Pastor Jean in Cortez

PSALM 8 Lord , our Lord, how majestic  is your name throughout the earth!      You made your glory higher than heaven! 2  3  When I look up at your skies,   at what your fingers made—      the moon and the stars  that you set firmly in place— 4           who are we  that you think about us?          Who are we  that you pay attention to us? SSDD   It's a somewhat crass acronym that usually stands for  Same S--t Different Day.   Today I'm declaring a different meaning:   Same  Science  Different Day. I find that I am completely fed up with people--especially people who claim to be well-educated--who refuse to accept, admit, affirm, embrace, or even consider  that the scientists among us may have important information for us.  Information we can use to choose our course of ...

23  Psalm 139:23-14 Examine me, God! Look at my heart!      Put me to the test! Know my anxious thoughts! 24  Look to see if there is any hurtful way in me,      then lead me on the eternal path!     I am out of balance.    I know this because my body is acting klutzy:  tripping over extension cords and cracking a bone in my elbow;  bumping into furniture and collecting bruises;  dropping items for no apparent reason.   I know this because my brain is not working in its usual ways.  My attention span is jumpy.  I'm forgetting things that should be easy to remember.  I make decisions without thinking them through and thereby frustrate my friends.  I feel like I can't completely trust my judgment.  I find myself staring into space or just staring at the TV for way too long!  It just feels like my brain is foggy.  I call it "COVID Brain" --unclear thinki...

It's an unfortunate reality that when there is a crisis or disaster--someone will try to take advantage of distressed people and cheat them out of the money they need to rebuild their lives.  I saw it in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  "Construction companies" approached flooded homeowners and got them to sign contracts to repair their homes.  They required large down payments to "be sure you're at the top of the list."  And then they disappeared.  The next group of abusers pretended to be attorneys that would go after the fake construction companies and "get your money back"--and they required a sizable retainer to "be sure your case will receive immediate attention."  And then they disappeared too.   Con-men and -women seem to have no morals or ethics about ripping off people who are already suffering from a destructive and disorienting crisis. Why am I telling you this?  Because in the past two days, I've experienced THR...

Next Steps for the Navajo COVID Relief Project Words cannot express how grateful we are for the outpouring of love, prayers and donations that are empowering Native Grace Fellowship and First UMC of Cortez to respond in record time to the COVID-19 crisis on the Navajo Nation.  This is our United Methodist connection at its best! Including the final deliveries to be made this week, 500 households on the Navajo Nation have received Food, Household Supplies and Water from this United Methodist Relief Project.  Many of these families tell us that no one else has come to their homes to be sure they have what they need.   First UMC of Cortez members and friends worked to break down bulk foods and supplies into family size containers.  First UMC, Mancos UMC, Native Grace, and community friends packed boxes and prepared deliveries.  Native Grace members drove hundreds of miles to deliver supplies to even the most remote homes in the Southeast Utah porti...

As many of you know, we've had a canine companion at church for the past three years.  Bo the Church Dog came with me from Salt Lake City, where he was a "Foster Fail," meaning when I took him as a foster dog, I ended up adopting him.  Bo had many health problems--especially at first--and he captured my heart with how patient and polite he was with doctors and vet techs poking and prodding him.  "He's such a gentleman," they said.  Bo came to me with kennel cough, body rashes, ear infections, eye problems and ruptured anal glands.  When I adopted him, they had me sign a paper saying I was taking him "as is" (like a used car) and accepting responsibility for his health. It took a while, and not all of Bo's health challenges could be fixed.  But he remained a happy, loving boy to the very end.  Bo left us last week following a series of heart attacks and seizures.  I don't have to tell you that he is greatly missed--by me and his Auntie Rem...

Many words have been written.  Many opinions expressed.  Many news programs produced. Many chants have been yelled out.  Many signs have been made.  Many prayers have been prayed. Some folks took advantage.  Some caused damage and strife.  Most others are in it to stand up for what's right. We cannot ignore it.  We can't wish it away.  Too many in our country live in fear every day. "Those people are crazy," I've heard it said here.  "We don't have a problem--so few African Americans here." We must face the uncomfortable truth:  In our social systems--policing, education, economics, employment, property ownership--we who have white skin have clear advantages.  If you think that's not true, pay attention to how too many people talk about Native Americans, how many times Anglo leaders have broken promises of support for our Native Nations, how much of our history and education is told solely from the Anglo point of view....

Online Bible Study/Discussion Group -- Wednesdays at 10am Sign on to spend a little time together with Pastor Jean as we share our own experiences and seek the wisdom of scripture to light our way.  (The Zoom link for this group is at the end of this email) Today I drove to Shiprock, NM, to deliver donated N95 masks to the hospital there.  While Personal Protection Equipment is more available now, they are still grateful for any additional help.  In order to visit the Shiprock Medical Facility, you are stopped at the parking lot entrance and receive the OK to proceed.  Patients are triaged into various categories and sent on to other stops in the parking lot.  Before entering the facility, you check in with a security guard, then wait to be checked for fever and other symptoms.  I didn't try to enter the building, so the security guard was happy to take our donation.  Both the "gatekeeper" and the guard expressed gratitude for our help. On my way ...