a new conference year . . . . finishing up the last one!

 'twas the beginning of a new conference year, and all through my picture files, old photo's kept shouting, "what are you waiting for?"  (ok, so photo's don't rhyme!)

since easter i've pondered, imagined and wondered . . . . what shall i say, what shall i do?!

the parsonage needed roofing, so that has gotten all done; no leaks; no rain; no water to leak!

at the end of two years, not all the plants have died . . . . but a later picture will show just what had to be done . . . .

san franciso kept calling . . . . when will you visit your home town?! 

but why leave paradise just to experience the fog?!

but, alas, the fog horn was too much to ignore, and so a trip after easter was in order, galore!  a quick day-trip, with a new experience of driving highway 1 . . . . a tunnel has been built, by-passing "devil's slide" . . . . what a beautiful drive up the coast for the day!

atop the de-young, with  just a slight over-cast; this allowed the two spans of the golden gate to be flashed!  (ok, well, the city IS the city of love; a little flashing from the golden gate must be permitted!)

a delight to behold, and my car was a gem; the clutch waited to break until i made it nearly home!
  

 the japanese tea garden beckoned me to visit . . . . the only place besides the ocean where the water still resides.

quiet, i could ponder; let the traffic of footsteps pass by; the amazing element of beauty in such a small honored space!

tea, of course; and crackers were needed, because, of course, i WAS on vacation!  but, a pastor is never REALLY on vacation . . . . a word to the wise:  turn off ALL electric devices so as not to be over-whelmed by things better left un-read!

still, one finds the peace if one really strives to see.

and so, contemplation has turned into a sermon series for the summer!  god has a sense of humor . . . . even on vacation!

but such a rewarding place to contemplate; could it be replicated?!

 returning home, i found i didn't have a tea garden, but a spiritual haven in my own (parsonage) back yard!

dorothy may have had ruby slippers, but she didn't have the effects of santa cruz!

upon my return, there has been business to tend; exciting future plans to contemplate and ponder.  always pondering; always something new; always amazing, isn't that true for you, too?!

so take time to ponder; relax and be amazed!  always something more to do; but plan a play- day too!  yes, i'm still walking; the employee well-being challenge of june is now completed; the united methodist church representatives placed 29th out of 55 corporate sponsors, and i placed 8,783 out of 41,600 walkers and runners . . . . not that i'm competitive; but i do need a new pair of shoes, now!

july first marks the beginning of a new conference year; i've finished up the last one, and i'm starting a-new!  santa cruz is sunny, on this first day of our third year together; it's quiet in the office but there is much yet to do.  and alas, not in the far too distance to the east, a lighthouse still calls (not a fog-horn as in the city, but one could almost here it cry!) . . . . its light a reminder that while it may help to light a way for safety, WE at the united methodist church of santa cruz, are called to be the light of justice and of peace, and that in the midst of this new year, we are to carry the torch that says "love is love", no matter what!

so join us at 10:45 on any given sunday . . . . and join us on july 19th, when we're having a bbq . . . . with a discussion about what we plan to be; how we plan to be; and how love will shine thru . . . . be our guest, if you are able; just let your love shine thru!