Thank-you Beth Pachak

For many people, a church website is their first visit before they ever walk through our doors. It offers a glimpse of who we are, whose we are, what we hope to be, and extends the same welcome we expect every person experiences when they join us in worship, fellowship, service, or education. Over the years, La Mesa's online presence has become an important part of our ministry, helping people connect with our congregation, worship with us online, and discover the many ways we put our faith into action.

None of that would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of Beth Pachak.

Beth created our website from the ground up and faithfully cared for it for many years. She also played a vital role in developing our livestream ministry, guiding our transition from Zoom to Google Meet, creating instructional materials, teaching others how to use new technology, and quietly solving countless challenges along the way. Her generosity, creativity, and willingness to share her gifts have blessed this congregation in ways many of us may never fully realize. We owe Beth our heartfelt thanks for the many hours she devoted to helping La Mesa members stay connected and engaged with one another and the community.

As with many things in the life of a church, we are always evolving and changing. Sometimes we repaint a room, rearrange a familiar space, or even choose a new outfit—not because we've become someone different, but because we're expressing the same identity in a fresh new way.

With that spirit in mind, we've given our website a fresh new look. While the appearance may feel different, the heart of our ministry remains the same: sharing who we are, inviting others into our community, and supporting the ministries that put our faith into action through compassion, service, justice, and love. Our hope is that the website continues to be an extension of the warm welcome people experience when they walk through our physical doors.

I invite you to spend a few minutes exploring the updated website. If it's been a while since you've visited, you may discover a ministry you didn't know about, an upcoming event, or a new way to become involved in the life of our church. I also encourage everyone to explore our interactive calendar. It's designed to help all of us stay connected with the rhythm of church life—whether you're looking for what's happening this week, planning ahead for the coming months, or discovering concerts, special events, and community activities. Whenever possible, you'll find links to additional information and registration, making it easy to learn more and participate in the life of our congregation. 

As you explore the site, I hope you'll remember that it stands on the foundation Beth Pachak faithfully built over many years. If you have the opportunity, please thank Beth personally for the countless hours, creativity, and dedication she invested in this essential ministry. Her work has been a true gift to our congregation and to all who have connected with La Mesa PC through our online presence. 

As always, if you notice something we've missed or have ideas that will help us better share Christ's love with our community, we'd love to hear from you. Feel free to contact Christian Halstead at christianhalstead@yahoo.com. Like our congregation itself, our online presence will continue to grow and evolve as we seek new ways to welcome, connect, serve, and share Christ's love with others.

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