July 7, 2026

As pastor of La Mesa Presbyterian Church, I live and serve among some of the most creative, resourceful people I've ever met, who live out and respond to the needs of the world and others close by through the prism of God's love. This is very unique among congregations. It reminds me of this story told by the writer and sociologist Parker Palmer: "I once consulted with a group of rural Episcopal churches in Texas who felt certain they were dying because their memberships and budgets were declining. I pointed out that the only books they kept counted dollars and members. Could they imagine another kind of ledger, one that tallied the talents of the people in their congregations, and all the ways those gifts might serve the other congregants and the larger community’s needs? Those churches began keeping two sets of books, so to speak, and found new life over the next few years. They never got back to the numbers they’d once had, but they grew some in size and even more in vitality. People are drawn to communities that celebrate their assets and offer support in simple, down-to-earth ways. That’s a lot more attractive than the pitch that says, 'You need to join us in order to achieve salvation, and you’ve got to give us your money in the bargain'” (my emphasis). At La Mesa PC, while we are a giving congregation that always supports the church financially, we are also a church with many gifted people, who choose daily to share their gifts with one another and the world. Today, I celebrate the gifts and talents, "our assets" shown in "simple, down-to-earth ways." Thank you!

Originally published as part of La Mesa Presbyterian Church's weekly newsletter, The Buzz.