of gospel witness in their time and place, COM is a primary partner.  This week, Elder Jim Ballengee and Rev. Kari Olson, Moderator and Vice Moderator of COM respectively, talked with pastoral leaders through our Presbytery on the topic, Moving Forward in Faith and Hope. They mused about how churches are leaning into this next season of worship, fellowship, and ministry in the midst of the pandemic. Our guests featured:  - Rev. Jason Grimes, Ardmore - Rev. Ethelyn Taylor, Oxford - Rev. Baron Mullis, First Philadelphia - Rev. Karen Nelson, Marple Elder Susan Christensen, member of COM, also shared about recent surveys related to congregational responses in the midst of the pandemic. Listen in to this uncut audio from this past week's Conversation at the Well. Also, exciting news for podcasting geeks! PresbySpeak is now available on both Spotify and Google Play. That's right four platforms for all-things PResbytery of Philadelphia stories, resources, and interactions with leaders from around this great city and across the country. Give us a follow or subscribe. More info at www.presbyphl.org/presbyspeak

Last Saturday, eleven of our congregations gathered virtually with leaders from our Presbytery for a worship and sending service as we launch our Vital Congregations venture. An initiative of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), these congregations are entering into a communal pilgrimage as they discern where and how the Spirit of God is breathing fresh possibilities and renewed capacity to embody the Good News of Jesus Christ. The service was themed, revitalized by the waters of baptism, entering into the sacred and sending waters once again. Our guest preacher was the Rev. Carlton Johnson, Asssociate for Vital Congregations. Be sure to listen in and consider sharing this word with your congregations as you remember your own baptism that has begotten you for worship, work, and revitalized witness near and far. If interested in learning more, check out www.presbyphl.org/ministry-incubator/vital-congregations.

This past week we welcomed Lisa Allgood as the featured guest for a Conversation at the Well. Lisa is not only the Executive Presbyter in the Presbytery of Cincinnati, but also a trained immunologist. In the midst of all things COVID-19, Lisa's wisdom and expertise has proved pivotal in the work alongside churches as we navigate not only safety related to our gatherings and public health, but also in how we consider what all of this means as disciples of Jesus in this difficult and despairing and confusing time. Our conversation was titled, "Viruses, Vaccines, Variants, O My," and was loaded with all kinds of solid information that should be listened to over and again and shared with your congregations. Our hope and prayer is that this episode would further equip the faithful throughout the Presbytery to live into love through wise and safe actions as we lean into year two of this pandemic.

In this episode, we feature the many movements of stories shared at our recent Celebration of African American Presbyterian Heritage. Anchored by Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator of the National Committee for the Self-Development of People, this gathering of worship, song, and sankofa, reached back into the history of Black Presbyterianism as we move forward into our call as the church of Jesus Christ in our time and place. In addition to Rev. Dr. Johnson, we also heard from Rev. Dr. Janel Dixon and Rev. Ethelyn Taylor, co-moderators of the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, and our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace. As a Presbytery committed to empowering Christ's work through our collective witness, we continue to value the varied nature of our churches that have shaped our incarnations of the gospel for over 300 years. Listen now and and lean into our story and song as testified to by Black Presbyterians past and present.

This week’s episode was a good one. We welcomed as our guest , Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, national coordinator of the Self-Development of People, and Rev. Todd Stavrakos, moderator of our presbytery’s local SDOP committee. SDOP is a vital extension of PCUSA work and witness in the areas of economic justice, poverty alleviation, and liberation from various manifestations of systemic oppression. Supporting ecumenical grassroots movements to empower our neighbors for over fifty years, our Presbytery was the first to leverage a local committee of our own. This episode offers a chance not only to learn about this work, but also to consider how you can learn from and collaborate with SDOP as you lean into your own local and ecumenical partnerships as a reminder and shameless plug, The work of SDOP is supported by the Special Offerings and One Great Hour of Sharing. In addition, March 14th is Self-Development of People Sunday. We invite you to lift up in your congregations the many ways SDOP empowers movements and works towards a more just and equitable society that mirrors God’s dreams for the world. More information can be found on our website: www.presbyphl.org/leadership/committees/sdop You can also learn more about how our Presbytery’s committee distributed $17,000 of grants on your behalf two organizations, one which empowers women who are re-entering society after a period of incarceration and another that provides nutrition services to children and youth in Southwest Philly.

A Minister Member and child of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, Rev. Dr. Margaret Grun Kibben was recently sworn in as the first woman to serve as chaplain to the United States House of Representatives. Rev. Dr. Kibben was the preacher for our January 23, 2021 Stated Meeting and Service of Light as part of opening worship. The Scripture readings from before the service are from the Old and New Testaments and delivered by seven voices from within the Presbytery.

On this week's episode we are beyond grateful to share our recent Pastoral Roundtable Conversation on Anti-Racism, a pre-presbytery event in conjunction with the January Stated Meeting. Facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, Associate Dean for Institutional Diversity and Community Engagement at Princeton Theological Seminary, this roundtable was attended by over forty  leaders around the presbytery who are venturing into this critical conversation within their congregations.  We invite you to listen in and even share with your communities, then stay tuned for future opportunities to continue this conversation that moves beyond a training program and, as Rev. Dr. Aloyo reminds us, is deeply integrated in our spiritual formation and Christian discipleship.

In 2018, minister members of our presbytery read the full text of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream Speech," as the sermon for the January Stated Meeting. Readers: Rev. Dr. Janel T. Dixon Rev. Raymond Bonwell Rev. Wonjae Choi Rev. Sameh Shaker Rev. Austin Shelley Rev. Randy Barge Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace Rev. Kevin Porter

2020 is now in the rear view mirror, yet the call to lean into what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ remains vital, especially as we continue to navigate the challenges of congregational life, revitalized witness, and discerning imaginative possibilities to live into the gospel within and beyond the walls of our buildings. That said, we decided to begin the New Year with reflections from leaders of our presbytery who have been pivotal in our Presbytery's launch of the Vital Congregations Initiative of the PCUSA as we talk Gospel Possibilities and Congregational Vitality. Note: what follows is not an ad for participation in this two-year venture in which eleven of our congregations are intentionally pilgrimaging through together. Instead, we wanted to take time to share what we have found beneficial at the beginnings of our journey that could be life-giving for all our churches and related ministries as they discern where and how the Spirit is calling them to discern, dream, and vision what it means to bear witness to the gospel in their unique location and ministry season. If interested, you can learn more about the Vital Congregations initiative on our website, www.presbyphl.org and under the Ministry and Leadership Incubator Tab: https://presbyphl.org/ministry-incubator/vital-congregations/

On this Christmas, presbytery staff reads poem by late Madeline L'Engle, "First Coming." May Christ meet you in the madness of all that is and has been and yet to be.

In a surreal way, we have already arrived at the fourth Sunday of Advent. The liturgical candle of love is lit in living rooms and kitchen tables, makeshift chapels and on zoom screens in worship. Wherever you are in need of encountering the love of Jesus this day, we pray you find it. We also give thanks for the ways our churches and related ministries live into this same love come down. This week, as we wrap up our Advent series, we hear from our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace. We invite you to listen as she shares about where fear and hope meet, based on a reading from Luke 1:26-38. Grateful for Found Wandering, who graciously provided their music throughout Advent. Check them out on www.foundwandering.com

This week we feature a bonus episode for Advent as our Moderator, Vijay Aggarwal, facilitated a conversation with our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, Vide Moderator, Rev. Ashley Rossi,  Convener of our Cultiviating Enough in the Care of Clergy initiative, Rev. Larissa Kwong-Abazia, and yours truly. We talked a bit about Rest in a Season of Waiting. Aware of the unique challenges posed by the last year, the increased energies and demands of the liturgical season, and yet the real call to practice a discipline of rest and self-care, this twenty-five-minute conversation proved timely and sacred. Listen in and then consider how the Spirit is nudging you to rest in this season of waiting and wondering and longing for the presence of Christ. Quick note of celebration; Our presbytery has recently been awarded a grant through the Lilly Endowment to leverage a five-year initiative called Cultivating Enough in the Care of Clergy. We are excited about the ways we will be able to walk alongside ministers in small congregations, churches in communities of color, and church plants and replants. Stay tuned for more details and read more about this venture at www.presbyphl.org under the tab marked Ministry and Leadership Incubator. Music for this episode provided by Found Wandering, "On This Day Earth Shall Ring" (2016). www.foundwandering.com

This Sunday we light the third candle for joy and, as is custom for many, we remember Mary the Mother of Jesus. Joy may be a tough find these days, much like a candle in the night. But joy is more than an emotion, it is a faithful perspective that carries us forward. We are grateful for the ways our churches illuminate this joy in our time and place. This week, we invite you to listen in to reflections on Luke 1:46-56 and Mary’s Magnificat as shared by our Associate Presbyter, Rev. Greg Klimovitz.

Week 2 of Advent is upon us and as we light our candles of peace, we linger still in the longing for God’s dreams of peace to break into our reality once and for all. We continue to lift in prayer the saints of this presbytery, along with our siblings of the faith near and far. May you experience the peace of Christ this season in whatever way your spirit covets and craves. As we continue our weekly meditations on Scripture, we are grateful that this week we hear from the Moderator of our Presbytery, Elder Vijay Aggarwal. Vijay is a member of the Wayne Presbyterian Church and has been a faithful leader and visionary for our Presbytery, especially in this very difficult and obscure year. We invite you to listen in as Vijay reflects on the lectionary gospel for this Sunday, which comes to us from Mark 1:1-8. Blessed Advent. Music for this episode provided by Found Wandering, "Lo How A Rose E're Blooming" (2015). www.foundwandering.com

Believe it or not, Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. We have been through so much in 2020, whether the pandemic of COVID-19, the increased reality of systemic racism, financial challenges and insecurities, and the pressures of adapting to the increasings needs of a digital world, a four-week season of waiting may feel, well, a bit pastorally insensitive. We have been waiting long enough. Still, the liturgical season, even more so the good news of Jesus Christ, meets us and reminds us that God is with us in and through it all. For the next four weeks, our abbreviated episodes will feature reflections from our Presbytery leaders as they mull over the lectionary gospel texts as they intersect with a time such as this. I invite to listen in now as we hear first from our Stated Clerk, the Rev. Kevin Porter, as he reflects on Mark 13:24-37. Music for this episode provided by Found Wandering, "Lo How A Rose E're Blooming" (2015). https://www.foundwandering.com

On this episode of PresbySpeak we share excerpts from the recent Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. The sermon delivered by Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia, Vice Moderator of the 221st General Assembly (2014) and current Convener of our Cultivating Enough in the Care of Clergy. The sermon is followed by the executive staff report shared with the Presbytery through the Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace (Executive Presbyter), Rev. Greg Klimovitz (Associate Presbyter), and Rev. Kevin Porter (Stated Clerk). Our next Stated Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. More details to come! Be well saints of in and around Philly. Audio backdrop is "Rise Up" (Cover)by the African Gospel Choir Dublin Virtual Choir: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj7cEVtkWFk

This week we continue our fall Conversations at the Well as we hear from three of our four seminarians participating in our Ministry and Leadership Incubator. The Ministry and Leadership Incubator is a partnership with Princeton Theological Seminary that connects up to six seminary students with three local congregations, ideally two students per site. Seminary students are mentored at the congregational level and nurtured and coached within a peer cohort facilitated by executive leadership within the Presbytery. This cohort gathers three times per semester to talk about relevant issues facing the church, explore vocational discernment, and develop pertinent leadership skills for ministry in the 21st century. During the eight-month program, seminary students, local congregations, and presbytery leadership work in partnership to exegete their neighborhoods, discover their unique gifts as individuals and faith community, design and experiment with contextualized ministries of empathy, face challenges and risk failure, and live into their call as the next generation of Christian leaders. Since 2015, we have partnered with 17 of our congregations and 31 Princeton Seminarians. You can learn more about this initiative at: https://presbyphl.org/ministry-incubator/seminary-partnerships/ In today’s conversation, we talked with Beth Putney (serving alongside Rev. Kari Olson at East Falls Presbyterian Church), Reni John (Serving alongside Rev. Anna Grant-Borden at Mt Airy Presbyterian Church), and Yujin Cho (Serving alongside Rev. Kris Shondelmeyer at The Presbyterian Church in Deep Run) . Carlos Acosta is also serving at Deep Run, but was unable to join us for the call- he has been a gift to us as well! Listen in now to how these gifted seminarians have been asking faithful questions, exploring revitalized possibilities, and are dreaming about what it can look like to be the Church of Jesus Christ in our time and place.

This week we continue our fall Conversations at the Well: Reflecting on Christ’s Work through Our Faithful Witness. We have all had a fair share of invitations to webinars on the struggles we face related to COVID-19, and they are real, exhausting, and devastating to so many. That said, we wanted to take a moment to listen into to how congregations have risen up to the occasion as people of hope, leveraging their faithful imaginations and empathy to continue to discern neighborly love in this time of distancing. I love what was said by one of our pastors in our previous episode on urban hunger and homelessness- shameless plug to go back and listen to that gem of a conversation at the well. It was said that we need to find ways to get next to our neighbor, maybe not physically but in ways that still assure that God is with them and loves them and hears their cries and concerns. This week we are joined by three pastors in the suburbs serving various congregations who have found ways to lovingly get next to their neighbors in solidarity and with great intentionality. Listen in to the uncut audio from our recent webinar facilitated by our Moderator, Vijay Aggarwal, as he ZOOMED with Revs. Rachel Rhodes of Morrisville Presbyterian Church, Tim Dooner of Valley Forge Presbyterian Church, and Stephanie Templin Ashford of Thomposn Memorial Presbyterian Church.

This week we continue our fall Conversations at the Well: Reflecting on Christ’s Work through Our Faithful Witness. In this episode you are going to want to grab a pen and paper to take notes, because the wisdom and insights of the four ministry leaders is pure gold, better said, a refreshing witness to the Living Water found in Christ as we talk about urban hunger and homelessness in the midst of the pandemic. We are so grateful for their ministry from Southwest Philly to West Kensington, Chester to the Center City Parkway. Theses faithful imagineers of possibilities will introduce themselves in a bit. If you want to learn more, be sure to visit us on the web at www.presbyphl.org/convversations-at-the-well. West Kensington Ministry: Rev. Adan Mairena https://westkensingtonministry.com The Welcome Church: Rev. Schaunel Steinnagel https://thewelcomechurch.org/ The Common Place/Salt and Light Church: Rev. Chris Holland http://www.thecommonplacephilly.org Chester Eastside Ministry, Inc.: Rev. Zuline Wilkinson https://chestereastside.org

As we lean into the fall season of ministry, our presbytery leadership thought it would be good to pivot a bit in regards to how we tell the stories of our churches and related ministries. Instead of writing alone, we wanted to expand upon our podcast platform and directly hear from those imagining and incarnating ministry in these challenging times. We deeply miss the human connection of those gathered and scattered around the Presbytery, so we are taking our previously known Covenant Connections virtual and primarily onto our PresbySpeak podcast platform. Even more, we are building on the summer series CyberPsalm Cafe and leaning into what we are calling, Conversations at the Well: Reflecting on Chrsit’s Work through Our Faithful Witness. Our hope is to spur one another on, in the words of the writer of Hebrews, towards love and good deeds. And the sacred space where stories have been shared throughout Scripture has been at the well where we find the living water in Christ to sustain us. That said, our first conversation will be musings with our moderator, Vijay Aggarwal and Vice Moderator Rev. Ashley Rossi as they join our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana Grace and Stated Clerk, Rev. Kevin Porter.

We give thanks to God for yet another faithful gathering of the Presbytery of Philadelphia at our recent virtual stated meeting on July 18, 2020. Over 175 individuals logged onto ZOOM or viewed through Facebook LIVE. As a part of the meeting, we examined two candidates for ordination, Timothy Wotring and Alex Evangelista, both whom were approved to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. We also heard from commissions and committees serving our presbytery, gave reports on how we are coming alongside our congregations in the midst of challenges posed by COVID-19, and heard from our Executive Staff about the last seven months of ministry together. Check out our YouTube channel for videos shared during this time. However, a major highlight was our Commissioners and Young Adult Advisory Delegate to the 224th General Assembly leading the faithful in worship and reporting on where they saw the Spirit at work in this year’s virtual assembly. What follows are the full and unedited reflections from our stated meeting. Our commissioners will now serve as the Committee on Bills and Overtures for the next two years. Please lift them in prayer. You can check out their interviews and blogposts during the Assembly and read their bios here: https://presbyphl.org/general-assembly-commissioners-blog/ Ministers of Word and Sacrament: Rev. Anna Grant-Borden (Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church) Rev. Pam McShane (Tree of Life Church) Rev. Leah Miller (The Anchor Church) Rev. Todd Stavrakos (Gladwyne Presbyterian Church) Elders: Elder Megan Acedo (Beacon Church) Elder Eck Gerner (Swarthmore Presbyterian Church) Elder Lois Adele Hayman-El (West Philadelphia Presbyterian Partnership) Elder Lloyd Higgins (Oxford Presbyterian Church) Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD): William “Will” Gillespie (Wayne Presbyterian Church) Side note: As we continue to discern possibilities in the midst of both the pandemic of COVID-19 and the pervasive realities of systemic racism, we are reminded over and again of the courage and care that is expended by our congregations and ministry leaders as incarnations of Gospel Hope. You are in our prayers. You have indeed demonstrated energy, intelligence, imagination, and love as you serve the people. May God continue to move in and through you, assured it is Christ’s work that forms and sustains our witness.

Welcome to PresbySpeak, the Podcast of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, This week marks our final episode in a series we have titled, CyberPsalmCafe: PresbySpeak for a Time Such as This. We have covered a lot, from frontline workers and chaplains to safety measures, youth and childrens ministry to courageous conversations on race. You can check out all of these past episodes on-line and the videos are available on Facebook, Youtube, and our website at www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalm. As we wrap up this series and make space to envision what conversations might be helpful for the fall, we thought it would be good to talk Congregational Creativity in a Season of Caution. As Pennsylvania moves to green and explores how to adapt in the midst of recovery as we continue to live into this reality of pandemic life that is far from over, we brought together a panel of ministers who are are thoughtfully, carefully, and faithfully exploring how to be the church in this season and days ahead. Listen in as we hear from Revs. Diane Fitch, Randy Barge, Ryan Balsan, and Carla Jones Brown. Quick plug: this weekend also marks the end of the virtual gathering of the 224th General Assembly. Originally scheduled to be hosted by the Presbytery of Baltimore, our delegation of nine has been participating on-line as the Presbyterian Church conducts only essential business but also leans into what it means to be a connectional church as we bear witness to the gospel in our time and place, near and far. Be sure to listen to Conversations with Our commissioners on previous episodes and continue to lift them in prayer. We will hear more from them at our July Stated Meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 18th.

This past week we have enjoyed these conversations with our commissioners as we hear from our delegation to the 224th General Assembly. Typically, by Thursday of GA we would have engaged some significant work, wrapped up committee work, anticipated our final plenary sessions on Friday, and been moving towards a closing worship. Instead, the agenda has been skeletal and Friday and Saturday will mark the only days of real business. It will begin, however, with worship at 11 a.m. and we invite you to join us on livestream at www.ga-pcusa.org or on the Spirit of GA Facebook Page. There you can also check out previous videos of misison and ministry partners, bible studies, and more. We also invite you to pray for the newly-elected co-moderators, Elder Elona Street-Stewart and Rev. Gregory Bentley as well as the election of the Stated Clerk of the OGA, currently held by the Rev. Dr. J Herbert Nelson. For now, enjoy these three faithful servants, two commissioners, Rev. Pam McShane and Lloyd Higgins, and Young Adult Advisory Delegate, William Gillespie.

Grateful you are here to join us as we hear from our commissioners once again. As they continue to serve as a part of our delegation to the 224th General Assembly, we are grateful for how they have served on our behalf virtually even though originally scheduled for Baltimore. You can check out some of the updates as to what has transpired thus far at www.ga-pcusa.org. We also encourage you to check on on the Spirit of GA Facebook page to see the recent streams of stories and initiatives partnering with and supported by this year’s assembly, to include the Poor People’s Campaign and the Youth Rising Coalition through the Presbytery of Baltimore and this year’s Hand’s and Feet Initiative. These young entrepreneurs are impacting Charm City in profound ways. The offering collected at GA is supporting this movement. See also previous conversations with our commissioners and a blogpost, too: https://presbyphl.org/general-assembly-commissioners-blog/ or on our PresbySpeak Podcast on both iTunes and So0undCloud.

This weekend was a historic, unique, and all in all faithful virtual gathering of the 224th General Assembly. We are grateful for our commissioners and young adult advisory delegate who represented us well, albeit over ZOOM versus in Baltimore. One of the major highlights, the Assembly elected co-moderators Elder Elona Street-Stewart and Rev. Gregory Bentley. On a deeply historic note, Elona is the first indigenous person to serve in this roll and we are grateful for how this pair will serve the church and shape the vision for the next two years of gospel witness in such a time as this. We are grateful in this video to hear from two of our commissioners, Elder Megan D. Acedo (Beacon Church) and Rev. Todd Stavrokos (Gladwyne Presbyterian Church). More details on GA224: https://presbyphl.org/the-224th-general-assembly/

In 2015, our Presbytery began a year-long venture in what we called Courageous Conversations on Race, Bias, and Privilege. We knew then that our commitment was rooted in our collective call as disciples of Jesus Christ to love God and love neighbor. We also knew we were building upon the work of the many saints before us, entering into the work alongside saints in our time and place, and would need these conversations to continue well into the future. Needless to say, we have regularly reengaged these courageous conversations as racism, along with many other isms of our day, continue to impede upon the wellbeing of our neighbors and each of us in 2020. That said, in light of the ongoing killings of African Americans, to include George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery among others, and the recent marches, protests, rallies, and vigils intended to affirm black lives matter and demand the dismantiling of racism that plagues our neighborhoods, faith communities, systems, institutions, governments, and law enforcement, we rebooted our fishbowl conversation from 2015 with a new wave of panelists. These panelists represent both ministers of color and ministers who are white as we once again enter into a courageous conversation, asking together, what does the Lord require of us? May this be your question, too. And may you live into the response in word and deed as a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Panelists: Rev. Kevin Porter, Rev. Eustacia Moffett Marshall, Rev. Wonjae Choi, Rev. Adan Mairena, Rev. Baron Mullis, Rev. Samantha Hudson, and Rev. Casey Thompson. Moderated by our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace. Opening Prayer by the Moderator of our Presbytery, Elder Vijay Aggarwal. More episodes of our CyberPsalm Cafes: PresbySpeak in a Time Such as This: www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalm. Interested in 2015 conversations on Race, Bias, and Privilege: https://presbyphl.org/race-bias-privilege/

In memory of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other victims of Racial Violence, African American pastors and other leaders of our Presbytery gathered to pray, meditate, reflect on Scripture, and pause for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Below are links to the gathering if you would like to use in your congregations. The video of the vigil and other links can be found here: https://presbyphl.org/title-breathe-on-us-breath-of-god-a-virtual-prayer-vigil/

This week we bring you an important and heart-wrenching conversation with four of our local chaplains serving on the frontlines in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic: Revs. Kathy Hecht, Sameh Shaker, Tom Summers, and Marcie Brozyna. As we have checked in on them and many others, beloved members of our presbytery and validated ministers whose ministry of compassion, pastoral care, and presence in the midst of calls for distance, the vitality of their witness has been proven over and again. We know one of the challenges of this virus and pandemic is the unknown. The mandate to stay home can make the suffering of our neighbors harder to grasp and thereby difficult to know how best to respond, even to question if what we are doing is working or the right thing. Our hope and prayer is that by hearing the stories of these courageous saints among us, they would become your eyes and ears and affirm once again that the best way to love and care for your neighbor is to adhere to the precautions of social distancing, mask wearing, handwashing, and more. So listen now from these disciples of Jesus serving as chaplains among us. Then take a moment, or five and ten moments, to pray for them and those under their care.

Rev. Eustacia Moffett Marshall sang Amazing Grace as a part of the conclusion of worship for the Presbytery of Philadelphia's first virtual stated meeting, May 16, 2020.

This week we bring to you excerpts from our first-ever virtual stated meeting of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, moderated by our Moderator Elder Vijay Aggarwal of Wayne Presbyterian Church and Vice Moderator Rev. Ashley Rossi of Carmel Presbyterian Church. Yes, while the distance feels great as this pandemic has caused us not to be able to gather in person, our people have risen up and over 225 gathered on-line for worship, work, and witness as a gathered and scattered people throughout Greater Philadelphia. What follows is the Meditation titled “What Time Is It?,” offered by our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana Grace and Stated Clerk, Rev. Kevin Porter. We also have musical selections from Rev. Eustacia Moffett Marshall and Rev. Peter Ahn. We hope you enjoy this abbreviated Stated Meeting as you continue to hold tightly to the hope we have as the church of Jesus Christ, bearing witness to the gospel in a time such as this. Hear now the Scripture readings from Rev. Ken Ross and Cheryl Pyrch. More information on this gathering: https://presbyphl.org/events/may-16th-2020-digital-stated-mtg/ Minutes in Brief can be found here: https://presbyphl.org/may-16-2020-stated-meeting-re-cap/ View the video shared at the end of the Stated Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7DUI0dAi70

This week’s Cyber Psalm Café topic is Trauma Matters, aware that each of is not only navigating how to care for and shepherd our congregations and God’s people in the midst of this pandemic, but also navigating our own self-care as we endure trauma ourselves. We are grateful to have as our guest, Bob Stice, a licensed psycho therapist and member of the Credo faculty of the Board of Pensions. Bob comes to us with a specialty in trauma and is the director of the behavioral health agency in Albuquerque, which is the primary mental health provider for the University of New Mexico Hospital and level I trauma center in the state. We also will hear from three of our own local pastors, Rev. Tom Summers, chaplain at Rydal Park (a Presby’s Inspired Life Community), Rev. Carla Jones Brown, pastor and head of staff at Arch Street Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Steve Morganti, the pastor of Concord LIberti Presbyterian Church.

This week we hosted a digital Call to the Table and Prayer for Holy Week. Instead of gathering for conversations about the nuts and bolts of ministry in such a time as this, we hit pause and invited the faithful of our presbytery to join in a virtual meditation of the stations of the cross, musical selections, and a a chance to participate in communion together. As you listen in, may this unconventional service and the elements of Christ’s table sustain you for the uncertainty of these days and the days to come. Side note: Our CyberPsalm Cafe will take a break for the next two weeks and will return on April 28th. Stay tuned. We plan to offer this series of our PresbySpeak podcast regularly, albeit not weekly. Blessings this Holy Week. A special thanks to our guest musician, Rev. Eustacia Marshall, and liturgists: Vijay Aggarwal, Revs. Ashley Rossi, Casey Thompson, Adam Hearlson, Carla Jones Brown, Jade King Bass, Laura Colee, and Susan Wonderland. View this service at www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalmcafe

This week we hosted our third episode of our brief series in light of COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) called CyberPsalm Cafe. Each Tuesday at 2 p.m. on both ZOOM and Facebook LIVE, leaders from our Presbytery have hosted an organic conversation as we remain connectional people during the quarantines and social distancing. CyberPsalm Café is a chance to enter into the laments and hopes that is the ambiguous season and find God together in the midst of it all. These conversations include some of our pastors and presbyterian leaders who will reflect on how they are encountering and practicing the presence of Christ in such a time as this along with recommended resources available in various places. Each thirty-minute or so LIVE chat will also be available as weekly episodes on our Youtube channel and our PresbySpeak podcast via SoundCloud and iTunes. Interested in sharing how you are seeing this at work in your congregation, ministry, and wider community? Share with us on our page www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalm. This week we welcomed Rev. Dr. Mark DeVries, veteran youth ministry practitioner and educator and founder of Ministry Architects. Our conversation focused on how to with children and youth in this time of pandemic. It is no secret that there is a great challenge for all our churches is we walking alongside parents and others talk about this inexplicable reality that has neighbors not playing with neighbors and children not able to hug their grandparents. As a part of this conversation we also heard from our own Revs. Josh Gill, Jiuen Lee, and Adan Mairena. Be sure to join us next Tuesday at 2 p.m. for our Holy Week Call to the Table and Prayer. This will be a chance for all of us to gather for a brief service of prayer, communion, and meditation as we lean into the unfolding story from basin to table to cross to empty tomb. For you expending yourself for others this week, this is a chance for you to just come and be. See you then. Prayers your way.

This week we hosted our second episode of our new platform in light of COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) called CyberPsalm Cafe. Each Tuesday at 2 p.m. on both ZOOM and Facebook LIVE, leaders from our Presbytery will host an organic conversation as we remain connectional people during the quarantines and social distancing. CyberPsalm Café is a chance to enter into the laments and hopes that is the ambiguous season and find God together in the midst of it all. These conversations will include some of our pastors and presbyterian leaders who will reflect on how they are encountering and practicing the presence of Christ in such a time as this along with recommended resources available in various places. Each thirty-minute or so LIVE chat will also be available as weekly episodes on our Youtube channel and our PresbySpeak podcast via SoundCloud and iTunes. Interested in sharing how you are seeing this at work in your congregation, ministry, and wider community? Share with us on our page www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalm. In Episode 2 we welcomed Rev. Ellie Johns Kelley, our Ministry Relations Officer from the Presbyterian Foundation. Aware that over 80% of congregational giving comes through in person giving and 78% comes from Sunday mornings, Rev. Ellie Johns Kelley joined us to share about how we can practice ongoing stewardship efforts and generosity through digital platforms offered by the Foundation. Our aim is to help our congregations continue to support and sustain the vital ministry of our 119 churches in Greater Philadelphia. As a bonus to today’s conversation, we also welcomed several of our pastors to respond witha few questions and to share about how they are practicing spiritual formation and discipleship in these strange times. Our thanks to Rev. Eustacia Marshall, Rev. Ted Mingle, Rev. Kari Olson, Rev. Sarah Colwill, Rev. Roberta Kearney, and Rev. Chris Holland.

This week we launched our pilot of a new platform in light of COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) called CyberPsalm Cafe. Each Tuesday at 2 p.m. on both ZOOM and Facebook LIVE, leaders from our Presbytery will host an organic conversation as we remain connectional people during the quarantines and social distancing. CyberPsalm Café is a chance to enter into the laments and hopes that is the ambiguous season and find God together in the midst of it all. These conversations will include some of our pastors and presbyterian leaders who will reflect on how they are encountering and practicing the presence of Christ in such a time as this along with recommended resources available in various places. Each thirty-minute or so LIVE chat will also be available on our Youtube channel and as weekly episodes on our PresbySpeak podcast via SoundCloud and iTunes. Interested in sharing how you are seeing this at work in your congregation, ministry, and wider community? Share with us on our page www.presbyphl.org/cyberpsalm. This week was an open conversation with our Executive Presbyter, Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace, Stated Clerk, Rev. Kevin Porter, Moderator of the Presbytery, Vijay Aggarwal, Vice Moderator, Rev. Ashley Rossi. Former Moderators, Rev. Dr. Janel Dixon and Rev. Wonjae Choi, and pastor of The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Rev. John Wilkinson, as we begin this new form of community and connectional life together. Stay tuned for more episodes, assured we are with you, although distant, for the journey ahead.

If you are listening in, this is part two of our two-part episode that features the facilitated workshops and conversations with MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of the book God, Improv and the Art of Living. MaryAnn was the featured speaker at this year’s Ecumenical Equipping Event at United Lutheran Seminary in Partnership with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. If you have not already done so, check out part one on our podcast. If you have already engaged, enjoy the final two sessions as we hear more about how YES AND can be some of the most empowering and life-giving words to leverage faithful ministry. More information and links here: https://presbyphl.org/ecumenical-equipping-event-2020/

What follows is part one of a two-part episode from our recent Ecumenical Equipping Event at United Lutheran Seminary in Partnership with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This year we welcomed guest keynoted, Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana, free-range presbyterian pastor, coach, and author of the book, God, Improv and the Art of Living. MaryAnn writes in her book, "We [as the church] are tired and maybe we don't think we have time to play because things are so serious and the world really needs us. But I think when things are at their most serious is when we most need to get in touch with the playful side, the creative side.” You can read Mary Ann’s full bio along with other helpful resources available on-line at https://presbyphl.org/ecumenical-equipping-event-2020/. However, for now, enjoy (and share away) the first two sessions of our recent gathering with MaryAnn. May you dare to tap into the playful and creative side of both your spirit and call to improvised ministry.