through the years . . . .

if this shore of west cliff drive in santa cruz could talk ... i wonder what it would say?  certainly, through the years, the number of people who have surfed and swam, walked, cycled, skated this patch of land, as well as simply sat and watched/meditated/shared a prayer, must mount into the millions....

through the years, the dreams that were shared, the conversations that occurred, and the promises made on this spot must have evoked a sense of intimacy and promise; the letting go and the starting over; the confessions and the new beginnings -- such a place as this is the collection of wisdom and memories.  the footsteps across this land represent a yearning, i believe, which speaks of hope and possibilities and the letting go of hurts and failures, allowing us to begin anew with renewing freshness.

such is the opportunity of life with god; grace, we call it . . . .

in this warm and loving 1910/11 west cliff drive house, the darlings have made a home.  in and out of their doors, through the years, individuals have come and gone and returned again to find renewal and the gift of hospitality.  such a gift was offered once again on monday evening as darrell and karen and their family welcomed the community into their home (also a vibrant bed and breakfast) in a time of celebration.

through the years this generous couple has offered a home away from home.  and monday evening, the years culminated with a loving tribute.

beginning life together before their teenage years, karen and darrell celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in a contemporary way -- by inviting others to share in their happiness of love -- in particular, inviting couples who previously had been denied the opportunity to fully express their love legally; specifically same gender couples.

on this beautiful evening in santa cruz, the darlings opened their home and their celebration to others, remembering the time as the cake says, 'when we were young and gay'.  couples shared their love stories as did darrell and karen; and, in typical united methodist fashion, a delightful pot-luck was shared by all.  romantic music, the sound of the ocean, and delightful conversation rounded out the evening.

through the years, viewpoints have changed about a variety of subjects -- the rights of certain women and men to be citizens; the rights of people of color to be fully accepted (including marriage to whom they loved), the rights of women and people of color to vote, and now the recognition of the lgbtqi community!

sunday during worship we sang 'lift every voice and sing' ... the on-going discussion now confronting us is making room at the table for the genuine welcome (not simply the toleration of) all people; finding room in our hearts for further discussion of immigration.  the need to be reconciling -- the desire to be inclusive -- the hope to extend the welcome of god's love is not yet complete.  through the years, we have faced the inclusive challenges of a variety of people.  may we continue to prayerfully walk the talk of jesus, who sets us free to share the love.  as we sang on sunday, 'facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won'.

trees and water . . . . what more could you ask for?!

 if i can say this and not be bragging, i will!  i have been appointed to a community that literally is the 'best of both worlds' for me; trees and water . . . . what more could you ask for?!

the picture to your right comes a week after the picture of the church from last week's blog . . . the parking lot has been completed and the outside of the church building is basically completed, save for signage and a gate being placed in the backside for reasons you can only imagine!

and to go along with our emerging re-incarnated building, i've chosen to preach on the 'church focus' this month: offering community, deepening spiritually, and (helping to create) a more compassionate and just world; we do indeed have open hearts, open minds, and open doors!

ironically, i was in my office one afternoon, when i accidentally picked up the phone (i'm still getting use to just letting the phone ring rather than picking it up immediately, allowing the caller to make a choice with whom to speak).

on the other end of the phone was a couple from out-of-state seeking to get married in the big basin redwoods state park.  round trip, is was only 55 miles, but with curving mountain roads, it takes about an hour to drive each way; but you don't have to drive nearly that far to feel as if you are in the redwoods!  within my neighborhood, i can walk through redwoods to the harbor and have to pinch myself to realize i haven't traveled very far!

the wedding was romantically wonderful; we even had a catered white linen reception sitting among the redwoods; i didn't know a soul, and only met the wedding couple that day, but, it was one of the nicest weddings; hardly any stress!

 from the redwoods of big basin, to the sea-shore (no doubt where sally selects sea-shells!) to the neary lagoon.

literally, in the backyard of the church, down a wooded slope, is this 44 acre park/wildlife refuge, which functions as a wetland ecosystem.  and now i know how jesus walked on water ... someone built a floating dock system (ok, ok, that really does take the mystery out of jesus' miracles!)

but from those floating docks, you can see the cross of the church; pretty neat, hu?!  this lagoon was thought to have been an oxbow bend of the san lorenzo river that became disassociated from the main stream.  once 75 acres, it now is a 14 acre freshwater marsh enclosed within a 44 acre park/wildlife refuge.  i've taken my lunch and a book and enjoyed an hour away from the office ... and never did open my book!  but please, do not feed the ducks.

and at the end of an exhilarating music rehearsal, all i have to do is go out into a very crowded parking lot filled with cars attending a school board meeting and an aa support group and realize what a gift i have been given; an opportunity to be among the beauty of god; people in the struggle of life, the birds of the air, the trees with a longer history than any human creature, and a water system that reminds me that i, too, am water washed and spirit born.  what more could anyone ask for?!

naked lady alert (oh my!)

 

i can remember visiting my very proper aunt grace in the heat of a bakersfield summer.  once, when i arrived, she told me to go and look in her backyard at the naked ladies.  as i breathlessly ran to the yard at the ripe old age of 8, all i saw was the gardener and a bunch of pink lilies.

i was going to look up the proper name for these flowers, but thought i might get a porn sight, so, just settle for my aunt's name; and, as it turns out, i discovered one in the front yard of the parsonage this week ... parents be forewarned!  the santa cruz parsonage has a naked lady (but only one, with about 6 blossoms!)

my other delight this past week was the tour of university of california, santa cruz; the first class at ucsc began in 1965.  it is like being in a national park; it is huge, filled with beautiful nature, and sever wonderful pieces of artwork; the sculpture of the squiggle was created by kenney farrel as 'untitled', and sits in an area by porter college, where on a clear day you may not see forever, but you can see clear to monterey!

also in the area in the expanded library is a tribute to the grateful dead; this group's archive is housed here in a wonderful display, complete with a dvd worth viewing!  nature and academia come together to forge a perfect pair!  should a student be looking for a place to further their education, with a united methodist church near-by, uscs is well worth a look-see!

the united methodist church of santa cruz has been recovering from a fire which affected a classroom.  but because of the nature of insurance, our building is all inter-connected; with smoke damage, etc, and a connecting roof-line, we are getting a major face-lift, thanks to the insight of those within the congregation.

natural light has been added to the worship center and the fellowship hall; a new color pallet graces the neighborhood, and the worship center will be updated with new carpet, polished stone, and paint.

we are due to receive new signage as well; and because of the issue of having a parking lot that extends to the back of the building, we are adding a gate (a way of saying, nicely perhaps, that is really is a place of sanctuary and safety; so please keep it available to everyone to enjoy.

on our 17th street property, gardens grow, but weed abatement continues to be a need.  so occasional work-days are called, and if you'd like to join in the fun and help provide a happier neighborhood, come join us at 9 am on saturday, august 10th.  no previous experience is required; bringing gloves, shovels, a good sense of humor, and other yard-cleaning equipment is encouraged, but not mandatory.

and if you know of someone desiring to be a part of this garden project, invite them to contact us; members of our congregation are invited to sponsor one other person; it is a great way to be engaged with other christians on our collective journey of faith, and a creative way to grow organic produce.

you can reach our website through umcsantacruz.org, or by calling the office and leaving a message at (831) 429-6800.

one of the final outdoor projects is being completed at the california street property this week; a new parking lot!  i am constantly amazed to discover the persistence of our over-seer to this project, and the skill he has making sure the work is done on or before time, under-budget, and with the quality that will last for years to come.

now, trying to work while others are working can be a challenge, as the noise level at times can be distracting ... partly because i am curious about what's going on.

but when the noise becomes overwhelming, the sun beckons and the sound of the waves calleth.  so, off i go to explore another area of santa cruz, or visit a community ministry or someone in the hospital.  of course there is always housework and working in the yard, but those naked ladies will just have to wait!   

it never rains in california

so i got up one morning this week, and picked up my soggy newspaper before i went for my walk; it seems it DOES actually rain in california; even in santa cruz -- even in the banana belt -- that part of santa cruz where i live!  where i live and where i serve have two distinct weather patters -- and they are just mintes apart from each other.

my recommendation:  take in the beauty of the fragrance after it rains.  omg; there is a purple magnolia tree in my neighborhood, and the sweet smell of star-jasmine; salt air and redwood.  beauty is everywhere, and you can help california stay 'green' by making sure you do not waste your water (stop washing down your sidewalk!), recycle or re-use or figure out a way not to waste.  just sayin' -- the base price for a paper sack in our area is 10 cents ... but i was in marshall's the other day and over-heard the price of 25 cents!  be spiritually aware; it just makes good 'cents'!  remember to keep your re-usable bags in your truck; you never know when you'll stop for fresh fruit and veggies!

while on that walk, i got to thinking ... what are the things one needs to remember when coming to california in the summer?  the first is, don't listen to the travel agents about packing!  always carry a jacket and dress in layers; long pants in the am; shorts in the afternoon; long pants in the pm.  the ocean is COLD.  keep it that simple; travel light; and smile a lot!  and remember to pack and use (!) your sun-screen, 30+ or higher, and bring your tennis shoes and flip-flops.  do i sound like i've moved to a coastal town?!  be spiritually aware; be caring for yourself and for others.

remember to take some reading material along wherever you go; but even better than that, people watch! you can learn so much by observation.  be spiritually aware; ask yourself if the behaviors you observe are the kinds of behaviors you want to replicate.   someone from the congregation who surf's shared an insight about beaches -- how people choose to leave their garbage behind when they leave (including the things animals leave behind!) -- i suspect we can be much better about 'taking care', in that spiritual sense.  the book i've just finished by the way, is about a young child who grows into adulthood, and her journey; very compelling. why not 'check it out'?!  "the flight of gemma hardy" by margot livesey.

romance must be in the air; i just received a call (literally) from a couple planning to get married in a couple of weeks from out-of-state; they had tried to track down their youth pastor from years ago, but had no luck.  and so i got the call; was i available, would i be their pastor; what an honor!  ironically, i have gotten a call this week as well do perform my nephew's wedding in october.  both weddings will NOT be in a church.  that has become the trend.  but we at the united methodist church of santa cruz are working to fix up our building and are keeping brides and grooms in mind as we make ready our worship center.  while couples may not always think about 'a big church wedding', some people still do, even if they do not go to church!  so, we are making ready for those couples not yet here.  we are seeking to be spiritually aware, and we welcome you and those you know to help us share the news:  you are welcome here -- even if you might not be 'all that traditional'; after all, we are california, and now we REALLY have something to celebrate!

finally, for the state that NEVER sees rain in the summer (oddly, however, we have seen a bit.  at least three times so far in the last two months ...) . while preparing for your summer trip, remember never to leave home without your sense of spiritual openness.  what might god have in store for you as you journey forth?  what adventure will you encounter?  are you prepared to be touched, wowed, awed, changed?  will your every moment be filled with possibilities?  will you intentionally be looking for ways to be renewed, as well as opportunities to make a difference?  as you return home, do you plan to be the same person who left home, or will the experience of your 'adventure' change your future?

of course, you don't have to go very far to be 'spiritually changed'; you could just walk out your front door to retrieve your newspaper -- only to discover that it is soaking wet -- in the middle of summer!!  try not to be annoyed; you can read the news on line!  but you can't get back the time you've wasted on non-renewable spiritual living!  be spiritually aware in this moment and in your times ahead; be open to the possibilities . . . .

moving location complete

when last i posted, i was getting ready to move from merced to santa cruz.

what a  (smooth) time i have had; very little physical issues to contend with (a broken lamp, now fixed; the challenges of getting lost and finding myself in a location i hadn't planned to visit but exploring that area as well; trying to figure out the placement of things; selling a house and settling into a parsonage) ... much more the issue of trying to deal with the emotional issues and details around leaving and moving; the saying good-byes, the changing of internet and television companies (once i moved, i even relocated my tv from one room to another, causing yet another visit -- and fee -- from the company!), and the opportunity of finding 'coolness' in the summer.

the picture to the right shows the nearly empty bookshelves of the merced office.  packing and purging.  the letting go and the spirit leading to 'all things new'.  

the most noticeable thing i experienced in this move was kindness; the sharing of a 'good' good-bye from merced; people sharing how they had grown spiritually, and wonderful celebration filled with meaningful music, good food, and unexpected gifts that will forever touch me.

and then ... the discovery of finding 'home' once again in santa cruz.  the kindness of a 'warm' welcome; being expected, being anticipated, being received.  the discovery that 'all my stuff fit' -- differently than before, yes, but fitting in a new way; a refreshing change.  the picture to the left is reflective of the santa cruz office, part of where i now call home.

people have been gracious; the discovery that i didn't have to 'go home from holiday' after the 4th of july -- all i had to do was settle in.  well, the "all" part will take a little time, mainly because i am now out of boxes, but i'm not sure where everything is!  i can function, i've completed two sunday services, and each week we have something new to see -- this week was the discovery of sky-lights!

my day off continues to be on mondays.  so, one of the things that grounds me spiritually is 'nesting'.  digging around in the yard is a way of finding my place in my new location.

so i discovered a local nursery and secured shredded redwood to work as ground-covering.  one of the advantages of having a convertible is that you can put the top down and load it up.  so, that's what i did yesterday; i can get 20 bags of ground cover in my vw cabrio.  and then the drive home.

at a stop sign, i drove up next to a woman on a bicycle who was planning to turn left.  she turned and noticed my car.  she said, 'that's a lot of dirt' ... and then began to laugh ... which caused me to laugh ... and then the signal changed and she went her way and i went my way, both still laughing.

what to do with all that dirt!!!  well, take a look below.  when all else fails, spend a little time in the dirt with god.  be refreshed; be renewed; be blessed.  moving location complete!

easter . . . again ... and still . . .

 it is easter again!  our orthodox sisters and brothers will gather saturday night for an easter vigil that, at least in the russian orthodox tradition, takes folks from a tomb-like setting in a sanctuary with no pews beginning at about 10:30 pm, out circling around the church building and back into a miraculously transformed sanctuary filled with light and flowers and joy, with the lighting of candles and the joyous singing of 'christ is risen'.

the pictures on my blog this week come from san francisco's saint nicholas church off of church street, just south of market.

for years i attended the easter vigil, and even while in chicagoland during seminary, i was able to attend this high-holy experience.  so this sunday, although not able to attend the saturday night vigil, i have been invited to the sunday celebration.  wha-hoo!  or, perhaps i should say, christ is risen indeed!

while easter still continues to be celebrated in our churches long after easter sunday, i believe it looses some of the festive celebration as time goes on.  we get busy doing whatever it is that we do when all the colored eggs are eaten and the chocolate bunnies have been devoured.  i rather like remembering and living with the fact that every sunday worship is a reminder of the resurrection.

and so in this time of transition for united methodists, both in merced and in santa cruz (as well as all the other pastoral families and communities that are in this time of change), i sort and pack with prayerful awareness that the risen jesus is in my midst.  as i got my car smog-ed and placed my house on the market to be sold in a short sale yesterday, i was constantly aware that i am not in this time alone.  this is a great comfort to me in this process.

i don't start counting events as in 'this is nearly my last communion service', etc; i never have found that very helpful.  i try to be mindful that in whatever moment i am in, doing whatever service or action i am engaged, i am being asked to be fully present.  for, in reality, we don't really get a chance to 'do it again' like doing the scene over until we get it right like in the movies.  i try to let the spirit work in and through me so that god can be fully realized in that moment.

so here we are in this time of easter again ... and still!  every moment is a moment to be fully who we are, as a child of god.  and, perhaps, that is the best gift of all at easter!  a reminder that no matter what, all we have is god.  and that is more than enough!
    

a tale of two (actually FOUR) cities . . . .

 it was the best of times . . . it was the worst of times . . . .  so begins 'a tale of two cities'.  why is this relevant, you might ask?  well, to answer that question, i have to back up to march 24th, and the evening of palm sunday; the start of holy week.

i received word that week that i would be leaving merced (city number one) and would be appointed to santa cruz (city number two) on july 1st.  goodness!  remember to breathe....all those things i say to myself and the congregation went out the window when i became in a state of flux; having lived with this news, and the reality of coming and going, of selling and packing and unpacking and settling-in, i'm much better now.

while i hate to leave, i'm also awed by the possibility, and prayerful for merced and for santa cruz.  it has been a long time since i've had to be prayerful for pastoral families and congregations in transition . . . . and now i am a part of that transition!

 but during holy week, a pastor really does not have time to digest the reality of a move.  but holy week is a good time to know and experience the change of life in which jesus went through; all the emotions of pain right on up to the joy of the resurrection.  god has something in mind; we just don't always know what that is, or how we fit in.

and so easter came, and the next day, april 1st (no foolin') i flew to washington d.c. (city number three) to begin a working vacation in which i would do sight seeing in the nation's capital and spend the day (yes, just one day) in 'the big apple' (city number four).

people wondered, 'why only one day in new york city?!'  the short answer to that is that the white house couldn't offer me 'high tea' on the thursday of my trip, so i had to do something special!  nyc is pretty special.

so, i began sharing pictures on this blog of city #4; nyc; the new 'tower', the empire state building, and liberty (closed for repair).  it was a full day, and a six hour round-trip train ride, but worth every moment.  and yes, people DO look like ants from the top of the empire state building!

nyc is still in recovery from sandy, but nothing seems to keep the big apple down for long.

now i heard a nasty rumor while i was in nyc that i was actually got caught trying to have 'breakfast at tiffany's'!  it simply isn't true.  i actually tried, but i never did find it on 5th avenue, so i went to bloomingdales on park avenue instead, and settled for  ny pizza.  central park, however, is everything you can imagine...and it might just rival golden gate park, but the (grand) jury is still out deliberating on that fact.  my suggestion; if you ever get a chance to go to new york city, do not pass go, do not collect $200; just do it!  and wear your walking shoes!  i walked 30,561 steps that day; over 15 miles!!

the real reason for my trip back east was to attend the ecumenical advocacy days in arlington, va (ok, technically city #5, but we'll just stay focused on the four, since it is only a metro stop away!)

the focus of the conference was 'a place at the table'; food scarcity and poverty, and learning to be advocates as a people of faith with our legislators focusing on the farm bill (our legislator's third priority after gun control and immigration).  a gentle reminder to each one of you is to remind your legislators of the need to care for our land, our food/water sources, and the ways in which this issue is a world-wide issue.

while in city number three, i was able to experience the chill of winter, the changes of spring, and the sunny warmth of summer.  when i arrived on monday, the chill of the season had prevented any cherry blossom from even offering a tip of bloom.  and it stayed like that until friday, when the weather pattern dramatically changed.  by saturday, the blooms were evident, and by monday the cherry blossoms were out, and so was every visitor from every country in the world (i think!)

 

 our capital is really a beautiful city; the monuments are meaningful -- often a painful reminder of what it means to live with freedom and responsibility.  but the streets are clean and sunny; there is building going on, and people's spirits were positive and up-beat.  having a change in the weather also helped, i understand.  the capitol to the right is well worth a tour; a sculpture of president lincoln resides there with an unfinished (left, i believe) ear, as a reminder that justice is as yet, incomplete.  one of the chandeliers was donated by (what was then) a methodist church.  so don't hesitate to plan a trip to this wonderful city -- and remember to stop by and view julia child's kitchen, archie bunker's chair, and dorothy's ruby slippers!
 

we were reminded at the conference that faith isn't just about rituals; it is about action, and what it takes to rekindle our faith when we become passive.  representative jim mcgovern (not related to george) from massachusetts was profiled in the movie 'a place at the table', a documentary about our hunger issue, and now available on dvd.  we were reminded that hunger and starvation can be eliminated, when we begin to expanding our thinking to understand that we all need food for our soul, and that we have a responsibility to help create sustainable communities.

what can we do?  as people of faith, we can help build resilient communities, and help move the world from insecurities to hope, with education, compassion, and social change in the way we eat, shop, plant, and attend to our personal and national responsibilities.

the washington monument stands as a reminder that anything is possible, as we set our sights on changing our habits and caring for one another.  be it in city number one, two, three, or four, the way in which we serve god and one another with the hands and feet of christ can make all the difference in the world.  how are you making a difference this day?