PCUSA
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Paper-Making and Jeremiah
11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29.11) Some dear friends of mine and I planned and led worship for Synod School in Storm Lake, IA. It’s a Presbyterian Church (USA) denominational conference.…
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First Year as Co-Pastors: How’s It Going?
A year has passed since this picture was taken. I look at myself in this picture who is still an associate pastor and see a person who has no clue what lies ahead of her as a co-pastor. I had no reason to not assume that my role as a co-pastor would be any different…
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Advice to PCUSA General Assembly Commissioners
The 221st General Assembly (GA) in Detroit will soon be upon us. If you are a commissioner to this year’s assembly, you have probably attended an orientation or have one on your calendar. Just last week, fellow commissioners chosen as committee moderators and vice-moderators were trained and prepped. I was a commissioner to the 219th…
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The Golden Calf and Letting Go
They gathered around Aaron and said to him, “Come on! Make us gods who can lead us. As for this man Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t have a clue what has happened to him.” (Exodus 32.1) I’ve preached and led a few workshops that loosely encompass the theme of…
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Interactive Parament & Stole Ideas
December 15, I was installed along with my colleague, John Anderson, as co-pastors. Leading up to the installation, I shared ideas of how to involve the community, neighborhood, and congregation in the installation worship. Here is the result of turning what was previously made during prayer stations into paraments and stoles for the installation. Communion…
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Going from A to C in Pastor
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16.7) I recently wrote a post about my personal journey in discerning my call. A…
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Sabbaticals, Crises, Itches, & Conundrums
I have now been back from my sabbatical for 3 weeks. In many ways, I am still basking in the restful glow of having three and a half months off to study, rest, and most importantly play. This sabbatical came at an interesting time in my life. I turned 40, which means in the eyes…
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Worship that Journeys through the Seasons
With my friends and colleagues Rev. Corey Nelson and Rev. Adam Fischer, we had the pleasure of planning the worship services for the NEXT Conference in Charlotte. The theme was John 3.1-21 and this is what it says on their website: NEXT Church has been asking the question: What’s next? We have been asking God, ourselves, and each…
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A Disciplined Experiment on Changing Worship
Before I went to seminary, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. I was also a teacher for children with autism. The tools and skills I learned from science and teaching, I apply in my everyday life as a pastor. Change is an everyday occurrence in the field of science and education.…
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Connected by Water
Originally posted in PLGRM Volume I Issue 2 Winter 2012 This picture shows everything that is wonderful about being a part of an Asian community. This is a picture of signature stamps, dojang (Korean), or chop (Chinese). If you are Asian, you most likely have a dojang or chop that has your name in Korean,…
Still Waters 