Dear Ronald, I’m glad you enjoyed your visit to our church. The best place to find out about Presbyterians would be to check out the denominational site PC(USA).org. There are five different Presbyterian denominations in the USA, but the large one is the one we belong to (the Presbyterian Church United States of America.) It has around two and a half million members, so it has much more diversity theologically in its congregations. We’re probably more to the right of many, but certainly not most Presbyterians. Maybe sometime after the holidays we could grab some coffee. Have a blessed Advent and Christmas, Grace and peace, Mark Dr. Mark Brewer Sr. Pastor, Bel Air Presbyterian Church 16221 Mulholland Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045 818.788.4200 www.belairpres.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Ronald Lyster Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 10:00 PM To: Mark Subject: First time visitor Dr. Brewer – I visited your church for the first time this morning (9:00 AM service) and I must say I was very favorably impressed. I have friends who have attended Bel Air for some time, others who just switched to Bel Air from the church where I am currently a member, and I saw them all there this morning. I left today with a smile on my face and with a warm heart. I have been a member of the Westwood United Methodist Church for over 20 years now. I have served in various capacities during that time, including usher, Staff-Parish Relations Chair (the “human resources department”), and Chair of the Council on Ministries (a committee of committees which has since been abolished, along with nearly all the committees themselves). Lately I have found myself going to church out of a sense of duty; I have really gained little by attending worship services. Politics has begun to creep into the sermon – so much so that, at least for me, God is being pushed aside. Another friend of mine said he could actually feel it - “the Holy Spirit has left the building.” I was raised in a largely secular family, but was “given religion” (at my mom’s direction) by the only person in the family who had a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ – my great-grandmother – who attended the Church of Christ. So I am not a “birth-to-grave” Methodist. (My great-grandmother actually hosted the local Church of Christ congregation in her home until the church could be built.) But my children were raised in that church, and as I said previously, I have been going there most Sundays for over 20 years now. I have many friends in that church. My “church shopping” is not being done lightly. I found your sermon today enlightening and uplifting. Thank you. Your reference to Satan made me think, “When was the last time I actually heard a pastor say he believed that there was a Satan?” The lack of reference to Satan in the sermons I have become accustomed to hearing also makes me think that some of us may have forgotten that evil actually does exist. That explains so much to me, and I was pleased to hear you acknowledge this fact today. Where can I learn more about Presbyterianism? Figure I’m completely ignorant on this topic, but I have the will and resources to learn. I like the web-resource links found on your website. (Generally, I like your entire website, which is much better than most churches I’ve searched.) I am particularly confused about the difference between the various bodies that call themselves “Presbyterian.” Ronald Lyster

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