And they said to Jesus, “What sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things?” – John 2:18

And the sign says long hair freaky people need not apply. So, I put my hair under my hat. And I went in to ask him why. -Signs, Signs, Everywhere There’s Signs. (The Tesla Version).

I visited Taos, New Mexico on a daytrip from Santa Fe a few years ago, and I knew I wanted to explore more. I was delighted to have that opportunity on my post Holy Week retreat in 2019. I have learned that when I strongly want to make pilgrimage somewhere there is usually spiritual work that I need to do. So, when the wheels went up as we took off from Oakland for Albuquerque, I started paying attention. I began my trip by driving up to Farmington, where I had the absolute joy of taking an archaeologist led tour of Chaco Canyon. I enjoyed spending a couple of days exploring Ancestral Pueblo culture around Farmington/Bloomington and was excited to make my way to Taos for the remainder of my trip. I packed up and drove to the edge of Bloomington and stopped at the stoplight at a major intersection. What I saw made me freeze in my tracks.

Reflections from Rev. Jeanne Loveless, Minister & Teacher

“Everything in the world is changing quickly. So, take nothing for granted. Stay wide awake in prayer.”

-I Peter 4: 7

Change moves incrementally from breath to breath and moment to moment, allowing for course-correction along the way. – Sharon Weil

"It is important to embrace the pause: to create quiet space so we can hear God’s voice. If our tongues are wagging, we can’t hear anything but ourselves." – Anne Lamotte

In my sermon last week, I shared a story about re-learning the art of hand carving soapstone during my spiritual "Dark Night of the Soul" (which segued into the tragedy of the pandemic- just as I began to find the ground). Carving soapstone reminds me of sitting in the sawdust in my Grandpa Noel’s basement in his workshop where he was always turning wood and making household repairs. It is a place I remember with great fondness.

Rejoice in the Lord always. And I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. God is near us! Do not drown in your anxiety, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Paul in Philippians 4:4-7

These words of Paul to the church in Philipi were the focus of our Care Team Zoom retreat last Saturday. We talked a lot about what this scripture brought up for us as we weather this season of COVID19 together. Here are some big questions that emerged in our conversation:

There have been a lot of requests for Rev. Jeanne’s Hand Blessing from the Anniversary Celebration. So we made it todays blog. -Editors

The Work of Our Hands: A Blessing for the United Church of Hayward, UCC 60th Anniversary Celebration © Rev Jeanne Loveless