Reflections on a weekend retreat by Dweller Megan

Read her post or the blog. Read other Dweller reflections.

We were the only church down south who were crazy enough to make the five hour drive up north. Since we were so far “north,” the weather changed. Our kids were completely unprepared for the cold that awaited us in Leesburg and most of them only showed up with flip flops. Although, to be fair, I think more than anything that most of our kids actually only own flip flops.
I learned a lot about our youth this past weekend. Five hours in a car will do that to any group of people. However, I learned more about their lives and their Florida City culture. I learned mostly by listening. Not by listening to the ridiculous stories they told, or to their complaints, or to their conversations with one another. I learned so much more about their lives by listening to their questions.

Welcome Brookside!

Today we welcomed Brookside Congregational Church. They came from Manchester, NH and we welcomed them with Miami's beautiful winter weather- Sunny  High of 75  Low of 60! 
May this week be filled with God's presence and may God's love radiate like the warmth of the sun.

Last weekend for Mahalia

Mahalia has been playing at the M Ensemble theatre company in North Miami. Not only is the M Ensemble company amazing and the longest running African American theatre, but the production is fantastic. Christina Alexander, known to some to sing with us at the Lighthouse, has the lead. But the rest of the cast is equally amazing. Catch it if you can.  Maybe enough people are interested they'll hold it over for another weekend.

Not just a Superbowl weekend

It was an exciting time in Miami this weekend. Gorgeous weather coupled with the many tourists and fans of the Superbowl teams weren't the only excitement in town. Also the new class of Brethren Volunteer Corps participants were in town as a part of the orientation to their year of service. Seventeen participants and leaders enjoyed the sun, food, sands and people of Miami. We pray blessings on them and may the year of service in all of their respective locations open up their hearts and minds to God's call in their lives.

January Weekend of Service

January 20-23 was a great weekend of mission, service and learning in Miami. We were joined by Garber United Methodist of New Bern, NC and our 'old' friends from Trinity United Methodist of Sarasota, FL. Even though the two groups had very different service assignments, they were of one accord in their hearts and minds. One team spent time with people of Miami who are homeless.  The other team spent their time and skill in helping a new church merger renovate their kitchen. Both teams shared stories, asked questions, made friends and worshiped God in all they said and did.  We're thankful for their service and look forward to a great Spring break season.

Pray for Haiti

Our neighbor Haiti is in terrible trouble. The country only just "made it through" severe food shortages and four hurricanes in 2008. Now after this earthquake, aid efforts are being sorted out. Local donation drop offs have been designated. Accounts for donations have been set up. At this point, the men and women of Haiti are digging themselves out. They will hold on until more aid arrives. They are a strong people.

In many ways, Miami is more a part of the Caribbean than we are a part of the United States. Most of the US thinks Miami is only related to Cuba but this is wrong. Besides the many folks from other areas of our southern region, our large population of Haitian Americans is proud, productive and an essential part of our community.  Miami is often called the Capital of the Caribbean and South America. But at the very least, each of these countries relate like family members, similar to cousins.

The agencies that are best at rescue and relief are even now arriving on the scene. There will be much to do and the rebuilding will take years. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ, must pray on their behalf. We must listen to our friends as they grieve. We must give of ourselves to hold up our suffering family.

Epiphany! The Celebration of Giving our Gifts to the Christ

Christmas so be so obstructed in our society. The obvious complaint is the commercialism as Christmas items appear on stores shelves the day after Halloween. But This time of year, in Miami anyway, the culprit is entertainment. On the 7th day of Christmas we instead get to watch a giant orange being lowered at Bayfront park downtown. On the 10th day of Christmas, there is a NFL game with play off implications. On the 12th day of Christmas, it's the Orange Bowl College game.

The one thing we have to bring us back to celebrating Christ is Epiphany. Epiphany is the celebration of the day the three kings of the East found and honored the child with their gifts. And for added measure, they went away changed. Many Latin countries celebrate Dia de Los Reyes as a day when children receive small gifts in their shoes left at the bottom of their beds. In Miami, Little Havana will host its annual Three Kings Parade. This year the parade will be held Jan. 8 and of course feature live music.

Whether football or parade or falling oranges, we must remember, we are in this world but not of this world. We look for the presence of God and find it, in the least likely places, in the least likely towns, in remote corners of the world. We bring our gifts to honor the Christ. Emmanuel. God with us.
Amen.