2008 Annual Report to the Congregation

2008 Annual Report to the Congregation
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
Reverend Jeffrey T. Howard

"Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." (Acts 2:46-47)

Evening Worship Service – Our 5:30 Service of Worship has experienced tremendous growth. A year ago around 15 people gathered each week for worship and a fellowship dinner. Now that number is between 40 and 50 in worship with approximately 20 more attending dinner. This growth has been fuel both by our evangelism effort and the increasing number of homeless people living in their cars. As the economy worsens we can expect to see further growth in these numbers as the poor in our community seek the good news of Jesus Christ and a hot meal. Trader Joe’s in Glendale has generously been provided food for our meal, and Ed Munter continues to lead the music. Please keep this congregation of our church in your prayers.

Christian Education – Providing education for all ages is vital for a growing church. I want to thank Rosie Zacow and Vern Koehn for their work in our English as a Second Language program. Also I thank June Wilson for her work with the Wednesday Bible Study. We have three seminarians helping us. Sterrett Collins is our Seminary Intern from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Herman Ng has just come on board as an Intern from Fuller Seminary. And Erwin Marojahan, a member of ERPC, is a student at San Francisco Theological Seminary. I am very grateful for the work of our seminarians with college, youth and children ministries.

John Class – I have been continuing my Sunday Morning class on the Gospel of John. I am grateful for the faithful attendance of so many people each week.

Early Morning Prayers – I am very thankful for Grace who has been leading our Service of Morning Prayers each day, Tuesday – Saturday, at 6am. She has led meditations on the Books of Acts, Isaiah, and Romans. We now have 3 regular participants. Please come if you are able. It is a great way to start the day.

Memorial Services – We gathered this year to celebrate the lives of Lois Shilts, Vi Vandruff and Mark Miller.

Community Involvement – I have been involved in the Eagle Rock Community in several ways. I now serve as the Faith Based Director of the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council. I serve on the Police Clergy Council for NE Los Angeles. I am on the steering team of CAN, Churches Assisting Neighbors, a network of churches dealing with the homeless living in our community. And I attend monthly gatherings of the Church of the City, a ministerial group of pastors in NELA. ERPC participated in a community march in August called “Peace in the North East.”

Special Services – In addition to our regular programs we had several special worship opportunities. We held a Service of Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday. During Lent we gathered for soup suppers follow by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “Perspectives of the Cross”. On Maundy Thursday we gathered for a dramatic reading of Matthew 26-28. On Good Friday we participated in a Service of the Seven Last Words of Christ with San Francisco Theological Seminary. We joined with the Filipino church on World Communion Sunday and Reformation Sunday. On Thanksgiving Day we held a special Service of Thanksgiving followed by a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In Advent we gathered for Pot Luck Suppers followed by Communion Vesper Services where I led meditations on “You Shall Call Him Immanuel.” And on Christmas Eve we joined with Occidental Presbyterian Church in a dramatic reading called “People and Places of the Nativity.”

Self Development of People – We received a grant from the Presbyterian Church’s SDOP program. It will be used by Dirk Lowther to start a micro business employing the homeless in our community to manufacture and sell Lighted Safety Vests. Many homeless people in our community are now being trained by Dirk to sew LED lights on reflective safety vests. Nearly $8000 for startup costs has been provided by the PCUSA.

New Members – I have taught 3 New Members Classes this year for 6 new members: Vern Koehn, Ellery Atienza, Ben de la Rosa Jr., Erwin Marojahan, Dirk Lowther, and Jin Ung Chung. Dirk was baptized at our evening service.

New Worship for 2009 – Based on the success of the evening service we will be starting a new worship service on Sunday afternoons at 3pm. Rev. Nancy Moore, who is well known by many in the congregation, will be leading worship with Grace’s assistance. Our hope is that this service will attract seekers who are searching for Jesus Christ.



Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard, Pastor