'tis the season . . . .

i've been remiss in not blogging . . . .  so, 'tis the season, so we say!  why not, on friday the 13th; as good a day as any!

i'm basically settled in santa cruz; after all, it has been nearly six months, and all the boxes are neatly stacked away, so it was time to decorate for christmas.  i haven't put up a tree since my first year in merced; the santa cruz parsonage has the absolute perfect picture window for a tree, so, i'm happy to report that all my christmas items arrived without any issue!

you'll note, however, that that 'white stuff' on the roof is NOT snow; we've had a cold spell here; down to 26 on a couple of mornings i've gone out walking.  and yet the days have been sunny and warming into the 60's; we may even hit the 70's!

one of the realizations when you reach 55 is that you are considered a 'senior'; i can purchase a weekly sack of food from the gray bears for $25 a year -- i haven't yet -- and i can get into holiday concerts at a discount -- my first discounted concert is tonight!

the other realization at 55 is that there are lots of  memories connected with the holidays.  on the stereo in this picture to the left is my childhood pinocchio; i also have a little stuffed santa that is my age!  so christmas is filled with many emotions, and if i can adapt on of the christmas jingles, i believe it is good to 'let them flow, let them flow, let them flow....'

our focus this year at the united methodist church of santa cruz is 'light'.  our tree has more lights than usual, i believe, because i was the 'stringer of the lights' and i like lots of lights on a tree -- i suspect you couldn't tell!  the ornaments are old-time candles, and people were invited to write their christmas prayer, their hopes and dreams for the season, before placing them on the tree.

so we keep exploring the concept of light this advent season as we prepare for thee light to brighten our world on christmas.  it is my hope that your hopes and dreams of all the year may be met on that christmas night.  we certainly invite you to join us on christmas eve as we light the way of peace this year; our service of carols and light begins at 7 pm.  invite someone to share the light of jesus this year on christmas, and keep that glow, going, throughout the new year!


and, of course, it wouldn't be a trip down memory lane if i didn't share a picture of the boardwalk ... when i visited santa cruz in my youth, it was a day trip; i had no idea there was an actual town here!  we'd fly down 'blood alley' (highway 17 as we called it back then) and come onto ocean street and be directed to the parking lot.  when we heard about the earthquake in '89, and the downtown being hit hard, it was confusing, as we had no idea there was a 'downtown'. 

santa cruz is more than the boardwalk; it is now, for me, community!  light has dawned in the years since my youth, and i've grown to appreciate the depth and breath of this community.  yes, the beach-boardwalk has matured, and the community is more than simply ocean street heading to the big parking lot.

so come to the beach at the oddest time of the year; see the light of christmas shine forth this year, with your hopes and dreams; let the light of a stirring sunrise enliven your passion for working toward peace and justice in the year(s) ahead.  and let the light of jesus shine in and through you.  the world is longing for that light; the world is longing for the jesus in you to meet the jesus in them.

imagine a silent night ... a holy night ... where all is calm ... where all is bright.  may this be the year when the light truly shines and is never diminished! 

merry and happy . . . .