Blogs

How about this for the sound-bite-of-the-day? Ambiguous grief. One of my wise colleagues threw out the term as a way to articulate the fullness of a situation that is so difficult to name. Layer upon layer upon layer of stuff, including much and varied grief and loss. Time passing. Events missed. Postponements. Cancelations. Adaptations. What is on...

Each year Bishops hold convocations, an opportunity to assemble the Ministers of Word and Sacrament as well as the Ministers of Word and Service for a time of learning and/or edification and/or fellowship. This week Bishop Laurie convened the Rostered Leaders of Oregon, via Zoom of course. I always seem to feel an inner-push-back when I think towar...

Walking along, the ground was scattered with crisp, dry, golden-brown leaves; therefore, the brilliant red and purple one grabbed our attention. My walking partner declared, 'A diamond in the rough!' Great launch-point for the day, diamond in the rough… When I got to church, Courtney said one of you had asked her for some 'good news' amongst o...

They do seem like ordinary people, most of the time; until suddenly they are extraordinary. Could it be their flexibility?        Or creativity? Willingness to say 'yes'?                  Or take a chance? Being part of a team?            Co-operators? Bo...

This week starts with another preaching conference for Pastor Manuel and I, via Zoom, of course. This morning, in our first session a particular phrase caught my ear: Hope lives in a faraway country. Hope lives in a faraway country ~ Struggles with relationships… Unemployment or under-employment… Illness… Depression… Money troubles… A world-wide pa...

Well, it has been a few days ~ my excuses include a scammed computer, multiple services this week and general de-centralized-church weariness. Today I re-greet you. And today we say goodbye as we put a daughter on a plane. As Covid-chaos was unfolding in Madrid, our middle daughter returned to Oregon in mid-March. She quarantined in Portland, thank...

Lord, as the colors change around us, continue to transform our hearts and attitudes; make us more like you… Open. Kind. Merciful. Hopeful. Trusting. Humble. Generous. Loving. May hardheartedness fall away; likewise, judgementalism… As we move towards winter, wrap us in the warmth of your faithful promises. For this, good and gracious Lord, an...

Smack dab in the middle of Silverton: Detour! McClain street is closed until mid-2021 and not only closed but torn up. Detour! Doesn't 2020 feel like a giant detour? Most aspects of living have been torn up, rerouted, detoured. Again and again we create a new plan {detour} only to find the necessity of another plan {detour} and another and another....

It was deep into dusk when the swifts began to gather and swirl in the sky. At first it just seemed like a bird convention and then they started their merry-go-round, which almost looked like a tornado funnel. Round and round… Interesting thing, if you stare at something long enough, others begin to wonder; well, and then they begin to look as well...

Pandemic. Worldwide pandemic. Isolation. De-centralized church. Fires. More fires. Evacuations. Hazardous air. Torrential rainfall. Flooded church. Ugh!!! One day while walking the Camino, it started raining. Then it rained harder and harder. My feet were squishing in my flooded and overflowing boots. In the midst of it I called out, 'God, can it r...

Sometimes a picture says it all. Pastor Leah 

Now returned to town, driving about, I am touched by the signs that are plastered up and down the streets ~ messages thanking the firefighters, first responders and heroes who travel these same streets. Paper signs that will melt when the rains arrive but for the moment, they are pure sugar. Sweet, sweet, sweet kindness! Kindness, the trustees who ...

Like many volunteer and mandatory evacuees, we have returned to our home. The electricity has been restored and the toppled tree painstakingly removed from our driveway and yard. We are home but let's be honest, life remains problematic. We have been informed that the thick smoke that still hoovers isn't simply an eye sore, it is straight up hazard...

Stay or go? Go where? How far? How long? How long oh Lord, how long? I am especially aware of my habits and preferences in the midst of exile. My days and weeks tend to have a very particular rhythm to them ~ a morning walk, work that aims towards Sunday, making connections with the community. Days that I order, in spaces that I am well familiar wi...

Still at a level 2, and still without power, we have restocked the freezer and frig with ice. PGE continues working on stringing the electric wire along the street. The top of the toppled tree remains an enormous rubbish heap in front of our house. And let me tell you, what a beautiful sight, simply because home sweet home is still here! Neigh...

As it turns out, the tree that fell across the street into our driveway and yard last night, taking out all of the power lines and poles from the park down Coolidge and across Main Street, wasn't the main event. Instead, the fires have taken center stage. In short order, evacuations that began in the outlying areas, have closed in on Silverton. No ...

A dahlia arrangement from a neighbor. An onion fresh out of the farmer's field. A three-year-old, who upon finding a penny looks upward. 'Hi God. Did you send me this penny? Thanks; I love it!' Abiqua Falls, in the morning light. A lemon sorbet ice cream cone, after a hike. A daughter who prepares dinner. Pastor Leah 

Today Juan Carlos was our guest preacher; Juan Carlos is one of the Bishop's Associates here in the Oregon Synod and he produced a message intended to be shared throughout our state. As he was speaking to the Gospel, he used a phrase that caught my ear and my imagination ~ 'suffering the learning.' Learning has a cost ~ time, energy, bumps, set-bac...

I have never been much of a gardener and it would seem that our postage-stamp-backyard should not require a highly skilled horticulturist but I am beginning to wonder… I was gifted with several hosta-starts this spring. What a joy it was to plant them, until the deer arrived. Deer are not supposed to eat hostas; however, 'my deer' didn't get the me...

Vibrant colors. Squirrels gathering supplies for winter. A spotted fawn. Giggling children. Blue sky. Friendly faces. There is beauty all around; Love give me eyes to see. Pastor Leah