Pastor’s Pondering

Pastor’s Pondering June 2025

Last week, my husband and I traveled to Cancún, Mexico, for my Study Leave. We were blessed to attend the annual gathering of the National Council of Korean Presbyterian Church (USA), held at a beautiful hotel with clear beaches and wonderful food. Each day was filled with worship, prayer, and deep conversations with dear friends, both old and new. On our final day, we visited the ancient Maya ruins with the help of a knowledgeable guide.

The Maya ruins tell stories of a great and mysterious civilization. The towering stone temples were places of human sacrifice, meant to please their gods. Myths and legends still echo through these sacred places. Our guide shared one such story about the ball courts—like the one pictured above—where an important ritual ballgame was played. According to Maya belief, there were 22 gods: 13 of the sky and 9 of the underworld. The underworld gods once tried to destroy humanity, but two of the sky gods came down to Earth to play the ballgame against them. If they won, their wishes would be granted, but they would also be sacrificed—an honor in Maya culture. In the myth, the sky gods won, saving humanity, and their sacrifice turned them into the sun and the moon.

These myths show how people have always tried to make sense of life and the world around them. In contrast, the Old Testament teaches that God commanded God’s people to reject human sacrifice because every person is created in God’s image and is precious. Our God does not want to take life away through death, but to share it with us in love and mercy. God showed us this love by revealing Godself in Jesus Christ, not as a story or a myth, but as a real person in history. In Jesus, God stepped into our world to save us.

The encounter between the Maya and Christianity began in the 1500s with the arrival of the Spanish. Catholicism was forced on the Maya people, and their old religion was suppressed. But over time, many Maya communities blended their old beliefs with Christian teachings, creating unique forms of faith that still live on today. Many Maya people today identify as Christian, though they still include parts of their ancient ways in their worship.

In these stories, myth and history meet. Yet in Christianity, the story of creation and the life of Jesus Christ are not myths. They are the true story of God’s love for us. Jesus is not an invention of human imagination, but the living God, who came to save us. Christianity is not merely a religion; it is life shared with the One who made us.

From Pastor, Rev. Sarah Lee

June 2025 Meetings and Events

Holy Communion: Join us for the Lord’s Supper during our Sunday Worship Service on June 1.

The Session Meeting will meet on Tuesday, June 17, at 1:00 PM.

Day of Pentecost is on Sunday, June 8. The Pentecost offering will be collected.

Trinity Sunday is on Sunday, June 15th.

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 15. Let’s honor and celebrate all fathers! Wish them all a happy and blessed day.

Fellowship Luncheon will be on Sunday, June 29. Bring a dish to share, though it’s not required.

Handbell Rehearsals will be each Wednesday in June from 5-6 PM.

Stone Bible Study will be each Wednesday in June, at 12 PM.

Choir Rehearsals will be held every Sunday at 10:00 AM, except June 15.

Stone Thursday Community will meet on June 19, at 5:30 PM. This monthly gathering is open to all, especially young people and families. Childcare will be provided.

Baptism & Membership: If you or your children are interested in being baptized or becoming members of our church, please speak with a session member or contack the pastor.

June 2025 Birthdays

Christine Dear           June 1

Doug Howland          June 9

Roger Young             June 9

Patricia Abbott          June 13

Joshua Dalton          June 14

Dawley DeMar          June 23

June 2025 Anniversaries

Matthew & Vanessa Siver June 17

Rev. Bruce & Elizabeth Smith June 24

Sympathy

Two of our prominent elders at Stone Presbyterian church have passed away. They will be missed dearly.

Bob Schweitzer - May 9, 2025

Kathie Strader - May 10, 2025

Pastoral Care

If you or someone you know would like a visit or need support, please feel free to reach out. We’re here for you, and it would be a privilege to connect with you.

To arrange a visit, please contact Pastor Sarah Lee.

Call/Text/Message: 315-788-8286

Email: pastorsarahleespc@gmail.com

Urban Mission Food Pantry

In the hall is a shopping cart to place your food donations which will be brought to the Urban Mission.

Please ensure items are not expired, are unopened or damaged or leaking cans and no glass jars.

Thank you for your continued generosity!