May 26
Friends,
I have some good news for you today. Today marks two consecutive weeks that Taos County has been in the Green in regards to the CDC Covid Red to Green protocols. According to St James policies, we can now allow masks to be optional in our public worship and other gatherings in the parish. So we now can return to the ancient tradition of having the option of wearing a mask to church. You could have worn a mask to church in 2008, 1974, 1508, 1167, 834, or 412. For our protection and the protection of our neighbors, we have been able to wear a mask as a marker of our love for each other and ourself. And for the time moving forward, you may wish to still make that sign of love. Our neighboring counties, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba, have both moved into Yellow and masks are required in our parishes in those counties. And the numbers in Taos are on the rise, even though we are still in Green, I need to tell you that if you are at risk, or are the caregiver for someone at risk, you should still wear your mask. I will still be wearing mine. But, for those of us that feel that they are not a risk nor at risk themselves will have the option to not wear a mask. This is a good day. It signifies that the hard work we have been doing is working. Thank you all so much for your loving sacrifices.
In the Light of Christ,
Mac+
I have some good news for you today. Today marks two consecutive weeks that Taos County has been in the Green in regards to the CDC Covid Red to Green protocols. According to St James policies, we can now allow masks to be optional in our public worship and other gatherings in the parish. So we now can return to the ancient tradition of having the option of wearing a mask to church. You could have worn a mask to church in 2008, 1974, 1508, 1167, 834, or 412. For our protection and the protection of our neighbors, we have been able to wear a mask as a marker of our love for each other and ourself. And for the time moving forward, you may wish to still make that sign of love. Our neighboring counties, Santa Fe and Rio Arriba, have both moved into Yellow and masks are required in our parishes in those counties. And the numbers in Taos are on the rise, even though we are still in Green, I need to tell you that if you are at risk, or are the caregiver for someone at risk, you should still wear your mask. I will still be wearing mine. But, for those of us that feel that they are not a risk nor at risk themselves will have the option to not wear a mask. This is a good day. It signifies that the hard work we have been doing is working. Thank you all so much for your loving sacrifices.
In the Light of Christ,
Mac+
May 19
Friends,
This week we need to hear Christ's promise. 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.' More of our friends are having to evacuate as the fires continue to progress. We lost a dear friend unexpectedly and more of our friends have been hospitalized this week. 'Do not let your hearts be troubled.' But let us lean onto the stringht of the One who loves us so much to burst out of the tomb with us. For we could cheapen God's promise by making this about God, but this is about us. God has shown us a pathway that allows us to face life, and even death, with an understanding that is not like the rest of the world. As we say in our funeral liturgy,
Porque ninguno de nosotros tiene vida en sí mismo,
y nadie al morir se vuelve su propio dueño
Si vivimos, en el Señor vivimos;
y si morimos, en el Señor morimos.
Así que, vivos o muertos
somos del Señor.
Or
For none of us has life in himself,
and none becomes his own master when he dies.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,
and if we die, we die in the Lord.
So, then, whether we live or die,
we are the Lord's possession.
And so we are called to face the fires and funerals with the Peace that passes the worlds understanding. For we know that life does not end but changes. And God's peace is with us always, even to the end.
Mac+
This week we need to hear Christ's promise. 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.' More of our friends are having to evacuate as the fires continue to progress. We lost a dear friend unexpectedly and more of our friends have been hospitalized this week. 'Do not let your hearts be troubled.' But let us lean onto the stringht of the One who loves us so much to burst out of the tomb with us. For we could cheapen God's promise by making this about God, but this is about us. God has shown us a pathway that allows us to face life, and even death, with an understanding that is not like the rest of the world. As we say in our funeral liturgy,
Porque ninguno de nosotros tiene vida en sí mismo,
y nadie al morir se vuelve su propio dueño
Si vivimos, en el Señor vivimos;
y si morimos, en el Señor morimos.
Así que, vivos o muertos
somos del Señor.
Or
For none of us has life in himself,
and none becomes his own master when he dies.
For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord,
and if we die, we die in the Lord.
So, then, whether we live or die,
we are the Lord's possession.
And so we are called to face the fires and funerals with the Peace that passes the worlds understanding. For we know that life does not end but changes. And God's peace is with us always, even to the end.
Mac+
May 12
Friends,
These are trying times. As I write this some of our friends are packing up and leaving homes and others are packing to be ready. This is time for all of us to be prepared if necessary. Here is a link to a workbook so you can be ready.
https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf
We have postponed our rummage sale so that we can be responsive to the needs at this time. In the months ahead, our ability to share those gently loved items will be of greater need than now. At this time, we are helping to feed and shelter folks. We may find we need to be available in ways not yet known. I thank Lynn Beheler and Elizabeth Hailey for their leadership with the Rummage Sale and their flexibility in responding to the community's need.
We are also postponing our Liturgical ministers training. For similar reasons why we are postponing the rummage sale, plasticity in the availability of our facilities and resources, we also know that we do not need to add extra items that can be rescheduled. So please now join us for Liturgical Minister Training on Sunday May 29th following the 10:30 service.
If you have any needs over these next days please do not hesitate in letting us know. We are surrounded by woodland fires and our neighbors in Mora, Las Vegas, Angel Fire, Los Alamos, and Taos Canyon need our prayers. And sometimes those prayers are answered with our hands. Be safe out there.
Mac+
These are trying times. As I write this some of our friends are packing up and leaving homes and others are packing to be ready. This is time for all of us to be prepared if necessary. Here is a link to a workbook so you can be ready.
https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/FINAL-new-mexico-RSG-guide-2017_000.pdf
We have postponed our rummage sale so that we can be responsive to the needs at this time. In the months ahead, our ability to share those gently loved items will be of greater need than now. At this time, we are helping to feed and shelter folks. We may find we need to be available in ways not yet known. I thank Lynn Beheler and Elizabeth Hailey for their leadership with the Rummage Sale and their flexibility in responding to the community's need.
We are also postponing our Liturgical ministers training. For similar reasons why we are postponing the rummage sale, plasticity in the availability of our facilities and resources, we also know that we do not need to add extra items that can be rescheduled. So please now join us for Liturgical Minister Training on Sunday May 29th following the 10:30 service.
If you have any needs over these next days please do not hesitate in letting us know. We are surrounded by woodland fires and our neighbors in Mora, Las Vegas, Angel Fire, Los Alamos, and Taos Canyon need our prayers. And sometimes those prayers are answered with our hands. Be safe out there.
Mac+
May 5
Friends,
Thank you all for the time away. It was a blessing to have emails revealing the power and love in you and in the ministries y’all achieve. Your love is evident all around our community. Thank you.
This week, and the upcoming week, have literally tons of opportunities for you to practice resurrection. You may have heard of how St James and our ministries are responding to our neighbors who are evacuating from fires. Currently we are providing breakfast lunch and dinner for about 35 evacuees staying in Taos. We have also begun assessing further needs while working with the county and our other partners to be responsive to the developing needs. You can contact me or Deacon Jill to find out how you can get involved.
This next week we will continue our response to the fires, while also continuing our normal ministries of love. Next Friday and Saturday we will hold our regular rummage sale. This is an opportunity for us to donate gently loved items that we do not use to those who will find great use and joy from those items. So please reflect on your possessions and ask what may be better loved in someone else’s possession. Also, it takes a lot of work to put on our sale, so you also have the opportunity to work a bit helping our friends find what they may need and setting up and cleaning up from the days. Contact me or Elizabeth Hailey on how you can be involved.
Then on Saturday, May 14th, all those who serve in liturgical ministries, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar guild, and servers will gather for a bit of fellowship and training. We are still working out the details to make sure we are helping the rummage sale, so watch your inbox for those details.
Thank you all for all you do to love as we are loved.
Mac+
Thank you all for the time away. It was a blessing to have emails revealing the power and love in you and in the ministries y’all achieve. Your love is evident all around our community. Thank you.
This week, and the upcoming week, have literally tons of opportunities for you to practice resurrection. You may have heard of how St James and our ministries are responding to our neighbors who are evacuating from fires. Currently we are providing breakfast lunch and dinner for about 35 evacuees staying in Taos. We have also begun assessing further needs while working with the county and our other partners to be responsive to the developing needs. You can contact me or Deacon Jill to find out how you can get involved.
This next week we will continue our response to the fires, while also continuing our normal ministries of love. Next Friday and Saturday we will hold our regular rummage sale. This is an opportunity for us to donate gently loved items that we do not use to those who will find great use and joy from those items. So please reflect on your possessions and ask what may be better loved in someone else’s possession. Also, it takes a lot of work to put on our sale, so you also have the opportunity to work a bit helping our friends find what they may need and setting up and cleaning up from the days. Contact me or Elizabeth Hailey on how you can be involved.
Then on Saturday, May 14th, all those who serve in liturgical ministries, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar guild, and servers will gather for a bit of fellowship and training. We are still working out the details to make sure we are helping the rummage sale, so watch your inbox for those details.
Thank you all for all you do to love as we are loved.
Mac+