Beloved:    

I've two pieces of church news to share.  

One, this Sunday, August 2nd, is Gwenette's last Sunday before her big move to Oregon.  During Sunday School we'll gather downstairs for coffee, sweets and good wishes. We'll have a love offering basket out to which you are invited to contribute if you want.  Please plan to come say thank you, goodbye and Godspeed to our dear friend.  

Second, we've hired an administrative assistant to help with all manner of clerical, worship and outreach duties, and guess what? You already know her!  Fan Hamrick is already busy getting the work office shipshape and ready for the business of ministry.  She'll be in the office ten to twelve hours a week and you'll no doubt have an email from her now and then too.  If you're in the building be sure to stop in and say hello.  

A far less interesting bit of news is that I'll be out tomorrow for a small medical experience, and I expect to be back in the saddle no later than Thursday morning.   

Peace & Prayers, pastor annette

Beloved:

Had I known then what I know now - I’d have ordered ducklings instead of chicks. My girls are like gangly teenagers now, slip sliding all over their coop floor no matter how much straw I put down.  Their tiny feet are encased in mud.

And still it rains and rains and rains.  The butternut squash is on higher ground and still thriving but my summer squash and zucchini is rotting before it gets big enough to harvest.  I picked blackberries and cucumber yesterday.  Scout can fit her head through the fence and ate my first round of grape tomatoes as they ripened but I’m on to her now so the rest are mine.  She also stripped fruit and leaves off all the blackberries canes she could reach.  See how proud of herself she is.

While we wade from house to coop to car, Californians begin to ration.  I started wondering what’s causing their drought.  Go figure, it’s the weather.  Not enough snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range means not enough runoff to fill their reservoirs.   My garden rots while theirs withers.  Is there some sweet spot in Kansas where people are picking perfect squash?       Whether it’s weather, our relationships or a recipe for pie ~ how much is enough is the constant in our thoughts.  When to push through and when to hold back? When is helping helpful and when does it hurt?  To speak and to keep silent?   

I do not know the answer, only the quest.  And the desire to live in that sweet, sweet spot of courageous faith and humble obedience as many days as possible.   

I pray you find this week exactly enough of whatever you need.  
~ peace & prayers, pastor annette

Speaking of pie - Mariah has nearly perfected a peach cobbler recipe you might enjoy.You'll find it in the UBC Recipes section of the website.