Convocations

Nancy Taylor, Executive Director of the Presbyterian Historical Society

November 9, 2023

4:30 PM

Nancy J. Taylor is the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) in Philadelphia. She started at PHS in 1999 as the Records Archivist, working primarily with congregations and mid councils from around the country on how to manage, preserve, and share their records and histories. From 2011 to 2019, she served as Director of Programs and Services at PHS before being named executive director in 2019. Nancy is a certified archivist and holds degrees in U.S. history from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a member of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA.

New Residents Daniel and Catherine Cummings

November 2, 2023

4:30 PM

Daniel and Catherine Cummings have moved into A21 as of Thursday, 9/28. They are coming to MVGH from Beverly Hills where they were active members of the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church for 35 years. Catherine was the Executive Assistant to Rev. Dr. James Morrison (late resident of MVGH along with his wife Sarah Morrison) for 20 years. Catherine assisted in the management of the church, the congregational care ministries, new member classes, and support for the worship services. Danny was an active member of the community and served on Session. His place of service was largely in the Narthex each Sunday greeting people and organizing ushers to receive the offering.

San Marino Community Church Pastoral Resident Beth Putney + Tom Tewell

October 19, 2023

4:30 PM

New Residents Peggy Krong + Bob and Judy Cassell

October 12, 2023

4:30 PM

Rev. Garnet Marguerite (Peggy) Krong was an Associate Pastor at Westwood Presbyterian Church from 2000-2012 and before that at Holy Trinity in San Antonio, TX. She has also worked as a Christian Educator in Oakland, CA and a Resident Minister at the University of San Francisco while she was in seminary. Peggy has two children, Holly and Meghan and two grandchildren, Rowan and Ian. Bob and Judy were born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They met in the high school youth group at First Presbyterian Church, downtown. Sensing a strong call to pastoral ministry, Bob attended the University of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary while Judy attended Muskingum College. Following his graduation in 1966, they were married. Judy and Bob became partners in ministry. Installed pastoral positions include congregations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Indiana, and California. Bob felt a strong call to interim transition ministry and, building on the D. Min. he earned at PTS in 1978, he earned the designation Professional Transition Specialist (PTS) from the Interim Ministry Network (IMN) and served as interim pastor for eleven congregations in California, Illinois, and Arizona churches. Continued professional development in this ministry specialty continued for more than three decades. Along the way Judy earned a masters degree in marriage and family therapy and integrated her knowledge of family systems within the context of ministry. Judy and Bob have three adult children and two grandchildren who live in the Los Angeles area.

Fernando guerra

October 5, 2023

4:30 PM

Fernando J. Guerra, professor of political science and chicana/o latina/o studies, is the founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. His area of scholarly work is in local governance, urban politics, and racial and ethnic politics. Dr. Guerra has been a principal investigator in over 20 major studies on Los Angeles, leadership studies and electoral politics. He is also the principal investigator for the largest general social survey in the Los Angeles region.

Jack Lantz Music Director at LCPC Music of Cole Porter

September 28, 2023

4:30 PM

Kristen Leucht Board of Pensions Medical Plan

September 21, 2023

4:30 PM

The Reverend Kristin Leucht joined the Board of Pensions in 2019 and became a Senior Church Consultant in July 2021. Prior to joining the Board, she served as an Executive Pastor at La Cañada Presbyterian Church in California. In addition to serving for over 21 years as an Associate Pastor, Kristin has participated in leadership of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii, and of the Presbytery of San Fernando. She has been a member of the Committee on Ministry as well as the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of the Presbytery of San Fernando. Kristin has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is currently working towards a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree from Point Loma Nazarene University. Kristin and her husband, Chris, reside in La Crescenta and are parents to two young adult children. Aaron is a recent graduate of the University of Arizona and works for Deloitte in Phoenix. Allison is a sophomore at Point Loma Nazarene University studying kinesiology with the hopes of becoming a physical therapist. Presbyteries in Kristin’s region are in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, California, and Hawaii.

New Residents: Don & Bev Hagner and Charles Svendsen

September 14, 2023

4:30 PM

New Residents: Sandy Tice, Tom Rennard & Patches Thomas

September 7, 2023

4:30 PM

Sandy Tice grew up in Eagle Rock and as a teenager raised money for her presbyterian youth group by attaching flowers to parade floats during the last week of December each year. In some ways, arriving at MVGH for her Third Chapter feels like coming full circle. She and her husband Tom Rennard met in Pasadena (at Fuller), married in Pasadena and have served as pastors in Southern California for decades. She has been a camp director, youth pastor, spiritual director and pastor’s wife as well as a pastor. Her grown daughter Bethany lives in Brooklyn and is a graphic designer. Most recently, Sandy was pastor at First Pres San Bernardino.

Janet Logan and Martha Clark

May 25, 2023
4:30 PM

rev. Harlon redmond

May 18, 2023
4:30 PM

Rev. Harlan Redmond was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He served in the United States Army for 5 years in Germany and throughout Europe and is a veteran of the Iraq War. He has a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and a Masters in Teaching with an emphasis in Urban Education from the University of Southern California. Harlan served for 7 years as Executive Director/ Principal of Harambee Preparatory School, a Christian elementary school for low-income students. Harlan is a recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating with a master’s in divinity. After graduating from seminary, Harlan and his family moved back to Southern California to launch a new worshiping community, called Interwoven, it is a church plant that is dedicated to engaging in the process of Oneness as Jesus prayed in John 17. The church officially launched Easter Sunday of 2022. On December 18, 2022, Rev. Harlan was ordained. Harlan and his wife of 20 years, Nanyamka, reside in Pasadena, California with their three sons, Harlan Jr., Dietrich, and Langston Scott Redmond. Rev. Redmond loves to travel, learn the basics of new languages and attempt of playing golf. His favorite Theologians include: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reinhold Niebuhr, Kwok Pui-lan, William James Jennings, Howard Thurman, Paul Tillich, and James H. Cone.

Dr. Alison wong

May 11, 2023
4:30 PM

Dr. Alison G. Wong Ph.D., LMFT, the Program and Clinical Director of the Cancer Support Community of Pasadena, will be the guest speaker for our Convocation on Thursday, May 11. For over 33 years the Cancer Support Community of Pasadena has been offering free services so that no one, or their loved ones, has to face cancer alone. Dr. Wong will outline the present virtual and in-person programs offered by the Cancer Support Community. She will also highlight the upcoming changes, which the Community is so excited about. These changes will enhance their service to the Greater San Gabriel Valley through their first permanent home in Sierra Madre.

nEIL a. mOTTINGER

April 27, 2023
4:30 PM

Neil grew up in the 50’s on a small family farm southwest of Chicago, near Joliet, Illinois. During his junior year of high school his mother arranged to look through a neighboring son’s telescope. Unknowingly that set the course for an interest in space that ultimately found him at JPL in deep space navigation. Northrop Aircraft of Los Angeles hired him in June 1966, and for 6 months he worked atop Palos Verdes Peninsula. Following the demise of that program he started working as a contractor at JPL in March 1967. A year later he switched from contractor to employee where he’s continued to work for a total of 56 years and counting. He's always worked in deep space navigation, indirectly supporting many missions, and a member of the navigation team on others. Some of those included the first Mars orbiter, the first Mars landers, and over 120 launches in a 20-year span. Recent missions include the Mars Science Laboratory rover in 2012, InSight in 2018 (placing a seismometer on the surface of Mars), and the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity helicopter. He’s also worked with numerous international space agencies in Europe, Japan and India. Thanks to Gary Demarest he met his wife at Hollywood Presbyterian Church, and is active at La Canada Presbyterian Church playing in the hand bell choir and a Stephen Minister. He will speak on the subject of “All the Way to Mars & Beyond”

marsha v. rood

aPRIL 20, 2023
4:30 pm

Community leaders saw that Old Pasadena had significant value because it was an authentic place and would provide unique experiences that could not be duplicated elsewhere. Marsha Rood served as the City of Pasadena’s Development Administrator from 1982 – 2000 and was responsible for a nationally recognized program of redevelopment and economic revitalization for Downtown Pasadena, including Old Pasadena. She more recently served as the Community Development Director of the City of Culver and principal of her own company, Urban Reinventions.

new residents

April 11, 2023
4:30 PM

Introducing Liz Cheadle and Judy & Tom Durff.

Elizabeth nordquist

March 30, 2023
4:30 PM

In our lifetime we have seen the locations of women in the Church evolve with the changing of the times. Elizabeth will share her view, having lived in and serve the Church in Southern California, where she began, where she was called and what she hope and dreams for the uncharted days ahead. Elizabeth Nordquist is the retired Director of Student Services and Associate Professor of Spirituality at San Francisco Theological Seminary in Southern California. On the faculty of SFTS/SC she taught the Introduction of Ministry courses, the Internship Integration courses, and courses in spirituality. She was a pastor in several churches in the Presbytery of the Pacific from 1983-1997. She presently has a ministry of spiritual direction, as well as preaches and teaches locally and around the country. She was trained in spiritual direction in the Diploma of the Art of Spiritual Direction at SFTS, concurrently with earning her D.Min. She now worships at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Westwood, Los Angeles. She recommends reading 2 Timothy 1: 5-7.

Kathleen Berns Albrektson

March 17, 2023
4:00 PM

Kathleen Berns Albrektson is the founding partner of Albrektson & Shumate Law Offices, a firm devoted to Estate Planning, Trust Administration, Probate, Elder Law, and Business Law.

Her firm consistently receives the “Best Law Firm of the County” designation by readers of the San Bernardino Sun/Redlands Daily Facts. Kathy grew up in Indianapolis and followed her brother, Don Berns, to Duke University where she was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and majored in religion. She has a Master's Degree in Religion. She graduated with honors from The University of La Verne College of Law.

Kathy served on the full-time staff of Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) for 20 years. She was active in women's ministries in Indiana, California, and the Philippines. Prior to going into private practice, Kathleen was a corporate attorney and Director of Planned Giving for Cru.

Andrea shaw, m.d.

March 9, 2023
4:00 PM

Andrea Victoria Shaw, M.D., Director of the Refugee Health team at Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York.  Afghan refugees face medical and other challenges as they settle into new home in America.  

The United States accepted more than 65,000 people from Afghanistan after the U.S. and allied troops left the country in 2021, and less than a month later, Upstate’s Refugee Health team was caring for the first families of Afghan refugees to arrive in the Syracuse area. That work continues, as described by Andrea Shaw, MD, the doctor who leads the Refugee Health team.

Shaw, a doctor who specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics, will share with us what these new refugees are dealing with.  Syracuse, New York is a “sanctuary city.” 

world day of prayer

March 2, 2023
4:00 pm

World Day of Prayer Jean Woo, Rachel Lausch and Jane Vásquez “I have heard about your faith….” Ephesians 1: 15-19. World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical movement led by women and celebrated worldwide since 1927. This year the Christian women of Taiwan take us into their lives through prayer and song. It is an invitation to active listening in the midst of suffering and injustice. Theirs is a witness of faith despite many obstacles.

Elder Alfreda vencile thomas

February 23, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Elder Alfreda Concile Thomas was born in Pensacola, Florida in the 1930s, where legally entrenched systems of discrimination and segregation were apparent in all facets of that city. She decided at an early age she wanted to play a part in making changes to that system of living in. In the early 40’s, she moved to Montgomery, AL, only to discover that those disparities and conditions existed there as well.

Under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, she actively participated in the 1955 Montgomery Bus Project. From listening to Rev. King, her pastor, speak on the power of love and peaceful protest, she joined the Nonviolent Civil Rights Movement.

Her ever-abiding mottos are: “Be a brave and strong advocate for what you desire, believe in it and do it through God because nothing great comes easy, but with God everything is possible.”

Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor

February 16, 2023
4:00 PM PT

Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor is a long-time member of the historic Allen Temple Baptist Church where she serves as the Archivist/Church Historian, and served as   the past Historian for the Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc., Wash. D.C.   Dr. Taylor is an assistant pastor, educator, professor, author, newspaper columnist and social activist.   

She has served as the installed pastor of Elmhurst Presbyterian church, and interim pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, both in Oakland.  She is dually ordained, Baptist and Presbyterian.

She has been featured in “Who’s Who Among Black Americans for 5 consecutive years for her contributions in mass transportation including consulting in Argentina, Egypt, Canada, and U.S. facilities.   She is a weekly columnist for the Oakland Post Newspaper Group.

dr. hansonia caldwell harriford

february 9, 2023
4:00 PM PT

Dr. Hansonia Caldwell Harriford, is professor of music emeritus at California State University Dominguez Hills. She holds degrees in musicology from Boston University (B.Mus.) and from the University of Southern California (MA and PhD), and built a career as a distinguished pianist, accompanist, conductor, church organist, university administrator and scholar.

Over the years, she has been an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has been involved with the music ministry of Knox Presbyterian Church of Baltimore (beginning at age 8), 2nd Unitarian Church of Boston, Vermont Avenue/Community Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, and Knox Presbyterian Church of Ladera Heights. She is now a member of the board of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.

Reverend kamal hassan

february 2, 2023
4:00 PM PT

The war in ukraine and the russian orthodox church
with dr. john burgess

January 26, 2023
4:00 PM PT

Dr. John Burgess, professor of Systematic Theology at Pittsburgh Seminary who has spent three years in Russia, will speak on the complete turnaround of the Russian Orthodox Church’s relationship with Vladimir Putin during the invasion and subsequent war in Ukraine.

mark chase,
rector at all saints church

January 12, 2023
4:00 PM PT

Chase holds a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Seminary, and is deeply committed to pursuing racial justice, pursuing the real Jesus, and helping to dismantle the burdens of white supremacy and the myriad ways it manifests itself within ourselves and our communities. He has spent the last several years of his pastoral ministry experience at Fellowship Church in Monrovia (2014-2021), and Fellowship’s Center for Racial Reconciliation. He was drawn to All Saints due to its history of being a prophetic witness for the marginalized, as well as its recent history of providing a safe refuge to those advocating for Black Lives. He will share with us how the words and actions of Dr. King relate to our lives today.

PROFESSOR RICHARD BELL

January 5, 2023
4:00 PM PT

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS

December 15, 2022
4:00 PM PT

THIRTY-YEAR JOURNEY: THE STORY OF RUSSIAN-UKRANIAN CHURCHES IN SPOKANE

December 8, 2022
4:00 PM PT

We will hear from leaders in Spokane who have been at the forefront of welcoming Russians and Ukrainians into the Spokane Christian community.

Boris Borisov came to Spokane from Odessa, Ukraine, when he was a young boy. For many years, Boris worked as a senior project developer for Spokane, guiding the city through major renovation efforts in numerous neighborhoods. Boris completed his M.A. in Theology from Whitworth University and is now the pastor of Pacific Keep Church, a congregation known for its intercultural approach to ministry with refugees.

Mark Finney completed his M.Div and Ph.D. degrees at Fuller Seminary, then moved to Spokane to plant a church, and along the way became the Director of World Relief Spokane. During his five-year tenure, World Relief Spokane became known for partnering with 35 churches to create Good Neighbor Teams as churches built relationships with refugees living in their neighborhood. Last winter, Mark left World Relief to start Thrive International, a ministry to address the housing needs of refugees.

In April and May, Boris and Mark along with state, county, and city officials, and a group of private investors joined to turn a hotel into a place of welcome for hundreds of Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country. This should be an exciting and challenging conversation!

Dr. Dan Hyslop

December 1, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Dr. Hyslop is the chair of the Marol Academy, a non-profit that Barbara helped to incorporate and chaired their board for 10 years.

MEET THE STAFF:

Victoria Eaton, Adam Villegas, Edgar Curiel

November 17, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Wellness Coordinator Victoria Eaton organizes programs at the Wellness Center which involves classes, one on one wellness education, gym maintenance, and resident community interaction. “What I love is hearing stories about residents and seeing them put to action their love of life physically, emotionally and socially. I get joy out of seeing how well this community functions. I love learning and I get to do that here.”

Adam Villegas, Director of Environmental Services, finds each day full of surprises, keeping him ‘on my toes’. “I enjoy working with staff in different departments, residents and incoming residents. I enjoy our campus and the beautiful grounds, it gives me a peace when I’m walking the campus. I appreciate coming to a place that appreciates me.

Our Business Office Manager, Edgar Curiel, sees the nature of his job as a mix of continuously moving parts that deal with scheduling, communicating and the occasional completion of ‘duties as needed ‘. “The thing I like most about my job is strong sense of community from residents and staff at MVGH. Everyone has been so welcoming and always willing to lend a helping hand.”

Pasadena Education Network (PEN) Presentation:

Susan Savitt Schwartz

November 10, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Susan Savitt Schwartz has served as the Program Director for PEN since 2008. A 23-year resident of Altadena and mother of two daughters, she also serves on the national leadership team for IntegratedSchools.org.

Pasadena Education Network is an independent grass-roots nonprofit organization that was founded by parents, for parents, in 2006. PEN’s mission is to promote family involvement in public education in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) so all children benefit. Now a network of more than 2,000 parents who support and send our children to PUSD Schools, PEN provides information, free community programs and services that help parents explore, evaluate, and engage constructively with their public schools. Susan will talk about how PEN's work has evolved to serve a more diverse audience, and why changing the narrative about public education is more important now than ever.

NEW RESIDENTS:

Lloyd Evans &

Karen Kiser

November 3, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Today we will introduce and welcome our newest Monte Vista Grove Homes residents: Karen Kiser and Lloyd Evans. Karen is a cradle Presbyterian who went to seminary in her thirties and has been a youth leader, Christian educator, and pastor who appreciates reformed theology. She was on the MVGH board of Trustees from 2006 to 2015. Lloyd’s career includes 30 years as a teacher and Dean at a community college, 11 years as pastor at Mingus View Presbyterian Church in Arizona, and 3 interim ministries. Karen will be interviewed by Tom Erickson, and Lloyd will be interviewed by Ron White. Please join us as we welcome these new friends to the Grove campus.

“Access to arts education among students with functional variations: an opportunity for change?“

Christopher John Mathieu, PhD

October 27, 2022
4:00 PM PT

To promote human flourishing throughout society, opportunities for arts participation must encompass all citizens. A primary means to promote this is arts education and activities for schoolchildren. Equal opportunities for participation are currently not enjoyed by students with disabilities, according to a 2016 public-health survey including 27,395 students with and without disabilities, in the Swedish region of Skäne.

Chris Mathieu is Associate Professor in the Sociology of Work and Organisations at Lund University, Sweden. His research also includes the Sociology of the arts, and he is currently Chair of the European Sociological Associations Research Network on the Sociology of the Arts.

He has recently edited Accomplishing Cultural Policy in Europe: Financing, Governance and Responsiveness (Routledge, 2022, with Valerie Visanich) and the Oxford Handbook of Job Quality (OUP, 2022; with Chris Warhurst and Rachel Dwyer).

What’s Going On Here? Stumbling Towards the Kin-dom

Wendy S. Tajima

October 20, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Rev. Wendy S. Tajima, Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of San Gabriel, will reflect on current efforts at San Gabriel and in the recent General Assembly to make structural changes needed for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to reflect and celebrate the richness of God’s family. As a cradle Presbyterian who is continuing the family “business” surrounded by new Presbyterians, Wendy has appreciation for the Presbyterian tradition, and the promise for the future.

Wendy was born and raised in Pasadena. Her grandfather was an immigrant Japanese pastor and her uncle was her pastor throughout her childhood. Her family members have
engaged in intercultural relationships and the Christian church since the
1800s.

Since college, Wendy worked with battered women and their children, then earned an MBA and worked for Apple Computer while volunteering as a trainer against racism and sexual violence. Wendy was a manager in Apple’s Evangelism Department when she started seminary. She was ordained in 1997 and served ecumenically in Hawai‘i for 10 years. Since returning to California, she worked at SFTS and as a Stated Clerk before coming home to San Gabriel. She is currently a GAPJC Commissioner and strives to encourage more diverse voices to be heard in the church.

An interview with:

Dr. Bridgett Green

October 13, 2022
4:00 PM PT

On October 13, at 4 pm, Dean Thompson will conduct a Convocation interview with Bridgett A. Green, Vice President of Publishing for The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and Editorial Director of Westminster John Knox Press. She is the first woman and the first African American person in this position in the nearly 200-year old Press. She was formerly Assistant Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. From 2013-2018 Green served as an acquisitions editor for Westminster John Knox Press. She has served on the boards of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the Presbyterian Outlook, and the Montreat Conference Center. She is a graduate of Davidson College, Princeton Theological Seminary (M. Div.), and Vanderbilt University (Ph. D. in New Testament and Early Christianity).

The Church as Servant in the Voting Rights Mission

Bruce Calkins

October 6, 2022
4:00 PM PT

From the 1880’s through the 1960’s, a Black person who tried to vote in Mississippi risked death. In 1963 and 64, John Lewis and Bob Moses, leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), demanded that the opportunity to vote be a right of citizenship, not a privilege of race. Bruce Calkins, a MVGH resident who in 1964 was Pastor of a Black and Puerto Rican congregation in the Bronx, will share the story of how he and other Presbyterians helped shift from the role of leader to the role of servant in Hattiesburg Mississippi.

Being Post-Pentecostal

Franklin woo

September 29, 2022
4:00 PM PT

“Being Post-Pentecostal” means to see the “mighty works of God” not in one’s own language such as the “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,” as recorded in the book of Acts 2, but in the language of the other and how they see what it means to be truly human. Applying this to our need to be inclusive toward Asians today here at MVGH and across America, we need to see the bigger picture of all the negative reports on U.S. social and news media that have influenced more than 80% of the American public against Asians in general and Chinese in particular. The U.S. political elites see themselves in a Unipolar World; we need to recognize the world as becoming Multipolar and adjust to China’s rise and work cooperatively with it.

Franklin Woo was born in San Francisco Chinatown, served in the Navy during World War II, and studied life sciences at UC Berkeley and San Francisco. After studies at SFTS, San Anselmo (later at Columbia Teachers College and Union Theological Seminary, New York) he served 16 years in Hong Kong working with refugee students from China and as chaplain and lecturer in Religion and Philosophy at Chung Chi College, Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 1976 he became Director of the China Program, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Since retirement he and Jean have been residents of MVGH for 25 years.

Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S. Today

Edmundo and Jane Vásquez

September 22, 2022
4:00 PM PT

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month. Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence from Spain during September. Today in the U.S. more than 62 million people (18% of the
population) identify as Hispanic or Latino.

The Southwest was annexed by the U.S. in 1848, bringing in a large Spanish-speaking population. Hispanic migration to the 20th and 21st c. was driven by displacement and economic instability caused by regional civil wars, in which the U.S. government had involvement. The wars ended, but economic instability remained—as did migration. This convocation attempts to explain who Hispanic Americans are and how they contribute to our national identify.

Cultivating a Compassionate Community

Rev. Dr. Mark Whitlock

September 15, 2022
4:00 PM PT

THE CENTRAL NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL PRESENTATION AND THE CENTRAL OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL PROMISE

DR. F. DALE BRUNER

April 7, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Dale Bruner was brought into the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood in the early 1950s where, under the influence of Dr. Henrietta Mears and her College Department, he found Christ, his wife Kathy, and his calling to be a Bible Teacher. With degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Hamburg (Germany) he taught at Union Theological Seminary (Philippines) and Whitworth University. After moving to Monte Vista Grove in 1997 Dale taught “The Good News Class” at First Presbyterian, Hollywood, for 18 years. For Convocation he will draw on his recently published Commentary on Romans (2021) to explore the relation of Romans 3:21-15a, the single deepest summary of the Gospel in the New Testament, to Isaiah 53, the deepest single presentation of the coming Gospel in the old T estament.

music program

jennifer miller hammel

April 21, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Jennifer Miller Hammel has been performing professionally as a vocalist, recording artist, and pianist for nearly 20 years. She will perform for us acapella “The Wayfaring Stranger, an important folk song to her and share how did she went from studying to be an opera singer to working as a morning radio host. Many MVGH residents know and appreciate her as a soloist at San Marino Community Church. Jennifer was the featured vocal soloist and pianist with the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Jazz Ensemble, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. She completed her Master of Music degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. Her vocal career highlights include soprano soloist in Poulenc’s Gloria, Seven Last Words of Christ, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, various productions in the ensembles of the Princeton Opera Festival, Pacific Opera Project, Opera Santa Barbara, and Long Beach Opera. In 2017, she shifted her vocal talents from the opera stage to the radio booth where she can be heard weekdays as the morning show host on LA’s classical KUSC and is the host of the nationally syndicated KUSC Opera Show and LA Opera On-Air broadcasts. Most recently, she became the host of POPeracast, the in-house podcast for Southern California’s Pacific Opera Project.

LEADING BEYOND THE BLIZZARD:
THE RESILIENT CHURCH DURING AND THROUGH COVID

TERRY McGONIGAL

April 28, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Monte Vista Grove resident Terry McGonigal will interview colleagues on the staff of the Whitworth University Office of Church Engagement (OCE) about their interactions with hundreds of churches facing the challenging of the pandemic. Through the OCE’s commitment “to partner with churches and ministries in order to equip disciples and engage culture with the Good News of Jesus,” churches have developed resiliency to carry on ministries in their communities with courage, compassion, and innovation. Multiple examples

will be provided of what the Resilient Church looks like going forward.

Terry McGonigal completed his full time work at Whitworth University as Dean of the Chapel and Campus Pastor (1994-2014) and as the founding Director of the Office of Church Engagement (2014-2020). During his twenty seven year tenure at the University Whitworth deepened and expanded its mission commitment to serve and support churches. This work continues through the OCE’s direction in four different projects funded by the Lilly Endowment.

The writing class

may 5, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Six members of the MVGH Writing Class—Alan Reutter, Howard Den Hartog, Merilie Robertson, Norm Thomas, Tom Wentz, and our special guest, Jean Woo--will share their stories at today’s Convocations. The class is a non-credit course, titled ‘Life Review,’ offered by Pasadena City College, and taught by Professor Anna Walker. Anna is an outstanding teacher, who provides helpful resources each week to aid us who are at various levels in the writing process. Every week there’s a specific prompt and excellent materials provided relevant to ‘life review’ and memoir writing, but all are reminded they are free to use previous prompts or to follow one’s own self-direction. Classmates remark on the safe environment Anna and other classmates create for writing on and sharing difficult life experiences, humorous occasions, mundane events and how to make them engaging for the would-be reader. All agree that enrolling in the writing class is a wonderful way to come to know well and to enjoy the company of our MVGH resident neighbors. Consider joining us--enroll in August for the Fall semester!

Occidental glee club

May 12, 2022
4:00 PM PT

Since 1906, the Occidental Glee Club has played a central role in the life of the College, drawing musicians of the highest caliber and giving voice to their college spirit. They recently presented their first in-person concert in three years. Their director, Desiree LaVertue, also conducts the college chorus and teaches voice classes, choral conducting, and voice lessons. Previously she was director of the glee clubs at Caltech. Several MVGH residents are alumni of Occidental College in Eagle Rock, CA.

DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION –
THE NEW CATCH PHRASE IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND CHURCHES.

DEBORAH OWENS

May 19, 2022
4:00 PM PT

The Racial Awakening of the Summer of 2020 led to a recommitment on the part of many organizations and institutions to developing systems and structures that are designed for all people, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, ability, or sexual orientation. In general, the objective is to create opportunities and possibilities for all people to achieve their highest potential, to participate fully in society and to be respected as valued members of our communities and institutions. A tall order! How have educational and spiritual organizations responded to this challenge and what might lie ahead as we continue on this path?

THIRTY YEARS OF AIR FORCE

DR. LISA HANSEN

May 26, 2022
4:00 PM PT

DR. Lisa Hanson: Thirty Years of Air Force chaplaincy followed by urban parish ministry at Pasadena Presbyterian Church.

A convocation interview with Dean Thompson.

A highly decorated Air Force specialist, Colonel Hansen was born in Los Angeles, raised in Woodland Hills, and attended Princeton Seminary under the care of Bel Air Presbyterian Church.

Previous Program PDF Listings:

• 2022: January - March

• 2021: April - June

• 2021: January - March

• 2020: September - December