Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership
    • Our History
    • The Rainbow Fish
    • Our Partners and Friends
  • Worship
    • CGS on YouTube
    • Digital Worship Bulletins
    • Music
  • Living Together
    • Calendar
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
    • Important Documents
    • Library
    • Facilities
  • Breeze
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

Pastor's Blog

7/18/2022

0 Comments

 

SUMMERTIME MUSING -Sunday evening, as I was taking a walk around the neighborhood, I stopped to pick some peaches on my way home. I met a neighbor who shyly asked if she could pick some too. We shared a conversation about gardening, our dogs, the milkweed and monarchs next to the peach trees, and the church (I made sure to tell her that we have worship at 10:00 on Sunday) and then we both went home with peaches. It was one of those moments I cherish, a casual encounter that happened easily and literally “bore fruit.” It made me think about our visible presence in the community. I love it on Saturdays, when the church buildings are full with meetings, the shower/laundry trailer is serving people in the parking lot and during season, when music comes both from the choir that practices in the classroom near the parsonage and from recitals inside the building. I also look forward to Safe Car Park, especially getting to know the guests who stay with us when we share a weekly meal together. Even though we have experienced some security issues along with our growth it is wonderful to see the buildings used and shared with our neighbors. From the window of the parsonage, I daily watch people walking their dogs, carrying groceries and going to the synagogue on Saturday. I try to walk instead of drive to the grocery store, pharmacy and to pick up food so I can have a better sense of the daily events that surround me. On the weekend, I stop at yard sales, and shop within walking distance. The ladies at El Dorado Tacqueria don’t know my name but they know if I haven’t been in a while that I have been in Napa. They also don’t ask for my order because they know it will be a chili relleno, even though I change it up for tacos dorados once in a while. They do ask if I want horchata because I don’t always order it and more often than not, they tuck in a few extra chips or salsa. I noticed this week that there is still a shrine in front of Safeway, honoring Manuel Cornejo, who was shot and killed while working the night shift in early June. There are fresh flowers there still as the family and community continue to mourn his death and the unresolved circumstances around the shooting. That there are fresh flowers and lit candles means that the community has responded by reserving this space where mourners can express grief for as long as they need.  It is not always obvious what makes a neighborhood tick, yet I find the blocks surrounding the church to be full of life, caring and diversity and I am grateful to be here and to be a small part of it. 

​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Christ the Good Shepherd 

    Various editorials, articles, and other items of interest.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Choir
    Community
    Faith
    Music
    Pastor
    Pride
    Racism

1550 Meridian Ave. 
San Jose, CA 95125

(408)266-8022
​
church@cgslc.org
Picture
Picture

El Camino Real Conference

Photo used under Creative Commons from wuestenigel
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Leadership
    • Our History
    • The Rainbow Fish
    • Our Partners and Friends
  • Worship
    • CGS on YouTube
    • Digital Worship Bulletins
    • Music
  • Living Together
    • Calendar
    • Newsletter
    • Blog
    • Important Documents
    • Library
    • Facilities
  • Breeze
  • Contact Us
  • Donate