Blogs

When he walked into the room, it seemed that he grabbed the table in order to not completely collapse. Are you okay? Up until that point he had no idea that the burdens he was bearing were utterly apparent to the world. Are you okay? Actually, no. And suddenly he had permission to share some of the load he was carrying in his spirit. Are you okay? ...

Not quite. My daughter and son-in-law are living in New Zealand, once the peaceable kingdom, where non-flying-birds wandered the ground because there were no predators. When the adventurers arrived, they brought vermin {rats, mice, stoats} and domestic animals {cats, dogs} that decimated indigenous species. Critters, like this kiwi are now onl...

My morning began with a 7 am meeting … that I decided to attend while out for a walk. First stray joy, walking instead of sitting behind the computer. And there was the sunrise; stray joy in technicolor. Then the cacophony of the early morning frogs. Joy. Spring flowers with their blooms smiling. More joy. Not unlike face-of-God sightings, I think ...

Pastor Manuel is currently wresting with this life altering question… In attempting to assist him, I queried about good Leprechaun bait. A pot of gold? A yummy snack? Or if you are of a certain age, an enticing beverage? And once you have figured out the lure, what means will you use to actually trap the mythical being? A box? Water? Sticky tape? I...

Each homecoming looks and feels a bit different ~ the one that I share today unfolded a week ago, on Ash Wednesday. Besides the 7:00 Worship Service, the church was open mid-day for folks who wanted to drop in for the imposition of ashes. One of the folks who stopped by told us that she had grown up in this church…so we spent a few minuets connecti...

'Who will go if not me?' While it sounds something akin to the response of the Prophet Isaiah, I actually heard the phrase in a newscast from civilians rising up in the Ukraine where the chaotic scenes are disturbing and the spirit of the Ukrainians compelling. In the end, like Isaiah aren't they too attesting to a call? A compulsion to stand toget...

A place to sit and be human, alongside of another human… Intentional conversation space… Friends…talking together…sharing… You were created out of relationship, to be in relationship. ~ ~ ~  Praying for a Buddy-Bench-opportunity for you this day! Pastor Leah 

As I shared during worship, the language of Psalm 51 has caught hold of me as we step into Lent ~      Create in me a clean heart, O God      And renew a right spirit within me      Cast me not away from your presence      And do not take your Holy Spirit from me Those words echo from...

Ash Wednesday 2022 and I am attempting to unpack my own spirit. Does it feel as though I am entering into a new season of Lent? Or is what I am experiencing more like a two-year-deep-dive? I will let you know when I figure it out. Already this morning, I have added oil to the soot of Palm Sunday branches and today/tonight Pastor Manuel and I will d...

This week at our staff meeting, our opening devotion included a call to reach out to others in tangible ways with authentic acts of kindness. Firsthand, I attest to the delight in receiving an email or phone call from one of you offering some sort of grace-filled encouragement; it makes a difference! If you should decide to accept this mission...

I don't think I ever really engaged with street art until I hiked the Camino de Santiago. Even then, maybe it was simply because most of the art that I walked past, directly related to my lived-out situation. Art, striking us when it meets us where we are? When it has something to say to our current circumstances? This week, downtown Silverton...

The headline reads: Live beyond yourself. In the same spirit, I hear: Love beyond yourself. And: Serve beyond yourself. And: Think beyond yourself. And: Care beyond yourself. Almost like: Love the Lord your God with all your might and love your neighbor, beyond yourself. Pastor Leah 

Twenty years ago, 9/11 assumed a title; no longer just a day on the calendar 9/11 became a historical marker. We can recall where we were and what we were thinking and feeling. The world changed. Today we remember. This afternoon we bury one of our saints. We will tell her stories. We will speak of God's promises written upon her life. Today we rem...

Not once, but twice last week, I made my normal order at a local Silverton business but as I reached for my cash, I was told that someone had already paid. In both cases, a generous person had come along and handed the business owner some amount of money to make purchases for folks they did not know, nor could those happy recipients thank the gifte...

This week the early morning sun was an intense red. While the picture captured a ring that my eye did not perceive, what I saw took me back to last year and the great wildfire evacuations. During worship today, we will mark a year since the fires came near, and in our community. Still, people are working on housing and rebuilding. Still, the air ge...

On the mornings that begin with yoga, I am given the verbal encouragement to set an 'intention' for my day. As in, what do I hope for in the hours immediately in front of me? Moreover, how will I intentionally step into the right here and right now? Hmmmm. In her spare time, my youngest daughter has been making clay earrings. She has gifted her mam...

We were well into our walk before we actually caught sight of the sun this morning; not only that, but the morning air has become fall-crisp. Leaves are again scattering and the giant pumpkin we spotted along the path already has a name on it, almost certainly intended for Halloween carving. Farwell summer! How I have delighted in your long ho...

As I drove by, I could not help but notice the family. The mama was pushing a stroller and along with her two grade-school-aged daughters, they were running up the sidewalk. Let's be clear, this didn't appear to be an exercise excursion. From the smiles plastered on their faces and the giggles that were ringing out, it seemed to me that I had glimp...

'I will catch you if you fall,' promises my online yoga instructor; as I struggle to stay upright, tottering in my one-legged tree pose, I grin. The first few times I heard her tell me that she would catch me, I sort of rolled my eyes. I remind you that I am watching a You Tube channel that was recorded months, even years prior, and she will catch ...

I had to do a double-take as I drove towards home, sure enough it was a llama, a downtown Silverton llama sighting. Keep your hearts and eyes open, where will happy surprise you today? Pastor Leah