Category Archives: Friends

January 21, 2012 · 1:44 pm

Two weeks in January 2012

I had the privilege to spend the last two weeks with a January Term Doctor of Ministry class that met at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations – my employer. Mark Douglas of Columbia Theological Seminary led the class as it considered the Environment and Ecumene.

Class participants included Elizabeth Adams, Katie Preston, Carol Underwood, and John Weems. My colleague, Ryan Smith, helped coordinate and lead the class. Ricky Velez-Negron, our office manager, provided wonderful hospitality and organizational support; she also took the picture of the class beside the Isaiah Wall. Volunteers Peng Leong, from First Chinese Presbyterian Church, and Grace Bickers, Columbia University student, joined us for a number of the sessions.

Speakers came from ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), UN programs and our colleagues and friends from the UN NGO community.

The content included the UN and environmental concerns to climate change, land and water, women and the environment, children and the environment, indigenous peoples and the environment, food and hunger and the environment, conflict and the environment, and more.

The class attended a policy lunch on climate change and agriculture sponsored by the NGO Working Group on Food and Hunger. The class also attended a meeting of the Sustainable Development Working Group of the Conference of NGOs.

On Thursday, January 12, class members led worship at the Church Center for the United Nations.

Representatives of First Chinese Presbyterian Church, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Huguenot Memorial Church, Old Bergen Church, and the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain joined the class on Thursday, January 19 for conversations about how congregations can care for creation. Rebecca Barnes-Davies, PC(USA) associate for Environmental Ministries helped facilitate the discussion.

Worship ended the class. We gathered in the Tillman Chapel of the Church Center for the United Nations and walked to the Isaiah Wall for closing prayers. After quick goodbyes, class members returned to their homes with new visions for ministry.

Gifts to the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations make possible the class.

I look forward to 2014 when another group will gather for another class on another topic.

See you along the Trail.

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December 23, 2011 · 1:29 pm

Christmas vacation 2011, the early days

Harry Potter 2011 Blu Ray Years 1-8 Box Set Cover

Image via Wikipedia

I arrived in Cleveland on December 15, bringing with me a major cold. Recovery has happened.

Eric’s graduation remains the highlight of the first week. The Steelers loss to the 49ers has been the low point, although sharing the misery with Laura and Abraham helped.

Lots of work has taken place. With Eric’s help, I have begun to walk again – walk for self-care. I have a goal of 10,000 steps. The last couple days, I have met that goal. Richmond Town Square has been amazingly empty both in terms of stores and in terms of people shopping.

We visited Phoenix Coffee and took some to Noble Road Presbyterian Church to drink with Carol.

We have started a Harry Potter marathon (not on Blu-Ray, despite the image). Each of the last three evenings, we have viewed one of the movies. The next one may not happen until early next week. Sean arrives home tonight, then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day follow.

While viewing, we have engaged in a Scrabble competition. We do not keep records, but each of us has won some and lost some.

All in all, a pretty good start.

See you along the Trail.

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December 20, 2011 · 8:55 pm

Christmas music

We hear Christmas music everywhere. We have heard it since before Thanksgiving – we often rush the season.

Some Christmas music is certainly vapid and insipid. Fortunately, much of it is profound and moving.

My friend Shannon recently posed the question on her Facebook page:

If you were to record a holiday album, what 2 songs would you include? (traditional or current)? And no “Grandma got run over by a Reindeer”

Many come to mind, but the two I would choose are:

“Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon

“The Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne

How about you? What two songs would you include?

See you along the Trail.

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December 16, 2011 · 11:18 am

A good news update

About a month ago, I posted about our Cleveland Heights neighbor Andre. A friend of our older son, Andre had been seriously injured in a one-car accident. Recognizing that I should have done a better job of posting updates, I say with joy today that Andre’s recovery progresses. He will spend a night this weekend in his own apartment to see how he manages.

Thanks to all who have read about Andre – prayed for Andre – thought good thoughts for Andre – or simply had your heart touched by his story.

See you along the Trail.

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November 27, 2011 · 11:56 am

Until next year

Despite my best intentions (or at least pretty good intentions), I did not take part in the Salisbury Presbyterian Church 5k Turkey Waddle that raised funds for the Central Virginia Food Bank. Many possible reasons exist for this decision. Bottom line – I need to take better care of my self.

Check out the pictures I took of those who ran, jogged, walked, and waddled.

So much for this year. But next year. Next year. I have already started getting ready. And this time . . . this time.

See you along the Trail.

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November 20, 2011 · 7:50 pm

A reminder

Not that we need any reminders of how precious and fragile life can be; still they come to us almost daily.

I just got an email from Tricia who had just talked to our next door neighbor Al in Cleveland Heights.

Al and Pam’s son Andre was in a serious one-car accident on Friday.  He’s in Metro Hospital in Cleveland with numerous broken bones, including neck and back, a head gash… not breathing on his own at this point, has had several surgeries.  They believe he probably fell asleep at the wheel – his car hit a tree.  They had to revive him.

Andre and my son Sean are the same age. They graduated from high school together. They were never close – but they were neighbors and friends.

I remember playing catch with them as children – tossing footballs and baseballs.

I remember birthday parties when they were little.

I remember walking home from church one day and finding Andre and Sean sitting on our steps using sticks to shoot at cars – they must have been four; neither Tricia and I nor Al and Pam allowed our sons to have toy guns, but they figured it out anyhow.

I remember when they broke one of our basement windows playing soccer. Pam’s father fixed it.

I remember their graduation. Laughing, dreaming, posing for pictures.

I remember talking to Andre about what he was doing and what Sean was doing when I would come home through the years.

I remember. And today I pray. And I ask you to do the same.

See you along the Trail.

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November 9, 2011 · 5:54 pm

Incredible plans

Incredible as it sounds, I plan to take part in a 5k on Thanksgiving Day. Sister-in-law Jane suggested it.

They bill the event as a “Waddle.” I can do that.

Jane and Sean will run or jog. Eric may do the same. Tricia will walk. Other family members may run, walk, or jog as well.

Me, I plan to creep, with occasional bursts of waddling.

Now that I have provided the best laugh you will have all day, you might consider making a gift to the Central Virginia Food Bank – the cause supported by the event.

See you along the Trail.

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November 6, 2011 · 5:52 pm

What I am doing in December

Yes. The commercialism of Christmas annoys me. On Tuesday, November 1, while on my way to have lunch with my friends Leo and Theresa Chavez Sauceda in Vallejo, I stopped by a drug store – one of the major chains, I forget which. Transition dominated the shelves that day. Of course by now, the transition is completed.

Halloween items: gone.

Shelves: stocked with Christmas items.

Yes. In many ways it is too early to begin thinking about Christmas. But, when one lives in multiple places, one has to plan time with care to do what one wants.

So my plans for December have begun:

  1. Travel to Cleveland
  2. Buy coffee for Carol at Noble Road Presbyterian Church (probably with Eric)
  3. Coffee (recurring theme) with Francis and Isaac about the Dougbe River Presbyterian School
  4. Go to movies
  5. Watch football
  6. Finalize the “usual events” – Christmas Day at my brother’s home; Trivial Pursuit; Steelers games at the Winking Lizard;

Today, I added another item to the list.

On my way to worship with the saints of the United Presbyterian Church of Ozone Park, I noticed a woman wearing a hat. Her hat reminded me of my hat-wearing friend Merdine T. Morris. And I knew.

December needs to include time to see Merdine T.

See you along the Trail.

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October 31, 2011 · 2:19 am

Thanks for all the saints

Today (Sunday 30 October – I write in Folsom, California) provided a great reminder of the Communion of Saints – a wonderful experience on Reformation Sunday and the day before All Saints’ Day.

Today brought the privilege of speaking at Davis Community Church – an experience that reminded me of the saints who are part of my life.

Mary Lynn Tobin, the pastor of Davis, and I attended college together – just a couple of years ago.

Nancy Eng MacNeill, colleague and friend, served as my chauffeur. Her family has put up with me and will continue to do so for the next few days.

Jewel Kinney, who attended a seminar that Rachel Pedersen and I led at Ghost Ranch, greeted me during the worship service.

David Rue, a friend from Cleveland where we engaged in antiracism work together, stayed for both my presentations.

Tom and Joanne Haller, long-time peace activists and acquaintances, came to the presentations as well.

Alice Nishi, who served on the task force to study reparations, made it to my first presentation.

Ripples of friendship, collaboration, and shared living, extend widely from each of these people – moving through my life, calling to mind countless individuals who have touched my life and who continue to journey with me in the Communion of Saints.

We do not live alone but within a web of relationships that transcend space and time. And that is good. Very, very good.

For all the saints – those I remember, those I forget, those I have never met – for all the saints, thanks be!

Nancy Eng MacNeill took the picture.

Yes, I need a haircut.

Yes, I need to trim my beard.

See you along the Trail.

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October 28, 2011 · 7:04 pm

I ate the chocolate

I ate the chocolate.

And I made a contribution to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

To the meeting of Presbyterian Social Ethicists, my friend brought a cauldron, some Fair Trade Chocolate, and Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF boxes.

“Why are you bringing chocolate?” I asked. “People will never eat it.”

It appears my friend was correct. Again.

Hopefully others will find some way to support the work of UNICEF this week and through the year.

See you along the Trail.

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