Family portraits

Katie Casey, a member of Cornelius United Methodist Church and an excellent self-employed photographer (see some of her photos on the Infinite Expressions Photography facebook page) recently set aside a day to take Christmas portraits for families in the church and community.


When all was said and done, Katie took photos for 21 families, many who are guests at the Community Table Food Pantry. The Community Table offered one free 5X7 and folks could choose to order more prints at very low prices if they wanted (all of them did order at least one or two more).

After the shoot, each family had the chance to see their photos on a computer and choose their favorite(s).

What a lovely day! I smiled so much as I watched folks scrunch together with their most-loved, some spiffy in their matching outfits, some kiddos defiant, some incredible hams, some just precious beyond words. One family brought their gorgeous 3-week-old for his first photo shoot. Many of the families would not have otherwise afforded a photo session with a photographer.

I can't wait for tomorrow, when I'll get to see the finished products and be there to see the faces of folks when they see themselves with their families, smiling away.

What a gift to be present for a generous offering of incredible talents and, of course, the most coveted of all: time and presence.

No human is illegal

Read this article on the United Methodist Church website about a campaign to drop the "I-word" when talking about immigrants and immigration. Our language makes a difference and, as it says on my very favorite t-shirt, "no human is illegal":

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=8954039

Feasting

There's nothing like sitting at table with 30 other folks, digging into a mountain of mashed potatoes and vegetarian meatloaf and sharing about our lives, followed by some football on the big screen. And, of course, playing a little UNO and Yahtzee after the pumpkin pie.

Be grateful

I heard someone say yesterday that Thanksgiving is not about "feeling grateful" but about "being grateful." It is something we cultivate. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

So even in the midst of difficult times, especially in the midst of difficult times, we are called to stir up thankfulness, to choose gratitude. Afterall, when Jesus gave thanks before breaking the bread and sharing it with his friends, he was facing the hardest days of his life.

At The Supper, we practiced cultivating thankfulness in multiple ways, including writing notes of thanksgiving, as the folks in the above picture are doing, reflecting on where we do experience abundance, and considering areas of our life where we'd like to be more grateful.

I'm reminded of an old song that my school gospel choir sang: Be grateful.

Developing leaders for Hispanic Ministry

These three gifted folks, Barbara, Eliser and Bonnie, have recently completed Module I, the first series of National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry courses to empower lay people to engage in ministries with Hispanics and Latinos. Through active participation in the hands-on workshops, held on Saturdays over the course of a month, these dedicated leaders practiced the see-discern-act methodology of looking at the world and looking at scripture, and created plans for starting and expanding ministries in Tillamook, Cornelius, and Beaverton!

It is a celebration to have dedicated lay people developing their skills for these valuable ministries in the Oregon-Idaho Conference!

Telling the story

A great article came out today on the UMC Spanish Portal about The Supper/La Cena:

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5801443&ct=8862359

Talking Courage at The Supper

The young among us were a gift at our last Supper. Once the chili bowls were scraped clean, the youth headed outside to carve and the kiddos went to a covered indoor area where they were given markers instead of knives. :)

The older folks read together about Jesus contemplating what lay ahead as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, then watched this clip from the excellent movie Stranger Than Fiction. In the movie, Harold learns that not only is his life being narrated by a fiction author, but that author is about to kill him off. When he finally gets hold of the manuscript, he can't bear to read the end, so his professor friend, played by Dustin Hoffman, does, then gives Harold the bad news that Harold indeed must die.

Both Jesus and Harold (Will Farrell's character) are facing death and both are questioning whether there might be an easier way, a way out. Will they choose to courageously move forward and fulfill their part in the Story? We know what Jesus does, but I'll let you watch the movie if you haven't seen it yet (it's good!).

Around the table, folks shared, in English and Spanish, about what they are facing in life and where they would like to have more courage. We took time to encourage one another. In other words, we saught to give each other courage as we face life. And I can't speak for everyone, but I left enlivened, with new determination to move forward in the parts of my life where I sometimes get stopped by fear.

Where do you need courage in your life? Jesus has been there and he walks with us through it, into new life.