Gifting: Word Shop Newsletter May 2008

I started writing this newsletter and realized I had three paragraphs in a row that ended with "let me know if you're interested." Last weekend I figured out that I'm spending well over 40 hours a week on The Word Shop. Even worse, I realized that those 40 hours are insufficient. If I were determinedly diligent, more efficient, less given to tossing several hours into individual conversations and would stop coming up with brilliant ideas and grand schemes, it might be different. But as it is, I am what I am (as Paul says) and part of what I am these days is staggering under the weight of keeping the last remaining used bookstore in the area open. I suddenly understand why there once was a great market for slaves. Time and energy is the most precious commodity in the world; time and energy freely given is the greatest gift.

A great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. -Albert Schweitzer

Collegiality amongst ministers is key. We need a way to share the joys and struggles of the journey. I'm especially interested in leadership in ministry; the shifting dynamics when leading anything from a prayer group or Sunday School within a church, to a larger parish or para-church organization. Leadership in ministry also happens on the job and within the context of family and friends. Therefore I've designed a Six-Week Summer Symposium on Ministry for July and August. It will be at 4:00 on Tuesdays (Tea Time!) beginning July 15. I'm looking for a dozen leaders who are willing to share the difficulties and hopes of some aspect of their ministry in a 5 to 7 minute presentation. Let me know if you're interested.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. -William James

For years the Interfaith Satellite Shelter Program provided meals and shelter in churches and other institutions through-out the county. Finally, with the work of Habitat for Humanity, the city government and countless dedicated folk, a sleeping loft has been created above the newly refurbished hygiene and day center. On that Loft's landing is a small (tiny) room for prayer, meditation and/or quiet conversation. +A Place of Peace. A few lovely ladies are working to furnish this little spot, making it clean, cozy and beautiful. I am entreating the Lord for the manifest presence of his peace. If you would like to help with this project or be on a rotation schedule bringing flowers (and your love) a couple of times a year, let me know.

Be the change you want to see in the world. -Ghandhi

Went to Valley Vineyard to hear author Ken Blue preach again. "Best I've heard in a long time," Michael said. Last time we visited this church they had bags of groceries available for anyone who needed them. That was several years ago. Now they take bags of groceries down to the beach flats and care packages to rehabilitation centers in Mexico. Bravo! Nice to see a church filled to overflowing with grace.

Do not commit the error, common among the young, of assuming that if you cannot save the whole of mankind, you have failed. -Jan de Hartog

The Preaching Life by Barbara Brown Taylor bobbed up in the river of books behind the desk. The cover claimed it was comparable to Annie Dillard's The Writing Life, which I liked, and Sumerset Maugham's The Summing Up, which I've never read but will now watch for. The first half of the book wove together themes on the church, vocation, worship, the Bible, preaching. It was slightly galling to have her wax eloquent about "the priesthood of all believers" and "the ministry of the laity" (Hey, honey, then how come you got collared?) but once I got over that teensy bit of resentment I enjoyed her thoughts. The second half of the book is sermons. Her sermons. I'm poking my way through them. Funny how different the two parts of the book are.

The trouble with words is that you never know whose mouths they've been in.-Dennis Potter

Years ago, after reading my first snail mail newsletter, Cameron suggested I put a want list in my next newsletter. I did so, and a terrific parade of folk showed up with toilet paper and tea, chairs and bookcases. My current want list includes: Merry Booksters for pricing, culling and shelving books; Creative Designers for displays, signs, flyers and cards; Diligent Websters for newsletters, events, photos and blurbs; Nimble Networkers for churches, businesses, non-profits, individuals... and someone to do the Monday shift. Subs are especially needed to keep the door open in the summer. Barry has suggested that we have an informational meeting for people who might want a hands-on involvement. How about Monday, June 9?

God comes to us disguised as our life. -Paula D'Arcy

I finally read Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, which several of you highly recommended. The subtitle is "An African Childhood," which sounds like one of those boring books one should read. I suppose that's why it sat on my stack for so long that Barry finally took back his loaner copy in disgust. However, he scored another copy (probably at the Friends of the Library Sale where books are $1.50 a pound) and gave it to me. Thoroughly chastened, I promptly read it. Oh my, what a delightful, openhearted, hair-raising child's eye view of growing up white in the midst of Africa's shifting politics. Author Alexandra Fuller is unflinchingly honest and totally captivating. It's one of those books I finished with a sigh, wishing for more. I especially recommend it for youWomen of Vision ladies, the Rising International folk, Santa Cruz Cares people and well, anyone who can swim through drinking and foul language without wincing. I'll sell this used copy for $4 once Michael's finished with it. Maybe I'll get a couple of new ones to fill out an order that has been languishing for weeks. $14.95. (Let me know if you're interested.)

Speaking of not going to the dogs, Laura responded to my review of Patricial McConnell's book The Other End of the Leash with: "Let me know when McConnell decides to write a book about men. Now, we're talking real cross-species communication!"

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight" - Phyllis Diller

One Wednesday morning I priced the box of children's books that Ralph donated: $2, $1, $4 for Angelina Ballerina, a whopping $6 for Liz Curtis Higgs' Go Away, Dark Night, $3 for some of the lift-the-flap books. I sorted them into piles: Board Books, Golden Books, As seen on TV--Clifford, Rug Rats, Sesame Street; Christian Books, Christmas books, Classic Fairy Tales. When I got to the bottom of the box, I read A Child's Christmas in Walesby Dylan Thomas, savoring the illustrations by Edward Ardizzone. Of course I'd heard about this wonderouse prose poem, but had never read it. Marvelous. Then I started to write this paragraph. Then the dog wanted to go get Pizza. I left the piles on the desk and went. We have to keep up our strength.

Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. P. J. O'Rourke

Always read stuff.

Blessings,
Alliee +

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