A Message from InHo Kim, Transitional Executive Partner for Congregational Vitality and Clergy Support
I am currently spending four days at Zephyr Point, participating in and supporting the Clergy of Color gathering for the San Francisco, San Jose, Redwoods, and North Central California presbyteries.
Close to 30 clergy have gathered for physical, spiritual, and emotional rejuvenation. The pastors are here to heal and rejuvenate each other. We are sharing devotions, moving our bodies, singing beautiful songs, enjoying the breathtaking beauty of God’s creation, laughing together, and mostly importantly, sharing stories of the difficulties of the pandemic and the sense of resiliency we have through it all. Listening to these stories brought up my own memories of fear, confusion, not knowing what to do, and losses. But it also has brought up memories of how I have continued navigating through it. And I sit with my own stories I know I am not alone. At this particular gathering, 30 other colleagues and friends support me and each other on this journey.
Last night, we sang a song, “Lean on Me”. You know words. They are:
Some time in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on…
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
We at the Presbytery want you to know that you are not alone. We have been with you from the beginning and we will be with you through the pandemic and beyond. We continue to keep you in prayer in each day and please don’t hesitate to contact us for support.
Thank you and may you continue to feel God’s loving arms closely wrapped around you through this time.
InHo Kim