the pe RF ect ending...

~ Becca Mitchell

wH at C an B e S a I d a BOU t t H e H OL y City? articulating the dynamic life this place holds is such a feat. Jerusalem was the perfect ending to our pilgrimage. Before even embarking on the trip, I did not know what to expect. I have been a world traveler since I was 14 years of age. I was blessed with parents who valued my exposure to a range of epistemologies and worldviews which only helped me develop an open mind to peoples all over the diaspora. the Middle east, however, held something more profound.

the Holy City was truly that: Holy. there was a deep-rooted sense of belonging. It held mystery, pain, knowledge, fear, excitement, and wonder. you were not just walking on stones that supported the current cars, trains, bikes, etc… these paths supported the footsteps of yeshua. and here they remain… supporting my own. It makes me weak in the knees and my throat tightens with the thought.

I was raised to understand the nature of who Jesus was, not a lot of my spiritual development was focused on, or around the Old testament, at all. What this trip changed in my own life and spirit was the ‘coming to life’ of the Old testament. I stood in david’s kingdom. I mean, WHat?! I was standing where the history of Christianity started.

Like I stated previously, I’ve been traveling the world since I was an adolescent. But nothing has changed my heart more than traveling to Jerusalem. Our new friend, andre, prepped our hearts and minds to be present for the dynamic lifestyle we would encounter in Jerusalem. But more than that, he brought the perspective and insight that every human, not just Christian or modern disciple, deserves to know about the life and history of Jerusalem. From standing in the olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane, to the Garden tomb, every step was wholly observed and attended to with care and a dedicated explanation. If you haven’t read andre’s book about the via dolorosa, you must. I cannot stress that point enough.

But as andre continued to reiterate, we didn’t just come to visit the Holy City to observe and learn from the ‘old stones’, but to encounter and understand the ‘living stones.’ to understand their voices of pain and frustration, as well as join them in the celebrations they find each day. the Western Wall was a symbol of an experience of the ‘living stones.’ after visiting with a rabbi a few days earlier and hearing his anger surrounding the fact that he could not worship where he desired, I witnessed the dedication Jews have to creating a space that still serves as a safe space where worship can happen. young children and the elderly opened their hearts in this space. I was moved by their devotion and was overwhelmed with its significance. Who knew a wall could bring so much to so many?

But that was the WHOLe trIP! Old stones brought life and spirit to the living stones. each archeological discovery created more understanding and more connection to the history of the lives before the arrival of Jesus and after.

What hurts my heart is how knowledge is manipulated in the city. Knowledge is sought out like currency and then corrupted and twisted. yes, Jerusalem was powerful and holy, but the pain and the corruption is very real. Knowledge of who built what, when, and where? It was used as power to exclude or given as a reason to discriminate and evict. I wonder if Jesus would weep for his beloved city? Human history started in this space, and even till this day the burdens of being a human, born into sin, remain true. Corruption, hate, discontent and discord reach all ends of the earth. Suffering is not just a problem for one group of people. andre made sure we understood this point by paying attention to the deep anger that runs through the different groups inside the Old City and beyond. He asked us to pray. “Pray for Jerusalem. Pray for us.” Peace will not come through proving who is right or wrong, or who is deserving of what, or who has suffered more. the lesson of Jerusalem comes from the One who brings grace, sacrifice, and forgiveness. the lesson of what all of humanity is in desperate need is acutely felt in this Holy place. thank you andre for your teachings, thank you Lord for your presence and unending love. We love and will continue to pray for you, Jerusalem. ✝

Bultema

Pastoral x 101

Rev.

Rev. Tammy Mitchell tmitchell@pcjh.org x 104

Office Staff

Brian Bultema bbultema@pcjh.org x109

Cindy Dahlin cdahlin@pcjh.org x107

Ally

Program

Laura x102 x123

Amanda Lack alack@pcjh.org little lambs Director x111

Preston Gordon pgordon@pcjh.org

Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator x103

Megan Walker mwalker@pcjh.org youth & young adult Ministry Coordinator x124

Ruling Elders

Class of 2023

Caryn Haman adult Ministry

Josh Ziolkowski young adult Ministry

Alan Lund Personnel

Patty McDonald assimilation & Nomination

Clerk of session: Ken Blount

2024 Caryn Haman adult Ministry

Josh Ziolkowski young adult Ministry

Alan Lund Personnel

Patty McDonald assimilation & Nomination

2025

Sarah Romorini Mission

Trent Doyle Children’s Ministry

Tiffany Tate Congregational life

John Scott Finance teaching elders: rev. Ben Pascal & rev. tamara Mitchell

Deacons

Class of 2023

Michael Schrotz*

Ponteir Sackery

Brian Bultima

Sandra Guido

Fernandez

Class of 2024

Lori Dodd*

Brad Herman*

Joy Steiner*

Tom Segerstrom

Class of 2025

Cameron Page

Dorothy Neckels*

Catherine Wade*

Sierra Fulton*

Sarah roMorInI / new eldeR oF mission

My husband Matt and I moved to Jackson a few years ago, most recently from Washington d.C. I love being outside and exploring. I was drawn to PCJH’s kindness, great sermons (kudos, Ben and tammy!), and an amazing ability to connect with communities near and far. I might have gotten on PCJH missions radar as I work in international development, and was previously based in el Salvador, argentina, and Malawi.

While I haven’t been to the Holy Land, I would be humbled to visit Bethlehem. I like imagining the simplicity, taking away all the pomp and distraction and remembering what Christmas is really about!

trent doyLe / neW eLder oF chILdren'S MInIStry

Greetings. My name is trent doyle. I was born and raised in northeastern Ohio and moved to Colorado shortly after graduating high school. after attending college in Colorado and working as an engineer for several years in the denver area, I headed back east for more schooling and a couple career changes.

Our family (traci and Josiah) moved to Jackson a little over two years ago after having spent 24 years in virginia. I love hiking and exploring the outdoors and I am excited to be back out west. Growing up, Sunday school, backyard bible clubs, summer camp and youth mission trips all played formative roles in growing my faith in Christ. Being part of an intergenerational church as a child and young adult was a special privilege and I was excited to find that here at PCJH.

Our family began attending PCJH virtually during the pandemic and we have enjoyed the opportunity to begin to get to know the community on a more personal level over the past year. I look forward to becoming more engaged in the days ahead as the new Children’s Ministry elder. I have never been to the Holy Land but if I had the chance to visit, I think I would enjoy walking along the Sea of Galilee and envisioning what it might have been like to meet Christ there.

nacy LorI / new membeRs

I’m a new Wyoming resident as of this past year. Previously I resided in new Jersey with the exception of attending Miami University of Ohio (undergraduate) and Marywood College in Pennsylvania (graduate school). afterwards, I spent time working as a registered dietitian.

the decision to join PCJH was inevitable. My maternal family came from a long line of Protestant parishioners in Scotland from the ‘Bell’ family lineage. One of my distant relatives was a Protestant minister who penned one of the hymns in our present-day hymnal.

Upon immigration through ellis Island in the 1920s, my maternal grandmother worked as a nanny in Manhattan. Here, she became very friendly with another Scottish nanny who, in essence, became family known affectionately as my ‘aunt Flo.’ the reason I digress is my aunt Flo worked for the minister of ‘the Little Church around the Corner’ in new york City.

Having been exposed to various family members and having been brought up Protestant my entire life, it was natural that I would also raise my children in the Presbyterian Church. they were baptized and brought up in the Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair in new Jersey. Several years later my husband Peter and I decided to join two of my children out West, whereby we found and joined PCJH.

I have not been to the Holy Land yet, but the place that holds the most interest for me would be Jerusalem. I would like to see the upper floor of King david’s tomb which is the room of the Last Supper. It holds significance to me as I had seen Leonardo davinci’s ‘Last Supper’ painting in Milan, Italy a few years ago.