September 3, 2017--Vamos a la iglesia

Rev. Kim James

It's late Sunday afternoon, and I finally have some free time to reflect on these busy days in Mexico.  The past five days have been so richly full of Spanish language classes, lectures about various important people and programs, outings to museums, ancient archeological sites, outdoor markets, and centuries-old churches.  In these days, we've been exposed not only to Mexican culture today, but also its indigenous predecessor cultures and the displacing effects of the Spanish conquistadors and the Christian missionaries. 

In the midst and in between all these intentional exposures, there have been many informal conversations.  Some of those have been spoken in English as we from the Mountain Sky Area have come to know each other much better during school breaks, over meals, and en route by foot, bus, or taxi.  

I have especially enjoyed and appreciated getting to know Rev. Cynthia Paquette of Ft. Collins First UMC.  Cynthia and I have been roommates at the home of a Mexican lady.  While Cynthia and I are learning about Mexican life (and food!) from Irma Mendoza, Irma and I have been learning about life in Malaysia, where Cynthia grew up.  And then I tell them what it was like to grow up in Northwestern Montana and to adopt my children from Colombia.  Of course, all this "conversacion" enhances our Spanish skills as well as our understanding of the world.

I enjoyed the two-hour worship service at the Cuernavaca Methodist Church today.  The service was in Spanish, so there was some percentage I didn't understand, but the singing was lively, the people were welcoming, the preacher was energetic, and God's spirit was there.  The Methodist Church of Mexico was started in the late 1800s by American missionaries, but eventually the denomination became independent here in Mexico, and is in a concordat relationship with the United Methodist Church.  It was good to be there with our brothers and sisters of faith.

Dios les bendiga,

Kim James

Rev Denise Bender

El Domingo - Sunday Several of us attended mass at the San Jose Calvario mariachis celebration. It was difficult to understand more than a small part of the mass because of the language however in the midst of tradition there was an energy and spirit that led my heart into worship. The people were friendly and the priest was warm and welcoming. The church was well-kept, loved and beautiful.

The afternoon was spent at a wonderful restaurant with delicious food for Youngsook's birthday. We also went to museums which focused my attention on another piece of the Mexican culture.

Now, a few words about taxis. Taxis have been my primary mode of transportation. The traffic in Cuernavaca is the wildest I've ever seen. The traffic is very busy, the streets are small and people are walking on single person width sidewalks. I have not seen any wrecks or angry drivers. Is is what it is. I trust the taxi driver implicitly. Taxis are easy to flag and the cars are clean. The drivers don't speak much English and negotiation is in Spanish. With the cost of taxis being between 30 and 70 pesos, that is 2 to 5 dollars, taxi drivers have been my heroes.

Rev. Dr. Youngsook Kang

Happy birthday, Youngsook!

The Rise and Fall of Xochicalco, Pyramid of the Sun City

We are continuing to learn about the history and culture of Mexico- especially the state of Morelos. The state ofMorelos is located in South-Central Mexico.  For those of you who are visual learners, here is the map of Mexico showing Morelos and Cuernava in relationship to Mexico City. 

Yesterday we visited two major historic places– Xochicalco, a pre-Columbian archaeological site in the western part of the state of Morelos and Taxco, a small city located in the  state of Guerrero.

When you visit a hilltop fortified city (pyramid) such as Xochicalco, you cannot help but wonder “How did it rise and fall?”

The history of Xochicalco stands in the continuum of the Mesoamerican cultures.  I’ve learned that Its rise coincided with the emergence of urban state societies in Central Mexico and its neighboring areas. It is part of the Pre-Columbian society, which ended with the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 16th century. 

Xochicalco, which means “In the House of Flowers” (en la Casa de las Flores), is a fascinating ancient site. When I stood at the top of the pyramid, it felt as if I was watching the footsteps of the people who lived here 1200 years ago.  

There are several pyramids, ball games courts, residential areas, a water system, and an observatory tower. Among the many architectural structures of the remains, theceremonial center and observatory tower captured my imagination the most.  You may say, of course, they are religious and worship-related places!  Yes, after all, I studied theology!

“The Lords of Time” depicted on the front wall of the Ceremonial center shows that Xochicalco people’s life evolved around the sun. They determined important things around the movement of the sun.  The sun was their source of life.  They determined the time to plant and time to harvest as well as the time for war and time for peace according to the sun clock.  

So, how did this city society fall? I am very curious. The reason isn’t clearly known, and there are several theories. It seems that Xochicalco began to decline by around A.D. 800, and was abandoned after A. D. 900.  Archaeologists say that temples and associated stelae were intentionally destroyed by the Xochicalco people. They say the way the walls were broken and shattered suggests a deliberate withdrawal from the site. Why?  Some say that the elite class of the Xochicalco society became instable and their socio-political instability was compounded by climatechanges and the depletion of resources due to overpopulation.  But, we just don’t know for sure. 

The rise and fall of any civilization is intriguing.  There is a time for everything as said 

In Ecclesiastes 3. 

“There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.”

Where do we stand in our own civilization?  But, one thing is clear. “God has made everything beautiful in its time.”(In Ecclesiastes 3:9 NIV)

 Rev. Melinda Baber

"The eye can not say to the hand, I don't need you. "

The first place I saw anyone with a noticeable disability or different ability,  was outside, on the steps in front of the Cathedral in Tepotzlan. Two blind adults: the man begging and banging with a bowl piteously, the other, an older looking woman, her face etched with the struggle of a life I can never comprehend, was silent, leaning into the wall. No one came  rolling into the Church today, to take the Eucharist, or down the street using the curb cuts painted with blue wheelchair symbols. No one signing with friends in the restaurant, or in the marketplaces in the town square. No one with white canes walking around. But i did see a well-dressed, young man, maybe 17 or 18, walking disjointedly, slowly, with a walker, held on to from behind by an older motherly woman helping him through the crowded square. And later, walking home, a middle aged man with his guide dog, both walking slowly along the sidewalk pavement, the dog stopping to let him  lean against the side of the buildings. And then later, a thin bald headed little girl, about 4 or 5, standing at the threshold of an open door, smiling at me as i caught her eyes, before an adult hand reached and pulled her back inside.   How fares that community? Where are they going? Are they finding creative ways to be working? Volunteering?   Are the children in school?  At home? In orphanages? I surmise only the wealthiest among them have any chance at decent opportunity here. Here, where the neuro-typical and able-bodied are hard pressed to make even the equivalent of 4 dollars a day. 

I want the  God of the margins to remind me over and over, the risen  Body of Christ is still known by His scars.

Make ours, also,  a Witness to the power of Love to raise the dead.

Bishop Karen Oliveto

Today, many of us decided to attend a Catholic mass with a mariachi band. I confess that I couldn't really keep up with the rapid Spanish being spoken by the priest and liturgist! But I was still moved by the deep spirituality shared by the people, entering into the sanctuary from their homes and neighborhoods to remember that they are one in Christ, as we extended our hands to one another in welcome and to share the peace of Christ, as we offered ourselves and our money in service to God, as we bowed our heads in prayers, and as we focused on the power of communion. No words were needed--the Spirit's power was present!

When the church does what it does best, Love, then no words are needed, because our actions speak louder than words.

What is the message a newcomer receives when they come to your church? Do your actions speak of Love's power so that every person will find what their souls hunger for?