Las Vegas Stories

Bryan and I journeyed to Las Vegas on Easter Sunday. I know it seems like a strange thing to do since I am not a Vegas kind of girl. But Bryan, who reads the Travel section of the LA Times as well as the rest of the paper, knew there would be things I would love to do in Vegas. I used Hotwire to find us a good deal on a nice hotel.

On Sunday night we saw Cirque du Soleil O. Somehow we managed to get seats on the second row. The ticket actually said "Wet Seat" on it. We did get a bit wet but it was worth the view. Absolutely amazing! I was especially astounded after reading about how the theater was built just to accommodate this most unusual show.

Monday we wandered around Las Vegas. I enjoyed the Shark Reef exhibit at Mandalay Bay.

There are some beautiful colorful displays of flowers and artwork.

We had an amazing dinner at an outside cafe overlooking the fountains in front of the Bellagio.

Tuesday we got up and headed out to Hoover Dam. Bryan had heard about a new bridge there that opened this past October. I have never been to Hoover Dam and found it most impressive. We started by walking across the new bridge. What an amazing view of the dam.

Then we parked and walked across the dam. What an amazing view of the bridge.

We spent the afternoon soaking up sunshine by the pool and then headed out to see Jersey Boys, which was also excellent.

We are home now. Our suitcases are unpacked. The washing machine is running. The mail has been picked up. The dog has returned from being boarded.....and I am grateful for a mate who knows how important it can be to just get away.

Easter Morning

With my children living in South Korea and England, I didn't buy one jelly bean this year. I got up in time to attend the Ecumenical Easter service at Hillcrest. It was a good service, complete with a trumpet. When I arrived at church I watched Eric and Juliet creating the most exquisite worship center.

The men were in the kitchen preparing the Easter breakfast.

Bob Dyer was putting up his infamous signs.

Breakfast was delicious. The worship service was filled with incredible music: a brass quartet, handbells, sanctuary choir, ensemble, music written or arranged by Shawn Kirchner and the Hallelujah Chorus. I still desperately miss my children, especially on a holiday.....but I am very grateful for my church family.

Church -- From the Back Parking Lot

Last Saturday the roof above the church library was replaced. It had a foam roof on it and it was not conducive to the solar panels we are preparing to install. The project is on its way.

Meanwhile, the Peace and Carrots gardeners were busy doing spring cleaning.

In the back parking lot we now have special signs designating parking for visitors. These are temporary signs that are put up on Sunday mornings.

Remembering the Wonder of Rhythm

Tonight our drumming ensemble had a gig at the Arcadia Public Library. I was nervous because I knew I wouldn't get every beat right. We practiced for a half hour while they kept the door to the auditorium closed. At one point someone said to us, "It is time to open the door and let the people in." I was worried that they would open the door and there would be no one waiting. But there was a line. As others were filing in to find a seat I was heading out to find the bathroom. The usher at the door said to those coming in, "Can you all wait for the musician to walk through?" I was astounded. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think anyone would ever refer to me as a musician.

Then we were led to the "green room" as people were finding their seats. The concert began with a youtube video that you can find at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVPLIuBy9CY

Then we went up onto the stage and began playing the same rhythm found in the video. Steve Biondo, our drumming instructor and lead drummer, introduced each song and answered questions. We played seven different rhythms. I felt like it was glaringly obvious every time I missed a beat. But this is West African drumming. The only people who would know I had messed up would have to be people who know the drumming rhythms of Kono, Dibon, Djole, Diansa, Favreau, Kuku and Yata. I am guessing there was no one there who knew those rhythms. I remembered the wonder I felt when I first heard a West African drumming ensemble. I was completely awed and knew I wanted to do what they were doing. I realized that there were people in the audience feeling that exact wonder. How cool it was for me to remember that wonder tonight.

When Steve asked us who would be able to be part of this gig I said, "I can't. That would be during Holy Week." But the closer it came to April 20th the more I wanted to participate. How glad I am.

Preparing for Love Feast

For the last several days there have been dead bees littering the sidewalk outside my office. Our custodian swept them up. The next time I went outside the sidewalk was once again filled with dead and dying bees. The custodian checked out the attic in the church office for a bee hive but didn't find one. So today the tree trimmers came to cut back the tree right outside my office in search of a bee hive. I don't think they found one.

While they were working I was in my office preparing for Maundy Thursday Love Feast. One man, the obvious extrovert in the group, was positioned under the tree and directly outside my window. He had a pitchfork in his hand. I'm not quite sure what his job was but I think he was supposed to keep errant limbs from breaking through the stain glass of my office.

Since it wasn't a very taxing job he spent the time singing at the top of his lungs. Then he would get bored and tease his co-workers. They completely ignored them. So with the prongs of the pitchfork he carefully removed the cobwebs from the outside of my window. Then he went back to singing and the noise began all over again.

At one point, I wondered: "Does he have any idea that someone is in here trying to prepare a worship service?" So if the music for Love Feast is a bit loud....you will know why.

Creating Space

We have such interesting Lenten Interest groups at church this year. There are so many I wish I could attend. I have wanted to attend the Taize worship each Sunday night but I have only made it to one. The theme on the night I went was Forgiveness. Just being in that space, singing Taize songs, watching the flickering candlelight, having the time to do nothing but be present to the moment was so good and so right. Sometimes what we most need is the space to be.

Keeping Hope

I spent the weekend in Minneapolis, MN with wonderful people working for human rights within the Church of the Brethren. I am on the board of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. It is a pleasure to spend time with this group of people. They make me more hopeful!

Here are some of the things that BMC is currently working on:

• A short film about the journey of Calvin, a transgender man
• The Elder Project, which is interviewing and filming the Brethren and Mennonite elders who began this movement and researching Brethren and Mennonite retirement communities in relationship to their policies that effect lgbt people.
• BMC Gathering in early October
• Theological Retreat for Pastors of SCN congregations -- late October
• And of course, we continue to fundraise, develop new resources, relate to CoB and Mennonite leadership and institutions, and provide accompaniment for many.

One of the great things about being on the BMC board is that I get to meet new people wherever we meet. Some of them have been in the midst of this struggle their whole lives. Some are relatively new allies. Some have left the church long ago. Some continue to slog through the painful treatment, fighting for a better day. I have deep respect for all of them.

I spent time this weekend with a pastor, whose congregation has been dis-membered from three different Mennonite denominations. Currently, they have no denominational affiliation. So they petitioned the government to be viewed as a stand alone congregation so that they could continue to function as a church, perform marriages, etc. That petition was accepted and so they keep on being church with a new sense of freedom. I was impressed by this pastor's spunk, good humor and honest disappointment. I want to be her when I grow up.