In a recent audit of our camp equipment in search of an excuse to go to the outdoor store, I poked through our outdoorsing bins while asking of each item, “was this from the Camino or more recently?” Equipment purchased for that 30-day waltz across Spain would be understandably out of date; I could justify buying a new headlamp with more than a piddly 70 lumens if it had been in use since that grant-funded-shoestring-budget trek 15 years ago. Post-Camino gear, however, would have to suffice until it broke down.
Until this month, Paul and I have principally explored the northern half of Oregon: the coast up to Astoria, hiking and activity in the Columbia Gorge, wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, plenty of board meetings in Salem, and outdoorsing in the Wallowas. A few events have taken us to more central latitudes: gathering of the clergy orders in Bend, Youth Winter Camp at Suttle Lake, and half-marathons in Corvallis and Newport. Apart from a quick trip to the Eugene marathon, we’ve hardly gone much south of Highway 20.
This summer break we sought to venture further afield – quite nearly to California – to find renewal in the striking blue of Crater Lake and the creativity of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.
The only problem was our timing.
I have learned a lot, and I look forward to sharing those learnings further with you.
Grace and peace to you, through our Lord Jesus!
I have been attending the School for Congregational Development (SCD) this week in Columbus, OH. SCD is a gathering of 600 lay and clergy members from Annual Conferences across the globe coming together to learn what it means to See, Create, and Disciple folks into their next phase of ministry.
I have learned a lot, and I look forward to sharing those learnings further with you.
“And let us consider each other carefully for the purpose of sparking love and good deeds. Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other...” - Hebrews 10:24-25
The writer to the Hebrew people implored them to gather, and to never stop gathering.
John Wesley encouraged us to do the same.
“I could teach… crochet and patience. How to be a friend. Basic home repair and renovations. Budgeting and shopping. Methodist theology. How to play the flute. Basic medical care. Spanish, or English to Spanish speakers. Proper insurance coverage.”