Dear Friends,

The Assisting Force

When I was young in my late 20s, I was camping in the Valley of Yosemite. There I met a Dutch couple in their early 30s, hardcore travelers, from the Netherlands. They made a conscious choice to put a pause button on their conventional life of working and raising a family for 3 years to travel together around the world. They were wrapping up their North America tour following travels to the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Polynesia, and South America.

While socializing around the campfire drinking a bottle of cheap wine, I asked them what best travel book they would recommend to me. Without a pause they suggested the “Lonely Planet” Travel Guide book, hands down.

Then I popped THE question: “From all your travel experience what best advice would you give me about what I should know about traveling.” They looked at each other and said to me, “That’s a very good question, and it deserves some reflection before we give you our answer. Can we sleep on it and give you the answer in the morning?”

Next morning, the couple were up early, started the campfire, and made a hot pot of coffee.  They intentionally made some noises to wake me up to join them over coffee. I obliged. They said they have the answer for my question. And it is this: “The best advice we can give you about travel is just two words:  JUST GO!”  Those two words have had a lasting impact on me in shaping my attitudes toward life.

As you plan for your summer travels, I invite you to become aware of the “Assisting Force” accompanying you. In a society suffering from loneliness and severed belonging, we come to realize we cannot survive or flourish alone. There is a necessary and needed helper on our human journey, the ally, the reliable companion, the assisting force.

In every heroic journey, the story of hero or heroine requires a trustworthy companion to fulfill his/her/their destiny. Some of the assisting forces in our lives are visible and some are invisible. Some are with us for life; some come and go. The assisting force is often depicted as an aide, a wise advisor, a spirit guide. Examples of spiritual assisting forces are the Holy Spirit, grace of God, Christ’s presence, angels, saints, bodhisattvas, animal spirits, strangers, family members and friends alive and dead. These assisting forces are in and around us aiding us. As you travel this summer, look for signs of these “Assisting Forces” and lean into them. To your surprise, you’ll experience grace, an unmerited favor of God.

Something,
we know not what,
is always and everywhere lovingly at work,
we know not how,
to make us more than we are now
to make the world more than it is yet.
This is the grace
that helps release the abundant love, wisdom, and healing
that are in us all and for which the world is waiting. 
~ David Richo

Traveling mercies,
John

Choose Community

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday I was watching “Meet the Press” hosted by Kristen Welker. It dedicated the entire segment addressing the lost and lonely crisis of our young people today. More young Americans are struggling with feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation than ever before. The mental health crisis in America is impacting young people in profound ways, and public health officials say it is an emergency. Two-thirds of Gen Z report feelings of loneliness, and half of young adults report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Youth suicide rates are climbing; it is now one of the leading causes of death in adolescents and young adults. Almost one in five young adults report rarely or never receiving the social support they need. In our super internet connected times, over 55 million U.S. adults report frequent loneliness. The smartphones and social media apps that connect us to the world are also accelerating the crisis. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, teenage depression doubled between 2011 and 2019. Unregulated social media platforms and the rise of artificial intelligence present unique challenges for the future, and there is bipartisan concern on Capitol Hill to address this issue.

The first guest was Dr. Vivek Murthy, the 19th U.S. Surgeon General, the author of the book Together: The Healing Power off Human Connection In a Sometimes Lonely World which addresses what he’s declared is an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in America. He says loneliness is one of the most urgent crises of our time and what he sees as a profound public health threat. He argued that loneliness has serious effects on our mental health and our physical health.

He said his one last piece of advice to America is two words, “Choose Community.” In his departing message delivered in January 2025, Dr. Murthy urged Americans to prioritize community. He called it a “parting prescription,” recommending individuals focus on relationships, service, and purpose to build stronger and more fulfilling communities. He emphasized the importance of relationships found in community where people find a sense of belonging, support, service, purpose, and meaning. They are the core pillars of community, and it can significantly impact health outcomes, including loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

A couple of things that stood out to me from this interview of Dr. Vivek Murthy. One, hold off giving smartphones to your children until they reach age 16. Give them “dumb” or “flip” phones instead. Our kids’ worsening mental health is an emergency, and it’s an emergency clearly and undeniably linked to social media. Their brains are still developing and haven’t built a sense of self yet. They are quite susceptible to having a negative effect on their mental health from hyper comparisons promoted in social media.

Second, when Dr. Murthy went around the country visiting schools and campuses, cafeterias were quiet because students were all looking at their smartphones or their ears covered with headsets. Kids are not talking to each other.

Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I, in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) The post Easter story of The Walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35) is a story of a stranger joining two of Jesus’ followers walking to the village of Emmaus after the death of Jesus. The stranger remained a stranger until something happened. They extended hospitality to the stranger and insisted he stay with them, and share a meal together.

“As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.” (Luke 24:28-31) 

This story is significant in that Jesus is recognized only when we turn a stranger into a friend through the act of connecting. As one church woman said, “There are no strangers, only people whom I haven’t met.”

Here is a fun resource for children and adults alike to use to connect with others and build relationships. It’s called “Human Library”. Instead of checking out books in the library, you check out people to learn about them.

Take turns asking following questions:
1. What is your favorite food?
2. What is or was your favorite class/subject in school?
3. What are your favorite sports?
4. What do you love to do the most?
5. Do you have a best friend that you enjoy hanging out with?
6. What do you do together?
7. If there is one place you would like to visit, what is that place?
8. Describe what your best day or perfect day looks like?
9. What do you love (like) about yourself?
10. What do you do very well?
11. What do people tell you that you are good at doing?
12. What is one thing you wish you could do very, very well?

Happy connecting!    
John

Dear Friends,

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!

This is a standard proclamation that Christians around the world proclaim on Easter. It is a Christian faith statement that even though there is enough fear and chaos to go around for all of us in our troubled world, God will ultimately have the last say. As Richard Rohr wrote in his book The Universal Christ, “Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it is not yet the end.”

So what does risen life look like while we are still on this earth? I believe a spiritual journey is becoming yourself. Although the journey of human becoming is lifelong, it is not simply a result of the passage of time. Time is necessary but not sufficient. It requires an intention of going to a deeper place. It takes a passionate desire to become who God created you to be and to heed God’s call to live out God’s vision for your life. And that’s a very scary thought for most of us. But it’s the only answer to liberation and freedom from our perpetual state of being in anxiety and misery of living impostor lives.

There is a story that David Whyte, an Irish poet, tells that after his teenage daughter slams her bedroom door during a disagreement between them, he says: “I was just about to say that last, deeply satisfying unhelpful thing. But I caught myself and said, ‘David, this isn’t a real conversation. How do you make this a real conversation?’ ”

So he went and made them both a cup of tea and set them on a tray with cookies, then knocked on the door again and asked: “Charlotte, tell me one thing you’d like me to stop doing as a father. And tell me one thing you’d like me to do more of.” An invitation was made. Conversation shifted. Connection was restored. The ability to ask beautiful questions, often in very unbeautiful moments, is one of the great acts of courage and moments of grace.

So, what makes a question beautiful?  According to David Whyte, a beautiful question is a gamechanger; a question that calls you to take notice. These are questions that can upend your beliefs, probe dormant parts of your thinking, and open up the possibility of a new way of being that will lead to a new life. It opens a door to articulate your deepest longings and truths, bringing you to a frontier where deeper intimacy is possible with yourself, with the other, and the world.  

You realize these conversations are leading you in directions that you wouldn’t even have considered before. And to your surprise, if you are true to asking these beautiful questions, you end up living the life you didn’t imagine.

John

Dear Friends,

I have been of late thinking about a way to improve our Children’s Christian education.

How can we do that without having to hire a part-time Christian educator which we don’t have a budget for. As of now, Joan Culbertson has graciously taught Sunday School about two Sundays a month. And then I had an “ah-ha” moment.

Why not make the Children’s Time lesson each Sunday be the Sunday School lesson? I am pleased with this plan because we are focusing on one story lesson for our children for Sunday. Most importantly, this plan allows our children to be in worship for nearly one-half the time. As a result, they are learning Christian hymns, hearing Call to Worship, scriptures, and Special Music.  Simply being in worship is Christian education itself for our children.

Here is the instruction and training given to our childcare staff Tatyana Martinez and Julissa Solis. It will also apply to anyone who wants to volunteer teaching Sunday School.

On the behalf of the congregation of Watsonville First UMC, I want to thank each of you for your ministry to our children. Going forward, your role will be important in improving the Sunday School experience for our children. Your new title will be “Sunday School Assistants”.

Children’s Time becomes a Sunday School lesson for children when Joan Culbertson is not teaching Sunday School. Please be in the sanctuary before Children’s Time so that you will understand what the story and the lesson are. Be ready to take children to the Sunday School room following the Special Music. If there is no Special Music (Communion Sunday), lead kids out after the scripture reading.

On Communion Sunday, bring the children back into the sanctuary to take Communion. Have someone designated to alert your classroom when Communion is about to start so you have time to wrap up your lesson.

Follow-up Questions for Children following the Children’s Time

These are suggested questions to ask after children are led out following the Special Music. You don’t need to exhaust all the questions suggested. Feel free to pick and choose questions that are most relevant for the lesson and/or come up with your own questions.

Let’s retell the story you heard at Children’s Time.
How did it begin? What came next?
What was the main problem in the story?
How was that resolved?
Do you have a better solution?
Which picture(s) did you like the most and why?
Which person in the story is most like you and why?
If you were that character, how would you have done things differently?
Why do you think this story is in the Bible?
What does it want us to learn?
How would you tell your little brother or sister or a friend what lesson you learned from this story?
What are some examples in your life at home, school, playground, birthday parties, etc. you can apply this lesson?

Following the Q&A, do an activity on the lesson. Here are some suggested activity options:
· Drawing (with words underneath describing the picture)
· Craft
· Drama Play (Each child takes a role of a character and act out the story or convert it into a current situation that is relevant to them.)
· Play in the park

John

An Invitation to Lent

The word “Lent” is related to Latin cognates meaning long and slow (“lente,” “lento”). Like Advent, Lent is a speed bump in the year, inviting us into reflection, confession, and prayer, a time of remembering God’s costly love for us. We enter the season seeking God’s Light in the darkness of war, political tensions, environmental devastations, social turmoil around the globe, and seeking God’s Light, too, in the privacy of our own hearts. 

In this Lenten, we are invited to contemplate God’s great love for us and our aching world. My Lenten sermon series “Numinous: Mystical Fire” will begin on the First Sunday of Lent on March 9th. And it’s a love story. We are drawn to the “Numinous” energy of God that is infused in creation and found everywhere. Throughout history artists have depicted circle of light surrounding or above the head of a saint or holy person to represent their numinous presence and “halo” effect on people.

The word Numinous” comes in many names: divine energy, energy of God, uncreated light, and original light. Carl Jung said, “Numinous is the only thing that will truly heal and transform us.” I hope we will walk together on this Lenten journey that will transform us. As Jesus demonstrated in his teachings and life that without the cross, there is no resurrection.

I want to share with you the words of wisdom from the leader of the Hopi Indians, White Eagle, who recently commented on the current situation we are going through as an American nation. His message is timely, and it’s a voice we all need to hear.

“This moment humanity is experiencing now can be seen as a door or a hole. The decision to fall into the hole or walk through the door is up to you. If you consume the information 24 hours a day, with negative energy, constantly nervous, with pessimism, then you will fall into that hole.

But if you take the opportunity to look at yourself, to think about life and death, to care for yourself and others, then you will walk through the door.

Take care of your home, take care of your body. Connect with your spiritual home. When you take care of yourself, you are taking care of everyone at the same time.

Don’t underestimate the spiritual dimension of this crisis. Take the perspective of an eagle, seeing everything from above with a wider view. 

There is a social issue in this crisis, but there is also a spiritual issue. The two go hand in hand. Without the social dimension, we fall into fanaticism. Without the spiritual dimension, we fall into pessimism and meaninglessness.

You are ready to master this crisis. Grab your toolbox and use all the tools available to you.

Learn resistance from the example of the Indian and African people:
“We were and still are being wiped out. But we have never stopped singing, dancing, lighting fires and being happy.”

Don’t feel guilty for feeling happy in these difficult times. Being sad or angry doesn’t help at all. Resistance is resistance through joy! You have every right to be strong and positive. And there is no other way to do this than to adopt a beautiful, joyful and radiant attitude. This has nothing to do with alienation (ignorance of the world). It’s a strategy of resistance.

When we walk through the door, we have a new worldview, because we have faced our fears and hardships. 

That’s all you can do now:
– Calm in the storm
– Stay calm, pray daily
– Make it a habit to encounter the sacred every day.
– Show resistance through art, joy, trust and love.”
~ Hopi Indian Chief White Eagle

Grace and Peace,
John

ASH WEDNESDY
Wednesday, March 5, 10 am – 4 pm, outside the Pastor’s Office
(Please drive up to the church parking lot to receive ashes following a brief ritual reading.)

Ash Wednesday kicks off the sacred journey of 40 days of Lent. Ash in the sign of cross that we receive on our forehead during Ash Wednesday service is to not so gently remind our overly inflated ego that we are finite: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From dust you have come, to dust you shall return.” Lent is a time of “Returning to the Lord” from our wayward living through “metanoia” (Greek word for “the re-directing,” “conversion,” or “transformation”) which is a changing of heart and mind that leads to change in our consciousness and behavior. Lent is a necessary journey that each of us has to embark if we want to experience Resurrection. Cross is prerequisite to Resurrection.

“Anyone who wants to be a follower of mine has to put aside self,
shoulder their cross, and follow me. Whoever holds onto their life will lose it.
But whoever lets go of their life for my sake and the Gospel will save it.”
~ Mark 8:34-35