Perspectives offers an exploration of issues facing the church as well as some reflective analysis of our life together as a denomination through the lens of scripture, our Reformed theology, and a constitutional and confessional framework.

Here’s a glimpse of this issue’s contents:

“I experienced feelings of anxiety, joy, anticipation, and praise to God for my having been given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the land where my very roots are anchored.” That’s how Elder Charles F. Easley, Sr., Vice Moderator of the 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), described his feelings last November during his trip to Africa. In “Welcome Home, Brother,” Charles takes us along with him for the journey.

Other folks have been traveling. One of them is Tony Aja, Associate Director for People in Mutual Mission, Worldwide Ministries Division. In January, Tony, a native of Cuba, traveled back to his home country for the first time in thirty-seven years. He shares with us his reflections in this issue.

Tony Aja was in Cuba to attend a gathering of representatives of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The primary purpose of the symposium was to reflect on the biblical-theological and pastoral bases of partnership in mission. We share here a statement from the group at the conclusion of their meeting.

Preaching to her home congregation the Sunday after Christmas—traditionally a Sunday when worship attendance is generally lower than usual—Susan Andrews, Moderator of the 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) said, “Though I sense that you don’t need to hear this, I’m going to remind you why church matters and why church is good for you and for those you love.” Her complete sermon is featured here in “Why Church Matters.”

A very visible sign of the PC(USA) at work is the General Assembly. This year’s assembly will convene in Richmond, Virginia, June 26-July 3, around the theme, “That all may have life in fullness” (John 10:10b). The Bible study for this year’s assembly is entitled, Crossing Ten Seas, published by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches for their General Council that will convene later this year in Accra, Ghana, around the same theme as this year’s GA. We share here the introduction and a session from the study. Printed copies of the study are available for $2.00 each plus shipping by calling Presbyterian Distribution Service at (800) 524-2612 and asking for item #OGA-04-080 or by ordering from the online marketplace. The study is also available in Spanish (item #OGA-04-081). A printable Acrobat PDF version of Crossing Ten Seas can be found on the WARC Web site.

Finally, we share with you what has become a regular feature in Perspectives, which is the editors’ message for each new issue of Journal of Presbyterian History, a quarterly publication of the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS). For more information about the Journal or about PHS, visit www.history.pcusa.org.

We always appreciate hearing from you. If you did not have an opportunity to complete the survey in the February issue, it’s not too late to do so Or, simply drop us a line at OGA_Communications@ctr.pcusa.org.

Blessings to you on your Lenten journey.

Sharon K. Youngs, Editor