El Estero Presbyterian Church
Sermon Schedule for 2025
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January 5 Rev. Dr. Neal Presa - Communion Sunday
January 12 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen
January 19 Elder Dr. Chris Hasegawa
January 26 Rev. Julie Poras-Center
February 3 Ret. Rev. Larry Vilardo - Communion Sunday
February 9 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen
February 16 Elder Dr. Chris Hasegawa
February 23 Rev. Julie Poras-Center
March 2 Ret. Rev. Larry Vilardo - Communion Sunday
March 9 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen
March 16 Elder Dr. Chris Hasegawa
March 23 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson
March 30 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson
April 6 Ret. Rev. Larry Vilardo - Communion Sunday
April 13 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen - Palm Sunday
April 18 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson - Good Friday
April 20 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson - Easter Sunday
April 27 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen
May 4 Ret. Rev. Larry Vilardo - Communion Sunday
May 11 Elder Dr. Wayne Shen
May 18 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson
May 25 Rev. Michael "Pastor Mick" Erickson
Thoughts of a New Year
When we are celebrating a New Year with family or friends, we often ask each other: What were the best events or memories of 2024? What are your goals for 2025? However, when we are alone contemplating, thoughts of struggles of the past year create anxiety over the unknown of another year.
In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul encourages us with: “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on.” Whether 2024 was a great year or a very difficult year, we need to leave that behind us and simply press on. We leave behind us past guilt, past grief, past grudges, and past glories. We press on.
In James 4, James relates the story of a man who made great plans for the new year, but his plans did not pan out. In his planning, he left God out, when God is the only one who knows the future and holds the future in His hands. Knowing this, we still make plans but say “Deo Volente”, meaning “God willing”.
To be honest, El Estero is facing a challenging new year with no pastor; people who have left in anger, discouragement, frustration, hurt, or fear; and uncertainty of what the Presbytery’s intentions are for the church. But the church is not the building or the finances, it is the people of God. And with the Lord Jesus as our shepherd, we will not be in want. He will lead us to green pastures and give us peace beside the still waters. He will restore our soul. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for Jesus is with us. And if He is with us, who can be against us? Let us be family to one another, forgive one another, accept one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another. We will “press on”, Deo Volente.
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from Dr. Wayne Shen