Do you ever feel that your life is a revolving door – a fast moving one?
Just get one thing accomplished and there before you are at least five more things that need your attention. Sometimes, it’s hard to catch your breath. Sometimes that is how I feel. I am very thankful for the time out every week of two days off in a row to take care of myself, do other things – like walking in the woods, laundry, cleaning house, grocery shopping. What is it that you do to take care of yourselves at least weekly?
There is much going on this Spring. The Search Committee will be holding their first formal meeting on Saturday, April 13. Both Reverends Bill Lyons, Conference Minister of the Southwest Conference of the United Church of Christ and Kim Fields-Haley, Interim Regional Connection Minister, The Christian Church in the Southwest will be present to provide guidance in this next phase of the search for a settled pastor. Both Kim and Bill will be with us in worship on Sunday.
As the Search Committee begins its work in earnest, please hold all the members and their work in your prayers.
There is a new organization in town called Hospitality Coalition being guided ably by Freida Adams and Kari Lenander. The purpose of this organization is to help churches and groups who are interested in helping documented asylum seekers who are brought to Las Cruces by ICE have a place to stay overnight, given meals, the opportunity to shower and get clean clothing and other necessities, as well as ensure that they get to where they need to go to connect with their sponsors wherever they are within the United States.
Currently, there are 12 sites in Las Cruces that are providing this ministry every week. There are many churches that are curious about becoming sites as well. This Coalition helps them with this process. Frieda Adams has also been able to coordinate the use of a mobile medical vehicle and is in the process of securing a second one. Please look at the donation station list posted in this newsletter. You will note that there is now a section devoted to over the counter drugs that are being asked for. Drugs have expiration dates, but they can be used up to six months prior to that date.
Please also hold the Hospitality Coalition, volunteers, and asylum seekers in your prayers. Your presence, your prayers, your donations all make a difference to these efforts.
April 4-6 I will be attending the annual meeting of the Southwest Conference in Phoenix. It is always a good time to reconnect with clergy friends and learn what they are up to, but I will miss the Brown Bag Lunch bunch on Thursday.
Life – what a trip!
I leave you with a quote from a Facebook posting:
“Don’t forget to drink water and get sun. You’re basically a houseplant with complicated emotions.”
Blessings,
Donna
