well just got home from a beautiful and restful trip to Idaho.  Enjoyed visiting with family and being out of cell phone access.  I missed the phone for..oh…about a day.  Then I celebrated life without interruption!  The beauty of Idaho hills, the quiet sounds of nature, a real (non-commercialized) hot springs, and getting back on a horse again…all did wonders for this city-used-to-be-country girl!  Rest is good for the soul.

and so is work.  Landed back in Phoenix to see off our Seminary Intern, Brian Schlemmer.  He preached a powerful and challenging sermon.  What a godsend he has been as we faced a summer of challenge.  He’s off to finish his last year of seminary, and I’d say, he’s already ready to be a pastor.

this week will be another series of meetings as we continue to sit down with our neighbors and work towards resolution.  We are continuing to feed the homeless and stepping up in our attempt to be neighborly to all.  We have added a trash patrol, and alley-way checks on Saturday mornings.  We have added a 24-hour cell phone for assistance for the neighborhood.  The city, the neighbors, and the church are at the table doing the work of being a community.  Even though it’s not easy, it feels good and right.  Isn’t this what life is really about?

thank you everyone for your ongoing support.  We will keep you updated as time goes on, but for now, we continue to care for “the least of these”…and as our intern, Brian, reminded us this morning:  We need them as much (or more) as they need us.  In fact, if you think about it, who’s to say that “the least of these” isn’t just us?  (not good English, but you get the point).

what a summer!  God is good.  All the time.

A neighbor complained because we were feeding the homeless on church property.

So, two weeks ago, we were told by the City of Phoenix that we cannot feed the homeless on our property. It was said that we were in violation of our zoning ordinance.  As explained to us, feeding the homeless can only occur in a commercial or industrial zones, and we are residential.  But I believe the officials are redefining us as a “Charity Dining Hall”…or a “Religious Mission.”  Both of those entities have these zoning restrictions.  Our appeal to the city is that we are a “Church” and as such, the zoning ordinance does not restrict us from feeding the homeless.

More than that, we are a church who has a core belief in the action of faith.  Faith, for us, is not just something we talk about…it is something we do. 

In a city where homelessness is on the rise, where new first-time homeless families are showing up, and where even children and teens are being raised without roofs over their heads, this church, CrossRoads United Methodist, is stepping up to address a problem.  It does not make sense to ask us to stop for any reason!

We want to be good neighbors.  And for us, we see the “neighbor” as defined in the story of The Good Samaritan.  We will not pass by the neighbors with houses, nor the neighbors with out houses.  For it is our charge to live out our faith in the world, so that the one left broken, beaten down, and hungry is cared for, loved, and given hope.

So we gathered the family in Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco) Mexico…and there we witnessed the marriage of Sara and Alex Kekic.  It was a beautiful sight…watching love’s expression of commitment happen as we dressed formally, but barefoot, on the beach.  The sun was setting to a beautiful hue of reds, oranges and pinks…colors of the heart.  If we had planned for everything to go perfectly, we couldn’t have pulled it off better…which makes me think Someone was watching over us to give us a moment of true beauty.  And, the Mother Preacher didn’t even cry (I did all day, but not during the wedding!)

Afterwards we ate great food…even had a woman making homemade tortillas…and danced till they made us leave.  More fun.  More joy.  Life fully lived in a moment’s time.

Sara and Alex and Niko are fully family now.  And we are so proud of their love and life.

We are exhausted…and thanking God for the gift of deep joy.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day and I hope that you all come with your mama’s, your sons and daughters, and your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.  It’s a day to worship as a family and to see how deep our connections go.  It’s a day to remember our mamas, and how deep our love endures.

My mama is an amazing woman of great strength, never-ending faith, and sure compassion.  She never talked ill of anyone, and if I did in her presence, she would gently remind me that we all have our stuff.  She would move the furniture around by herself, bake bread…teaching me how to knead it with her till it was “just right”, and provide emotional and faith support for people all around the world.  I know, cuz I listened in on many one-sided conversations…  I guess she taught me how to have compassion that way…

It’s not that mama’s perfect.  But it’s that she’s perfect in love.  No matter what happens, I know mama will be there on the other end of the phone when I need an understanding heart.  And I know she will tell me it’s going to be alright, and she will end up praying for me…right there on the phone…until the calm returns.

Every mama was created for love.  Maybe you are one.  Maybe you wish you were.  Maybe you never wanted that title attached to your personhood.  It’s okay.  Mostly I want you to know that you are loved, that you are loving, and that you are lovely.  All in God’s eyes…the One who made you just like you are (thanks Ruthanne!).  

Oh, yeah,…this Mother’s Day, I’m baptizing our grandson!  Think I’ll cry?

In faith, hope, and a mama’s love,

PastorDottie

…is one of my favorite sayings in the scripture.  Mainly because I can use it to care for other so often.  Like when we are praying at a hospital bed before surgery…peace that passes understanding…  Or when someone doesn’t know why they lost their job…peace that passes understanding…  Or when you get the news that your mama just passed on…peace that passes understanding.

I remind myself of this often too.  Mostly when I look at the news and see the words “Swine Flu Pandemic,” or “Schools Shut Down” or “Should We Gather in Public Spaces?”  Those things can bring us to a state of panic if we let them.  But we are the ones who follow the One who believed in “peace that passes understanding.”  So I encourage us all to keep the peace in our hearts, minds and in our families and communities.  Live the rule of love.  Keep close to God and to God’s world every day.  

And, in case you were wondering,…I’ll see you in church this Sunday!

🙂

Pastor Dottie

I’ve been reading out of a new Bible (New Testament) called “The Voice.”  Check it out!  It’s an amazing way to read the New Testament…written like a dialogue or a play…with great insightful notes in the middle of the text.

This morning I read about the followers of Jesus who wanted to know who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-14).  I’m sure that just hearing the question made Jesus cringe…

Jesus responds by calling over a child and charging the disciples to become humble like a child, to befriend the friendless, to care for those who struggle in life…  And he said that while there was a child at his side…

I wondered what he/she thought…the child…hearing Jesus tell the grown-ups to become like her/him!  I wonder if she smiled sheepishly, or if he opened his eyes wide in surprise before squirming away to play.  Whatever the outward response, I’m thinking that the inward response of the child was one of total acceptance and deep love.  I’m thinking that child grew to a be a very secure adult, one who lived a humble life.  

Would be fun to talk with that grown-up child…  What do 

Pastor Dottie