Last Sunday Tom and I attended Peculiar United Methodist Church. If this sounds like a strange name for a church – it is! But it is also the name of the town in which it is located, so lots of things are peculiar around here. We really enjoy being back in the land of United …
From Worship Experiences
Relatives in the Family of God – All Cousins
I just finished reading A. J. Jacobs‘ book “It’s All Relative.” I love how Jacobs immerses himself (and his family) in a topic. He lives it, researches it, and writes about it with a humorous perspective. I reviewed his book “Drop Dead Healthy” in 2015. In “It’s All Relative,” Jacobs uses the world genealogy trees …
Left Behind a Piece of Myself
Everyplace Tom and I go, we try to leave it a little better off than we found it. This is especially true of the places we work. Tom and I left Pipe Spring on October 1, but I left behind some pieces of myself. We made some new friends, and I will keep pieces of …
District Superintendent of Utah at United Church
On our last Sunday at the little United Church of Kanab, Rev. Marv Vose was the guest preacher. Rev. Vose is an Elder in the United Methodist Church and serves as the District Superintendent of Utah and Western Colorado District. Imagine that – a district that is the entire state of Utah plus some of …
Fruits of our Labors Enjoyed
I’ve been working in the garden and orchard here at Pipe Spring quite a bit. Things are getting ripe so fast that the gardener can’t keep up by herself, especially since she went on vacation last week. So I’ve been picking beans, peppers, carrots, onions, and turning the melons. I also seem to be the …
Blouse Kluging and God Creating
One of my duties here at Pipe Spring National Park has been sewing historic costumes. I’ve made aprons, skirts, blouses, and bonnets. One blouse in particular gave me fits. Here is a picture of the blouse but the picture looks better than the blouse actually is. First, even though I was sewing a size 14 …
Quicksand Creates Ranger Danger
A couple of weeks ago, two of our adventurous rangers – Sarah and Drea – went on a backpacking trip through Buckskin Gulch and Paria River Canyon. They were prepared to hike four days through deep water, over logjams, and around quicksand. Not quite my kind of trip but they were excited. The first day …
Two Sundays in September for Preaching
The little church we attend in Kanab, Utah, recently lost its pastor. She announced one Sunday that she was leaving and the next Sunday was her last. It seemed rather abrupt compared to the extended leave-taking of United Methodists. She didn’t even stay to say goodbye to the congregation after the service. Because it seemed …
Pruned and Picked so We Can Grow
In John 15:1-8, Jesus talks about pruned branches. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, …
He Passed Away, to No One’s Regret
I was reading 2 Chronicles recently in my devotions, and a line about Jehoram, king of Judah, made me think. Jehoram was not a king who followed what God wanted for Judah. He killed his brothers when he ascended to the throne and led the people in worship to other gods. God punishes him with …