palm ~ passion sunday . . . and you're invited!

palm ~ passion sunday is tomorrow, march 29th, 2015 . . . and you are invited to attend.

james has made it possible for us to have some long, billowy palms ... who knew!  we actually have a palm tree on our property!

and so the setting is ready; we'll experience the triumphal entry of jesus into jerusalem, and we will sing familiar and maybe a not-so-familiar piece of music; we'll hear the steel drums play and experience an anthem from the music team ... followed by the story of how our hearts were moved with the selfless love of another.

come and let yourself be moved, and allow your spiritual journey to deepen.  and be revived to act in ways of justice and peace in the week ahead.  check out our website www.umcsantacruz.org

or join us at 10:45 am at the United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz  250 California St.  95060

i close with this jewish tale from sunday's message, which i've been asked to share ~ ~ ~

an angel of heaven was looking down upon the earth one day, having compassion for all the people.

the people of the earth seemed to suffer so much.

the angel summoned up the courage, and with hands trembling, asked God for control of the earth for one year.

god granted the angel's request.

the angel erases sin and suffering, decay and death.

but the bread the people eat tasted like clay in their mouths, and turned to dust in their hands.

the angel knew failure and collapsed at god's feet at the end of the year.

then god said, 'behold, a truth which has been known to me from the beginning of time; a truth too deep and dreadful for your delicate, generous hands, my sweet apprentice.

it is this:  that the earth must be nourished with decay and covered with shadows, so that its seeds may bring forth the harvest.

so it is this truth; that souls must be made fertile with flood and sorrow, that through them a great work may be born....'

may you know sorrow enough to grow strong in the grace that is the gift of life . . . .

the journey . . . is our home

i learned a long time ago:  life isn't always about the destination; life is about the journey.  the journey . . . is our home!

this picture was taken one night after our music team practiced; the sky from our parking lot.  it was a beautiful sky, and a beautiful night.  imagine being totally in the moment in this time, rather than being caught up in the worries for which we can generally do nothing about ... except saving up for taxes, which has been one of my lenten disciplines this year -- who knew NOT being a homeowner could be SO EXPENSIVE?!

Alas, this really is a 'first world problem', and so i tell myself, "don't worry ... just be on the journey!


One of the workshops I attended recently was put on by hospice of santa cruz county . . . entitled 'partners in caring: a seminar for faith leaders on end-of-life care.

so many wonderful things hospice provides ... including care and supportive care for everyone within the county!  did you know, for instance, that you can attend a grief support group through hospice, even if you did not have someone actively die through hospice?  and they provide all kinds of resources which can be very helpful for the living, the surviving, and they dying!  thought about your end of life plan?  this can be very helpful to you and to your family/friends who will care for you!

this cymbidium came from the plant i gave my mother, which has now returned to me; it only had two stems this year ... BUT, they have lasted the longest of any year!


 ironically, this is the only bloom i am likely to get from the numerous iris bulbs i have planted; many people have shared that a drought does that.  we were lucky enough to have early rains, but unfortunate enough not to have them continue much into the new year.  ironically, it turns out, this is the perfect time of the year to replace a roof . . . the parsonage roof is due for a new roof, so, that will be an easter gift! 

even so, this iris has been a welcome reminder that even singularly, we are blessed with a great gift of beauty!  while flowers in the garden have been in short supply, the yellow flowers of clover oats have been in abundance!  they are easy enough to pull so that other plants don't get chocked by them, but they leave their little bulbs in the ground -- a guarantee that next year, i will be blessed with them again!

one of the great concerns (worry, even, perhaps!) of this winter was this beautiful little tree at the parsonage.  without much water, this tree really had to have roots that searched for nourishment . . . and one day, while just driving out the garage, i noticed color!  i was so excited, i stopped the car and just drank in the moment.

and so, lent is coming to an end; the dormant is being awakened, and what lay dying surprisingly is finding new life ... perhaps even in my soul as well.  how about you?  are you finding renewal after this winter?  have you a sense of new life this spring?  how is the journey of life going for you?

if you are needing a spiritual 'tune-up', come spend some time at the coast this week, and join us for a variety of worship activities that can renew you on your journey . . . home!