fortune (cookies) as we turn toward 2011

merry christmas . . . and a happy new year!

i've been so fortunate during the holidays; so blessed with good tidings of great joy. i am hoping the same for you!

i finally cleaned out my wallet from chinese food resturants during the year; i keep the fortunes i receive; mostly, because they seem to be a gift -- even when i have no idea what they mean! and i get to see how to say a word in another language. fortunes remind me of being with good people sharing a meal, enjoying conversation and sharing the joy. asian food is a gift for this season!

tradition has it that i usually greet the new year with chinese food and a movie. no clue about this year, but, there is a good chance that i'll receive another fortune!

what are you fortunate about? what sense of fortune do you get from tearing open a fortune cookie and trying to figure out its meaning?

so to help you along . . . here are my fortunes for 2010; not all, but a sampling . . .

a smile is nearly always inspired by another smile. friend: peng you

change your thoughts and you change the world. drink: liao

example is better than perception. sandwich: san ming zhi

love is as necessary to human beings as food and shelter. winter: dong tian

it is better to have beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear. {i can't wait to hear what some of you will do with this one!} vegetable: shu cai

a smile is a curve that can get a lot of things straight. foot: jiao

advancement will come with hard work. to eat: chi

courage comes through suffering. {not sure i agree; do you?} eye: yan jing

a ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why ships are built. {ah, i like that; risky!} drink: liao

i guess there was a need for me to learn 'drink' twice. wisdom comes from so many sources. i am blessed to be gifted with many friends who are very wise. thank you for making my year so complete! i look forward to 2011 with you, my true fortune. i'm so fortunate, cookie! peace. . .

all i want for christmas.....

someone asked me today what i wanted for christmas. what a question!

of course there are many 'things'; but things are just...well, 'things'.

and then, of course there are big things...an end of poverty; peace among all peoples; the opportunity for people to finish their schooling; the list is truly endless.

i have always been told that i am so hard to buy for....because i don't ask for anything.

maybe this year, what i really want is the opportunity of time. time seems so precious. the opportunity to sit with a beverage of choice (depending upon the time of day) and listen to my christmas collection of music; linger with a friend over a 'chat' we always said we'd do but haven't had time to do yet; go to a movie and dinner and actually talk about what we experience; have a philosophical discussion that changes the heart.

maybe this year is the opportunity to see the smile come to someone who has suffered loss or struggles with depression or wishes the holidays were over before they've actually come. we will do a christmas eve's eve serve -- not worship, but feeding guests from our neighborhood and food and after school program. the story of st. nicolas will be shared. offering time to others without feeling like i have a schedule to keep. smiles of the heart.

time. to look for the star. to listen for a baby's cry. to welcome those who are on a journey. to offer welcome, hospitality, a listening ear, a warm conversation, a cup of tea.

time; so precious. seems like time is the gift i'd really want this year. no exchanges. no refunds. no returns. this is my prayer, my christmas wish. time to get the world to care for one another again. without having the time and desire to care, we are lost.

it took time to move my mom to her new home; a nice assisted living community. re-arrange my schedule, pack the boxes, travel the distance through stormy skies, unpack the boxes, help the 'nesting' to begin. it took all day. but how rewarding. i didn't feel tired when i climbed into bed; rewarding was the feeling, i'd say. what could have been so emotional turned out to be just another journey of life; one that we may all make one day. time goes one; it does not wait.

we say that we have so 'little time' to do the things we'd like to do. maybe we need to stop and take the time rather than look for the time. could this be the time to take?

god comes near. time to welcome the gift of timeless hope, peace, love and joy. now is the time. now is...time.

the journey of advent

on my way to church today, i passed by a yard with stick people in the yeard. the owners had draped the figures to look like joseph escorting mary on a donkey. imagine what a little draping can do!

but it reminded me of the journey of advent in my family. sometime in the late 1960's, my family placed my sister's life-sized dolls in the front window, dressed as carolers; draping does wonders! the windows were outlined with big colored icicles, and our tree that year was one of those silver aluminum trees. my parents placed a flood light directed at the tree with a color wheel, that turned the silver tree shades of gold, red, green, and blue.

my mother spent hours placing tiny bulbs on the end of each branch -- if you'll remember, each branch ended in what looked like a flower. my parents were so proud; the only family on the block with a 'modern tree'. did i say it was the one and only year that we had such a tree; we had purchased it in a rummage sale. i wonder why someone would have given up such a tree in their sale?!

but that was also the year we had a dog, who like to bark at people in the front window...yes, the dolls fell on the flood light; to this day i am amazed we did not have a fire.

meanwhile, i put up the historical nativity scene; a painted box of bethlehem; more than a dozen plaster-of-paris figures painted brightly, although some of the paint had begun to chip off by then. a little night light hidden behind the star illuminated the scene. but you know?! once we turned out the lights, the tree and the nativity really did look like christmas.

we journey in advent; light guides our way. three candles representing hope, peace, and love have brightened this season. it isn't important if it is stick persons, aluminum trees, or nativity characters with their paint chipping off; god comes to us to brighten our lives, helping us find the way to joy.

do you have an advent memory you'd be willing to share? may this be your time to remember with thanksgiving....

the merced sunstar wanted to publish this....

at the last moment, the merced sunstar, our daily newspaper, wanted a short article about christmas; asked for on the day of our bazaar (saturday) and due by monday. so, i wrote one, and i thought, 'hum....why not use this for my blog this week?!' so, here you go....

i had a colleague recently who commented that her christmas was going to be slim this year; just not enough money to do all the special things she usually like to do for her family and friends. the person to whom she was speaking responded, "that is such a first world problem".

'that is such a first world problem'. what do you make out of a statement like that?

we discover as we drive up to the starbuck's window, that we have neglected to refill our 'red' card, and we that to use our atm card or, heaven forbid, cash! 'that is such a first world problem'. shout-it-out didn't get the grass stains out of our child's soccer uniform, the cost of gas changed to $3.o9 per gallon, and someone brought jellied cranberries instead of fresh cranberry sauce to thanksgiving. 'these are such first world problems.'.

adequate health care is still not really available to the masses; drugs sold on our streets; illiteracy. these are less 'first world problems', but do we remark about them in the same way? we do not. yet these are issues that affect people thought-out the world.

mary with child and joseph had to travel away from their home to be counted at a time we call christmas. they were required by what was then considered a 'first world' government. that government was not concerned that mary would soon deliver, and that such a trip would be difficult and inconvenient.

when we think about the phrase 'that is such a first world problem', we acknowledge that we are a people who are so very privileged. we have forgotten to reload our starbuck's card because we have our mind on other things -- hitting that big sale; remembering to secure 150 christmas stamps; deciding what to wear to the new year's eve party. which one of us thinks about taking our about-to-deliver partner to the brand new mercy hospital on a donkey? 'that is such a first world problem'.

in a time such as this, may we think about worldly issues -- a birth that is not easy; how to offer the gift of clean water to a family who must travel on foot two miles to a watering hole that is not fit for drinking; living in peace with our neighbors. these are the christmas gifts that will bring understanding and 'joy to the world'.

i HOPE this doesn't happen to my car!

this must be what happens to a convertible after living through the storms in the mountain (picture to your right).

i'm hopeful that you had a wonderful thanksgiving; it was probably one of my best, ever! relaxing, congenial group of family and friends, some of whom had never been together before.

i can tell that life is indeed different from how i was raised; i never dreamed i'd be spending a holiday (that was traditionally spent with my mother and highly anxiety producing to boot!) with my ex-wife and her husband at their mountain home (with an old car badly in need of repair!) seeing old friends and our daughter, meeting our daughter's significant and his parents!

everyone brought something to add to the deep-fried turkey (is that now a tradition?), and we spent hours talking, laughing, and getting to know one another on deeper levels.

there IS hope in this day and age. people don't have to argue, and families don't have to look like a father, a mother, and 2.5 children with a dog -- i never did figure out the .5 part of the children, but i digress.... we did have a dog among us, plus two cats and some strays, but they were very well behaved; mom would have been so pleased.

and no sooner than the dishes were done, the season of advent began; a season of anticipation.
we anticipate with hope, a world that will one day be at peace, where love is expressed with great joy. one of the pastor's in our conference sends people forth each week from worship reminding them with grace, that 'the world is now too dangerous for anything but truth, and too small for anything but love'.

that is advent. hope for the world to change -- for us to change -- by being the example we would like the world to be; filled with the hope of possibilities; filled with the peace that passes all understanding; filled with the kind of love that fills the soul, not just our stockings; filled with the joy that carries with it trust and compassion and safety and goodness.

this is the season to help make those things possible, because quite frankly, that is the way Jesus lived. Jesus wasn't at the mall at 3 am on the day after thanksgiving. Jesus was, i suspect, resting; ready to face the world with a new message that had nothing to do with charge cards or wrapping paper. offering the gift of hope to a world full of people who didn't know they needed hope; they just were living, but not really living!

so, may this time of advent be filled with the hope of possibilities for you and yours, and the world at large. may you light a candle each evening that will warm your heart and brighten someone else on a cold winter night. and, if you get a chance this season, put down the top of your convertible -- or come ride in mine! -- and invite others to join you; pull out the quilts and crank up the heater; sing 'joy to the world' at the top of your lungs, because this is the season to offer good cheer in the form of hope. let this be our collective prayer....

remembering with sadness and thanksgiving

i come with a quote from archbishop oscar romero today. it is with sadness that we remember 30 years ago that this roman catholic leader in san salvador was assassinated during his celebration of mass, for his liberation theological views and his commitment to speak out against poverty, torture, and his government commitment against the poor. it is an awful memory; it is the year i entered seminary.

on this thanksgiving, i wish to offer thanks to those who have gone before us to stand in solidarity with those who are without voice and power. may we remember that we are all called by god to speak the words of love, and act in ways that seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly in step with jesus our living christ.

as we are in the midst of the 'already here and not yet' of god's realm, this is a timely reminder to us all:

"it helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. the kingdom is not only beyond our effort, it is beyond our vision. we accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is god's work. nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.

"no statement says all that could be said. no prayer fully expresses our faith. no confession brings perfection. no pastoral visit brings wholeness. no program accomplishes the church's mission. no set of goals and objectives includes everything.

"this is what we are about: we plant seeds that one day will grow. we water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. we lay foundations that will need further development. we provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

"we cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. this enables us to do something, and to do it very well. it may be incomplete, but it is a beginning; a step along the way; an opportunity for god's grace to enter and do the rest.

"we may never see the results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. we are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. we are prophets of a future not our own".

wow! i find these words honest, inspiring, and a prayer of hope. may this be our reminder that with thanksgiving, god is with us; we are never alone; and the work of christ is not finished. what will be your next step on behalf of god for others?

a little of 'this-is' and 'that-is'

this has been a week! can i get an 'amen' to that????

so what's made it so?

this-is the month for reading, and i was invited to read to a third grade class at burbank elementary school; i hadn't been in a 3rd grade classroom since my children were in school. i read 'thanksgiving wish'; a delightful story! the students were so attentive! and that-is not all; i received a package of thank-you notes on sunday morning; drawings and everything! what made this so rewarding for me was reading through the notes and having the students share about where they went to church -- after reading, we had a 'q and a' time, and, as they knew i was a pastor, they had lots of questions. but they were very willing to share their 'church experiences'. we could learn from this group of students, don't 'cha think???? this was a great experience for me; that-is why i am writing about it!

this-is a picture of merced; for many reading this blog, you might say, "so...." or "why that picture"? that-is not just any picture! it is a picture of a bridge, crossing over 'g' street, that will gain us access under the train that runs through town. it will allow us all to get to the hospital and across town, unencumbered. so the 'bridge' is really a train crossing. this will be a great gift to our community when it is finished next year; that-is why i am writing about it.

this-is a picture of the retreat i am attending with other clergy members from the california-nevada annual conference of the united methodist church. it is at the mount hermon retreat center in the santa cruz mountains. that-is that we all cross over to 'get to the other side' as it were. our retreat theme is 'bridging the covenantal divide', so that-is why i thought about the two bridges; creative, no? bridges are unique in that they bring two bodies--be it people or land--in contact, one with the other. bridges are passages way, bringing lands together, but also souls. being in covenant means that trust is built and confidences are honored. we learn to cross over into territories that we may not venture otherwise.














this experience is a growth-filled opportunity; that-is why i am am writing about this!

there are other things to write about; staff changes and my mother needing to move into assisted living, but this-is not a time to write about those things. that-is a blog in and of itself. changes happen; sometimes we anticipate those changes, and sometimes they come out of the blue! but we deal with them, don't we, in one way or another?!

this-is the time to offer one more insight to my week. that-is: coffee! not just good coffee, but great coffee and wonderful surroundings. i am doing my 'blog' while seated at peet's coffee and tea. you have to know that i fell in love with peet's the first time i walked in, smelling the intoxicating aroma of coffee beans and hearing the soothing sounds of classical music. so, whenever i see a peet's i stop and smell the coffee! this day is no exception. but, the unexpected delight was to find one of my colleagues here; i tried to share my internet access code with her so she could check her e-mail, and the message said 'that code is already in use'. ok, so peet's could use a little tutorial on sharing! this might be the only thing needed by this wonderful coffee house, so i'm willing to have another cup of coffee and offer my pastoral insight; that-is the least i can do, don't you think?

so, what are the 'this-is' and 'that-is' in your life? care to share?

"i'm wedding in the rain . . ."

come to mendocino and stay at the maccallum house; o my goodness! i could be their advertisement! but look at this house ~ doesn't it just say, stay here; relax; enjoy yourself; let us take care of you!?! and so they did....

i had the honor to participate as joel and nancy got married this week-end; it was their dream wedding, and what a dream it was! they entered a contest on the internet; won this wedding back in february, and, while the ceremony has not come and gone, the memory will linger.



we worried that the wedding on the bluff would be rained out; but as this picture shows, neither rain, nor sleet, nor any other obstacle ~ well, isn't that the letter carrier motto? ~ any way, nothing prevented the dream from coming true.

'methodists' don't get to serve here; our sisters the presbyterians are planted here in this 1,000 people town. it is their church you see in this picture during the beginnings of the morning rain storm. it rained all saturday night. but 'blue sky, won out'!

funny things about weddings; people come, and they are excited to be there; the energy is filled with anxious excitement, yes, but people are happy. maybe we should be attending weddings more often; maybe the world would be a 'happier' place!




this is the bluff where the ceremony was; an intimate gathering of 50 people; the groom was proud; the bride radiant; their daughter was every bit of 'grace' that she could be! the waters roared their joy; pictures were taken; the music played in the background, and the pastor forgot his camera, and had to rely on his phone; in the excitement, i forgot to even take wedding pictures.




so fast forward to the evening, back at the bed and breakfast, where the reception offered relaxed moods, and fabulous food. and, as i passed the 'head table', i couldn't resist a picture, very dark i know, but they were bright with the joy of it all....

weddings can be difficult; lots of opinions, and lots of personalities. it is much more difficult to participate in a wedding when i only know the couple. with with nancy and joel and grace, it has been different. they invite you into their lives; they share themselves, and their friends and family become your friends and family. and so it felt like the best of all possible worlds....the witnessing of god's love and joy ~ uniting such a wonderful couple and family ~ surrounded by supportive people who have also become an extended family. may all of our love grow like this!


and so the return trip. a couple of things to be aware of....gas in mendocino costs $4.92.9 per gallon; fill up before you turn off the 101! the highway between the 101 and the 1 takes an hour and was created by someone who was drawing for fun! plan to relax; stop when you need to, and keep breathing, even when you think you're going to drive over a cliff!

only a destination of love could make you drive that more than once; but mendocino is worth the drive!

and when you return home, stop by my barn, "dr. pierce"; another poor picture, i'm sorry to say due to the sunlight, but, who would ever believe someone had put my name on their barn? what a hoot!




but as i shared at the end of the ceremony, before the kiss and the introduction, i'll share with you: 'may the sun be warm and kind to you; the darkest night some star shine through; the dullest morn some radiance brew; and when dusk comes, god's hand to you'. that is my wish for grace and nancy and joel...and for you, too!

remembering the past and anticipating the future

it is election day and the week wecelebrate the saints. what could these two things have in common? perhaps it is about remembering the past and anticipating the future.

who knows how the election will turn out. lots of speculation. it has been a season of finger-pointing and "more of the same" style of election adds. and, i fear, as we move forward after the election results, not a lot will change. why? we don't seem to work together.

we also are remembering this week, our saints; those blessed ones in our lives who have died but who live on in our spirits. i believe when all is said and done, those who have come before us yearn even now for goodness and wholeness and the desire for the best. why can't we just get our egos out of the way, and do what is best -- even if we're wrong?! i wonder why we just can't work together. the human spirit of self-centered-ness gets in our way, and the divine spirit of harmony can't always get through the cracks!

couldn't we just learn to read the signs of our past? and perhaps listen, too?

so, i leave you with this thought. it is from a sign in waha, ontario, next to an inukshuk.

inukshuk (pronounced in-ook-shook). these are stone monuments erected in the image of humans. one of their purposes was to communicate direction in the harsh and desolate arctic. as such, they were a tool for survival, and symbolic of the unselfish act of a nomadic people, the inuit.

the inuit built the inukshuk as signposts to make the way easier and safer for those who followed.

the inukshuk are the product of cooperation, teaching us that as good as our individual efforts may be, together we can do even greater things.

the inukshuk is a symbol of the human spirit; it recognizes our ability to succeed with others, where we would fail alone. it reminds us of our need to belong to something greater than ourselves.

the inukshuk celebrates our "working together"; it continues to remind us of our efforts today to direct a better way for all our us, tomorrow. the difference we make today counts in all our tomorrows.

so, there you have it; an opportunity to remember the past and anticipate the future, by working together for the greater good. now that is an ideal i'd vote for, and be willing to risk my life for. how about you?

what makes you come alive?

normally, meetings don't make me come alive. i like to know the agenda; do the work, and move on. of course, prayer and spiritual direction have become part of the agenda for our meeting time here in merced. and perhaps the best thing about meetings is that i get to be in relationship with people who are longing for the same vision. we may not always agree on the process, but we work towards the same goal.

so, when i ventured to an overnight meeting last week, the focus was placed on transformation. richard rohr was quoted: 'transformed people transform people'. i've lived with that statement for nearly a week, now, and it makes total sense to me; does it to you? we cannot feed strongly if we are not well fed. we cannot do our best if we are not at our best. kind of like the airlines that remind you to put your mask on first -- if there is a sudden drop in cabin air pressure, and then assist children and those around you.

on the agenda for this transformational meeting was a quote from howard thurman. i have often read many things from howard thurman, but i must have missed this one. or, it could be that i wasn't in a place to really understand it. but i was paying attention this time!

thurman wrote:

"don't ask yourself what the world needs.
ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that.
because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

isn't that powerful?! during these last couple of weeks leading up to our national election, we are hearing lots of statements; we are seeing lots of finger-pointing. but there hasn't been a statement from anyone better than that quote of thurman!

so, what makes you come alive? for me, coming alive is connected to discernment. i feel my best when i have considered -- prayed, read, journaled, listened and talked, and thought. as an extrovert, i talk out my thoughts, and then i can get excited. i do seem to come alive with people around me, but i am not 'dead' when i am on my own. because, honestly, i am never totally alone. but with others, sharing ideas and reflections, do make me come alive. that, and music and milk & cookies help too!

what makes you come alive? and share a favorite quote or author if you have one.....

blessings to your week -- and do the something that makes your heart, and the heart of other, sing!

moving ants....and herding cats

i have come to believe that working with faithful church people can be like moving ants ... and herding cats! honestly! let me tell you my funny 'sad' story.

before it rained here in merced on sunday, the ants had all come looking for water. i finally had to put out liquid poison, hoping to ward them off; trouble was that the liquid they were suppose to carry back to their hives, killed them before they got there, and so they just moved to another spot in the house; i ended up chasing them; what's wrong with this picture?

cats, as you know, have a mind and a life of their own. they just don't give you the time of day unless they choose to give your their time and their part of the day. otherwise, you're nothing but a pain in their day. i like cats, but i can't figure out the reason i do to save my soul.

so, how are ants and cats like faithful church folk? well, like ants, you put out opportunities, and some go for the 'bate', and others move to another location. the ones who are taking the bate here in the united methodist church of merced, are really having an opportunity, so i understand, in getting to know themselves and others better, and to clarify their own belief system. they are being thoughtful about what we need to be doing next to risk changing our direction. the others who have not taken advantage of our small group opportunities may seem a little lost, but are continuing on their journey; we may end up at the same place, but the ones who have participated in the journey will inevitably have the advantage of having part of the ownership in the new ministry we do.

like herding cats, not everyone will be willing to come along. but our aim is not to necessarily focus on the current needs of our congregation. well, that may not be true either. the current need of our congregation is to help focus our attention on the ministry in our community that will make a spiritual difference now and in the future. cats don't always come on board in this way.

we're planning to meet in november with our leadership to discuss one of the first major changes we will make in our visioning process; worship and education. currently we have our more praise style service at 9 with an education program, fellowship time, our more traditional service at 10:30, fellowship time (heaven forbid that united methodists would give up fellowship time!), followed by our hmong education program and then hmong worship.

one of the ideas is to combine our education programs into one hour, and flip the praise worship with the traditional worship; hmong worship would stand on its own as usual. what difference would it make, you wonder? well, in general, many of our traditional folks wake earlier than our praise people. and there has been a request to combine our children's education program. often it is more difficult for our hmong households to be at church even by 10. so we are dealing with many factors, including 'late night saturday night folks'.

another prospect is dealing with a whole population of folks that are hardly visible...young adults. and there are two areas of young adults; students and singles/young families/couples. so a group of folks will be working on what we're calling 'the new ministry'. more about that another time.

my question for you today is, what moves you spiritually, and what are you longing for? some of your answers may reflect about worship, some about education/spiritual growth, and some about fellowship. you may even long for something that doesn't happen on sundays; that's ok; your thoughtful feedback is appreciated. and, are you an ant or a cat or some other 'anamal'?

anam cara, anybody?

i am part of what our church conference is calling a 'circuit leader'; about 50 of us host circuits of church pastors -- my circuit has seven pastors in it -- and we gather for mutual support and accountability as we focus to 'make disciples of jesus christ'.

so who knew, when the circuit leaders gathered this past week in alamo for a meeting, that it would be no ordinary meeting! outside our room was this wonderful meditative garden -- pictured to your right -- that simply invited you in.

one of the first questions asked was, 'what does a disciple, in this day and age, look like?' great question! do you have an idea in your mind as you are reading this? then we were handed the book, anam cara; collegial clergy communities
by mahan siler. ok; now, this looks more like a regular meeting, and less like the meditative garden!

so what is anam cara, you ask? it is a way that redefines ministry. anam cara embodies a shift from seeing ourselves working solo to identifying ourselves as pastors in peer community (page 7). steve hyde says, he can no longer imagine doing pastoral ministry without his group of soul friends. well, this made me think of small groups.

we spend so much of our lives in isolation; our society encourages this; think about our office space or cubicles; commuting; competition for advancement; we are not a society that builds a lot of trust with co-workers, and the result is that we are diminished in so many ways.

the meditative garden reminded me that i am not alone, even though that garden seems like a space where you'd like to be alone with your own thoughts. but imagine being in a setting with that kind of beauty, talking about real life stuff; i believe that is an awesome place to open up one's fears, joys, deep-seeded secrets, and to become vulnerable enough to ask for help. and imagine, being open enough and building up enough trust, that you wouldn't mind if god heard too!


what if we had a place as we (the merced church) were seeking to discern those difficult future decisions? what would happen if we had a group (we do; we are forming small groups) to wrestle with the issues that face us; not only the future of our church, but our very own future -- our loved ones, our very lives, and the reality that we will not be here forever; don't we want to share with the unforeseen future the richness of life that we have experienced?

here is another view of that meditation garden; the path leads to a door; what does that door symbolize for you? is this a path you would risk taking? is it even a path you could venture to cross? who do you talk to about such issues in your life? or do you allow yourself time to even have such fleeting thoughts?


the dedication page of anam cara is addressed to the chutzpa of pastors, but i believe it is a good place for all of us to start:
the courage, week after week, to declare the gracious reality of god with words that fall short every time;
the courage to stand with conviction, offering an alternative worldview of shalom to the dominant culture of competitive, often violent ways of relating;
the courage to enter, upon invitation, into the private places of a person's life and be there with presence, faith and sometimes sight;
the courage to call for surrender to the christ spirit that takes us often where we do not wish to go;
the courage to be a flawed leader (or follower) of an imperfect institution that frequently contradicts the compassion it espouses;
and the courage to bear the symbols of god, even be a symbol of god, at the perilous risk of playing god.

i'm wondering....is this the community we want to be? can we build such a community? can we live into such a community as the peaceable kin-dom? do we have this kind of courage?

invocation....chicken....advocacy

i had the opportunity to once again, pronounce the invocation at the merced city council meeting on monday night. i prayed that our leaders in these difficult economic times would come to compassionate decisions particularly for the most vulnerable in our community; the children the homeless, and those without adequate health and mental health care.

i believe we at the united methodist church seek to respond to everyone in the best possible ways that we can. we helped to sponsor the wesley foundation bbq chicken dinner on saturday...what preparation goes into the care of chicken, let me tell you! the picture above shows that we united methodists are a clean lot!

but the real secret to the success of such a 'fun-draiser' isn't all the ingredients or the hours of labor; it's the dedication, and the willingness of those who serve.

the picture below gives a new concept to 'men at work'. yet our care for one another and our dedication to the community is undisputed.

we have a group of women who prepare and serve food for those living at the creek; the city council will make decisions about their living space this evening.

our social action team sponsors a monthly food distribution; our tuesday 'children at the church' after school program provides dinner for participants and their families during the school year; one of our christmas eve services is dedicated to providing a meal for those in our neighborhood.

but there's more! our social action team is also exploring ways to 'step up' our care for our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. we are talking about advocacy. jesus reminds us that 'the poor you will have with you always', and i believe by that he means that our care for others will be unceasing. and, i believe, as we care for others, jesus is in the midst of such care.

we can pray unceasingly. we can bbq until we run out of food. advocacy may allow us to raise a collective consciousness to empower long-lasting care, not simply the immediate needs to be attended to. what can we do? do you have an idea?

talk to our representatives, write a personal note to those empowered to make the needed changes, and offer your time to make a difference to others.

what's your take on what needs to be done? and by the way, buying a chicken dinner isn't possible this week...we sold out! thank you for your support of our young adult/college student ministry.

too many passwords....

i had such a difficult time getting to blog today....different companies require different types of passwords, and i had to land on the correct one for this account; passwords are ok, except this account added another security word that you have to type, so that they know you are really human, and not a machine. honestly, i think you have to be a machine to figure out that word, don't you?

anyway, i really meant to share that i had the pleasure to celebrate the renewal of vows for a couple married 60 years this past week-end. they had kept their original vows, and we used them, with a slight adaptation. what a powerful affirmation to know that couples can stay married for over a year or two. 60! i'll never experience that, sadly enough. but what a powerful witness that in this day and age, it can happen!

i also had the opportunity this week to witness the opening of the new wesley center at u.c. berkeley. for those thinking about attending school there, this housing/spiritual center is directly across the street; eight suites of 12 students each, provide a safe haven for study and growth.

here in merced, we are excited to have a wesley house with six students living in an intentional community for growth and nurture in a spiritual way. how excited the wesley brothers, john and charles, would be to know that their little societies from their oxford days, have lived on and developed into intentional living communities! and we are excited to anticipate with the goto family this week, the birth of campus minister jennifer's daughter....prayers for baby girl goto!

spiritual growth is a life-long process. perhaps the complication of too many passwords could be eliminated, if all of us could use the same word...believe. i realize this defeats the security of a password, but the concept is the same. if the only password we needed was 'believe' -- even when we didn't fully understand what we believed -- at least we would be able to profess that we believe -- something!

with wesley, believing was something that came to us -- and still comes to us -- by means of grace; "prevenient grace", meaning, god is there before us, yearning for us to learn and grow, and to learn to be faithful. we can be faithful in so many ways. we can believe in so many ways. maybe the password 'believe' is our entry into saying, 'i'm not sure what i believe, but i know i have to believe something'.

be it from childhood, into our teens and young adulthood years, or far into our maturing, god's grace is there, ready and waiting for us to find our belief. even discovering jesus doesn't mean that be all believe the same way.

i'm excited to witness the merced college and u.c. merced students find their way onto their spiritual path. and it makes me hopeful to know that, while i have not been able to sustain a 60 year loving relationship with someone else (well, i am only 52!), that god has maintained a (so far) 52 year loving relationship with me. i'm still on the journey. i've learned to appreciate women and ethnic diversity in ministerial leadership; i've learned that my own white-maleness of privilege has caused hurt and oppression; i've learned to breathe in the spirit of prayer, and that i don't always have to be 'right' or 'in charge' or 'the center of attention'. maturity has its advantages!!!

so, what have you learned on your spiritual journey so far, that you would be willing to share? you never know how your journey will make an impact on someone else!

centenarians....i'll be there in 48 years!

the united methodist church in livingston (ca) celebrated their centennial this past week-end! wah-hoo! even bishop brown was there. while i was in sacramento (central), we celebrated their 150th! i graduated from high school, and we were the class of 1976 -- the 250th year of our nation. longevity is a big deal! it is a time for celebration -- and stay up-to-date.

one of my new best friends if 'the costco connection'; it comes out monthly, and i love to read about this and that; this september issue had a brief article entitled, 'be on top with pop', about pop culture and the latest trends, and results from 100 centenarians that were interviewed for this article! the secrets of longevity? laughter and prayer, along with, of course, being socially active, eating healthy, exercising, and getting enough sleep.

but they noted that 8% of the centenarians texted or instant messaged. wow! now that's up-to-date! 1/3 of those interviewed eat organic foods!

we here at the united methodist church in merced, have two centenarians; they are being cared for by their daughters, and they live at home, and they get out and about! awesome! what we could learn from them....how they have seen the world change.

change. staying current. remembering the past, and living into the future. these are things that keep us living -- plus, of course, laughter and prayer!

i invite you to take some time when we finishing reading this blog today, and reflect upon the changes that have taken place in your lifetime. having celebrated my 52nd birthday this past week, i remember learning to type on a manual typewriter, then transitioning to a portable electric, and finally keyboarding on a computer. yet, i still write, and like to receive handwritten notes, even though e-mails and texting are quick and personal too. we don't have to do just one or the other; we can celebrate the things we liked in the past, and enjoy new technology. the best of both worlds. it will keep us growing and learning, and moving; stopping and planting our feet in the ground (besides realizing that is what a two-year-old does!), doesn't get us anywhere. and isn't moving with the spirit what life is about?

here at the united methodist church of merced, we are in a world of change. and we don't know what that change will look like yet. but we are inviting everyone to share in the journey. we have developed small groups, who are reading a blueprint for discipleship by kevin watson; in it, he helps us take john wesley's ideas (the founder of methodism back in england in the 1700's), and explore them in a contemporary way. 'do no harm, do good, and practice the christian disciplines (put your faith into 'action')' are things that have worked for people growing in their faith for hundreds of years. when we stop growing, well....you know!

we know we have having to change. and believe me, i understand it is not easy, or for some, even desirable. but you know what? based on the story of creation, each new day was an adventure; something new, and it hasn't stopped yet. sure, we were encouraged to rest! but we have never been told to do the 'same old, same old'. only to step out in faith.....

so, are you envisioning yourself as a centenarian? can you believe that you can learn something new once each day? do you have the faith to practice what you've learned to make them, natural, so that you might say to yourself, "how in the world did i get along all these years without...(fill in the blank)?!"

we also had a new birth in the congregation last week. can you imagine what he'll experience in the next 100 years? Wouldn't it be great for him and for you, to have a mentor in his faith development? Or, if not mentoring him, discover who you might want to mentor. Who mentored you? How do we help each other and our world reach the years ahead?

it's not too late! spend some time learning and growing; share yourself and your wisdom and your faith with someone else. and, if you haven't done so already, send a note to someone who has mentored you, just to say thanks. and if that person is no longer living, live your life as a thanksgiving to their faith in you!

care to share a story of someone who has made an impact on your life? they don't have to be a centenarian....they could be anyone! the gift is in the sharing.....

troubling times, but not without hope

these are, indeed, troubling times; 'remembering 9/11' brings up many emotions, and responses; some responses are troubling to say the least.





for instance, what good does it due for someone to burn a holy book? book burning is useless, and undignified, and only draws more attention to the issue at hand. the qu'ran is a book that holds a belief. we may not agree with everything in it -- as the christian faith does not agree on all points in the bible, but are there insights in the qu'ran worth exploring? no doubt. does burning a written history of belief make it disappear, or heal a wound, or make one feel better? i think no! we do have the freedom not to read and become aware. perhaps we might put our energy into making that choice rather than striking a match.

much in the same way, hate groups provide no redeeming qualities. such is the case happening in madera, ca; with a group targeting the muslim people, planned parenthood, the united methodist church, the sheriffs department.... as a faith people, should not our energies be better placed in working toward justice, and serving god by eliminating oppression; focusing on health, wholeness, compassion, peace, love? i know my soul is inspired when i can participate in living kindness and hope.

perhaps, the troubling times in which we live, really are about finding hope. so let me share a couple of 'hope-filled' things.





yesterday, i was invited to a cross-country race for our four community middle-schools. this picture to the right shows the seventh grade girls about to run...the ready, set and (cover your ears) sound of the gun...they're off! running by the beautiful yosemite lake near u.c. merced....what a wonderful location for healthy competition!

and i didn't notice any attitude that would interfere with 'doing ones best'. nothing but encouragement and support. and great diversity! in these troubling times, we are not without hope!

following the races -- there were six of them, i journeyed onto the u.c. campus that is growing and expanding. one of the insights i had was that if we are going to connect with students in a relational way, we have to learn how to text! without that form of communication, we'll never be able to relate to these times.

i was blessed by the wesley club on campus, hosting the missionary and photo journalist, paul jeffery. his photos tell the story of our world that is filled with hazards and vulnerability. our invitation in these troubling times, is to become aware, respond, and yes, build hope. we cannot respond to every need, but we can be involved with one area, and become better informed and actively involved! We can become empowered to empower others; we can become relational, by helping others relate. Being aware....that conflict minerals is the new conflict diamonds in africa; that solidarity can happen by becoming involved in taking a stand, as it did in a clothing factory where environmental issues were being ignored. we could watch 'charlie wilson's war', and listen to the ending that was overlooked by others.

we can educate ourselves by diving into information about the congo, the sudan, darfur, and finding out where our clothing is being made -- and by whom....children, perhaps? and by the time those middle school age pre-teens (that were racing here in merced) reach the age of 22 in another country, they are used up, and tossed out and must find new employment....at the age of 22! i'm turning 52 this week! i must be really over the hill....but no one has ever turned me out of a job because i'm useless. i can only imagine what that is like.

in these troubling times, we cannot rely only on a soundbite from the news, or a headline from a paper. when something troubles us, we need to listen to that spirit-led urging, and begin to explore. from where does our hope come? where do you find hope?

what could god possibly be saying to you in these troubling times? how are you going to respond?

no labor on labor day, 2010

blessed week to you!

i decided to try and post once each week; i shared last week on a monday, but as yesterday was labor day, i decided not to labor....even though putting thoughts to paper isn't that much labor, i am posting today. i will try and post early in the week, for the most part....

for those in merced and in the surrounding area, i invite you to take time to see playhouse merced's production of 'joseph and the amazing technicolor dream coat'. what a fun-filled show, and exciting costumes! this last week-end, they supported the community by fund-raising for the 16 displaced families from a recent merced fire. entertainment AND community support; awesome! and, because so many people think the old testament is not worth a read....seeing this production reminds folks that this kind of living continues in our day and time. family strife, unique business planning, natural disaster, and reunification. this could be 21st century america, rather than b.c. egypt!

a reminder from sunday's sermon on what jesus meant about ... hate: hate is what we express in many ways, but for those on their journey of christian faith, hate is meant by jesus to mean an action that responds to anything that gets in our way from following jesus. the 'church phrase' we use is 'discipleship'. but for those on this journey of faith, we realize that it is difficult to always faithfully follow jesus, because....well, let's be honest, jesus can get in our way. and i believe that is what jesus knew all along. striving to live faithfully is really hard work. it is probably the hardest thing we do on a daily basis.

but i don't know what i'd do in my life if i weren't on this path....and i'm not sure i want to find out; do you? i already know those times in my life when i'm focused on myself exclusively. i forget there are others around....not such great results. do you know what i mean? (you could even share an example if you'd like!)

so, instead of working on labor day, i stopped to smell the roses. i actually sat in my little yard that i worked so hard to make a retreat center ... but never really was able to enjoy. i listened to my 'crack-ed pot' fountain, heard the sounds of neighbors and the sounds of our community, and enjoyed the flowers i planted in spring -- that have, for the most part, survived the summer heat! it was the reward i received from actually hand-watering a number of my plants throughout the summer; usually hearing myself say, 'i really need to enjoy my yard...some day!' labor day was it; listening to classical music from the house, enjoying morning coffee, lunching on a chef salad and freshly brewed iced tea -- i was even the chef! it was a wonderful morning, as the sun consumes the yard in the afternoon.

the heat came, and off to see eat-pray-love. who says there's nothing to do in merced?! if you haven't seen a movie in a while, why not see eatpraylove -- based on a book i have yet to read, but i suspect it is a good read, also! there are many great 'one liners' in that movie, with a great cast. it has been out for a while, but the theatre was full! the story revolves around a woman who needs to find her center -- kind of like trying to find yourself, only from a spiritual sense. anyway, she spends a year away -- eating, learning to meditate, and discovering love (for really the first time). one of the lines i remember is 'to get to the castle, you have to swim the moat'. profound. true. honest.

nicely put. and as i look at my life, the goals i yearned to achieve, were not accomplished without the swim. the swim can feel daunting. sometimes i'd rather just veg, honestly, thank you very much. and then that's what i feel like; a veggie that's sat; limp, drying up, and aimless. when i risk the toe-in-the-water, i feel much more accomplished -- even when i haven't reached my goal. the castle is really about the journey, isn't it? who you meet, the relationships that develop, the decisions you make and the things you do, as well as the 'you' that you discover, by the grace of god.

so my question to you is, what is preventing your swim....today? blessings.....

We 2 Could B Sunk If We Get Stuck!

Greetings one and all!

I have not done a blog entry since I returned from Europe. So thank you for those who have returned, looking, and been so encouraging....and for those just new, welcome!
I am in Aptos this week, staying in a lovely condo offered by a member in the congregation, as I attend a Board of Ordained Ministry Retreat for the RIM; working with those who are working toward Ordination in the United Methodist Church; very exciting!

As I began to blog at a local Starbucks, someone came up to me and said, 'has anyone ever said you look like Rob Rhiner?' Well, ya never can tell -- I may have been in some other lifetime, but I'll leave that for some other blog, and let Rob live his talented life.

Anyway....before the Retreat, I had an opportunity to spend some time in reflection, and in the cool delights of the California Coast....


I began to reflect upon the Autumn following a very busy Summer at the United Methodist Church of Merced. We had been reflecting on Spiritual Disciplines, and pondering the combining of our two English Speaking Worship Services. Well, one thing led to another, and we ended up not combining, but actually deciding to explore our reason for being, if you will. What does it mean to be United Methodists in Merced; who are we, what can we offer, and what will be our future?

I looked out toward Santa Cruz (Aptos is south), and in the distance was what turned out to be a cement ship....but you really couldn't tell (picture above). And I thought how much that was like what we are trying to figure out. We've been in our present location for over 50 years, so it's a good time to take a step back and see what lies infront of us. I realize that it is ok not to know -- even though that can cause anxiety. The reality is that seeing a blur -- i have to take my glasses off to take a picture even with my iphone! -- can make us interested in exploring that blur, or cause us to move on, or make us stop in our tracks.

What happens when we stop in our tracks? We get stuck, just like this cement ship. No way to move forward or backward, but stay the same. And look what happens when you stay the same! (see the ship picture above). Now, I will grant you that that "stuck-ness" has become a sanctuary for the birds. How nice for them! But, honestly, a ship was meant to move and go, and to serve those within and outside of its walls.

The Church is no different. Our building calls us to be in constant repair, or one day we may look like this cement ship! Such repair work is faithful stewardship; as leaving a faithful sanctuary is what we can offer folks now and in the future. But, I don't believe we can just simply "be". While our building causes some of our ministry to be stationary, we, as people, can move out from there, and come back on occasion for renewal and growth. Both going back and doing, and coming back and renewing are important elements of ministry.

So the anxiety part. When I turned to walk back to my car, I noticed this stairway...perhaps to heaven, but more likely simply to the top. But, from this angle, one cannot see to the top. If one can't see to the top, does one start out anyway searching for adventure? Or think it too risky even to try? Sometimes standing too closely to a situation can impair our vision for the possibility. So, in order to see more clearly, I had to move away... and ended up getting the picture below. What I would have missed by not stepping back -- I would have missed the bigger picture! Just like if I hadn't gone closer to that ship, I might have missed that insight as well. Because, honestly, I thought at first sight, that ship was actually the remains of the pier.

So, by using the Spiritual Disciplines from this summer, I was able to remind myself that ministry is an adventure, not a destination; our church ministry is about preserving AND creating, remembering and pondering the possibilities.

There were lots of people fishing on that pier as I went toward that ship. That in itself is a wonderful concept, isn't it? Creativity involves the reality that God, not we ourselves, is the one who nudges us to be about the doing. And the doing comes in many shapes and sizes; praying, learning, seeing, listening, trying, failing, succeeding, moving out and doing, and resting as well.

As the Autumn begins, we at the United Methodist Church in Merced will be about all of that, and more! We're inviting people to participate in Small Groups, and we challenge one another to be witnesses of God's Spirit in this day and in the many days to come. We're about being the hands and feet, the ears and eyes, the voice of the living Christ; we are called to remember that Jesus is in our midst. How much more fun can we have than that?!

And, by the way, this is the reward I received when I looked another way....who knew flowers could grow in the sand? But they do, which reminds me that even with shifting sand, roots can grow deeply. We're not sunk yet. We might not even be stuck yet; only a little anxious, because we can't see clearly what lies ahead, because it might be a blur, or out of sight.

But if we trust, God and one another, imagine the possibilities!

What say you?

ooh la la -- may in paris, versailles, england and merced

ok, so there is a story about this picture, but you'll have to read it at the end of this posting....

by now i am home, but the memories of this past week-end linger. this first trip to europe was wonderful! i can't even begin to share, and certainly my pictures do not do justice.

but, of course, trips are about experiences, and the pictures bring those memories back, no matter the focus (or lack-there-of).

when in paris...eat at a cafe for hours...stay up until the sun goes down at 10pm, and then walk down the seine to the eiffel tower.

watch the sun set, and walk around the neighborhoods ... all 20 of them, but not at the same time.

you can't possibly go anywhere in paris without seeing a fountain or a church. this catholic country celebrates its religious holidays. i was here during the pentecost week-end -- and the french take monday off to celebrate! sundays are days not to work, so other than tourist shops, most of paris is closed except, of course, for the cafes. but no shopping; spend time in the parks, the fountains...or take a trip to the louvre...you could spend your entire life in the louvre; like the ever-ready-battery (i went through 8, taking 1879 pictures) the artwork just keeps going and going.

so take a picture or hundreds on the trip. experience notre-dame (more about that later), and take pictures with people in them because you'll never get the 'perfect picture' without people! public transportation is wonderful, and walking is not to be beat!

and, of course, art is everywhere.

so then take a trip to the 'gold capital'; the estate of versailles. louis the 13th and 14th loved grand; maybe the 17th century was the time; i'm not sure. but what i do know is that the stone steps that you take from place to place are 'impressed' by the people who have traveled the paths before you.

did i mention the gold? or the vastness? the fountains are turned on for special occasions ... i guess i wasn't enough of an occasion, but that's ok. use your imagination, and listen for the music that are in the gardens.

a couple from new york brought a picnic lunch to celebrate a birthday in the gardens. marie-antoinette would have been so upset to know that they were actually eating cake in her gardens....

unless you've been there, you just can't imagine that the gardens go beyond where the eyes can see.

but i thought of our prayer team while i was there, because walking is a spiritual experience, i really believe! actually, one strolls in europe; no one seems to be in a rush, unless, of course, you are on the tube or the underground or the metro or the train ... then it is just like any other city ... MOVE! but here in versailles, take your time.

then go to celebrate notre-dame to celebrate pentecost in french; i told shinya, who drove me home from the fresno airport, that the experience of mass was like being a peasant during the middle ages, when only the 'rich and learned' got seats, and the 'other of us' stood to listen on the edge -- but when the bells rang, the bread and the wine turned into christ -- and they knew! the music, the languages, the choirs, the experience made pentecost a truly holy experience for me.


so, at night, people still gather ... i wonder if we can experience that in merced...

so i found something red in paris to wear on pentecost, on this wonderfully beautiful sunny and warm day. just to let you know, i had only a half-day of rain in london, but flew home to rain...what's up with that, not that i'm complaining to remember my baptism....

so after a life-changing worship, why not take the nearly 500 (omygod!) steps up to see what paris looks like from god's point of view...and this is what i saw.

what an experience...

so what does one do after worship? stroll the 'mall' that leads to arc de triomphe. this is a special week-end, and the walk is covered with flowers, plants and trees; a beautiful display that was put together overnight -- so hard to believe -- and on monday, the community is invited to come and take something home ... trees, flowering plants, greens, vegies. what an experience.






so, i didn't walk up either of the 'must sees', but simply to stand in their presence is an experience! just don't try to walk across this round-about.

sunday in paris; popular wedding days. so why not take pictures in your wedding dress around pieces of art. don't mind the crowds; they love happy times....

this is the oldest cafe in paris. it resides on the second floor -- or what we would call the second floor. it is actually on the first floor, because the ground floor is actually counted as it's own floor. just a piece of trivia for you...

the train trip back on the euro-star riding the chunnel was a nice way to go. so relaxing, and i had a section to myself -- so i put my aching feet up; grand! tea time, again; and they bring the food to you on the train!

time is drawing to a close -- o no! so take a trip to the places i haven't been yet ... head to the national gallery for the latest art piece; this piece has actually been shared this week-end in trafalgar square; everyone gathers there.

the picture that you saw at the top of this post, was actually placed here, originally, but, somehow, it moved to the top. if that is the worst experience i had on my trip -- i.e. my pictures moving around -- then i feel fortunate. i had very little trouble on my travels. thank you for your prayers, your care and support, and the gift of god that allowed this opportunity for me....

so, what does one do on the last night in london? well, go to a pub -- but not just any pub -- dine with sherlock holmes! walk the streets again to soak up the beautiful weather; stroll the thames, and then take in a show. i could have gone to one of at least two dozen shows -- including mouse trap, the london legend that has been playing there for 58 years! -- but i chose to go to see billy elliot, a wonderfully energy-filled 3 hour show, filled with wonderfully talented children! the story takes place during the coal-miners strikes of england, and traces the experience of a young boy who is encouraged to make more of his life than living in a dying mining town. he ends up going to the national ballet school. heartwarming, and a wonderfully moving conclusion to a wonderfully moving trip. i think john wesley would have been someone who encouraged billy to listen to that still quiet voice of god.

we all need to be listening to that quiet and sometimes not quiet voice of god. as jesus would say, go and do likewise. so plan a trip...experience the world -- wesley's parish -- and be kind to one another. make a difference; this will make all the difference in the world....merci; cheers! thanks for sharing in this blog. i hope you've enjoyed it. i certainly have....

just to let you know i made it safely to paris! all is fine! i should have studied harder, barbara, but you tutoring was wonderful! thank you! pictures another time. promise. blessings, pj

the wesley days in london; our last day....

the word for today is aldersgate; the experience where both wesley's have their hearts strangely warmed. we begin, howbut ever, with the 'bust' collection. there is so much wesley 'stuff' that i can hardly believe. but i thought these to the left were great!

a small known fact is that john wesley was carved in marble to be included in westminster abbey -- and yes, big ben does sound like the abbey chimes! anyway, when the carving was done, it was declined. another memorial has sense been included there. much of england appreicates john and charles wesley.

john does share this in his journal: my temper for the rest of the day was, mistrust of my own great, but before unknown, weakness. I saw that by faith I stoood; by the continual support of faith, which kept me from falling, though of myself I am ever sinking into sin. I went to bed still sensible of my own weakness, I humbly hope to be more and more so, yet confident of Christ's protection.

we truly walked the streets of london; of course, one can't go to england without a little shirlock holms.... and i must share with you that emma thompson was in town and walked right past us after we visited charles wesley grave. isn't it amazing that we can be so excited to see a 'star'? what a hoot!

part of the morning was spent learning about the hide street methodist church; this church was made up of many slave holders, in a very poor spot of london; the wesley's came there to preach, and to remind those who had slaves to change their ways.

this is the current building of the wesley chapel. the welsh pastor, who is also a lord and busy in government, shared about suzanna being burried in their gravesite, and how this was the building that was built after the work of ministry at the foundry; it is the center of ministry, and this is where a reminder to work with the poor, the infirmed, the children with their education, social services and even loans were provided. ministry to those on death row as well. our wesley ministry isn't a social gospel, but the gospel of jesus christ being proclaimed. we don't support, we do!

here is the memorial to suzanna wesley. she always wanted to be buried in the anglican church property, but it was not to be.

among other things that we saw today was the remaining wall of the city, below. parts of england are right next to existing property that is being developed or has already become a "place to read about". lots of those readings are around the city.

for instance, the placque below is really suppose to be charles wesley's aldersgate experience, but it didn't upload onto this site, and i can't figure out how to get rid of it. so, needless to say, this is actually the marker we think is charles wesley's conversion experience. this younger brother continued to let john take all the glory, and you'll see the difference in a few moments....

within john wesley's home next to the foundrey and wesley chapel, is what remains of a life that influenced england and the world. this is john's death bed -- famous because it is his belief until the end, that god is with us! the heavenly banquet was something we prepared for here, and mixing ministering to everyone was what life was all about.


this is john's marker for death, in the backyard of the church. american methodism helped to provide the means to preserve this history.

to the right is the marker about john's aldersgate/conversion experience. it rests outside a london museum. we sang 'and can it be' as we stood taking pictures. it was a moving experience -- in harmony, no less!
so many things; you just had to be here; i hope this little bit of information has been helpful.

we finished our day before heading back on the train line, and tube/underground -- which had some trouble today -- so that we could dine and finish our pilgrimage with the eucharist at st. katharine's where we are staying.

so, by now, you have probably recognized st. paul's cathedral. we celebrated evensong there at 5 pm. evensong is a service that celebrates the incarnation of god in christ, as experienced by mary. no pictures are allowed in here, so you only get outside pictures. some have asked about westminster and st. paul's. westminster is really the royal chapel that serves as the place to have regal ceremonies; the clergy are hand-picked by the queen -- she never did have tea with me; high or otherwise!

but doesn't this bring to mind mary poppins? many believe this could have been the concept for that famous scene where the woman is singing 'feed the birds, tuppins a bag...' as the banking industry is in this area.




and this is the remarkable picture of st. paul's from the neighborhood; notice how in england, the buildings are modern and classical. remember that wwii experience where domed buildings were not bombed?

well, back in london i forgot to tell you that during wwii, the wesley center and the undergound tube stations became air-raid shelters. at the center, the people didn't want to go home because of the connections people made over the years they slept together in the shelter --- hum... that doesn't sound right, but you know, i hope, what i mean.

when london was re-built, the "old style buildings were not

re-created. it gives london and england that old world charm, and the cutting edge newness!

we completed our evening with the eucharist in st. katherine's chapel; this icon is something that spoke to me, so i captured this icon to share.

please keep people on this trip in your prayers. traveling begins early morning tomorrow; some are even getting up at 2:30 am to train over to the airport.

i, however, will sleep in and be ready to catch my train to PARIS!!!

thank you for coming on this journey with me. may god move your heart and inspire your efforts to be in mission to the care of those around you and beyond. prayers were lifted up today for the struggles in korea. our world is so small...when will we learn to care ... enought?

bless you on your journey. and, hey merced! i'm coming back! let the spirit move us in the ways of christ! love, pj