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Where did you see the Father, Son, Holy Spirit today? 

Beware friends, another book report. Actually, that's not accurate, you will not be receiving a book report. Instead, this author's work sparked a thought…hang with me. Lynne Twist's The Soul of Money speaks to our relationship with money. Simplistically put, she advocates that what we believe about money has greater impact on our relationship with...

At the far edge of Eastern Oregon, alongside the road but close to nothing, is a shoe tree. Yup, a tree that has all sorts of shoes hanging from its branches. There is no 'shoe tree ahead' roadside to alert passersby nor a plaque of explanation. There is just a tree dripping with shoes. I would be curious who tossed the original footwear up into th...

Yesterday Pastor Manuel and I, along with several members of our Church Council met with the Associates to the Oregon Synod Bishop via a Zoom Conference. Pastor Melissa began our time together with a prayer that she prefaced as 'The Holy Adventure.' The Holy Adventure… Today I was looking at the Church's Facebook feed and saw a post from Ben Rue. {...

We have now surpassed the 20th week of quarantine, an era that can also be articulated as de-centralized church. On that first week of livestream-only-worship, it was Pastor Manuel and me alone, in front of the camera. The sanctuary was empty except for the two technicians who dared to venture into the new order. Within a few days, musicians s...

The Gospel yesterday was a series of Kingdom of God parables. Jesus used a weed-seed, yeast, a buried treasure, a fine pearl and a non-descript fishing net as he casts a broad and subversive Kingdom of God vision. The examples in his parables really are shockingly ordinary: An invasive shrub seed, a wee bit of leavening that when mixed into the flo...

Today was our Growing Hope Globally Annual Meeting, via zoom of course. Like most everything else, our conference was adapted due to the current circumstances. And here is the thing, BECAUSE of the pandemic the work of creating reliable and sustainable farming practices is even more critically important. Those who work most closely with hunger issu...

What is on your list today? A sit? Rest? A good book? Dinner outside? Prayer time? A phone call or conversation? Relaxing? A walk? Family? Laughter? Whatever it is, I pray that you will breathe deeply and experience some peace space.. Pastor Leah 

Psalm 139:1-18 ~ Our inescapable God O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, ...

Our world was rocked when a virus became a pandemic. Then, as if we needed more anxiety or struggle, demonstrations and violence erupted after the death of George Floyd. One of my Pastoral responses in the midst of it all, has been to challenge myself to reading material beyond my typical scope. Beyond the scriptures and sources...

Wheat and weeds are growing together in today's Gospel from St. Matthew and in Jesus' Kingdom they are left to do so. As we spend time with the implications of this Kingdom Theology, we are left spinning in ambiguity. Yes or no? In or out? Left or right? Up or down? When? I love answers and clarity. Sometimes for me, even an unhappy answer is less ...

Getting ready to leave and I'm fairly certain that there is a squirrel convention convening in our side garden. Walking early, the sun is up but the day is still cool and fresh. The squeals of delight coming from the park. Feet in the creek on a hot afternoon. Crisp salads for supper. Pastor Leah 

Some of the best days in the Church Office are the days when Pastor Manuel picks up his guitar. If he is going to play and sing, in most often happens on a Thursday as he prepares for the 7:00 pm Livestream Service. Today is Wednesday and as it turns out, he has been asked to do this afternoon's opening devotion for the weekly Synod-wide meeting wi...

We began today's staff meeting with Psalm 138, which is a hymn of thankfulness. Thank you, God! As a staff we did a quick round of what we are thankful for this morning. Breakfast, a granddaughter-on-the-way, an engagement, a granddaughter sighting, baseball, a potential get-away, eating berries roadside. Thank you, God! Friends, what's on you...

A good hike with a view of Mt. Jefferson was the goal. Finding the correct National Forest Road took some effort and the rough graveled roads were dusty but without incident. The hike was lovely. We gained some altitude and got a fabulous front-row-view of the mountain. We also 'found' the cave, with some encouragement from other hikers. Lunch outd...

What was once a proper bench has decayed into a lop-sided heap. It is now more 'art' than 'function'.  I wonder if the yard-owners see it as an interesting centerpiece or if it is simply long overlooked. In these off days of life-restructured-Covid-style, what might be long overlooked in our own worlds? What needs attention? Addressing? O...

A week's worth of hugs ~ properly socially distanced, of course! Sunday ~ wrapped by the gift of music Monday ~ 2nd floor to 1st floor chat Tuesday ~ art left on my car Wednesday ~ a spotted fawn prancing around Manuel's yard Thursday ~ Gerald's Old Oak Oven Pizza Friday ~ feet in the creek Saturday ~ a hike with a view with my daughter {Also, resc...

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Say hello to my hydrangea and her one, singular bloom. One. There were more, before my visitors came. The same visitors who have desecrated my hostas, leaving behind straggly stems. And the same who systematically pluck away any gerber daisy blooms. A bite here and there … while I am told that some of these are things that deer will not eat, my vis...

What would you think of 'astonishing' being the word for the day? We can look around and see hard 'astonishing' things ~ How long can we do this? Can you believe that business has remained? Or that one is no more? How many more people? What else must we lay down? When will this chapter be done? We can also look around and see remarkable/beautiful '...