Seeking to strengthen Christian congregations through renewal and reflection

Pastor Karen Hernandez-Granzen and Westminster Presbyterian Church of Trenton, NJ received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program for 2022-2023. This grant seeks to strengthen congregations by helping their pastors to take time away from day-to-day ministry to restore their commitment to ministry. Launched in 1999 with a program for congregations and their pastors in Indiana, this annual effort was expanded in 2000 to include a second program for clergy across the United States. These programs are made possible by a grant to Christian Theological Seminary and its Center for Pastoral Excellence, which administers the program.

Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Programs are administered by the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Christian Theological Seminary. Through its religion grantmaking, Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation, seeks to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians. It does this largely through initiatives to enhance and sustain the quality of ministry in American congregations and parishes. To this end, National and Indiana Clergy Renewal Programs provide an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God’s life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry.

Excerpts from Pastora Karen’s Sabbath Renewal Journal 2022-23 Lilly produced a video featuring Pastora Karen & Westminster:

**The Rev. Carmen M. Rosario preached and commissioned and the congregation and Pastor Karen to begin there Sabbath Renewal Program: June 2022.**

**Rev. Carmen Rosario commissioned the leaders of Westminster for the Sabbath Renewal Program 2023.**

Returned to Parents’ Racial-Ethnic and Spiritual Roots: Puerto Rico, July 7-14

**Pastor Karen felt called to go to her parents’ native land- Puerto Rico with Mikaella and Olivia her two daughters and Aunt Annie. The Rev. Nadira Keaton and her husband Tom joined them: July 2022**

Pastor Karen traveled to Puerto Rico her parents’ native land. She went to learn more about her racial-ethnic and spiritual roots: She viewed the mountain near her father’s family farm, where God spoke to her father and told him to go to NYC to serve as a Pentecostal pastor in the 1950’s.

"“From this mountain my mother witnessed my father descend with tears rolling down because God had spoken to him, telling him “I didn’t call you to be a farmer, I called you to be a pastor, and I am calling you to be a pastor in New York City.” Pastor Karen.

During Sabbath worshiped with my uncle at by father’s and mother’s church in Brooklyn, NY where I was baptized, and my faith was nurtures. Emmanuel Pentecostal Church. Grateful to learn that they are feeding the hungry.

While in Puerto Rico: The Rev. Nadira Keaton, of Vessels of Praise taught Pastor Karen an intensive 15-hour course on Mindfulness Dance/Embodied Prayer/Liturgical Dance.

**The Rev. Nadira Keaton, founder of Vessels of Praise, and Liturgical Dance Instructor, taught me liturgical dance. Her husband Tom joined us.**

Embodiment Preaching Course: july 30, 2022 – August 6, 2022: Chicago, IL

With the Clergy Renewal Grant, Pastor Karen helped to create a continuing education course entitled Embodiment Preaching for Hispanic/Latinx/Latiné clergy women taught by the Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz, assistant professor of homiletics and worship and director of community worship life at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Two hours daily for five days. 12 Hispanic/ Latinx/Latiné clergy women attended via in person 0r zoom from throughout the US and Puerto Rico!

**Embodiment Preaching Course: Twelve Hispanic/** **Latinx/Latiné clergy women attended via in person or zoom from throughout the US and Puerto Rico.**

**During Sabbath visited Fourth Presbyterian Church, where I served as a McCormick Theological Seminary Student Intern 1992-93., hosted a meal with mentor/colleague, the Rev. Magdalena Garcia.**

**During Sabbath hosted a luncheon with Rev. Dr. Liz De Valle her family and clergy friends in Chicago, IL.**

STUDY TRIP

THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION PART II

VISITED ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND SPAIN

Traveled to London, Edinburgh, Scotland, and then several cities in Spain! The Hispanic Caucus of the Synod of the Northeast sponsored the Protestant Reformation Study Trip Part II. The Rev. Carmen M. Rosario led the group of 12 Presbyterian students/disciples!

London, England Highlights: November 1-4

Westminster Abbey has played an integral part in England’s history. Many kings and queens have been crowned here. It has been the scene of many royal weddings. Of great importance to the Reformed tradition is that it was in this place that in 1643 an assembly was convened to establish the government and liturgy of the Church of England (in a way) in accordance with the Holy Word of God and best suited to seeking the peace of the church both at home and abroad.

Even during great political conflicts (civil war), the assembly managed to complete the following: "The Presbyterian Form of Government of the Church", "The Directory of Public Worship", "The Confession of Faith", "The Major Catechism" and “The Short Catechism”.

November 4-7. Edinburgh, Scotland: Highlights

Pastor Karen visited the old town of this medieval city. Visited the Cathedral of St Giles known as the Mother Church of Presbyterianism. Here John Knox first preached in 1559. Visited the Stirling Castle.

**John Knox first preached at the Cathedral of St. Giles in 1559.**

Learned more about the Latine/Latinx Heritage & La Convivencia: Madrid, Spain November 8-15, 2022:

Visited historical sites connected to La Convivencia (Interfaith Coexistence.

Visited the Federico Fliedner Foundation and took the course of the “The Spanish Bibles of the sixteenth century and the Spanish Reformers of the sixteenth century” offered by a member of the faculty of the SEUT (United Evangelical Seminary of Theology)

We visited the Convent and Museum of Santa Teresa de Jesús aka. Mother Teresa of Avila, the Cathedral (exterior), the Plaza Mayor and the Basilica of San Vicente.

Mystic and religious reformer, Teresa de Avila aka Saint Teresa of Jesus has inspired women and men for many generations. Her brilliant mind was recognized and honored when she became the first women to earn the title of: Doctor of the Church.

Summary: Spain’s cities/places, and names that have many historical landmarks still standing, and are part of the La Convivencia / The Interfaith Coexistance history:

1 Toledo: old city Toledo, Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, Toledo Cathedral, Iglesia del Salvador, Monasterio San Juan de los Reyes, Synagogue Santa Maria la Blanca

2 Cordoba: Great Mosque of Cordoba, Floral street, Jewish quarter

3 Sevilla: La Giralda Seville Cathedral, Torre Del Oro, Alcazar

4 Granada: Alcaiceria-old bazar, Alhambra-Nasrid Palace, and history of General Life