Spirit of Life, God of Many Names, Source of Love, In this month, where our nation celebrates the lives and the struggles of
Transgender, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people, help us to find a path forward, where each of us may live our lives, honest to who we are, with grace and empathy for one another. May the difficult lessons, and the times of strife, nurture compassion in our hearts, for others who struggle, especially for those whose hardships are different than our own. May the strength we learn in our tough hours, help us to carry another forward when their time of need is at hand. Mother of dignity, when the world is telling us we have no worth, help us to not believe the lie, and so too, steer us away from words, that may diminish our neighbor. We each fall down, moments of short tempers, prejudices we hold, or old injuries of the spirit that surface in hard ways; may we be gracious with ourselves, as we learn and grow, with patience and care. In your name we pray, Amen.
Transgender, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people, help us to find a path forward, where each of us may live our lives, honest to who we are, with grace and empathy for one another. May the difficult lessons, and the times of strife, nurture compassion in our hearts, for others who struggle, especially for those whose hardships are different than our own. May the strength we learn in our tough hours, help us to carry another forward when their time of need is at hand. Mother of dignity, when the world is telling us we have no worth, help us to not believe the lie, and so too, steer us away from words, that may diminish our neighbor. We each fall down, moments of short tempers, prejudices we hold, or old injuries of the spirit that surface in hard ways; may we be gracious with ourselves, as we learn and grow, with patience and care. In your name we pray, Amen.
It has been said that advertising an event three consecutive times will influence people to come and be a part of an event. Our event will be having our annual Pride Sunday Service. As the above flyer says, this even will occur on June 25th at Grandview Park, 3225 Jefferson Ave. The service will begin at 11:00am and there will be a free lunch afterwards. Come and join us as we celebrate all God's people just for who they are.
"We give our thanks, Creator God, for the fathers in our lives. Fatherhood does not come with a manual, and reality teaches us that some fathers excel while others fail. We ask for Your blessings for them all - and forgiveness where it is needed. This Father's Day we remember the many sacrifices fathers make for their children and families, and the ways - both big and small - they lift children to achieve dreams thought beyond reach. So too, we remember all those who have helped fill the void when fathers pass early or are absent - grandfathers and uncles, brothers and cousins, teachers, pastors and coaches - and the women of our families. For those who are fathers, we ask for wisdom and humility in the face of the task of parenting. Give them the strength to do well by their children and by You.
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen."
In Your Holy name, O God, we pray. Amen."
Sunday Worship
June 16th - 11:30 - Join us for our "social time" in the conference room across from the chapel for coffee, cookies and conversation. 12:30pm - Join us for worship with Rev. Kati L. Houts as we ask "What Are You Afraid Of"?
Lost coming to service? Jeremiah keeps his phone on into the service, 915-706-6599.
June 16th - 11:30 - Join us for our "social time" in the conference room across from the chapel for coffee, cookies and conversation. 12:30pm - Join us for worship with Rev. Kati L. Houts as we ask "What Are You Afraid Of"?
Lost coming to service? Jeremiah keeps his phone on into the service, 915-706-6599.
MCC of El Paso will be having their "Pride Service" on Sunday, June 25th. It will be at Grandview Park, 3225 Jefferson Ave. The service will begin at 11:00am and there will be a free lunch afterwards. Come and join us as we celebrate all God's people just for who they are.
MCC of El Paso will be having their "Pride Service" on Sunday, June 25th. It will be at Grandview Park, 3225 Jefferson Ave. The service will begin at 11:00am and there will be a free lunch afterwards. Come and join us as we celebrate all God's people just for who they are.
MCC of El Paso will be having their "Pride Service" on Sunday, June 25th. It will be at Grandview Park, 3225 Jefferson Ave. The service will begin at 11:00am and there will be a free lunch afterwards. Come and join us as we celebrate all God's people just for who they are. If you have questions please ask Jim Coulter, Joshua Hobbie or Jeremiah Almanza.
Bobby McFerrin dedicated the 23rd Psalm to his mother. You can hear the love he has for his mother through the music for this psalm. He changed the pronoun in this reading to "she" which is quite fitting for Mother's Day. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn2zKKhhF3I if you would like to hear it. God bless all our mother's. Amen.
"Respect"
Let me sing in hope.
Let integrity, honesty, truthfulness, and Mastery
Be my guides.
Help me live out who I am,
Knowing that my actions are congruent with my Soul.
These gifts flow through me
Giving respect, earning respect,
Inspiring self-respect in those I touch,
Respecting all life, respecting the Planet.
by Marie Knapp
Respect is at the center of all civilized behavior whether it be at home or work. It is the act of treating others as sacred. In honoring them we accord them the respect they deserve. We are all divine, and when we fail to respect each other, we are abusing the divinity that each of us embodies. Respect is the acknowledgement of our oneness with the Universe, the understanding that we are all connected and part of one system of life. Therefore, if we disrespect others, we disrespect ourselves.
Reminds me of the Golden Rule which we fin in Matthew 7:12;
"12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Respect brings harmony into our lives. Practicing this can only bring goodness into your life and others.
Let me sing in hope.
Let integrity, honesty, truthfulness, and Mastery
Be my guides.
Help me live out who I am,
Knowing that my actions are congruent with my Soul.
These gifts flow through me
Giving respect, earning respect,
Inspiring self-respect in those I touch,
Respecting all life, respecting the Planet.
by Marie Knapp
Respect is at the center of all civilized behavior whether it be at home or work. It is the act of treating others as sacred. In honoring them we accord them the respect they deserve. We are all divine, and when we fail to respect each other, we are abusing the divinity that each of us embodies. Respect is the acknowledgement of our oneness with the Universe, the understanding that we are all connected and part of one system of life. Therefore, if we disrespect others, we disrespect ourselves.
Reminds me of the Golden Rule which we fin in Matthew 7:12;
"12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Respect brings harmony into our lives. Practicing this can only bring goodness into your life and others.
Holy Week is a time to mourn when love is crucified on the cross of fear and hate. But we know that is not the end of the story. Our Lenten journey heightens tonight in a journey to the waters of baptismal renewal in the dark of night. The earliest Christian communities saw this time of the year as the ultimate time for baptisms because this was when Christ died and was raised-just as we die to the old and rise again to new life through our baptisms. We will travel together as companions in this story, through the "Three Days"-or in Latin, "Triduum"-that the church has come to commemorate every year... the last three days of Jesus' earthly life. But in doing so, we travel not just through a story long gone, we also bring to mind the ways this story is still the ongoing story of humankind-that we are still called to fight injustice just as Jesus did-to let justice "roll down like waters and righteousness as an overflowing stream." We acknowledge that all of the elements of creation-of which we are a part; earth, air, fire and water are what make us one with, and the same as, our religious ancestors who surrounded Jesus in those last few days.
So let us walk with them,
with those who, across thousands of years, have kept this vigil.
We go with each other as traveling companions this night.
Service begins at 6:30pm on April 14th. It is being held at First Presbyterian Church in the "Center". Please enter at the front entrance.
So let us walk with them,
with those who, across thousands of years, have kept this vigil.
We go with each other as traveling companions this night.
Service begins at 6:30pm on April 14th. It is being held at First Presbyterian Church in the "Center". Please enter at the front entrance.
Pastor's Wife Appreciation Month!
A pastor's wife has a very special role in the church and in the life of the pastor. She/he will often keep her/his spouse's long hours, shoulder her/his pressures, feel her/his disappointments, and suffer her/his defeats-often as profoundly and as deeply as she/he does. She will often analyze sermons, catching grammatical errors, smile in the face of criticism and negative comments about her spouse.
A pastor's wife provides a sounding board for her spouse to vent, brainstorm, and question her/his progress or goals, yet encouraging and steadfast to support the vision that God has given to them. She is often a nurse, healing emotional wounds that seem to cause many pastors to give up. She is a counselor that helps her spouse to work out difficulties that are too close for her/him to see. She is a lover and protector to shield her/him from harm and to provide the loving care that is so vitally needed, especially when one feels they are in a lonely profession. Many pastors do not have close friends with whom they can vent or share their problems. A pastor's wife provides that companionship that encourages her/him to continue even when she/he feels like giving up.One of the truly remarkable qualities of a pastor's wife is when they are able to show a faithful love for the members they serve. I believe there is a special anointing upon the pastor's wife to go beyond the normal call of duty. It is a patient love. A pastor's wife often understands that "baby Christians", no matter how old, can be acting out because they are hurting. My wife has been all these things and more. I am so grateful to God that she is a part of my life. Being there for one another and working on balance in the home takes two but the wife often times has to remind her spouse.Happy.
Pastor Appreciation Day to All Pastor's Wives!
A pastor's wife has a very special role in the church and in the life of the pastor. She/he will often keep her/his spouse's long hours, shoulder her/his pressures, feel her/his disappointments, and suffer her/his defeats-often as profoundly and as deeply as she/he does. She will often analyze sermons, catching grammatical errors, smile in the face of criticism and negative comments about her spouse.
A pastor's wife provides a sounding board for her spouse to vent, brainstorm, and question her/his progress or goals, yet encouraging and steadfast to support the vision that God has given to them. She is often a nurse, healing emotional wounds that seem to cause many pastors to give up. She is a counselor that helps her spouse to work out difficulties that are too close for her/him to see. She is a lover and protector to shield her/him from harm and to provide the loving care that is so vitally needed, especially when one feels they are in a lonely profession. Many pastors do not have close friends with whom they can vent or share their problems. A pastor's wife provides that companionship that encourages her/him to continue even when she/he feels like giving up.One of the truly remarkable qualities of a pastor's wife is when they are able to show a faithful love for the members they serve. I believe there is a special anointing upon the pastor's wife to go beyond the normal call of duty. It is a patient love. A pastor's wife often understands that "baby Christians", no matter how old, can be acting out because they are hurting. My wife has been all these things and more. I am so grateful to God that she is a part of my life. Being there for one another and working on balance in the home takes two but the wife often times has to remind her spouse.Happy.
Pastor Appreciation Day to All Pastor's Wives!
Spring is the time of rebirth and inspiration. Here are some amazing quotes to help you start the season with a refreshed outlook.
The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.
-Harriet Ann Jacobs
An optimist is the human personification of spring.
-Susan J. Bissonette
Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.
-Sarah Ban Breathnach
'Tis like the birthday of the world,
When earth was born in bloom;
The light is made of many dyes,
The air is all perfume:
There's crimson buds, and white and blue,
The very rainbow showers
Have turned to blossoms where they fell,
And sown the earth with flowers.
-Thomas Hood
The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.
-Harriet Ann Jacobs
An optimist is the human personification of spring.
-Susan J. Bissonette
Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.
-Sarah Ban Breathnach
'Tis like the birthday of the world,
When earth was born in bloom;
The light is made of many dyes,
The air is all perfume:
There's crimson buds, and white and blue,
The very rainbow showers
Have turned to blossoms where they fell,
And sown the earth with flowers.
-Thomas Hood
A Prayer for National Women's History Month
Spirit of Renewal, God of Many Names, and One Transforming and Abundant Love,we turn this month, in our nation's life, to reflect on the stories, the heritage, and the struggles, of women throughout the ages. We seek to learn from all those voices that have been left unheard. May we pause before the silences of the ages, find who has been left out, and craft new ways of inclusion, for every week, and every month. may this spiritual practice, Bring out the voices of all those struggling, all those left apart. May we let go of our assumptions and cold comforts, of what is the normal - to live by, Unless it be a standard that is rooted in compassion, In inclusivity, In diversity. May this month of reflection teach us to search for those stories that are different from our own. Mother of Possibilities, In the finding, May we come to know ourselves changed. Renewed were we are dry, Hopeful where we are lost, and open where we are shut. Amen
Spirit of Renewal, God of Many Names, and One Transforming and Abundant Love,we turn this month, in our nation's life, to reflect on the stories, the heritage, and the struggles, of women throughout the ages. We seek to learn from all those voices that have been left unheard. May we pause before the silences of the ages, find who has been left out, and craft new ways of inclusion, for every week, and every month. may this spiritual practice, Bring out the voices of all those struggling, all those left apart. May we let go of our assumptions and cold comforts, of what is the normal - to live by, Unless it be a standard that is rooted in compassion, In inclusivity, In diversity. May this month of reflection teach us to search for those stories that are different from our own. Mother of Possibilities, In the finding, May we come to know ourselves changed. Renewed were we are dry, Hopeful where we are lost, and open where we are shut. Amen
Spirit of Renewal, God of Many Names, and One Transforming and Abundant Love,
We turn this month, in our nation's life, to reflect on the stories,
The heritage,
and the struggles,
of women throughout the ages.
We seek to learn from all those voices that have been left unheard.
May we pause before the silences of the ages,
Find who has been left out,
And craft new ways of inclusion,
For every week, and every month.
May this spiritual practice,
Bring out the voices of all those struggling,
All those left apart.
May we let go of our assumptions and cold comforts,
Of what is the normal - to live by,
Unless it be a standard that is rooted in compassion,
In inclusivity,
In diversity.
May this month of reflection teach us to search
for those stories that are different from our own.
Mother of Possibilities,
In the finding,
May we come to know ourselves changed.
Renewed were we are dry,
Hopeful where we are lost,
And open where we are shut. Amen
We turn this month, in our nation's life, to reflect on the stories,
The heritage,
and the struggles,
of women throughout the ages.
We seek to learn from all those voices that have been left unheard.
May we pause before the silences of the ages,
Find who has been left out,
And craft new ways of inclusion,
For every week, and every month.
May this spiritual practice,
Bring out the voices of all those struggling,
All those left apart.
May we let go of our assumptions and cold comforts,
Of what is the normal - to live by,
Unless it be a standard that is rooted in compassion,
In inclusivity,
In diversity.
May this month of reflection teach us to search
for those stories that are different from our own.
Mother of Possibilities,
In the finding,
May we come to know ourselves changed.
Renewed were we are dry,
Hopeful where we are lost,
And open where we are shut. Amen
I knew that "heart disease" was the number one killer of women but was unaware of "National Red Day." Here are some good news facts as to the progress of having an awareness day and month has done for trying to prevent this disease. In 2003, the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute took action against a disease that was claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year - a disease that women weren't paying attention to. A disease they truly believed, and many still believe to this day, affects more men than women. This coming National Wear Red Day, Feb. 3, 2017, will mark 15 years since the initial National Wear Red Day, which was first observed to bring national attention to the fact that heart disease is the #1 killer of women, and to raise awareness of women's heart health. And looking back on all we've accomplished, we've really made tremendous strides. They include:
- Nearly 90% of women have made at least one healthy behavior change.
- More than one-third of women has lost weight.
- More than 50% of women have increased their exercise.
- 6 out of 10 women have changed their diets.
- More than 40% of women have checked their cholesterol levels.
- One third of women has talked with their doctors about developing heart health plans.
- Today, nearly 300 fewer women die from heart disease and stroke each day.
- Death in women has decreased by more than 30 percent over the past 10 years.
"The office of the President, no matter who sits in the oval office, deserves our respect. If we so belittle the office through excessive partisanship we lessen the authority that the office deserves.
Partisanship can go too far. There is an old story about President Franklin Roosevelt's dog, Fala, that illustrates the point. After the election, as the story goes, the President was asked about what he thought about it. He replied by saying that it was tough,that everyone in his family had been attacked, including his dog, and Fala did not like it very much.
The President of the United States is our leader, our chief executive, the person who the rest of the world looks to as representing the United States. How far do we take partisanship before it becomes demeaning to the office? Is our political system so warped that what is best for the country becomes less important than partisan gain? The phrase the loyal opposition, is important to consider, in that it implies that a person from the opposition party is still loyal to their oath and their nation while still opposing when it is appropriate what the opposition party or in this case the President of the United States has done. Is anything fair game? Is it okay to lie about them? Is it okay to personally attack the wife of the President or his or her children, or even the dog? What are the limitations?"
It seems as though for as far back as history records that the different parties all have their own agendas and think theirs is the only one to consider. Did anyone ever think that the only agenda that we should follow is "God's". World wide we see countries who have been at war with each other for the same reason I just mentioned; nobody listens. What happened to the concept that not just talking will get you anywhere but really listening to what is being said and coming to a workable solution to a problem? God is our only solution. Prayer is our avenue to God's loving intervening hand for our country and the world. Let us pray.....
Partisanship can go too far. There is an old story about President Franklin Roosevelt's dog, Fala, that illustrates the point. After the election, as the story goes, the President was asked about what he thought about it. He replied by saying that it was tough,that everyone in his family had been attacked, including his dog, and Fala did not like it very much.
The President of the United States is our leader, our chief executive, the person who the rest of the world looks to as representing the United States. How far do we take partisanship before it becomes demeaning to the office? Is our political system so warped that what is best for the country becomes less important than partisan gain? The phrase the loyal opposition, is important to consider, in that it implies that a person from the opposition party is still loyal to their oath and their nation while still opposing when it is appropriate what the opposition party or in this case the President of the United States has done. Is anything fair game? Is it okay to lie about them? Is it okay to personally attack the wife of the President or his or her children, or even the dog? What are the limitations?"
It seems as though for as far back as history records that the different parties all have their own agendas and think theirs is the only one to consider. Did anyone ever think that the only agenda that we should follow is "God's". World wide we see countries who have been at war with each other for the same reason I just mentioned; nobody listens. What happened to the concept that not just talking will get you anywhere but really listening to what is being said and coming to a workable solution to a problem? God is our only solution. Prayer is our avenue to God's loving intervening hand for our country and the world. Let us pray.....
On January 15, 1929 Martin Luther King, Jr. came into this world. He was a Baptist minister and a social activist who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid 1950's until his death by assassination in 1968. Through his activism, he played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the South and other areas of the nation, as well as the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in April 1968, and continues to be remembered as one of the most lauded African-American leaders in history, often referenced by his 1963 speech, "I Have a Dream."
Many people have come into this world with peace, social justice, equality for all and unconditional love as their mantra, their passion. Some lived long lives demonstrating their beliefs through their work and words. They would be the inspiration for others who followed. Some were even killed for their determination to help humankind achieve the respect, rights and freedom for all and not just a select group.
When remembering the people who have contributed their goodness to this world without prejudice, it is good to remember where it all began. "For God so loved the world that God gave God's only son, so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". (John 3:16 abridged) So when we celebrate the special holidays for people who have made a difference in this world, let us not forget where it all began.
Peace!
~Rev. Kati
Many people have come into this world with peace, social justice, equality for all and unconditional love as their mantra, their passion. Some lived long lives demonstrating their beliefs through their work and words. They would be the inspiration for others who followed. Some were even killed for their determination to help humankind achieve the respect, rights and freedom for all and not just a select group.
When remembering the people who have contributed their goodness to this world without prejudice, it is good to remember where it all began. "For God so loved the world that God gave God's only son, so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life". (John 3:16 abridged) So when we celebrate the special holidays for people who have made a difference in this world, let us not forget where it all began.
Peace!
~Rev. Kati
Prayer. It's so powerful. It is through prayer that we lift up to God our "concerns and thanksgivings." It's our wireless connection to God. It's our special time and place to turn to and feel an immediate connection with God. It is a way to speak our thanks, appreciation, worries, sorrows, joys, fears, and requests. Prayer is to the spiritual life what breathing is to the physical life. When we pray, God's Spirit begins to work in us. The word spirit comes from the Latin word "spiritus," which literally means "breath." Prayer is the breath of our spiritual life.
All prayers matter to God. When it comes to answering prayer, God does answer prayer however, we may not recognize it as the answer because it was not what we wanted. God has a different perspective and rarely responds with a quick solution. Still, there are times when we feel that God is not listening, is not interested or totally rejects what we are saying. In scripture Jesus tells us to be persistent in our prayers. Answers do come but only in God's time which is always the right "time".
Prayer builds a bridge that spans the distance from isolation to an awareness of God's presence and availability. Prayer is listening...on God's part and ours. A bottomless well from which we can draw, it offers strength and light for times of doubt; clarity and guidance during moments of confusion; security for in-between times of change and upheaval; and energy for rebuilding after loss. We are not alone. God is present wherever we are. There is no situation that is beyond God's interest and desire. It bonds us to God. Speak often with God about all those things you keep inside your hearts. In prayer, God will speak with you and answer you. Remember to be persistent in your asking, seeking and knocking and success will be yours for God will provide you all that you need now and in the future. Amen.
(excerpt from a sermon by Rev. Kati L. Houts)
All prayers matter to God. When it comes to answering prayer, God does answer prayer however, we may not recognize it as the answer because it was not what we wanted. God has a different perspective and rarely responds with a quick solution. Still, there are times when we feel that God is not listening, is not interested or totally rejects what we are saying. In scripture Jesus tells us to be persistent in our prayers. Answers do come but only in God's time which is always the right "time".
Prayer builds a bridge that spans the distance from isolation to an awareness of God's presence and availability. Prayer is listening...on God's part and ours. A bottomless well from which we can draw, it offers strength and light for times of doubt; clarity and guidance during moments of confusion; security for in-between times of change and upheaval; and energy for rebuilding after loss. We are not alone. God is present wherever we are. There is no situation that is beyond God's interest and desire. It bonds us to God. Speak often with God about all those things you keep inside your hearts. In prayer, God will speak with you and answer you. Remember to be persistent in your asking, seeking and knocking and success will be yours for God will provide you all that you need now and in the future. Amen.
(excerpt from a sermon by Rev. Kati L. Houts)
Join us Christmas Day at 12:30 for:
The Redemption of Scrooge:
God Bless Us - Every One
Christmas Eve Service-7:00 PM
"The Redemption of Scrooge: Keeping Christmas Well"
Bible Study will resume in the Fall!
Living Hope Christian Counseling Services (Faith based Counseling) – www.livinghopeccs.org
6044 Gateway East Suite 506 (State National Bank Building) El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 772-2237
6044 Gateway East Suite 506 (State National Bank Building) El Paso, TX 79925
(915) 772-2237
for Lessons and Carols as we celebrate the birth of our savior.
Wednesday December 24 at 7 PM
Wednesday December 24 at 7 PM
Join Us every Sunday in June as we focus on "Pride" in a special series:
Sunday June 8th -12:30 PM "What Do Pride and Pentecost Have in Common?"
Sunday - June 15 -12:30 PM "We are the Image of God"
Sunday June 22 - 12:30 PM Johnny Major Rivers III aka "Sphinks" will be here to share some poetry and words of wisdom.
Sunday June 29 - 12:30 PM "God's Love Welcomes All Without Exception"
Holy Week Worship Schedule
April 13, 2014 12:30 PM Celebration of Palm Sunday (East Chapel First Presbyterian)
April 17 6:30 PM Full Seder Dinner at University Presbyterian Church 244 N Resler Drive
April 17 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service at First Presbyterian Main Sanctuary
April 18th 7:00 PM Good Friday Service (East Chapel, First Presbyterian)
April 19th 11:00 PM Easter Vigil Service (University Presbyterian Church 244 N Resler Drive
April 20 12:30 PM Easter Service with Gospel Singer Ray Vester (East Chapel First Presbyterian)
