Connected
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 outreach to the Navajo Nation: Christ UMC in Salt Lake City. This was the church I served prior to moving to Cortez. Their current pastor, Rusty Butler, and I are longtime good friends. So when he heard about our project, he asked for more information so that he could tell Christ UMC folks about it. It was as simple as that--and the connection between our two churches has become a life-giving, passionate ministry to help our Dineh neighbors.
Whenever we pick up the church mail, there are numerous envelopes with Salt Lake City postmarks. Each contains a note or card--many of them expressing gratitude for being able to help in a terrible situation on the reservation. And all of them contain money. I have to set aside time to sit and read the notes, because they are almost all written by people that I know and love--and their generosity brings tears to my eyes. To date, Christ UMC in SLC has donated more than $10,000 to the Navajo COVID Relief Project. There are a LOT of thank you notes to write. Please let me know if you can help me with that!
Last week we also started receiving Amazon deliveries for items we did not order. The first one confused me. The second one--filled with diapers and wipes--made the connection for me. A pediatrician in SLC has created an Amazon Wish List for the COVID project. People can order items on the list, and they are magically delivered to us here in Cortez. Diapers, wipes, face masks, and first aid items--I'm told more packages arrived today, waiting to be opened and put to good use.
The SLC congregation also delivered items to their church, which were then loaded into a rented van and driven by two dear friends to Green River, UT, where I met them with the church van and picked everything up. Terry and Lucy Waite made the trek with their dog Diggs; I made the trek with my dog Bo (who was less than impressed with being in the van for that long). After a socially distanced picnic, we transferred the stuff and headed home. I'm sure the value of the items is in the hundreds of dollars. Two particular items are priceless: N95 masks and a few bottles of hand sanitizer. The masks are on their way to Shiprock Hospital where it is still difficult to find PPE. The sanitizer will help keep our Native Grace delivery people safe, as well as families with no running water. I am beyond grateful for friends that span the miles and the years!
Here are the pictures of Terry, Lucy, Diggs, Bo and me in Green River, UT:
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 outreach to the Navajo Nation: Christ UMC in Salt Lake City. This was the church I served prior to moving to Cortez. Their current pastor, Rusty Butler, and I are longtime good friends. So when he heard about our project, he asked for more information so that he could tell Christ UMC folks about it. It was as simple as that--and the connection between our two churches has become a life-giving, passionate ministry to help our Dineh neighbors.
Whenever we pick up the church mail, there are numerous envelopes with Salt Lake City postmarks. Each contains a note or card--many of them expressing gratitude for being able to help in a terrible situation on the reservation. And all of them contain money. I have to set aside time to sit and read the notes, because they are almost all written by people that I know and love--and their generosity brings tears to my eyes. To date, Christ UMC in SLC has donated more than $10,000 to the Navajo COVID Relief Project. There are a LOT of thank you notes to write. Please let me know if you can help me with that!
Last week we also started receiving Amazon deliveries for items we did not order. The first one confused me. The second one--filled with diapers and wipes--made the connection for me. A pediatrician in SLC has created an Amazon Wish List for the COVID project. People can order items on the list, and they are magically delivered to us here in Cortez. Diapers, wipes, face masks, and first aid items--I'm told more packages arrived today, waiting to be opened and put to good use.
The SLC congregation also delivered items to their church, which were then loaded into a rented van and driven by two dear friends to Green River, UT, where I met them with the church van and picked everything up. Terry and Lucy Waite made the trek with their dog Diggs; I made the trek with my dog Bo (who was less than impressed with being in the van for that long). After a socially distanced picnic, we transferred the stuff and headed home. I'm sure the value of the items is in the hundreds of dollars. Two particular items are priceless: N95 masks and a few bottles of hand sanitizer. The masks are on their way to Shiprock Hospital where it is still difficult to find PPE. The sanitizer will help keep our Native Grace delivery people safe, as well as families with no running water. I am beyond grateful for friends that span the miles and the years!
Here are the pictures of Terry, Lucy, Diggs, Bo and me in Green River, UT:
🎵 Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them...🎵
Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now.
Prayer Requests: for Connie White, still in ICU in Grand Junction; for Loretta Booth, still awaiting her cardiology appointment; for Marshall Roberts, awaiting consultation with an oncologist; for the people of Gallup, NM, and all "hot spots" of COVID-19; for exhausted "essential workers" and medical personnel, for their health and safety. Please send prayer requests to Pastor Jean.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
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