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.

A call to prayer and action for and with Arizona

[please excuse the strange formatting]

Message given by Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño at the “God IS Our Hope” Interfaith Service at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix on Thursday, July 29, 2010 [the day SB 1070 took effect in Arizona]

I am Minerva G. Carcaño. I have the privilege of serving as the United Methodist bishop for Arizona, Southern Nevada, and the Southeast corner of California. I am the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants. But I want to be clear that I stand before you on this morning because I am a disciple of Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ who lived on this earth as an immigrant and who calls us to welcome and love the immigrant. Having said this I have a few things to share with you.

The ugly heart of SB 1070 has been a concept used at the beginning of the bill. The concept is enforcement through attrition.” Legal experts tell me that in layman’s terms what this means is that this law is intended to find legal ways to make life so miserable for immigrants that they leave the state of Arizona. Unfortunately some immigrants have

left this state. They have left every time a new law is passed in Arizona that further endangers the well being of their families. Who can blame them?

But contrary to the thinking of the makers and supporters of such irresponsible and destructive laws as SB 1070, the departure of immigrants has not helped the State of Arizona. What SB 1070 and other laws of similar spirit have done in pushing immigrants out, is that they have:

• weakened our much needed labor force,
• further undermined our failing economy, and extended the economic recession in this state,
• separated our families,
• weakened our congregations of faith,
• and all around, they have left us the poorer for it.

SB 1070 makes of immigrant families the scapegoat for every ill this state faces. In essence what it ultimately does is that it lets our political leaders off the hook for not having the wherewithal to figure out how to resolve the enormous problems we face in this state, or the basic common sense to know that immigrants are not the problem, but rather part of the solution with much to contribute to the well being of this state and this country. And let us not be deceived, SB 1070 was about political expediency –how many votes can an anti-immigrant bill bring? And I would ask those political leaders who supported SB 1070 for votes, are those tainted votes worth the integrity of your leadership?

Instead of leading this state, our public leaders starting with Governor Jan Brewer have dehumanized the immigrant population in this state by classifying all immigrants as drug dealers, human smugglers, and criminals of the worst kind. In the process, Governor Brewer and others who should be ashamed to call themselves public leaders, have dehumanized all of us and led the world to believe that there is no more racist place on the planet than Arizona.

Shame on Governor Brewer

and all who think and act as she does toward the immigrants among us.

But shame on us if we do not stand for truth and justice for our immigrant brothers and sisters. This is the time for comprehensive immigration reform, not next year, or 5 or 10 years from now or in another political season, BUT NOW. Senators John McCain and Jon Kyle and all our state representatives need to know that we will no longer suffer their political posturing on immigration reform.

And, President Barack Obama needs to know that we will no longer forgive his lack of leadership in this country’s need for immigration reform. The belated and clumsy effort of the Department of Justice against SB 1070 is not enough. We need to let President Obama know in no uncertain terms that we will no longer accept his easy answer that there is a lack of political will in DC and therefore there is nothing he can do about immigration reform as much as he wants to do something. President Obama needs to be reminded that he was elected to lead and not to blame, and we need to be the ones to remind him of that fact.

On this day there are thousands of people all over this country and I would venture to say, all over this world, who are praying for us and with us for immigration reform. Thanks be to God for their prayers of support and solidarity with us. But I need to give witness to the fact that no one has prayed with more fervor, more faith, or more faithfulness than our young people right here in Arizona. It was young people of this state, many of them immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants, who said from the inception of SB 1070, “we must pray.”

It was 7 young people who when SB 1070 was introduced determined that their contribution to the struggle would be to pray, and so for the last 104 days they have led an unceasing prayer vigil all the way to this morning of prayer. With others of you I was at the Arizona state capital the day Governor Brewer signed SB 1070 into law. Right there before our amazed eyes we were able to see that the group of 7 young people who had determined to pray had grown to 1500 young people ranging from middle school age to college students.

When it was announced to those 1500 young people that Governor Brewer had signed SB 1070, their youthful hope was crushed; from the look on their faces it was clear that they had expected Governor Brewer to do the right thing and not sign the bill. Many of us had the opportunity to comfort these young people, hearing their concerns for their families, their neighbors, for immigrants everywhere, but also for this state and for this country. After a bit of time had passed, and the awful news had been taken in, the young man who was leading that gathering at the state capital invited me to the platform and asked me if I would lead the gathered group in praying The Lord’s Prayer. I responded saying that I would be honored to do so. Then he looked at me with a bit of concern and asked me, “Bishop, can you still kneel?” I smiled back at him, and said, “Yes, I can still kneel.” He smiled back at me, took my hand and led me to my knees while he invited all 1500 young people to kneel with us. Together we knelt at the state capital and prayed that prayer that has united Christians of all denominations over the many generations, and I felt a deep peace and an even greater sense of the assurance that God is with us.

So my brothers and sisters, we are not alone. God is with us, and we are sustained by the prayers of many including the prayers of our own children in this state. So let us not turn back now. Instead with confidence, with faith, and with God as our help and our hope, let us commit to work until that good day when we will surely celebrate comprehensive immigration reform in this state and across this country.