Facing Financial Hardship Grocery shopping had become an anxiety-filled experience for the Rev. Gloria Casasus-Urrutia. Ten years after her 2006 retirement as organist at her church, Porta Coeli in San German, Puerto Rico, she found herself thrust into severe financial hardship. “I had to write down the price of each item and add everything up… Read more »
December 13, 2019
Christmas Joy: Living with Joy and Dignity
Facing Financial Hardship Grocery shopping had become an anxiety-filled experience for the Rev. Gloria Casasus-Urrutia. Ten years after her 2006 retirement as organist at her church, Porta Coeli in San German, Puerto Rico, she found herself thrust into severe financial hardship. “I had to write down the price of each item and add everything up… Read more »
The Struggles of New Immigrants Tony and Lilia Acabal carried deep memories of the struggles they faced as new immigrants years ago. Tony’s family escaped violence-riddled Guatemala in 1987 when he was 15. A decades-long civil war, which claimed the lives of 200,000 people, posed danger at every turn. Lilia’s family came to the United… 
Car Accident Brings Woes After her car went flying off the road and rolled over in a stubbled cornfield, first responders believed the accident had taken the life of the Rev. Shelley Wiley. She had fallen unconscious while driving because of an epileptic seizure, a condition that had been diagnosed years earlier and, until her… 
Engaging the children of your congregation with the four General Assembly mandated churchwide Special Offerings has never been easier or more important. There are numerous ways children can connect with the Christmas Joy Offering. We have a number of resources available online to help you as you engage your young people. This year’s curriculum was… 
Experiences in Rwanda Growing up in Rwanda, Joshua Karangwa often saw rural women and children carrying heavy cans of water on their heads for miles just so their families could survive. His memory of people engaged in this back-breaking endeavor pierces his heart and challenges his mind. Joshua, a 2018 graduate of Presbyterian Pan American… 
Disaster Strikes After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico last year, Presbyterian pastor Manuel D. Silva bore the dual burden of caring for his family and his congregation. The property damage wrought by the storm was in the billions, and many on the island were without electricity for months. When the storm hit, Manuel’s wife, Sylvette,… 
Meet Luci While a summertime academic emphasis is not unusual for high-achieving high school students, Lucianna (Luci) Astorga’s educational focus between school years has been much different than that of most of her scholastically minded peers. Since the eighth grade, this honor roll student’s summer priority has been on earning tuition for the upcoming academic… 
We want to share with you a love story… …a love story between Ralph and Mary Hamburger that began at a Presbyterian church when Ralph introduced himself to Mary after hearing her play the piano. Today, after 65 years of marriage, the love story continues at a Presbyterian retirement home. Ralph, a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)… 
Every generous act of giving … is from above. — James 1:17 In the lead up to Christmas, many of us spend time in search of the perfect gift — the gift that communicates to friends and family how much we know and love them. We search our memories for indications of what gift might… 
‘Tis the season…for the Christmas Joy Offering. If you are looking for worship resources to connect your congregation with this Offering, our office has you covered. Our worship resources, written by the Rev. Thom M. Shuman, Stated Supply Pastor, Honorably Retired Galloway Presbyterian Church, Galloway, Ohio, and Associate Member, Iona Community, include: Readings Call to…