Neighbor News
Presbyterian Church in Burlington to Install New Pastor
Rev. Trina Portillo to be installed as the new Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Burlington on February 4.
On Sunday, February 4th, the Presbyterian Church in Burlington will install Rev. Trina Portillo as their new pastor, after a very long and rigorous search. At a special meeting on December 17, the congregation voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the church's Pastor Nominating Committee and extend a call for Rev. Portillo to lead as the new pastor. Rev. Portillo will be the third person installed as a pastor at the church since it's founding in 1962, and she follows Rev. Roderick MacDonald, who retired in spring of 2015 after 36 years of service.
Rev. Portillo came to the Burlington Presbyterian church initially as a temporary pastor while the church underwent its search for candidates for a new permanent pastor. It was a difficult time for the congregation, after losing their previous interim pastor, Rev. Mike O'Brien, to brain cancer just a few months earlier. Although the arrangement was to be temporary, Rev. Portillo and the congregation became very close and she attracted the notice of the Pastor Nominating Committee who found her to be an excellent fit. In addition to serving as pastor, Rev. Portillo has been involved in food justice projects with the denomination, and immigrant support and orientation with the International Institute of New England.
The Presbyterian Church in Burlington is a very diverse congregation of people from the Burlington area, with over a hundred members from over a dozen different countries, and as many different towns. The congregation hosts the Farmer Dave's and Lilac Hedge Farm CSA programs, is involved with the programs of Burlington's People Helping People organization, and also hosts the Korean Burlington Grace Presbyterian Church.
Find out what's happening in Burlingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The service of Installation will be from 3-4 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, at the Burlington Presbyterian Church, 335 Cambridge St., Burlington, MA. All who wish to attend are welcome. For those that would like to but cannot attend, the event will be live-streamed on the church's YouTube channel.
