In June, hundreds of Presbyterians will be climbing into airplanes, cars, or buses bound to Portland, Oregon, for the 222nd General Assembly (2016). But one group of assembly-goers will be traveling to Portland in a more unconventional way—on bicycles.

It’s not exactly Christmas in July, but the 2016 Presbyterian Youth Triennium opening night theme is based on a passage in the gospel of Luke that is traditionally read at Christmas Eve worship services, around the country. An anticipated 5,000 Presbyterian youth attending the 2016 Triennium July 19-23 are invited to consider again the Christmas story of shepherds terrified in their fields, when an angel of the Lord comes to visit them.

Many residents of Raleigh, North Carolina, will be offering their guests fresh strawberries while entertaining family and friends this holiday season. But their guests may be surprised to learn the fruit they are enjoying was actually grown outdoors—in North Carolina. The homegrown strawberries are part of an early-December fundraising project by Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh. 

In response to recent inflammatory statements made by politicians, T. Erskine Clarke, editor and publisher at the Journal for Preachers and professor emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary, has issued a letter appealing Christian to “seek to be agents of God’s justice and reconciliation in the world.”

내가 성인이 된 이후로 크리스마스를 집에서 보내 본 적은 한 손으로 셀 수 있을 정도로 많지 않다. 우리는 그 날을 조부모들 및 다른 가족들과 함께 보냈다. 아마존이라는 회사가 생기기 전에, 우리는 선물을 짐들 사이에 숨겨 놓았고, 크리마스 절기의 시간들을 요셉과 마리아처럼 길에서 보냈다. 하지만 나는 크리마스 절기가 끝나면 내 침대가 나를 환영해 줄 것이라는 것을 알고 있었다.

Como seguidores de Jesucristo, elevamos nuestras oraciones por las pérdidas de las familias de San Bernardino. Oramos por la recuperación en cuerpo y en espíritu para aquellas personas que fueron heridas. Movemos la cabeza con incredulidad y desesperación cuando el dos de diciembre ocurrieron dos tiroteos masivos en los Estados Unidos, en un año con un número récord de tiroteos masivos.

En los próximos días habrá un análisis de las razones del porqué  una joven pareja abandonó a su hija de seis meses de edad y llevo a cabo tal acto. Parte de este análisis revelará razonamientos que no entenderemos. …

A new Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding study for adults explores two important aspects of Reformed and Presbyterian identity and conviction, “Grace and Gratitude." 

In the wake of the tragic attacks in Paris and more recently in San Bernardino, Calif., many have been quick to point fingers and place blame on refugee families fleeing horrific violence in Syria and other countries. In reaction to the ugly, xenophobic rhetoric heard on the campaign trail and attempts in Congress to restrict the resettlement of refugees in the U.S., a coalition of national faith leaders from across the religious spectrum joined Senators Leahy (D-VT), Durbin (D-IL) and Kaine (D-VA) to call for an end to incendiary and divisive remarks.

San Bernardino and Redlands authorities are still trying to piece together what led Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, to go on a shooting rampage last week, killing 14 people and injuring 21. The couple opened fire during a luncheon at the Inlands Regional Center in San Bernardino on December 2nd. The attention of the investigation has shifted to whether the couple had links to foreign terror organizations. 

View Larissa Kwong Abazia, Vice Moderator of the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as she discusses the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly churchwide conversation. Go to www.pcusa.org/identity by December 18 to join the conversation.