Photograph by Robert Scheer
Ministerial association members include (front row from left) the Rev. Portia Mather-Hempler, Archpriest Basil Rhodes, Rabbi Daniel Pressman, the Rev. Margaret Bourne-Goodwin, (back row from left) the Rev. Jim Friedrich, Pastor Greg Ogden, the Rev. Alexander Larkin, and Wendell Stephens.
Pastors of Saratoga churches have formed a new Saratoga Ministerial Association, which meets monthly in member churches.
"For years we've gotten together to do a joint Thanksgiving service," said Rabbi David Pressman of Congregation Beth David. "We decided there were benefits to us and to the community to meet on a more regular basis." One goal is to cultivate a closer relationship with the city of Saratoga, Pressman added.
Three churches participate in a shelter program, which houses homeless people and helps them get jobs.
Members include the Rev. Greg Ogden, Saratoga Federated Church; the Rev. Jim Friedrich, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church; the Rev. Paul Duong, Ascension Catholic Church; the Rev. Portia Mather-Hempler, St. Andrews Episcopal Church; the Rev. David Hansen, Westhope Presbyterian Church; Rabbi Leslie Alexander, Congregation Beth David; the Rev. Ernest Cockrell, St. Andrews Episcopal Church; the Rev. Richard Spencer, Saratoga Presbyterian Church; the Rev. Alexander Larkin, Sacred Heart Catholic Church; the Rev. David Dahl, Immanuel Lutheran Church; the Rev. Judith Stone, Grace United Methodist Church; the Rev. Basil Rhodes, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church; and the Rev. Margaret L. Bourne-Goodwin, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, April 2, 1997.
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