Coming Up This Sunday

What’s the message for the next Witness Sunday?

March 24, 2024 (Palm Sunday)

Mark 11:1-11

Sermon Title: “A Royal Procession”

We begin our observance of Holy Week on Palm Sunday when we remember the entrance into Jerusalem of Jesus and his disciples.  As the crowds wave palm branches and shout “Hosanna!”, they proclaim that Jesus is their new king. But their hope and excitement is short-lived as plans have already been made by the religious authorities to stop Jesus and his movement. We accompany Jesus in his final days as we move from the hope of Palm Sunday to the despair of Good Friday to the joy of Easter.

More about our Senior Pastor, Greg Batson

The Reverend Greg Batson began serving as Senior Pastor of Foothills UMC in La Mesa, CA on July 1, 2017. His previous appointments include serving as the President and CEO of the California-Pacific United Methodist Foundation in Pasadena, CA (2013-2017), Senior Pastor of Aldersgate UMC in Tustin, CA (2009-2013), Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Burbank, CA (2004 – 2009), and as an Associate Pastor at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica, CA (2000-2004).

A native of Greene County, Georgia, Rev. Batson grew up in a small, rural community between Atlanta and Augusta. He received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Economics in 1986 from Emory University in Atlanta. He then began an eleven year career as a corporate banker with SunTrust Banks in Nashville, TN and The Bank of New York in New York City. In 1997, he decided to follow his call to ordained ministry and returned to school. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 2000, and then moved to Southern California with his family to begin his ministry.

Rev. Batson is married to Tania Trotter Batson. A native Californian, Tania grew up in Nashville, TN. She also graduated from Emory University where she and Greg met. Tania has worked professionally as a classical soprano and more recently as Director of Special Events and Major Gifts for Pacific Symphony in Orange County. They have three sons: Thomas, Daniel and Wesley. The family enjoys travel, camping, playing and watching sports, performing in theatrical productions, and serving their church and community together.