Serve one another in love

Community Table volunteers Barb and Nohemi shop.

A few months ago, the Cornelius UMC Community Table Food Pantry switched from a system where volunteers filled boxes for guests to a shopping-style pantry. Now, instead of receiving a pre-made box which may or may not contain food that they like, families can make their way around a well-stocked room, choosing items off the shelf at their own speed with guidance from a helper. Volunteers and guests have expressed appreciation for the change, saying that it’s great to have a more personal connection and to take home food that they know they’ll eat.

On our first attempt at shopping-style, we explained the system to all the volunteers and, as usual, helpers who needed food came back before the opening time to get it. Barb and Maria, two long-time volunteers (one an English-speaker, one a Spanish-speaker), paired up and began to roll a cart slowly around the room. They seemed to consider each selection carefully as one helped the other assemble her box, seeking to communicate in simple English and Spanish. Finally, Maria rolled the cart out and I asked her if I could help her get it in her car. She said, “It’s not mine. It’s Barb’s.” I turned to Barb, who said, “It’s Maria’s food.” Then it hit us--they both thought they were helping the other woman with her food!

Maria and Barb had a good laugh, then rolled the cart back in to re-stock the food and start again, practicing their English and Spanish along the way. As they did, I smiled and gave thanks for the spirit of service I had witnessed. Each came that day so ready to offer herself that she didn’t even realize that the other person was trying to serve her! May we always show up ready to serve and be open to the love offerings of those around us.

Galatians 5:13: Serve one another in love.

The practice of being present

When Jesus visited sisters Mary and Martha in their home, Martha worked her butt off in the kitchen, then complained to Jesus that Mary, who was just hanging out with their guest, wouldn't help her out. Jesus responded,

"Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." (Luke 10:41-42, The Message version).

Jesus was regularly seen practicing the spiritual discipline of hanging out, offering his full attention to the one he was with, and he was always (lovingly? impatiently?) inviting others to do the same. So we took some time this month at The Supper, after reading the above scripture, to be present to one another, listening to the stories of people who were once strangers and honoring them by simply being with them.

Based on an exercise learned from colleauges at the McMinnville Cooperative, folks were paired up and invited to share 3 things during a 10-minute period: 1) their life stories, 2) where they see God present in their lives or in the world, and 3) how they are feeling called to respond to God, whether as an individual or as a community. After the first round, we switched partners and the talkers were now the listeners and the listeners the talkers.

A sharing time after the exercise revealed that the experience had been challenging in some ways but very meaningful for folks. One participant who is from Mexico felt that it was important for recent immigrants to gain confidence in sharing their stories and to experience being heard.

Another Spanish-speaker considered how difficult it can be to stay in the present moment and offered an interesting reflection on the habit of worrying. In Spanish, to worry is "preocuparse"--to pre-occupy. So worrying means occupying a space that has not yet arrived and, therefore, to miss out on the present moment. When we are present, we are trying to pay attention to where Jesus is in the this moment. How might God be inviting us to see Jesus in the silence, in the grass under our feet, in the faces in front of us--whatever is happening, whomever is there in this moment? What is essential is paying attention.

Another opportunity we had that evening to pay attention to the goodness around us came when it was time to eat the deep-fried, cheesy goodness of Eliser's empanadas...

....made by these lovely folks:

Eric enjoyed coloring and chocolate cake and the kids' table.

And here is a happy photo taken by our kinder buddy:

Where in your life are you feeling a tug to be more present? Maybe you can start with some tasty food and really pay attention to how good it is! And then invite someone to share it with you.

Cooperation makes it happen

In preparation for Saturday's pantry party (really, that's what the big monthly distribution days have become), seven folks related to the Community Table showed up and fell into particular tasks that took us from a pick-up truck full of boxes to neat, organized shelves of food ready to be "shopped."

We stayed focused on our tasks--hauling, sorting, stacking, knocking down boxes, stuffing freezers, cleaning--even as we chatted and joked. And though I began to notice some soreness in my back from yanking cardboard boxes apart, I was joyful as I looked around at so many companions in the work, all older than me, some with longtime knee or back problems themselves, laughing and working selflessly and without complaint so that this food might be available to our neighbors.

I found myself singing the refrain of a Sesame Street that has amazingly ramained lodged in my brain over the 25 years (really??) since it appeared! Perhaps even more amazing is that I (re)discovered that the song is actually about creating a community garden!

Cooperation makes it happen....cooperation--working together!!



Paul talked about cooperation, too, in his letter to the Ephesians (4:4-7):

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.

Cooperation makes it happen, cooperation--working together! Dig it!

Taste and see

Some recent publicity (read the online version here):


Psalm 34:8 (The Message): Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.

Come see the abundance. Shop for groceries in our new space or lead a new friend around the room as she selects items her family likes. Learn some new words in English or in Spanish.

Pluck a crisp, juicy green bean off a garden plant and pop it in your mouth, or pull a carrot from the soil, tasting a bit of earth with the crunch. The tomatoes have been slow to ripen, but they are finally turning red! Walk to the center of the labyrinth, or even run, like Yazmin (in the picture above) seems to do constantly, turning the flowers into a blur of brilliant color.

See the folks gathered around a table, chatting away, or carefully selecting beads for a handmade necklace. Taste some hot coffee on your tongue as you join them.

There is enough food and coffee and love for all. Taste and see. And be blessed.

Creation Vacation reunion!

Several Western Washington County Creation Vacation families and Family Friends gathered recently at a sunny park for a little picnic reunion. We had great fun sharing pictures, eating amazing food, playing basketball and just talking and laughing.

Look at that spread!

Can you tell that these two sweeties love cherries? When I visited their house, I helped them devour a giant bowl of them.

I love watching people look at pictures together.

What a joy to see people who hadn't known each other before camp sharing and enjoying each other's company so much. I can't wait until the next time we gather!

Family Fiesta 2010

Forest Grove UMC's Family Fiesta was a wonderful time for families of all shapes and size to gather for a delicious meal, games, craft, service and campfire. Around 50 folks came each of the three evenings, with around 75 people total attending at least once.

As we gathered, older folks and youngsters sat together to fold paper flowers, paint with watercolors and braid friendship bracelets, then we all moved into the sanctuary for silly icebreakers that were successful in getting folks talking to one another. An invitation was extended before dinner for people to sit by someone they didn't yet know well and questions on the tables encouraged conversation. The FGUMC youth group did most of the cooking and boy did we eat well! After dinner on the first and third day, teams went out into the neighborhood to ask for, and then collect, food for the two food pantries in Cornelius and Forest Grove that our UMCs support. Each evening closed with a campfire time on the church lawn when several of our talented guitarists led us in song and a scripture reading and silly skit guided Eric in sharing the message for that evening. As we closed on the final day, one youngster asked me, "So are we coming back tomorrow?" Sadly, we wouldn't be, but I gave thanks that the experience had been a great one for him. I think it was for all of us!

Draw the Circle Wide

Each morning of Western Washington County Creation Vacation, after coming to life again and visiting over a scrumptious breakfast and a mug or two of strong camp coffee, about 25 adults and a few youth and kids made their way down the stairs of Carrier dining hall for a brief time of sharing and prayer. In this circle of new friends, requests for difficult situations and loved ones in pain were lifted to God and to the group, some in English, some in Spanish. Many shared the joy that they had experienced already through the emergence of new relationships and the strengthening of life-long ones, through laughter and play and creativity together, and through the peace and beauty all around us at Camp Magruder. The authenticity and openness in the sharing of this new community moved and inspired me and remains a happy fog of aliveness in my memory, but one moment is still clear in my mind.

Gerardo (pictured above with his daughters, Sarita and Yoseline) said he wanted to share something with the group and began by saying that he was thankful, but tears quickly came to his eyes and the words stuck in his throat. He shook his head, indicating that he couldn't talk. After the group prayed and headed off to ride donkeys or row in the lake, I asked Gerardo privately if he was okay and he told me that he found it difficult to articulate the emotion he was feeling. He shared that his parents had left him at a young age and he was raised by and with people who were not his blood relatives. He never knew his parents or siblings and isn't sure where they are now. And what was impacting him so much in that moment of sharing was that in those days of fun and rest and exploration and contemplation at camp with his children and neighbors, Gerardo told me that he had experienced family.

I am reminded of Jesus's words at the end of Matthew 12 when he is told that his family members want to talk to him (from The Message):

"Who do you think my mother and brothers are?" He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Clearly, those related to us by blood want and need our love and time, but our definition of family is ultimately a choice. We are already part of God's family, and when we choose to do life together, we experience that the circle that binds us together is drawn wider and wider and the love is extended beyond where we could have imagined. Since camp, when I have visited Gerardo and his sweet daughters at home or chatted with them over dinner at Forest Grove UMC's Family Fiesta, I have given thanks that this family is my family and, thank God, they consider me part of their family as well. Imagine what could be possible if our family included all in our communities and that all of us really knew--and believed--that we are all already inside the same circle!

Mark Miller's Draw the Circle Wide, a song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for days! I love the words.