Mission Yearbook: Church comes full circle for Georgia woman

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Julie Cain Kendall

Julie Cain Kendall is one of those uncommon people whose story is full circle. She is proud to say that Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta “raised me.” As a child of Shallowford, she recalls her dad being an elder and her mom working in the nursery. By high school, she was deeply involved in the music program.

Julie said, “The influence Shallowford had on my life as a teenager was significant. Bette and Bob Chambless modeled the way for loving sacred music and a devotion to service in the church.”

But going off to college became a separation that would last a while. Marriage, raising children and moving away from Atlanta followed their usual path. Upon finally returning to Atlanta 35 years later, she began looking for another church — besides Shallowford. Several left her ambivalent. But longtime friends began urging her to return to the campus she once called home. Their steady, happy pressure finally worked!

Julie was brought back to the familiar feeling of Shallowford and knew this was a community that built both joy and comfort for her personally. “When Lynn Mathis chases you down the sidewalk after church to say hello and welcome you back to Shallowford, it’s hard to not feel welcomed and loved,” Julie said lovingly. She wanted to be with others in this community, whether as a member or as a leader. She felt comfortable even having her faith tested as she learned more about it.

Julie’s participation at Shallowford gives her satisfaction, both as someone who serves and now as one whose granddaughter is in the children’s ministry and attends Shallowford Presbyterian School. She likes to appraise how we minister to various populations, whether gender, ethnic or the older population. She wants her morning service as a greeter to communicate the sincerity of Shallowford’s warm welcome as soon as they come in the door!

“Shallowford really does welcome all. … I have witnessed many visitors arrive with a questioning look and leave with a smile. The Shallowford impact is real and is lived out every day.”

Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Atlanta

Let us join in prayer for:

Katilyn Marler, Communications and Social Media Specialist, Marketing, The Presbyterian Foundation
Neal Martin, Service Desk Technician, Administrative Services Group

Let us pray:

Gracious God, give us humble hearts so that we can recognize the gifts of others and encourage the use of those gifts for the building up of your church and for the fulfillment of your mission. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Atlanta church welcomes couple with open arms

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Mike Tomasovich

Mike Tomasovich and his wife, Nancy, were looking for a new church after Rehoboth Presbyterian Church near Tucker, Georgia, closed in 2016. “We visited several Presbyterian churches around our home, and because some of our friends had already joined Shallowford, we decided to visit,” Mike said. “Shallowford was not at the top of our list of churches to visit because we thought it was too big.”

“Right from the first visit, I was impressed with how friendly everyone was. People would come up to us and say hello and introduce themselves,” Mike said.

“I was more impressed the second visit when people remembered my name and even pronounced my last name correctly. People of all ages would mix together. We found adult Sunday school classes, which offered many different options for learning.” Mike felt this was because Shallowford was a larger church with more resources.

Mike and Nancy began attending the Pairs & Spares adult Sunday school class because most people seemed to be about their age. “The people in the class were very friendly and made me comfortable, making it easier for me to participate,” said Mike. “I enjoy reading the Bible and trying to figure things out. I also ask a lot of questions about Scripture, and because of the class participation, I’ve learned to look at things from a different viewpoint.”

Mike also found other ways to participate in Shallowford’s life. “After a few years, I was asked to serve on the session and was assigned to the facilities committee. This was an eye-opener for me; there were more people on the committee than would show up for a workday at my old church,” said Mike. “I am proud of how our campus looks.”

Your generosity makes it possible for Shallowford Presbyterian Church to provide a wide range of Sunday school classes to welcome and challenge new members like Mike. It also provides opportunities for members to volunteer and participate in the community that is Shallowford Presbyterian Church. Thank you for all the ways you live out our mission to invite all people to a faithful way of life in Christ and community.

Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Atlanta

Let us join in prayer for:

Steve Maier, Network Analyst, Information Technology Infrastructure, Administrative Services Group
Troy Marables, SVP Director of Human Resources, The Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Loving God, we are mindful that you have called your people to sit together in the kingdom of God. We are thankful for new ministries within our midst that give witness to that calling.

Mission Yearbook: Family finds just what it’s looking for at Shallowford Presbyterian Church in Atlanta

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Gary Adams

Gary Adams, a native of Atlanta, grew up in a close and loving family but one that had no ties to church or religion. However, his younger brother Don answered God’s call, accepted Christ at the age of 14, and pursued a career in ministry.

Years later, a car hit and killed Don and his son near Don’s church. The tragedy had a profound effect on Gary, and he experienced a conversion.

“I made my decision; I gave myself to the Lord at the funeral home,” Gary said. “But I was still suffering. It was a year until we found a church to help us.”

Gary and his wife, Debbie, wanted a church where they could grow their faith and raise a family. On a neighbor’s suggestion, they visited Shallowford Presbyterian Church with their young daughter and son. Gary connected with Shallowford men who served as the role models and mentors he needed.

“We joined, and the whole family jumped in ‘neck deep’ and never looked back,” Gary said.

He attended the men’s prayer breakfast and volunteered with the Building and Grounds Committee. Debbie enjoyed her women’s circle and helped with the food pantry. Active in Shallowford Youth, the kids sang in the Chapel Choir and went on choir tours each summer.

“We soon learned that you get out what you put in!” Gary said. “We discovered a community that has provided meaningful relationships for us and our kids for 30 years. Our family members all made lifelong friends.”

Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Atlanta

Let us join in prayer for:

Teresa Mader, Project Manager, Presbyterian Giving Catalog, Administrative Services Group
Peter Maher, Vice President & Managing Director, Investments, The Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Redeeming and restoring God, we give thanks for the varied ministries of the church. Help us to make good use of the skills and talents as we share in the building and rebuilding of Christ’s church. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Erath County Community Garden in Texas helps relieve hunger

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A small sample of produce was harvested in September 2025.

The First Presbyterian Church of Stephenville, Texas, in conjunction with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and First Christian Church, established the Erath County Community Garden in April 2022 on church property to help relieve hunger in the county. Since then, it has given several thousand pounds of produce to local food pantries, including Tarleton State University and the Cisco College, Stephenville campus, Grace Place, a mission of the First Baptist Church, and H.O.P.E. (a local “private, nonprofit organization designed to assist low-income residents of Erath County with food, clothing, and medical assistance.”

Erath County is a rural county, about two hours southwest of Fort Worth, whose major industry is agricultural in nature, primarily dairy, as well as home to Tarleton State University.

Donald Smith; The First Presbyterian Church of Stephenville, Texas

Let us join in prayer for:

Catherine Lynch, Senior Relationship Manager, Presbyterian Investment & Loan
Daniel Mace, Systems Engineer II, Information Technology, The Presbyterian Foundation

Let us pray:

Gracious God, thank you that your children can receive hope for a better life. May your Holy Spirit guide and strengthen leaders to your glory and praise. In Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Wicomico Presbyterian Church in Maryland gives HOPE to people in need

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Wicomico Presbyterian Church

Wicomico Presbyterian Church is a historical Presbyterian church located in downtown Salisbury, Maryland. Many of our neighbors are either homeless or have housing insecurity. And many of our schools have children with food insecurity. We are using our facility resources to host, at no cost, a 501(c)(3) organization, Help and Outreach Point of Entry (HOPE) Inc. (hopesby.com), which strives to serve as an access point for low-income, at-risk individuals in our community. This summer, we hosted a HOPE community resource fair and supported HOPE to expand operations to three days each week, serving meals out of our kitchen and using our grounds to house a portable shower. HOPE serves as a daytime shelter and reaches 220 clients on a weekly basis.

Our congregation, through our deacons, has taken on food insecurity needs by teaming up with five local elementary schools to help stock their food pantries, and to provide sacks of ready-to-eat food for at-risk children to take home for weekend meals. Last year, we provided roughly 120 sacks every other week, with demand continuing to grow. In order to address that demand, we worked with the New Castle Presbytery Ignite initiative to obtain a $9,000 grant to help address the added need. Volunteers from the congregation work with the Maryland Food Bank and, when necessary, purchase additional food and package and deliver sacks to the schools for distribution.

About 15 years ago, our congregation purchased a large Sunday school building from another church that was relocating and updated it to provide office space for local nonprofit agencies. The Langeler Memorial Building currently provides space for four nonprofit organizations that serve people here on the Delmarva Peninsula, as well as two church congregations.

Jim Eaton, Elder, Wicomico Presbyterian Church

Let us join in prayer for:

Erika Lundbom, Associate Director of Marketing, Electronic Resources and Strategic Business Development, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Janeen Lush, Accountant, Accounts Payable Office, Administrative Services Group 

Let us pray:

Gracious God, you call us to be Christ incarnate. We are to be the compassionate heart and hands of Christ. We are the loaves and the fish that will give hope and life during these challenging times. Amen.

Pastor's Life - Beauty

Beyond Perfection - Discovering God's Vision of Beauty by Rev. Ivan Herman "God is beguiled by beauty into the work of creation by the beauty of the world. Imagining this beauty, our divine Beloved sings it into existence. At the same time, the beauty of the Good draws humanity and all creation back to its divine source." - Wendy Farley, Beguiled by Beauty On a Wednesday in June, I set off to hunt for beauty through the lens of a camera around Pinnacles National Park. In the cool of the morning, I was the first hiker to reach Bear Gulch Reservoir. The sun was still low enough in the sky that the light wasn’t too harsh. A pair of American coots paddled through the still water that reflected the deep blue of the sky and the bare rock skyline. I took hundreds of photos, each more beautiful than the last. As I continued across the high peaks in search of California condors, I wove through the shadows of the towering pinnacles for which the park is named and ducked into the dark, chilly Balconies Cave, snapping beautiful pictures all the while. When I exited the cave, something changed. It seemed that beauty began to retreat as poison oak stretched across the dusty trail and the afternoon sun washed all the colors from the landscape.

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Rev. Ivan Herman has served as the associate pastor at Carmichael Presbyterian Church since 2009 and is active in the Presbytery of North Central California. He grew up in Ecuador and Colombia, and has previously served as pastor or ruling elder in Presbyterian congregations in Memphis, TN, Washington, DC, and San Antonio, TX. He holds an annual pass to U.S. National Parks as well as degrees from American University, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Wake Forest University. Ivan lives in Sacramento with his spouse, Susan. They keep a well-stocked fridge for their two itinerant young adult sons., but the ice cream never even makes it to the freezer.

Featured Resources

Come, and you will see: An Advent Message "In this new church year we are all invited to Come…so that we might choose to join the adventure to which God is calling." Rev. Joseph Moore, Ministry Relations Officer of the Southwest Region, shares an advent message. Read Story

Advent emphasizes God's purposeful timing "Now is the time to live every waking moment as a thank offering to the Holy One, Christ Jesus, who was, who is, and who is to come." Rev. Dr. Jennifer Lord shares in a Lectionary preview for December. Read Story

Luminosity Conference The Luminosity Conference is scheduled for March 9-11, 2026 in Orlando, FL. This conference will be an inspiring and transformative experience filled with insightful teaching, practical strategies, and meaningful connections. Join us as we learn, dream, and grow together - because the future of ministry starts with leaders like you. Register before December 31 to get Early-Bird Pricing. Read Story

More Light Presbyterians! - 2025 Advent Devotional

Join the MLP community this Advent as we slow down, breathe deep, and reflect on the light rising among us. Our new devotional weaves together voices across our LGBTQIA+ family, offering hope, grounding, and sacred rest.   Download the full devotional here or follow us on our social channels each day of Advent to read a new reflection. 2025 Advent Devotional

Our Contact Information More Light Presbyterians P.O. Box 735764 Chicago, IL 60673 (720) 288-0838 http://www.mlp.org

Special Offering - Prepare the Way

Our gifts help smooth the path for current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need. Born and raised a Presbyterian in South Korea, Rev. Jinho Kim’s life was changed when he met a missionary in the 1970s whose ministry focused on campus and youth evangelism with Spirit-filled worship and discipleship training. A few years later, his youth group was going to sing Christmas carols to marginalized unwed mothers. He was inspired “by faith,” to create a melody for the verse from Psalm 117, “The steadfast love of the Lord is great toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever,” which is still being sung a generation later.    After retirement, having earned only a modest income throughout his years of service, Jinho felt the Psalmist’s love upon receiving help through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, made possible by gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering. “The Lord said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. I thank all my brothers and sisters in the PC(USA), whose generosity through the Christmas Joy O­ffering made the gifts I now receive possible.” —Rev. Jinho Kim TO LEARN MORE about Jinho, his story and how gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering helps retired church works and their families, click here. Thank you for your generous support of Special Offerings. If you have any questions, reply to this email or call 800-728-7228, Ext. 5047.

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Advent Unwrapped: It’s Time to Hurry Up and Wait!🕯️❄️

You’ve Got a Friend in Me

Last year, my son completely went through his Hot Wheel Advent calendar before December even started. I tried to explain that Advent is about waiting. His response: “Why mom? Why should I wait? Aren’t you the one who is always saying Christ is here? Why wait to celebrate someone who is here all the time?” Good question kid! I responded by eating the chocolates in my own Advent calendar, while pondering his question: “Why wait?” Does waiting help to make the celebration more special? Is it spiritual discipline that builds character? Is it a life lesson for all of the times when we are forced to hurry up and wait? Is it a counter-cultural protest, to slow down in a society where we have invested so many resources into instant gratification and quick services? Why wait during Advent? Good question. What I do know is that I am willing to wait for things that I love. Even when my to do list is ridiculously unmanageable, I joyfully wait for my son to play with a snail on the way home from school; the smile and wonder on his face is always worth the wait. I imagine that God waits on me all the time. I imagine that God is waiting for the world to change every day, and is waiting on each of us to change it. Advent is about waiting, but maybe it is about a loving and expectant God waiting on us, just as much as it is about us waiting for love incarnate. Here are some resources while we wait. For Everyone Let’s talk about mental health during Advent with social worker Natasha Halliday.  Reflect more on waiting and on hope with this Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy and these short reflections from Global Partner Rose Wedderburn.  Wondering about Advent and what it all means? Check out our video, What is Advent? and our resource The Basics of Advent. Have some fun with our Advent bingo cards!  Lastly, don’t forget about our Spiritual Practices for the Whole Family.  More worship and prayer resources can be found on the Advent Unwrapped theme page.  If someone has shared this email with you (thanks!) you can subscribe to this newsletter. If you have any ideas or suggestions for Advent Unwrapped, please join the conversation on social media or send us an email at worship@united-church.ca. Waiting with you, Alydia Facebook Website Email Instagram YouTube LinkedIn Your generosity enables the United Church to love, serve, and minister in the world. Make an online donation or learn more about your options to support the work of the church.

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