Dear FPCSA Family & Friends,
How are you all holding up? Hopefully you are surviving the stay at home orders. If you are struggling to put food on the table, please let me know. Simply reply to this email.
We’ve mentioned on several occasions that we are in uncharted waters, living in unprecedented times. This is highlighted this week by the fact that we have a seminary intern from Princeton starting on Monday, May 18th. Let me introduce you to Carlos Acosta…
Here is his bio…
At just the age of 14, Carlos Acosta was able to discern a pastoral calling on his life. After devotedly serving his home church in Carson, CA for over eight years, he decided it was time to take a step of faith and attend seminary. Carlos is now a student at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey and hopes to obtain an M.Div degree. He currently holds a B.A. in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Carlos is more than excited to be interning with us this summer and can’t wait to serve the people of First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana (even if it’s virtually)!
We’ve had several seminary interns here at FPCSA since I’ve been pastor: David Chavez, Dax Jordan, Noelle Tennis, Paul Muresan, Megan Acedo, Ben Muresan, Staci Ashby, and others. Do you remember any of those names? Is there another intern you remember? With the current pandemic, this internship will be different from any other! So expect to start seeing Carlos in worship expriences, Bible studies, committee meetings, and such… online. As part of his internship, he’ll be preaching at least twice and leading a Bible study for a few weeks.
He’ll also be reaching out to members to get to know you, interview you, and learn what it means to be a pastor of a church like FPCSA. Just a heads up. Don’t be fooled by his name. He is not bilingual. 😊
This Sunday, our session will be meeting and discussing what is going on in our congregation, as well as our world. We’ll be putting together a “Corona Task Force” to study and come back with recommendations as to when and how we will reopen.
On a final note, after my tripod let me down last Sunday (literally), I’ve decided to live stream our Sunday mornings from the church sanctuary. Arthur Abadi and the section leaders have agreed to help lead worship (one section leader a Sunday). So it will feel a little more familiar in the weeks ahead. Join us live at 10:00 a.m. PT at our facebook page: FPCSantaAna.
https://www.facebook.com/FPCSantaAna
Hope to “see” you there!
I miss you all like crazy!
In Christ’s love & service,
Rev. Dr. Lance E. Allen, D. Min
First Presbyterian Church Santa Ana