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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Return to Mt. Angel
Ora et labora --- the combination of work and prayer so gracefully lived out by the Benedictine sisters at Queen of Angel Monastery --- has called to us continually since our four weeks of service there last summer. So we contacted Sr. Marietta, who invited us back to spend the two weeks of our winter break.
We decided to take the train from San Jose instead of driving. This turned out to be a wise decision in light of the unusual amount of snow for the Willamette Valley --- and all of Oregon, it seems. We boarded the Coast Starlight at 8:30 pm at Diridon Station with an anticipated arrival in Salem at 2:03 pm the next day.
Return to Mt. Angel
We leave tonight on the Coast Starlight from San Jose to Salem. OR, to join the sisters at Queen of Angels Monastery for the two weeks of our winter break. Anticipated service: winter cleaning. Anticipated blessings: countless.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Awake to the Least of These
It’s interesting how the last two Gospel readings seem to book-end what’s been happening in my life this past year and more. We read how Jesus recognizes that when we serve others, we are serving Him. And that we must be awake to His presence. I say presence instead of coming this first day of Advent because I’m learning in an intimate and profound way that in this season of expectation I am expected to live in the kingdom of God now, today and everyday.
God is present in His creation at every moment and every place, but sometimes to see and experience it fully, we are called out of our everyday world to experience Him in another context. Tom calls it being out of our comfort zone. For me, it’s an actual call to be elsewhere to see how God is everywhere and to experience how Jesus really does show us the way to live in that place as a way of showing me how to live in my everyday place.
When Tom and I first began to share the sense of call we were both receiving, we looked outside North America to serve in mission. Then we understood that we weren’t called at that time to go any further than the next state. Yet in Oregon, with the Benedictine sisters, we experienced a deeper way of living the Gospel than we had known in California. That’s not to say that there aren’t multiple ways of serving the poor and praying in the community here in Santa Clara county, but we needed to be awakened to the possibility by living in community with women who had consecrated their entire lives to loving Jesus and following Him in all aspects of their life.
I feel a similar sense of call --- not to forsake my marriage and enter a convent --- but to follow Jesus by serving with Tom together in mission. As Tom explained, ELCA is looking for an eight-week placement for us in Latin America next summer. So I’ve been asking myself, “What will be different in serving abroad after having been at the monastery last summer and this coming Christmas? How will I be more ‘awake’ to God’s call?” The answer has come in a surprisingly simple understanding: to relax into the moment when it comes and let God speak through the people I will encounter.
This is what has happened in every other situation when I have responded to God’s call. When the sense of call is strong, I get totally involved in the moment’s activities and relationships. For me the deep understanding has usually come after the experience, while I ponder and relive it when I talk about it with others. Then I struggle to integrate the new self with my old life
An invaluable part of the integration has been the spiritual direction meetings Tom and I have been having with Marie. Here I can let down all the roles I carry in my daily life at home, work and church. My words struggle to describe what’s happening inside, yet Marie’s careful listening generates insight into the working of the Holy Spirit that is manifest in my thoughts and yearnings. As we talk, the Spirit’s purpose is clarified and I can take the next step in spiritual formation. Often Marie suggests a specific area of reflection, or she may recommend a book or tape to explore an area that resonates with what has been revealed.
The inchoate longing for something else, something beyond my present life, disturbs my sense of comfort and awakens me again to the call of the Holy Spirit to greater intimacy with God. This has been part of the process that has led me to consider extended mission service. I ask your continued prayers for discernment and support as the weeks pass.
Judith
God is present in His creation at every moment and every place, but sometimes to see and experience it fully, we are called out of our everyday world to experience Him in another context. Tom calls it being out of our comfort zone. For me, it’s an actual call to be elsewhere to see how God is everywhere and to experience how Jesus really does show us the way to live in that place as a way of showing me how to live in my everyday place.
When Tom and I first began to share the sense of call we were both receiving, we looked outside North America to serve in mission. Then we understood that we weren’t called at that time to go any further than the next state. Yet in Oregon, with the Benedictine sisters, we experienced a deeper way of living the Gospel than we had known in California. That’s not to say that there aren’t multiple ways of serving the poor and praying in the community here in Santa Clara county, but we needed to be awakened to the possibility by living in community with women who had consecrated their entire lives to loving Jesus and following Him in all aspects of their life.
I feel a similar sense of call --- not to forsake my marriage and enter a convent --- but to follow Jesus by serving with Tom together in mission. As Tom explained, ELCA is looking for an eight-week placement for us in Latin America next summer. So I’ve been asking myself, “What will be different in serving abroad after having been at the monastery last summer and this coming Christmas? How will I be more ‘awake’ to God’s call?” The answer has come in a surprisingly simple understanding: to relax into the moment when it comes and let God speak through the people I will encounter.
This is what has happened in every other situation when I have responded to God’s call. When the sense of call is strong, I get totally involved in the moment’s activities and relationships. For me the deep understanding has usually come after the experience, while I ponder and relive it when I talk about it with others. Then I struggle to integrate the new self with my old life
An invaluable part of the integration has been the spiritual direction meetings Tom and I have been having with Marie. Here I can let down all the roles I carry in my daily life at home, work and church. My words struggle to describe what’s happening inside, yet Marie’s careful listening generates insight into the working of the Holy Spirit that is manifest in my thoughts and yearnings. As we talk, the Spirit’s purpose is clarified and I can take the next step in spiritual formation. Often Marie suggests a specific area of reflection, or she may recommend a book or tape to explore an area that resonates with what has been revealed.
The inchoate longing for something else, something beyond my present life, disturbs my sense of comfort and awakens me again to the call of the Holy Spirit to greater intimacy with God. This has been part of the process that has led me to consider extended mission service. I ask your continued prayers for discernment and support as the weeks pass.
Judith
COME FOLLOW ME
RETURN TO ANGEL AND BEYOND
“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me”
In prayerful surrender and obedience to the ongoing call of “the still small voice”, we are returning to Queen of Angels Monastery in Mt. Angel, for two weeks at Christmas. We leave on Amtrak on December 19, and return on January 3, 2009. We will spend two weeks in community, prayer and labor with the Benedictine sisters as they continue their 100+ years of faithful service to the migrant farm-worker families in the area. Their ministry includes short-term housing and meals for homeless families, a men’s dormitory for singles, a clothing and food pantry, retreat center, and spiritual direction. We will gratefully accept your generous donations to take with us to assist the sisters in their mission outreach in the Willamette Valley of Central Oregon. We also solicit your continuing prayers as we are currently in conversation with the ELCA World Mission Board about a possible eight week mission placement next summer in Latin America.
Tom
“…whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me”
In prayerful surrender and obedience to the ongoing call of “the still small voice”, we are returning to Queen of Angels Monastery in Mt. Angel, for two weeks at Christmas. We leave on Amtrak on December 19, and return on January 3, 2009. We will spend two weeks in community, prayer and labor with the Benedictine sisters as they continue their 100+ years of faithful service to the migrant farm-worker families in the area. Their ministry includes short-term housing and meals for homeless families, a men’s dormitory for singles, a clothing and food pantry, retreat center, and spiritual direction. We will gratefully accept your generous donations to take with us to assist the sisters in their mission outreach in the Willamette Valley of Central Oregon. We also solicit your continuing prayers as we are currently in conversation with the ELCA World Mission Board about a possible eight week mission placement next summer in Latin America.
Tom
Monday, August 25, 2008
Reflection on My Volunteer Service at Queen of Angels Monastery
I’ve been trying to come up with a way to describe my experience with the sisters at the monastery, and the three best words to sum it up are simplicity, spiritual direction, and silence.
Tom has already given you a taste of our time there. For me, having my life ordered by the liturgy of the hours helped in prioritizing my time. Having made the commitment to live in community with the sisters meant that I would rise each day early enough to attend Morning Prayer --- 6:30 every weekday. This and the other prayer times simplified the order of my day. Having time within the prayer services for reflection also made it easier to connect with God in a spiritual way.
To hear the bell ring before each service gave me a sense of continuity in a deeper way than I have ever felt as a teacher (even with all the school bells), yet I saw the connections between life at the monastery and life at my school in a new way. We often talk in education as being a “learning community.” I return with a profoundly new perspective on how deeply one can experience community.
I said earlier that I am bringing back with me “spiritual direction.” This really isn’t new, because Tom and I have been meeting with Marie Juncker for most of this year in spiritual direction as a couple. I return with a deeper appreciation for the benefit and --- yes ---the need for having someone in my life who can help me discern the direction my spiritual life is taking.
I had the privilege of spending my four weeks helping at Shalom Prayer Center, the retreat center at the monastery. Several of the sisters are trained as Spiritual Directors, and I often greeted the people arriving for their spiritual direction appointments. I also helped Sister Joan set up the introductory materials for her next class of trainees, as Shalom offers a two-year training program in spiritual direction.
Additionally, I was blessed with an hour of spiritual direction with Sister Joe. I admit I was skeptical that there would not be much benefit doing this with someone I barely knew, but with Jesus Christ as our common denominator, it was amazing how spirit-filled and insightful our discussion was.
The Saturday after we began our service, Tom and I were invited to attend a day-long retreat on “Prayer of the Heart” with Sister Dorothy. This is an ancient prayer practice of sitting in silence, being “present to God.” Its focus is not to listen, but to “be.” I cannot put into words the sublime joy of sitting with a group of people in silence, with God allowing my inner self to open to Him and experience being in His presence as His beloved child.
Another time I experienced silence was during the prayer services and the Eucharist. The pacing of the responses always allowed for a silent period of reflection between the psalms, between the prayers, and after both the sermon and communion. I had ample time to connect with God and be present with Him beyond the words and the music.
As the days, weeks and months pass, I hope that there will be more opportunities to share with you about our time at Queen of Angels Monastery.
Judith
Tom has already given you a taste of our time there. For me, having my life ordered by the liturgy of the hours helped in prioritizing my time. Having made the commitment to live in community with the sisters meant that I would rise each day early enough to attend Morning Prayer --- 6:30 every weekday. This and the other prayer times simplified the order of my day. Having time within the prayer services for reflection also made it easier to connect with God in a spiritual way.
To hear the bell ring before each service gave me a sense of continuity in a deeper way than I have ever felt as a teacher (even with all the school bells), yet I saw the connections between life at the monastery and life at my school in a new way. We often talk in education as being a “learning community.” I return with a profoundly new perspective on how deeply one can experience community.
I said earlier that I am bringing back with me “spiritual direction.” This really isn’t new, because Tom and I have been meeting with Marie Juncker for most of this year in spiritual direction as a couple. I return with a deeper appreciation for the benefit and --- yes ---the need for having someone in my life who can help me discern the direction my spiritual life is taking.
I had the privilege of spending my four weeks helping at Shalom Prayer Center, the retreat center at the monastery. Several of the sisters are trained as Spiritual Directors, and I often greeted the people arriving for their spiritual direction appointments. I also helped Sister Joan set up the introductory materials for her next class of trainees, as Shalom offers a two-year training program in spiritual direction.
Additionally, I was blessed with an hour of spiritual direction with Sister Joe. I admit I was skeptical that there would not be much benefit doing this with someone I barely knew, but with Jesus Christ as our common denominator, it was amazing how spirit-filled and insightful our discussion was.
The Saturday after we began our service, Tom and I were invited to attend a day-long retreat on “Prayer of the Heart” with Sister Dorothy. This is an ancient prayer practice of sitting in silence, being “present to God.” Its focus is not to listen, but to “be.” I cannot put into words the sublime joy of sitting with a group of people in silence, with God allowing my inner self to open to Him and experience being in His presence as His beloved child.
Another time I experienced silence was during the prayer services and the Eucharist. The pacing of the responses always allowed for a silent period of reflection between the psalms, between the prayers, and after both the sermon and communion. I had ample time to connect with God and be present with Him beyond the words and the music.
As the days, weeks and months pass, I hope that there will be more opportunities to share with you about our time at Queen of Angels Monastery.
Judith
A TASTE OF MT. ANGEL
To relate a month-long, life-changing experience in two minutes is impossible so I’ll give you a tantalizing Taste of Mt. Angel Imagine living in community for a month with 35 Spirit-filled Benedictine nuns, aged 32 to 93, some who have lived together for over 50 years at the monastery. Some were previously married and have adult children and grandchildren. Many had active professional lives, mostly in the field of education.
Only one still wears a traditional habit, the others wear casual street clothes and “dress up” clothes for Mass on Sunday. These blessed women have taken vows of stability, poverty, chastity and obedience and live their lives as “brides of Christ” serving our Lord Jesus in a myriad of ways in the little Oregon community of Mt. Angel. The basic Benedictine rule is one of “ora et labora”, prayer and work, and their lives are centered on this rule.
They run a prayer and conference center, a homeless shelter, a migrant farm workers temporary residence and a food, clothing and furniture distribution center. They grow much of their fresh produced and in season can fruits and make jams for the winter. Many of them do hand work which is sold in the bookstore of the conference center to help support the monastery.
The rhythm of the days begins with Morning Prayer and Mass followed by breakfast which is eaten in silence except on weekends and Feast Days. Mornings are spent in various duties and assignments with Noon Prayer before lunch. More work and rest follows in the afternoon with Evening Prayer before dinner. An hour of community recreation including cards, jigsaw puzzles, hand work and just visiting precedes Compline, the prayer service which brings the day to its close at eight in the evening. Since their days usually begin at 5 or 5:30, most retire early.
The hours of prayer consist of the chanted or spoken psalmody, usually antiphonally interspersed with long periods of blessed silence. I came to treasure those times of silence in prayer and found my heart opening in ways that I’ve never experienced before.
The sisters accepted us with warmth, love and deep appreciation for our time of service with them and constantly showered us with the blessings and joys of their deep friendship. My little bit of heaven there became the kitchen, where I spent the entire month as an integral part of the culinary prep team.
Leaving Mt. Angel was painful and we continually relive our daily experiences with those blessed sisters already sure that we will return soon to walk their journey with them.
The quiet constancy and depth of their faith has in turn helped deepen my faith and shown me a new way to live in the world but still be not “of it” and I have been blessed a thousand-fold by this amazing experience.
Tom
Only one still wears a traditional habit, the others wear casual street clothes and “dress up” clothes for Mass on Sunday. These blessed women have taken vows of stability, poverty, chastity and obedience and live their lives as “brides of Christ” serving our Lord Jesus in a myriad of ways in the little Oregon community of Mt. Angel. The basic Benedictine rule is one of “ora et labora”, prayer and work, and their lives are centered on this rule.
They run a prayer and conference center, a homeless shelter, a migrant farm workers temporary residence and a food, clothing and furniture distribution center. They grow much of their fresh produced and in season can fruits and make jams for the winter. Many of them do hand work which is sold in the bookstore of the conference center to help support the monastery.
The rhythm of the days begins with Morning Prayer and Mass followed by breakfast which is eaten in silence except on weekends and Feast Days. Mornings are spent in various duties and assignments with Noon Prayer before lunch. More work and rest follows in the afternoon with Evening Prayer before dinner. An hour of community recreation including cards, jigsaw puzzles, hand work and just visiting precedes Compline, the prayer service which brings the day to its close at eight in the evening. Since their days usually begin at 5 or 5:30, most retire early.
The hours of prayer consist of the chanted or spoken psalmody, usually antiphonally interspersed with long periods of blessed silence. I came to treasure those times of silence in prayer and found my heart opening in ways that I’ve never experienced before.
The sisters accepted us with warmth, love and deep appreciation for our time of service with them and constantly showered us with the blessings and joys of their deep friendship. My little bit of heaven there became the kitchen, where I spent the entire month as an integral part of the culinary prep team.
Leaving Mt. Angel was painful and we continually relive our daily experiences with those blessed sisters already sure that we will return soon to walk their journey with them.
The quiet constancy and depth of their faith has in turn helped deepen my faith and shown me a new way to live in the world but still be not “of it” and I have been blessed a thousand-fold by this amazing experience.
Tom
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
St. Joseph Shelter
Today is our last day, and Sr. Agatha stops by Shalom to say hello on her way to St. Joseph's Shelter. I realize that I have not yet visited the shelter that the monastery operates for homeless families, so I accompany her across the street to the repurposed college dorms. There is room for 10 families, but there are few people in the common room downstairs when we arrive.
I meet a young mother who has an active tw0-year-old son and a four-month old daughter. The father has a temporary job two hours south in Roseburg while he attends construction school in Portland. I also meet Jay, a boy who has just finished second grade and lives with his grandparents. He often spends his afternoons at the shelter for company.
Jay and I work on a jigsaw puzzle. As he matches pieces, I work with him to expand his language. He has to think of the word for the edge piece, "straight," but he can't come up with "corner." So we count the corners of the table, and he calculates how many corner pieces we still have to find for the puzzle. After we finish, I return to Shalom.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Obedience
Tonight after dinner, we linger and talk with Sr. Joan. At one point in our conversation, the discussion turns to obedience in the monastery. She remarks that it is one thing to be obedient to the prioress, but it another --- more difficult --- thing to be obedient to each other. To illustrate, she compares the obedience Tom and I have to each other as husband and wife to the obedience that parents have to their children. At first I am confused, thinking of how many parents overindulge their children and neglect to set limits for them. Why should a parent be obedient to the child?Sr. Joan clarifies as she explains that when a baby cries in the night, a mother will leave her husband's side to attend to the child. She is being obedient to the child in the sense that she is listening to its cries, being mindful of its needs, and tending to them. In this sense, a mother is also praying when she rocks the child, coos to it, and sits in the silent night mindful of the life she is holding.
In the same way, the sisters are obedient to each other. They listen to each other, with deep heartfelt awareness of the others' joys and needs. They are obedient when they are mindful, and this mindfulness brings the harmony and peace we sense that so deeply pervades life in the monastery. Of course, irritations and frictions still exist, but they are momentary blips in the fabric of life at Queen of Angels.
For me, the sisters --- each and every one in her own way--- live in obedience in this new sense of community that I am beginning to understand. It is a gift I hope to bring with me to share with the others in my secular life, at home, at school, and in the larger world. God has been so good to let me experience life at the monastery. I am blessed in countless ways!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Marion County Fair
We leave after breakfast for the Marion County Fair held in Salem, a short 20-minute drive. Also the site of the state fair in August, the fairgrounds have ample parking and light traffic. We don't have to stand in line to get our tickets and start in Columbia Hall, where the commercial, fine arts, home crafts and city exhibits are located.The number of entries astounds us --- only one table setting, one home-baked pie, a few jars of jam, no vegetables or fruits in competition. I ask one exhibiter the population of Marion County. Its about 350,000, about the size of Bakersfield. No wonder the fair is smaller than the Kern County Fair. Another couple tells us that a lot of people save their entries for the state fair in just a month.
At any rate, we still enjoy seeing the exhibits. The animals and their 4H owners are always fun. We chat with a woman who is spinning wool from the alpacas behind her. Little children squeal in the petting zoo, but their voices are almost drowned
out by the piglet, goose, and goats. There are even dogs racing over hurdles to grab a tennis ball in one of the grass areas. Everyone seems to be having as good a time as we are.We sample barbecued pork and a homemade sausage, Italian ice, roasted nuts, and a local beer. I finally find replacements for my neck cooler that finally gave out in the Caribbean.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Mission Benedict
Tom walks across the street to Mission Benedict during his afternoon break. Open only on Fridays, from He watches as a volunteer follows a mother around as she selects needed items. He notices the communication gap and wonders how many of the sisters and volunteers can speak Spanish. Teaching a basic-phrase Spanish class might be an area of ministry for us on our return.
Feast of St. Benedict
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Benedict. There is a festive atmosphere because many of the sisters professed their vows on this feast day, and today is an important anniversary for them. Father Ordo even makes a witticism about enjoying the day in "monastic fashion." Breakfast is not silent, and Sr. Mechtilde has baked a special pastry in honor of the day.I am busy at Shalom, finishing up Sr. Joan's project with her spiritual direction trainees and various data bases. I finish the display for the iris rhizomes and other partially done projects. I feel the impending end of our time here, and I don't want to leave. Each meal, we have a chance to deepen our relationships with the sisters. They are such authentic loving people. I'm going to miss each of them.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
All Is Vanity
For the last several days, the readings for Morning Prayer have been taken from Ecclesiastes.King Solomon says, “All is vanity and a chasing after the wind.” He compares all our striving on earth for pleasure, riches, power, and recognition to be in vain compared to seeking what truly lasts.
I encourage each of us to read this book of the Bible and ponder its message for our lives today.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Birthday Celebration
Tonight we drive to Portland after our afternoon duties instead of going to Evening Prayer. We pick up Lisa and her friend Janey and drive to Janey's house to see Lisa's vegetable and herb plantings in Janey's garden. We meet Gaza, Janey's dog of whom I have heard so much.
We eat as Sweet Basil, one of Lisa's favorite restaurants in honor of her birthday this Friday. Everything we order is delicious. We have a make-your-own-lettuce-wrap appetizer, pumpkin curry, spicy sea scallops and a dish with fried basil and other vegetables. For dessert, we order a Snow Angel with coconut ice cream and exotic toppings. Yum!
We eat as Sweet Basil, one of Lisa's favorite restaurants in honor of her birthday this Friday. Everything we order is delicious. We have a make-your-own-lettuce-wrap appetizer, pumpkin curry, spicy sea scallops and a dish with fried basil and other vegetables. For dessert, we order a Snow Angel with coconut ice cream and exotic toppings. Yum!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Cape Mears and Seaside
Next is Cape Mears Lighthouse, perched high above the coast, and the shortest lighthouse on the We drive through 
rn home via 
Tillamook
Tillamook Cheese Factory is our next destination. After lunch that includes cheese of course, we take the self-guided tour. The yellow sodium lights in the factory turn the interior to the color of cheese.
Then we get to sample the cheeses. Surprisingly, our favorite is the cheese curds, which are not yet officially cheese yet. We even buy a bag of curds in the gift shop to take home with us.
Then we go to
Oregon Coast 2
Today we head for We drive to
Then we go to
Monday, July 7, 2008
For Everything There Is a Season
At Mass today we heard the familiar quotation from Ecclesiastes.This is our season for growing. Each day brings us another opportunity to practice love and charity, patience and obedience.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Fireworks
We arrive at 
he young women here for Monastic Week. As we chat, we further our friendship. The fireworks display begins after 
Hometown Parade
Today is the Fourth of July. At breakfast, the sisters tell us to assemble at the 
The crowd is relaxed, with no jostling. Tots sit on fathers’ shoulders, and school-age children scamper in and out of the street. We rise for the Star Spangled Banner, sung by a local girl with a lovely voice. The parade itself is slow-paced, with an emcee who is amplified and easy to hear. He identifies each car, tractor, and float – often giving tidbits of information about the riders. The Grand Marshal is a high school gra
duate returning to visit her sister, who still lives in
There are banner girls who toss candy to the people on the curbs. Candy is flung from the vintage cars and tractors, lovingly restored and introduced by name and year. John Deere tractors of up to eighty years ago are still running, some pulling the flatbed floats with 4H members or local business owners and their families. We cheer for the brightly decorated red pickup carrying some of the sisters riding inside and on lawn chairs in the back. Civic pride is evident in the smiles and generous strewing of candy. The Mt. Angel Oktoberfest is another proud entry, showing ethnic costumes along with the German restaurants.
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