Dear Friends,

Flaco, The Call of the Wild
“It’s not how much time you have in life but how much life you have in time.”
~ Hong Kong activist who was fighting for democracy while dying of cancer

Flaco, a wild Eurasian eagle-owls, is an Exodus story and Easter story wrapped into one. Born in captivity, Flaco lived a dozen years in a comfortable cage in the Central Park Zoo. But Flaco’s life at the zoo was unremarkable. Only after he was freed from the Central Park Zoo by a vandal in February 2023, he began to inspire true awe. For little over a year subsequent sightings captivated New York City and fans around the globe.

Flaco was far from his natural home: Eurasian eagle-owls, known by the scientific name Bubo bubo, are apex predators typically found in much of Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and Central Asia. They are among the world’s largest owls, with a wingspan as wide as six feet. They thrive in mountains and other rocky areas near forests, swooping down at night to hunt rodents, rabbits and other prey.

As Flaco flew around the city, landing on rooftops and crosswalks in New York city, Flaco fans were terrified that he’d succumb to the dangers of city life. Flaco had no experience living outside a cage, and New Yorkers initially doubted his chances of survival. People worried that he’d eat a rat with enough poison in its system to kill him. And people worried about his chances with oncoming traffic.

But Flaco never looked back. Though the animal literature is peppered with stories of animals — usually pets — who suffer hardships and return home, Flaco never retreated to the zoo. Perhaps freedom itself was the home he’d discovered. And though we feared for him, his new life thrilled us.

On Friday, Feb. 23^rd, Flaco died of acute traumatic injury, perhaps from a collision with a Manhattan apartment building’s glass windows. Flaco would have turned 14 in March 2024. Wild Eurasian eagle-owls can live more than 40 years in captivity, but only 20 on average in their natural habitat.

His death offered us a chance to reckon with the question at the heart of many a hero’s journey: Can we put a price on freedom? Flaco’s liberation from his comfortable confinement came at a cost — he spent the final year of his life free, but threatened from all sides by a booming city. Was it worth it?

Almost from the moment he was released, Flaco became a symbol of hope for many of the people who followed his story and recognized parts of themselves in him. Some saw him as the embodiment of the American dream, an outsider who had come to Manhattan and made a life for himself here, like millions of others who arrived penniless and unconnected in their quest for freedom.

How many of us, our circumstances familiar and safe, are too timid to seek our more fully realized selves? How many of us, viewing our confinements as nothing out of the ordinary, have long stopped wondering what our wings are for?

Flaco, even though short lived, taught us a profound truth – wild animals can only thrive in the wild. They cannot thrive as a commodity on display in a zoo – no matter how safe and comfortable it is. I couldn’t imagine having an almost six-foot wingspan and not being able to use it. And, in a deep way, he confirmed what we all know – that we are created to be free and gloriously alive.

“I am the resurrection and the life.
~ John 11:25

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
~ John 10:10

John

Dear Friends,

“Jesus gathers and heals because he is one with himself, one with God,
and even one with the pain of the person who cannot speak.”
~ Richard Rohr, Wondrous Encounters: Scriptures for Lent

During the Epiphany sermon series on “Holy Disunity: What Separates Us Can Save Us”, Dr. Haley Feuerbacher spoke on “Queering of Christianity”, as she vulnerably shared her struggle and courageously witness for the LGBTQ+ people. I was deeply moved and inspired by her message. I realized through her moving prophetic voice, how much it means for the queer people to have a faith community where they can show up being who they are feeling safe, affirmed, and supported.

Haley sent me this email about her experience of our faith community a day after she preached here. I have her permission to share with you.

My friend John,

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for yesterday. You performed a masterclass on allyship and accomplice-ship for me, and I felt so safe, held, cared for, received, celebrated, affirmed, and able to be brave and authentic. I don’t know that I’ve felt that level of love, support, and real queer-affirming allyship in a church yet, and it has shifted and in-spirited me in so very many ways! I’m still vibrating from the experience, and I’m pretty sure I always will. A core memory was created! And you have facilitated a community that co-created Sunday morning’s magic and sacredness – between your leadership, the embodiment and breathwork, the children, Eden’s incredible music, Marina and the songs she led, the testimonies and prayer requests and stories of the people in attendance, the “crowd participation” during the service – this was what created the power and presence of God in palpable ways! April was crying and laughing, and she and I were lit up from the inside out! She too expressed that she had never been to a church like this, and she loved it! Both she and my partner and sister, who were both watching online, also said, “I love Pastor John!” As do I!

Thank you so very very much. Someday I’ll have more and better and fuller words to express what this meant, what this transformed for me and us, and how you have made such a difference, but for now, please just know how very grateful I and the people I love most in my life are.

I look forward to continuing to conspire with you, my accomplice, mentor, and friend in Christ!

Haley

I am proud to be part of the church as a “Reconciling Congregation” that continues to faithfully witness the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Spiritual homesickness has been a constant in my life. It was not an everyday experience, but a predictable and always reoccurring desperation to find a sense of sacredness within me.”
~ Brené Brown, Forward to Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

John

Pajaronian Column for February 2024 by Rev. John Song

The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, is at a crossroads over homosexuality. The issue for Methodists is the question of ordaining and marrying L.G.B.T.Q.+ people which Methodists have been debating for years. This is an issue that has splintered many other mainline Protestant denominations such as Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians. Recently, Pope Francis blessed priests to allow giving “blessings” to same sex couples at the consternation of conservative Bishops, although it is not considered a “Sacrament of Marriage” from their 7 sacraments.

So far, we have seen the departure through “disaffiliation” of a quarter of the nation’s roughly 30,000 United Methodist churches of eight million Methodists in the U.S. Disaffiliating churches either have become “Global Methodist Church” or independent churches. The remaining UM churches, like Watsonville First UMC, will allow ordaining and marrying L.G.B.T.Q.+ people. “It’s the biggest denominational schism ever,” said Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University.

The General Conference that meets every four years bringing together United Methodists from four continents is now set to take place this spring in Charlotte, North Carolina to finalize the split and to make decisions that will shape the global denomination for years to come.

I am proud to be part of UM congregation that is a “Reconciling Congregation” that welcomes, affirms, and celebrate LGBTQ+ people as we continue to faithfully witness the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned how much it means for the queer people to have a faith community where they can show up being who they are feeling safe, affirmed, and supported. We have a welcoming slogan…

Whoever you are…
whatever you’ve done,
whoever you love,
and wherever you are in your journey of faith…
whatever you believe
or whatever you don’t believe,
You are welcome here!

Have you heard about the “Word of the Year” in 2023? “AUTHENTIC.” It’s what algorithms determine as the most important word amongst humankind over the last 12 months. E.E. Cummings, the 20th century American poet, wrote, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” And I will argue that the only way to be in a world is to be free and authentic. Only way to be in a relationship is to be free and authentic. Only way to be in a community that is worth belonging to is to be free and authentic. “When you are not true to yourself you are harming us and the world” wrote Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet.

Everything begins with self-love. Without it, it leads to self-doubt, shame, self-hatred, depression, and even suicide. To be treated as a mistake and unworthy to belong are the cruelest punishment a community can inflict upon a human being. And in the name of religion that’s what we have been doing for far too long to the vulnerable population. For the love of God, this needs to stop, now. As late Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Why is the church always a taillight rather than a headlight?” 

“I am who I am in the eyes of God—
nothing more and nothing less.”
~ St. Therese of Lesieux, the 19th century France

“Our YES will never give up
because it is the DNA of our souls.”
~ John Song

Dear Friends,

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, I am reminded of the many blessings received throughout the year. Despite the challenges and hardships we’ve faced, we still have a lot to be thankful for. 

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the goodness of God and the many ways in which God has blessed us. Let us give thanks for our families, our friends and our church community. Let us be mindful of those who have been affected by disasters, violence and wars as we pray for their healing and restorations of peace. Let us also remember those who have lost their loved ones which makes holidays more poignant.

As we gather around the table to share a meal with our loved ones, let us remember that we are all part of one family in Christ. Let us be grateful for the love and fellowship that we share, and for the ways in which we support and care for one another. 

I am thankful for each and every one of you, and for the many ways in which you have contributed to the life and ministry of our church. Your prayers, your generosity and your commitment to Christ are a source of inspiration and encouragement to me, our staff, and church leaders.

May God richly bless you and all the people you care about with health, joy, and deep satisfaction during this Thanksgiving. May God’s grace and peace be with you always. 

In Christ, 
John

*This time of the year we rely on generous Thanksgiving offerings to meet the needs of our many ministries we provide to our church families and to the community. We enclosed a Thanksgiving offering envelope for you to bring to the church on Thanksgiving Sunday, Nov. 19 or mail it to our church office. Thank you for your support.

Watsonville United Methodist Church
229 Stanford Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
Phone: (831) 724-4434   [email protected]