heading to annual conference

united methodists make a yearly pilgrimage to annual conference. annnual conference is our 'annual meeting', and this year, once again, we head to the convention center in Sacramento. our 'conference hotel' is the hyatt, just in case you need to make contact, and we'll be doing such exiting things as electing representatives to general conference -- a meeting that happens for the entire church every four years. we'll also eat regularly, and listen to reports, pray and worship, renew friendships and do other assorted business. the last thing we do our service to ordain and commission people who will serve professionally in ministry.

so, my usual thing to do before i leave is to, of course read my reports, but more importantly, get my house ready. i hate returning to a messy house...so i clean, refresh the bed and towels, move the plants, which are not on automatic sprinklers, to a place where they will get watered. i've watered the indoor plants and paid the bills. ironically, i don't have to go into the office today -- a first for me. but some time, i have to do laundry and pack.

aren't you glad you checked my blog today? where else would you get all this information?!

i hope and trust that you will have a good day. and when i get back home, it will be just in time to plan worship and get ready for vacation....do i have vacation plans??? you'll need to tune in next week to find the answer to that question! but in the mean time, relax and enjoy.

oh, by the way...we received 15 members on sunday through confirmation...a very spirited pentecost service....lots of people wore various 'fire colors' -- reds, oranges, blues and greens, yellow. A powerful experience!

and, on top of everything else, we have a new website...check us out by going to your search engine and looking for united methodist church of merced.

blessings....

centering prayer . . . .

i've just returned from 'centering' with my centering prayer group. daily meditation is such a helpful way to remind me what is important in life. do you know centering? 'simply' let yourself be with god; try it for twenty minutes in the morning...and why not try it for twenty minutes at night?! create a word that will bring you back to your center (god) whenever your mind wanders -- and your mind will wonder! mine is 'shalom'. our minds are generally so full of chatter, it is difficult to focus; it takes practice. meditating allows us to simply try to be with god, and listen for that still small voice.

our group gets together on tuesdays at 1 pm. we check in for twenty minutes, center for twenty minutes (we use a song bowl to begin and end our centering time), and then we reflect on a reading from a book -- in this case, everything belongs; the gift of contemplative prayer, by richard rohr. if nothing else, i can just be for 20 minutes; i even turn off my phone! amine!!

we have been reading and discussion rohr's book for quite some time now. we've found his writings rich with thought-provoking things. the chapter we are currently on, don't push the river', has many sub-parts. but rohr says (p. 143), 'faith does not need to push the river precisely because it is able to trust that there is a river. the river is flowing; we are in it. the river is god's providential love -- so do not be afraid. we have been given the spirit. . . . the fears that assault us are mostly simple anxieties about social skills, about intimacy, about likeableness, or about performance. we need not give emotional food or charge to these fears or become attached to them.'

sometimes i can get focused on "pushing the river". i miss out on all the other 'stuff' around me, and i neglect to simply be in this moment, and not "make" the river be anything other than what rivers are; my trying to change the flow of things is like trying to get a river to change direction.

i can get so focused on completing the task that i miss out on enjoying the moment. completing the task may be glorious, but if one does not feel good about the process, than it's just a task that got done. what's so good about that?! other than the fact that i can now go onto the next task. and believe me, there is always another task that waits my attention. is that true for you?

so, why not spend a little time every day with god?! this 20 minute slice of heaven is, if nothing else, an opportunity to focus on nothing! and yet, it is not a waste of time. and besides all that, there are no calories involved! Now THAT is even a better reason to stay centered, don't you think?

memorial day . . . wearing white . . . and new movies

memorial day. a time to remember those who have served our country. this is also a time to be actively praying and working for peace; in our hearts, our lives, and our world. american movie classics did an entire week-end showing of war classics. what a painful reminder of our history. . . .

memorial day. we can now wear 'white' for the summer. does wearing white help us, psychologically speaking, to think we are really cooler than we are, temperature wise? if so, we all needed non-white sweaters this past week-end! memorial day may be the 'beginning of summer', but we're still in spring!

memorial day. bar-be-qued meat; an american past-time. back-yard events. a more relaxed time of the year. i continue to work on my lawn and yard. i've moved my garbage cans to the side yard, with easy access to the street. flowers are in bloom. the backyard tree is BIG, and none of my plants died over the winter! and, more importantly, the weeds are very happy! but the best thing about taking care of my yard over time is that the weeds aren't deep; they grow in last year's mulch, and are easy to pull!

memorial day. summer box office smash hits. i had someone drag me to 'the hangover part 2'. i went kicking and screaming...explaining that i hadn't seen 'the hangover part 1' didn't seem to matter. "you don't need to see one to see two", i was told. i tried very hard not to go...but, not hard enough. so, what happened? besides not enjoying this 'free ticket adventure', we arrived 7 minutes into previews, and ended up having to sit in the third row. honestly that wasn't SO bad, but, we sat in front of a family with 3 children under twelve. here was the problem....

this movie was rated "r". i googled the rating scale when i got home..."r" is restricted. children under 17 are required to be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. WHY, you ask??? "r" rated films have adult themes, adult activity, hard language, violence, nudity, and drug abuse. if you'd like to see all these features in one place, go see 'the hangover (either 1 or 2, i suspect -- they're probably alike, except that 1 takes place in las vegas, and 2 takes place in thailand). BUT, when you go, leave your under-age children at home. what was that parent thinking???

it was not the movie that made me uncomfortable (repulsed, yes), but sitting in front of young children...o my god! i wanted to offer to child sit them outside...i would have gladly bought popcorn, soda, ice cream, pizza, you name it! notice i didn't tell you the content of the movie. use your imagination. and sit in your yard instead!

so, my memorial day advice for the summer is this: save wearing white until after you do yard work. actively pray and work and live peace, and encourage others to do the same. and when you choose a movie for entertainment, invite someone who is of age to attend the experience and share the moment. and if you have children who do not fit the correct stats for the movie -- call me. i'll be happy to provide child care!

most of all, be safe, be grateful, and enjoy times of renewal and care. take a leisurely walk, and bar-be-que more fish and veggies and less red meat. and always say a prayer of thanksgiving as you share your bounty with somebody else! let the warm weather begin . . . .

a spring walk -- with hope

perhaps i was just inspired by the beauty of the day, yesterday. but i woke up with the sun, and went for a walk around my neighborhood. i went a different route -- always a good thing to do, at times. try changing the route you go. you will be amazed at what you see!

so on this spring walk, i was filled with hope, and i was inspired!

first, the hope. when i moved to merced five years ago, after i bought my house, i began to see 'for sale' signs popping up like weeds all over. this was NOT a good sign for a first time home buyer, or for our community! but things got worse! for sale signs turned into foreclosure signs. our neighborhoods looked like a blight had hit them. building stopped; vacant lots became more visible, and a depressed mood began to inhabit our community.

not wanting to appear too 'pollyanna-ish', yesterday's walk gave me hope. while there are still some empty houses, the vacant lands have been well cared for, and the empty house signs are back to 'for sale' instead of 'foreclosure'. many more yards are being kept up, and families are putting back down roots. my neighborhood is more pride full, with the empowering kind of pride. hope. and now for the 'i was inspired' part.

i have been slowly getting my own back yard into 'welcome' order, and i was inspired, after my walk-about, to get a few 'color spots' and bring my fountain out of hibernation, and settle in. i'm not done yet, but i did take some time just to sit and enjoy part of the day. read a book; sipped on fresh brewed ice tea; listened to the sounds of my quiet neighborhood.

inspiration doesn't have to zap you like a lightening rod. a simple walk around the neighborhood did it for me. children were playing in their front yards; people i don't know said 'hi'; the weather had a slight breeze and was the perfect temperature. i was inspired. and grateful that hope seems to have returned this spring.

there's more to be done at my house...they've discontinued my shredded bark, so i'll have to go on a hunt for something that doesn't float away when i water. but, it's a small price to pay when hope and inspiration come together. actually, i can hardly wait for memorial day week-end! let the summer begin.

iced tea anyone? and why not share what inspires you with the rest of us....

weddings and making a discovery

i had the distinct pleasure to officiate at a wedding on saturday. the location was about an hour north east from merced, so i ended up staying over both friday night (for the rehearsal) and saturday night (for the wedding), and getting up bright and early sunday morning (well, it would have been bright if it hadn't been raining!) to get to worship by 9!

but it was a great time to be away from my usual routine; i brought work to do during saturday, but life seemed so much more inviting than if i had stayed in my office doing that same work! i love computers for this reason -- and laptops, especially! i parked myself in front of a renewing view, and worked and listed to balls whizzing by me (ok, we were at a golf and country club, and i was on the 'green', but i didn't have to worry about my 'putt' -- good thing; i can't golf!)

so, i enjoyed watching and working and when i had a mind to take a break, i walked around the area and discovered this great picture above . . . the area is filled with unique sites and beauty. and i have always loved poppies. so, in the midst of this recreation-living community, i was able to be renewed with the sights and sounds of god's creation.

the wedding. the bride was beautiful; the groom cried. the family was happy; the guests, while very diverse, found that the common link to the week-end was love. love is the deepest, most common thread in our lives. and when we discover love . . . it is as if god reminds us to 'take no chances; embrace that love'. and for the sake of this couple, everyone did! love flowed as surely as the wine! (oops, i mean grape juice! we (united) methodists are filled with the un-fermented love of the vine!) i trust that this love will only grow more strongly as time goes on for marc and amy. they are a delight to witness -- and, because they are my neighbors, i will get to watch their love grow and mature.

love is not simple in this day and age. and each person must make their way to find such love and nurture its development. and all i can do with any couple is to support them and pray for them and be there for them...such a little investment on my part, but what an impact supportive family and friends can have on an evolving relationship. never underestimate your impact on another human being. love is as delicate as the poppy. but see how that poppy stands out when it is nurtured and appreciated.



the discovery i made was returning home in the wee hours of sunday. pretty much around the corner from where i live stands this marker of safety. this emblem -- monument, really -- has been in that spot since the 1930's! i've lived here for five years and noticed it and kept meaning to stop and see it; honestly it is so 'out of place'; this stands on a busy highway, in front of an abandoned house near the edge of the road. the company that received this recognition is no longer there, but the saying is all well and good for today: "safety follows wisdom". notice, i stopped and finally looked!

safety follows wisdom. what a perfect metaphor for beginning a new life together. in love, we promise to be faithful no matter what; to be supportive, to honor and respect one another; to laugh and cry and to be there for one another. love must be protected in safety. and those who are wise and successful in their relationships know the great cost of love. wouldn't it be a powerful tribute to love if we could place a monument somewhere to remind us that the cost of this 'hard work' was worth it?!

amy and marc know that; for as much as they tried to have the perfect wedding, unforeseen things happen; the wind blew out their unity candle. they know, however, that the real flame is the one shining within. those could be meaningful words on a monument, don't you think?

what phrase would you want the world to live by in this day and age, that would have lasting meaning in the years to come? 'safety follows wisdom' and 'love never ends' works well for me!

safety reflection

returning back to work after a week at a workshop/retreat is very difficult. we even had a session on 're-entry', and how to come back into the world after being focused in the way we were for the week. and i grant you, it is difficult!

on my way to church today, i noticed that stop signals are, i think, used as a choice -- if one wants to stop on yellow, they might; if not, it seems perfectly acceptable to just 'plow on ahead'. i am reminded of a dear woman friend who was told to 'take a breath in and out when you come to a stop sign, before going on'. that piece of advice doesn't seem to work at an electric signal. even when there are pedestrians around who have started to cross the street, their rights are not fully observed.

this, of course, becomes a safety issue. cars and walkers/bikers clash, and the walkers/bikers become 'at risk'. i realize this now as i've started walking again. and isn't it ironic that walking for health reasons can be such a risk.

this morning i left the house at 5:30; really risky. it occurs to me that people in cars drive as if no one else should be out at that time of the morning....ok, if you've followed my blog for any length of time, you'll notice that i've made this remark before. and so i've noticed that some communities are making cross-walks stand out more; flashing lights are pushed if you want to cross. and who knew, but, cars are suppose to stop!!! remarkable!

so, my reflection today is to 'slow down'; breathe at a stop sign; remember that we are not at the starting gate of the kentucky derby when the green light comes on. and, when i am walking -- and i hope you'll remember this too -- that while the law says we have the 'right of way', hesitate before crossing'. i think we all might live longer! safety.

on another note ... because some of you think that retreats are all work and no play ... i have to say that our group had a little fun with jesus last week. if you go back to last week's post, you'll notice the picture of jesus with his hands raised. i believe this image is suppose to be about blessing all who enter the retreat center. well, we got to laughing, that jesus looked more like he was saying , 'no! no! go back!' or 'we have rules here -- one of which is not to linger over lunch' or even 'slow down; bunnies at play' (there really were bunnies on the property; very friendly, and, seemingly, always hungry). so, maybe that can be your laugh for the day...how many phrases of jesus can you come up with in a minute, as you reflect upon that statue????

i am on retreat this week, spending time at the wonderful vollombrosa center in menlo park. i was invited to attend this workshop on emotional intelligence and human relations training, and while it is very powerful, it is also very draining.

emotional intelligence workings with our thinking part of the brain to fuse together our authentic selves, so that we can be communicate and live more powerfully with one another.

i did an assessment on myself before i came, and invited 20 people to also do an assessment on me, so that i can learn to better understand myself, and how i relate with other people.

i received feedback from 18 of the 20 people! now i will work in a group process to understand how to make use of this material!
upon entering this retreat setting; quite, welcoming, and ready to work, i was greeted by jesus; arms outstretched; isn't that an image?

then tucked away among the trees is 'mother mary'; a little "over-exposed", i'm afraid, but a willing reminder that prayer is what is helpful on a journey like this. the flowers are a welcome sight from this long winter and spring; the wetness of the seasons has rewarded us!

i depart for another group process this afternoon, but before that time, i am invited to come up with the areas i'd like to concentrate on this week, with a room full (12 of us) of people i do not know. how does one build up trust and be willing to share and grow with complete strangers?

the response to that is, 'first you risk, then you trust'. we learn to do this in small groups...imagine that?! we, at the merced church, are working to find the 'perfect' way to be in small groups....to grow deeper in our spiritual journeys, and to invite others to share with christian people whom they do not know -- who are actually suspect about
why christians want to share their faith. we tend to 'want members' and see that action as a sign of growth. growth happens internally, and may eventually be expressed, externally.

small groups teach us that growth is within us, and spiritual growth happens when we are willing to invite others into relationship, and simply be a compassionate friend, willing to share the journey of growth in god.

a group of us met on sunday evening to talk about ministry with the wesley clubs. could we see ourselves supporting ministry that may never see 'numbers' in our sanctuary? could we possibly believe that supporting students on their journey of faith means that when they leave our community, they might remember that 'united methodists weren't so bad', or that those people were safe to be around. who knows that when they settle into a community, they might be in need of a spiritual path; that path may lead them to a united methodist church....and the angels will be singing praise to god!!!

as one enters and departs from meals, the fountain stands as a place of renewing waters. yes, we are baptized by the grace of god. no matter where we are, water is a reminder that we are a part of a world that is cleansed and loved and empowered to be in relationship with god and one another.

spend some time today being fed by god's spirit. pour yourself a glass of cool, refreshing water; remember the source of that gift, and be thankful. offer yourself into service today to someone, and be blessed to receive what comes by sharing your time and energy.

and when the day is done, offer yourself once more to god; let your nurturing rest renew your body, soul and mind.

arise tomorrow, ready to be bold and faithful, asking nothing in return. we have been raised with christ. live this good news.....