Employees at the Presbyterian Center here gathered this morning for worship and to celebrate the publishing of the new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) hymnal, Glory to God.

A huge statue of the Virgin Mary towers over churches, monasteries and mosques in the Syrian city of Maaloula, where a dialect of the Aramaic language of Jesus is still spoken.

Nineteen religious leaders ― including Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) General Assembly Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons ― sent a letter today (Oct. 1) to President Barack Obama urging him to “take concrete action to pursue a path toward improved relations with Cuba.”

As part of the preparations for the upcoming World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly in Korea, young delegates to the event recently got together in Geneva to strategize on making youth contributions to the assembly and to the WCC youth program more meaningful ― envisioning a “youth pilgrimage for justice and peace.”

Presbyterians have had a presence in Syria since 1823, and that ministry continues in the midst of the country’s recent turmoil, members of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) Board heard Sept. 27.