Seventh & Eighth week of Sabbatical

During July 13-27 I visited two Presbyterian churches:  Church of All Nations in Minneapolis Minnesota, and then Providence Presbyterian Church in Providence Rhode Island.   Both churches have journeyed into being multicultural with multiple generations and theological perspectives as well.  In fact both churches at one time were struggling small older Presbyterian churches who are now have young singles and families, with many children and youth in their ministry.   Both were around 25 members and now Church of All Nations is around 300 and Providence is 145. They offer a real hope to us!!! 

These two weeks were rich in shared wisdom, and community life.  Common words that would describe my experience are genuine hospitality, valued community life, humility, graciousness, and great food!!! In both communities they built intentional diverse community which was valued by all.  They were willing to let go of  familiar ways of doing things and let exciting new ways of doing ministry take place.  They gathered around the table often to eat and share life together.  I ate well both weeks.

During these weeks I read another book on Celtic Spirituality and found common ground. Celtic Spirituality see’s the Trinity in all living things.   Each member of these churches welcome others as if greeting Christ.  I was richly feed through their ministry.   I found many similar traits in each of these churches, and in our faith community at Kent First.  I look forward to sharing my learning with all of you!!! 

It was immensely hot!!!  I do not miss the humidity but did enjoy some thunderstorms.  Due to the heat I did enjoy bobbing in the Atlantic surf.  Enjoy the pictures that show some of the gracious people with whom I spent time.  

Sixth Week of Sabbatical

We spent this week at Carol and Merritt Dunford’s beach home in Ocean Shores.  My spiritual companions for this week were St. Aidan, renown for his generosity; St. Cuthbert and his holy gentleness; St. Hilda and her encouragement; St. Samathann’s ways of prayer; and St. Ciaran’s trust in God.  What came to the forefront was how God is within all of creation.  God’s creation is so central to Celtic Spirituality.  St. Cuthbert, from the Scottish lowlands, especially helped me be aware of the beauty of God’s creation wherever we are and in whatever we see, and to give thanks.  The pictures you’ll see are from the Dunford home, from walks on the beach, and from hiking in the Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rain Forest.  

At the Dunford home we saw bugs, bees, flies, birds, rabbits, trees, deer, raccoon; we saw grass blowing in the wind; and we saw light fog blowing wave after wave down their frontage road.  

At the beach we saw driftwood sculptures; flocks of pelicans, sandpipers, and seagulls; brilliant colored flowers; beachcombing bounty including sand dollars and shells--scallop, clam, and hermit crab shells.  I have never been so close to sea birds before! God led a brown dog to approach me, upon which the owner said, “This is a miracle- -my dog never goes up to people on his own.”  On one of our beach walks God brought to my attention a solitary man looking out at the waves for a long, long time.  As I watched him, I prayed for him.  Perhaps he was grieving a loss; just home from Afghanistan; just loved the ocean- -perhaps seeing it for the first time or after not seeing the Pacific Ocean for a very long time.  Another day on the beach I met a young mother and her two small girls.  This was her girls’ first beach visit and the woman’s first visit in many years.  Tom was so generous to give each girl a sand dollar.  The little girls danced with delight!! 

How does one express the beauty and grandeur of the Hoh Rain Forest?  Tom could not cease saying, Wow!  Wow! Wow!  We will let the pictures of our seven mile hike speak for themselves:   field of ferns, magnificent moss cover trees, sparkling glacial river water, a graceful waterfall, and the regeneration of floral life from a dead old growth tree stump.

Other activities we enjoyed and found renewing this week included playing games, putting together a beautiful bird puzzle, reading, and listening to a variety of soothing music.  On Sunday we worshipped at Chapel by the Sea Presbyterian Church in Pacific Beach where all are welcome, including a rabbit who followed me into the worship space.  It was good to renew our friendship with pastor Mark Dowdy and his wife Cheryl. 

All in all a great week of refreshment and renewal!      

Note:  I’ll be traveling to Minneapolis to visit the Church of All Nations next week, and then on to Providence Presbyterian Church in Rhode Island the following week.  My next blog post will be in two weeks upon my return.

Fourth week of sabbatical

This week we were home.  During morning prayers I spent time with the Celtic saints:  St. Melangell, St. Ninian, St. Kevin, St. Ita, and St Brendan.  During this time I reflected on the wisdom gleaned from each saint.  Our days were filled with relaxing, reading, playing games, enjoying the lake, walking the trail behind our house, and a day hike on the sub-alpine Greenlakes trial in the Cascade foothills.  On our hike we enjoyed the beauty of the Green River, lush forests, beautiful wildflowers, and the fragrant aroma of old growth forest floor. On the walking trail we discovered a labyrinth at St George Episcopal Church where I worshiped a couple of weeks ago.  The labyrinth helped enhance my sabbatical experience.  During the 4th of July weekend we enjoyed the company of Juliann and her fiance Lawrence Stewart.   It was a great week home at our retreat on Lake Wilderness.