Rio Rancho

My daughter, Molly, and I drove up to Albuquerque for the weekend. We sang "Take It Easy" by the Eagles as we drove through Winslow, AZ and "Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot as we drove by, well, the Carefree Highway (they would play it on the radio about an hour later). We wore out the Satellite Radio, listening to Cards/Cubs (a good result on Saturday, a terrible result Sunday) and 70s tunes - to which I dance and sing while I drive.

We shared a wonderful evening with Francis and Marge Rath, who introduced us to their Dalmation Archie and treated us to dinner. We wish them both the best as they take off for an adventure in Alaska.

As fate would have it, the gentleman that introduced me to Conference Ministry, The Rev. A. Gayle Engel, would be in Albuquerque vacationing with his wife, Donna. I served on his staff for three years before he retired, and learned a great deal from him. We met at the I Hop in Alb., and talked for a couple of hours before we headed over to worship in Rio Rancho. I owe a great deal to that man, and am proud to have been able to serve with him even for a short while.

Sunday morning we attended services at St. Paul's UCC in Rio Rancho, and with apologies to Church of the Red Rocks in Sedona and Shadow Rock in Phoenix, they have a view of the surrounding landscape that rivals any. Rev. Lynne Hinton, who was celebrating her first anniversary at the church, did a beautiful job leading worship and preaching. I could tell just how much her members loved her - because they all told me so.

Following the service and some time in Fellowship Hall, Lynne and her husband Bob took me and Molly out for lunch at my new favorite restaurant - Le Pinto (I think I remember that correctly. Its where I was taken when I was in Albuquerque in June). Molly and I went from there to do some birthday shopping for her mother, and then we drove home - not quite in time to do the drive through Sedona before the sun set on a glorious weekend.

Black Mountain Community Church

I spent an evening earlier this week with some of the leaders of the Black Mountain Community Church. They are beginning to discern whether or not they are being led to affiliate with the United Church of Christ.

They have a beautiful church, set in desert scenery with a large sanctuary window that affords the worshippers a spectacular view of the Black Mountain. I am told that sometimes they are distracted by horses wandering by.

After dinner together in the home of one of the members, we spent a couple of hours addressing important questions. They have a lot to think about and pray over. I invite us all to lift them up in prayer. If it be their will, we will join them in the time of discernment, and collectively determine if, how, and when this church might choose to affiliate.

These are weighty matters, and among the most satisfying that I undertake on your behalf. Soon, we will begin discussions with another church about sharing dual affiliation with the United Church of Christ. As that moves forward, I will let you know more about it. For now, let us lift up the good people at Black Mountain Community Church.

Since I Last Posted…

Sorry I have taken so long, but I have been on the road and am just getting a chance to report.

Thursday last, I went to spend the morning with the leaders at Faith United Church of Christ in Dewey, Arizona. I will be working with them in the coming months as they navigate their way through a time of Pastoral Transition. They sure would be happy to know that all of you who are reading this will lift them up in prayer.

I came right home from there and flew to New York. I hear some of you asking: “Do we have a church in New York?” Well, no. But there is a place called ‘Yankee Stadium’ there, and they tell me they are tearing this Cathedral down. So, I found a free day between a trip to Dewey and a three day Still Speaking seminar in New Orleans (more about that in a second) to treat my son to a birthday extravaganza: one more game in Yankee Stadium before they tear it down.

And now I am in New Orleans. What a great culture this is: I have had red beans and rice, local desserts, local brews (don’t tell anyone about that), and sampled some great jazz. I am here with a small group assembled from across the denomination to address the question about how we breath new life into the Still Speaking campaign. Before the week is out, the Conference will send out an In the Loop edition that will include my report about this event. We are in the middle of it as I write this (I love to multi-task), and some really cool ideas are emerging around this.

Keep my in your prayers. I return home tomorrow evening, and will spend that time re-introducing myself to my wife and daughter. Pray for me as I travel.