With prayer and laying on of hands, Pasadena native Veronica Ota is ordained at the First Presbyterian Church of Altadena on Sept. 19. Leading the prayer is Rev. Dr. Near Presa of the Presbytery of San Jose.
Rev. Veronica Ota is ordained at the very same church in which she grew up.
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER
As she was greeted by family, friends and well-wishers following a major milestone, the freshly-minted reverend marveled at the journey that has led her to this day.
“This is not the path I had expected, but it became the one laid out before me and I am very grateful for that.”
Veronica Ota was back at the First Presbyterian Church of Altadena on Sept. 19, once again at the camous that has seen her grow from a baby into a community leader and now, reverend.
The chapel was nearly full for an ordainment service for Ota, who lives and will lead her ministry in Santa Cruz County.
“Today, we’ve been invited to reflect on how God callls us in our lives,” she told the gathering. “I thank each and ever one of you for joining with me in recognition of my calling.”
Ota’s father, Ron, spoke of how she had been tasked with helping to organize the annual Fall Festival at First Presbyterian, despite being in elementary school. He thanked the church and other organizations for their support in helping Veronica in her preparation and study for ordination.
In her first official duty as reverend, Ota led a communion service, assisted by her father and Rev. Dr. Near Presa, who minutes earlier had presided over the prayer of ordination and laying on of hands for Ota.
In addition to picking up the guitar for a short performance with her band, Decades of Rock, Ota revealed that she and her husband, Grant, are expecting their first child in February.