Pastor Jean in Cortez

REMINDER:  You are invited to bring flowers to worship on Sunday to place on the stone benches outside the church in honor of the people you are remembering this Memorial Day.  Please bring your own vase or container for your flowers. ===================================================================== Today President Trump demanded that governors allow all the churches and places of worship in their states to open up this weekend.  No restrictions.  No recommendations for social distancing.  No guidance from the Center for Disease Control (the administration took the "houses of worship" section out of the published CDC recommendations).  And no apparent awareness that religious gatherings are perfect super-spreader events. Super-Spreaders.  That's when one Coronavirus-infected person shares the virus with several (or many) others.   It happened at a choir practice in Washington state.  One infected person managed to infect 53 o...

Too little.  Too much.  Too early.  Too late. In the past three weeks we've had sixteen Red Flag Warnings or Fire Weather Watch days--and there's another Red Flag Warning for tomorrow.  The combination of too little rain and too much wind make for dangerously dry conditions here is SW Colorado. Today I watched on the news as a major earthen dam in Michigan was breached and collapsed under the weight of too much rainwater in the Tittabawasee River.  There were two collapsed dams actually.  Enough water to leave the town of Midland, MI, under nine feet of water. It's hard for us  desert-dwellers to imagine that much water, all in one place at one time.  The words "water" and "too much" don't usually combine in our daily language--except when we complain about our neighbors breaking the water conservation rules.  "They are using way too much water on their lawn--and at the wrong time of day, too!"  I'm pretty sure that this idea work...

I forced myself to take today off.  I want to keep going, moving, doing, accomplishing... But I need the reminder of who is in charge and what my appropriate place is.  My mind and heart have been so focused on the Navajo COVID Relief Project that I haven't taken time to switch off and let my soul catch up to my body.  Deep Breath! So tonight I share two poems from Ted Loder--prayers that can help all of us quiet our minds Lead Me Out of My Doubts and Fears Eternal God, lead me now,      out of the familiar setting           of my doubts and fears,      beyond my pride           and my need to be secure into a strange and graceful ease      with my true proportions           and with yours, that in boundless silence       I may grow           strong enough to endure       ...

My friend Joseph Kuzma visited First UMC of Cortez yesterday.  Joseph is a great supporter of Hope's Kitchen meal program, and heard that we were "doing something" to help the Navajo Nation during this time of COVID-19.  He is a videographer and came to film Friday's activity with the intention of posting it to his Facebook page and seeking out greater support for the Navajo COVID Relief Project.  I am touched by his support--and so grateful to SO MANY PEOPLE who are making this outreach happen--by donating funds and supplies--by dividing bulk supplies into smaller containers--by packing and loading and praying and hoping for an end to this coronavirus nightmare. There are nearly 3,800 cases of COVID-19 on the Navajo Nation, and 127 deaths.  Curfews and stay-at-home orders remain in place while the people endure this time of loss and grief. Please take time to watch Joseph's video and, if possible, share it with friends.  And please continue to surround and ...

One quote that is often attributed to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement: Do all the good you can By all the means you can In all the ways you can In all the places you can At all the times you can To all the people you can As long as ever you can Here's the Coronavirus version, passed on to me by Rachel--one of my dear young adult friends from Salt Lake City: SOCIAL DISTANCE LIKE A WESLEY: Avoid all the people you can by all the means you can in all the ways you can in all the places you can at all the times you can as long as ever you can 😉😊😋 Prayer Requests:  for Pete Sadler, Judy Sadler's brother;  for Marshall Roberts who is receiving radiation treatment; for Jan Hutchinson, who has moved into her son's home;  for Mary McKean's half-brother Bill whose daughter recently died; for all individuals and families affected by COVID-19 Hang in there, everyone!  Remember that God is with us--whatever our circumstances--now and ...

Why is it so much easier to stir up conflict than to inspire cooperation?    In the midst of a serious public health crisis--indeed, in some states that have the worst coronavirus cases--there are people who are acting like we're in the midst of armed civil war.  People carrying rifles barged into a session of the Michigan state legislature--supposedly to express their anger at their governor's public health orders.  In that same state, armed "militia men" stood guard outside a barbershop that was open for business (which by public health order was not supposed to be open).  They said that if the police came, they would block the entrance and fight if they had to.  For a barbershop?  C'mon people! I truly don't see why a serious public health issue should ever become a call for armed insurrection.  The tactic is so disproportionate to the problem.  You disagree with your state's governor?  Well, good!  That's our American civil r...

Tonight there is a Super Moon. We're told that the full moon tonight will appear up to 14% larger and up to 30% brighter than your average, run-of-the-mill full moon.  It's a phenomenon that occurs when the moon is in the portion of its orbit that brings it closest to the earth.  Just as an object will appear larger up close than at a distance--so it is with tonight's full moon.   I love walking outdoors when the moon is shining brightly--it's as if the whole world is bathed in liquid silver.  I love living in a place where we can actually see moon and stars!  Too many years in the city makes me appreciate the dark skies of the Four Corners area.  In a normal year, people travel from all over the world to visit here.  Some even specifically come to spend time in dark skies designated locations. I'm guessing many of them are stunned by the true beauty of the heavens unadulterated by innumerable city lights.   It's a whole different ...

If you've been a Methodist for any length of time, you are familiar with the routine of pastors moving from church to church.  Just about the time you get to really like a pastor--they get transferred somewhere else.  On the positive side...if you really DON'T like a pastor--you only have to wait a few years and they'll move on!  😉 As a pastor (honestly) it works the same way.  We're often sad to leave a congregation...but if for some reason a church just isn't a good match for us--we only have to make it through a few years and we can move on.  Now don't panic-- Cortez is one of those churches that I hope I never have to leave.   I would love to retire here--hopefully the Bishop and the Conference will just kind of forget where we are... These past two weeks I have learned that this Methodist itinerant pastor system has an unexpected strength built into it.  First UMC of Cortez and Native Grace Fellowship have a new and strong partner in our outr...

I don't really know how to put today in words, so I'm show you instead... The church garage has turned into a warehouse for the Navajo COVID Relief Project sponsored by the Mountain Sky Conference UMC, Native Grace Fellowship, Christ UMC in Salt Lake City, and FUMC of Cortez! The goal is to get food, cleaning supplies, water and other necessities like diapers to elders and families on the Navajo Nation who have been unable to get supplies due to the COVID-19 crisis.  As of April 30, there are 2,141 postive COVID-19 cases on the reservation.  71 people have died.  The Navajo Nation has a nightly curfew from 8pm-5am There is also a weekend curfew from Friday at 8pm until Monday at 5am--all in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. Our project is targeting the SE Utah portion of the reservation,    where most Native Grace Fellowship members live. Pastor Norman Mark "supervising" 86 boxes of cleaning supplies went with 86 food boxes to elders in ...