Three Movements From A Weekend

Saturday Morning

Early

Very

half hour through cool morning

re-turn

real marketplace

of ideas

and choux rave

of local linked economies

and framboises

of communities

and saucisses toulouses

fruits of labor offered sold bought

without middle

recognized

knowing as known

laughter

weather

politics

and the serious business

of daily bread

Saturday Afternoon

Jim celebrated

a wedding blessing

for two musicians

Orchestra

Choir

Happy pastor

 

 

 

Sunday Morning

I weep Sundays

praise and prayers

overflow

in tears

stained glass

reflects

misty glory

of God with us

today

a family

baptized

father, mother, four children

household baptism

New Testamental

from Nigeria

this family

grace of God

visible

in each

one

image of God

made flesh

in each

one

following Jesus

nothing will separate

them from the love of God

tears of continuity and mystery

and then a smile

born of names

the two-year-old twins

baptized

are

Michelle

and

Hillary.

Easter

Here…

daily weather reports

include…

…the world.

daily news

includes stories of…

…the world.

daily prayers

are for…

…the world.

In Paris the World is Closer.

 

On Easter Sunday,

Resurrection Day,

the gathered worshipping community swells to 2000…

the 40 nations of the congregation expand to include…

…the world.

 

God so loves the world.

For u s,

God-so-loving the world

is complicated.

 

Movements of people

End genderracialgenderidentity violence

People on the move

Displaced, determined, desperate

Looking for

shelter, for

followers

of Jesus

following

Jesus

 

sing Soul.

Voice truth.

widen vision.

 

In Paris, the world is not issues, not over there,

neighbors, yes,

but more,

proches.

 

In the United States

A spiritual practice

Reflecting

God’s

Extravagant

Hospitality

Might

be

even

Before

Just

action

Just

bringing

the World

Closer

Every

Day

including…

…the world.

lost in wonder, love, and praise… in transition

Sometimes thresholds are awakenings to unexpected seasons…

In the 70s, from Lyons to Paris, sick from the movement of the train and of my life…

In the 80s, from San Francisco to San Diego, grieving losses and clearing…

from San Diego to Los Angeles, saying “yes” to Jim, to Josh, Andrew, Betsy and Mary…  and to UCLA…

In the 90s, from LA to Berkeley, dislocating family, planting new ministries…

In the 2000s, a soul well met with mission as pastor, Epworth UMC…

In the 2010s, call to return to teaching and vocational formation work…

In 2017, leaving seminary and appointed ministry,

then saying “yes” to a year with the American Church in Paris…

No sleep dims the impact of transmogrification to this year of life and ministry.

Now I dwell in the land of discombobulation.

 

Wholly weak

Holy Week

every day

Worship

Song of souls

broken open

to mystery

Body of Christ

crucified again and again.

Here.

Now.

Daily bread

broken in memory

of the future.

Dive deep

and surface.

Believe Resurrection