Session Announces PLPC’s New Treasurer
Priest Lake Presbyterian Church is pleased to welcome Barm Alsbrook as our new Treasurer. Barm is an Enrolled Agent and graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, bringing 18 years of corporate accounting experience to this role — including 14 years in healthcare and 4 years as an accounting manager in manufacturing. Since 2017, he has owned Tristar Tax, a practice specializing in tax preparation, planning, and consulting.
Barm also brings meaningful church leadership experience, having previously served as treasurer and finance committee chair in congregations he and his wife, Karen, have called home.
Barm and Karen are members of Las Placitas Presbyterian Church in Placitas, New Mexico, and he will be serving PLPC entirely remotely.
We are grateful for the expertise, steadiness, and care Barm brings to our ministry’s stewardship. Please join us in welcoming him to the PLPC family.
Pinky Square
by Dave Nock
A couple of weeks ago Jeremy (during his sermon) started me thinking. The age-old children’s promise, pinky square. We have all played the childhood promise game. It is also known as “Pinky Swear” and “Pinky Promise”. A pinky swear is a childhood ritual where two people hook their pinky fingers together to seal a promise. It’s meant to be unbreakable — a kid-sized version of a solemn oath.
A promise or solemn oath. Many years ago, I took a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This was formal but Pinky Swear is serious without being formal. Both are physical, it feels more binding. It’s a way to show trust, loyalty, and sincerity.
The Pinky Swear gesture likely originated in the late 19th century in the U.S., though similar “finger-binding” promises to appear in Japanese culture (yubikiri, meaning “finger cut-off,” symbolizing the seriousness of breaking a promise). A pinky swear is a childhood way of saying: “I mean this. You can count on me.”
Trust is an expensive thing. It can be hard to obtain and the most expensive thing you will ever lose. Trust is one of the most frequently taught themes in the Bible, and Scripture speaks about it in dozens of places — especially in the Psalms and Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:5 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Psalm 118:8 — “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
Trust is wholehearted. Trust replaces fear. Trust leads to peace. Mean what you say, say what you mean. We need a bit of Pinky Swear.
A promise or solemn oath. Many years ago, I took a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This was formal but Pinky Swear is serious without being formal. Both are physical, it feels more binding. It’s a way to show trust, loyalty, and sincerity.
The Pinky Swear gesture likely originated in the late 19th century in the U.S., though similar “finger-binding” promises to appear in Japanese culture (yubikiri, meaning “finger cut-off,” symbolizing the seriousness of breaking a promise). A pinky swear is a childhood way of saying: “I mean this. You can count on me.”
Trust is an expensive thing. It can be hard to obtain and the most expensive thing you will ever lose. Trust is one of the most frequently taught themes in the Bible, and Scripture speaks about it in dozens of places — especially in the Psalms and Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:5 — “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
Psalm 118:8 — “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
Trust is wholehearted. Trust replaces fear. Trust leads to peace. Mean what you say, say what you mean. We need a bit of Pinky Swear.
ONLY CLEAR BAGS ARE ALLOWED INTO THE STADIUM
A simple way to share God's love
Our Blessing Box continues to be a steady source of help for our neighbors, thanks to your faithful donations. Every can, box, and bag you share makes a real difference. As summer settles in and the temperatures climb, we’re shifting our focus toward warm‑weather essentials. Bottled water is especially needed this time of year, and even a small contribution can offer comfort and care to someone in the heat
Percy's Next challenge: Seek and you shall find!
Did you get all the answers to last week's crossword?
