We have spent the week at another great RV resort park in Mesa, Arizona. We had planned to be at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon by now, but found out the roads into the park from the north don't open until mid-May. So we extended here, and have enjoyed playing tennis and shuffleboard every morning, swimming/spa every afternoon, exercise room, library, computer room, game room, ping pong, poolside restaurant for lunch .... those kinds of things. The weather has been wonderful -- mid 80's generally.
The first afternoon here we went to visit John and Charlotte Gunter, former CCUM members now living in Scottsdale. It was fun to see them in their new home/environment. (Unfortunately, the pictures I took of them won't upload for this blog -- some things are a mystery to me!)
Sunday was the best day. We worshipped at the Asbury UMC in Phoenix. The minister, Jeff Procter-Murphy, is one of the interviewers/producers of the Living the Questions series that we used at CCUM -- a wonderful collection of interviews with progressive theologians. We recognized the ceramic pots on the worship table from the video.
The first afternoon here we went to visit John and Charlotte Gunter, former CCUM members now living in Scottsdale. It was fun to see them in their new home/environment. (Unfortunately, the pictures I took of them won't upload for this blog -- some things are a mystery to me!)
Sunday was the best day. We worshipped at the Asbury UMC in Phoenix. The minister, Jeff Procter-Murphy, is one of the interviewers/producers of the Living the Questions series that we used at CCUM -- a wonderful collection of interviews with progressive theologians. We recognized the ceramic pots on the worship table from the video.
The people were the friendliest of any church we've been to, and Jeff's style is casual, friendly and engaging. The sermon was great, "Why I Am Still a Methodist", given the less-than-hopeful actions that will come out of our UMC General Conference that starts this week in Ft. Worth. I have given a similar sermon(s) in the past, so obviously thought it was a terrific sermon! There were many gay and lesbians in the congregation, we assume, so his sermon was right on! The pianist and instrumentalists jazzed up the hymns. (It was the same pianist who plays in the background on the Living the Questions videos; she gave us a CD of the music on their latest DVD.) This is also the church where Tex and Peggy Sample are members, and we had heard about the church from them. Unfortunately, they were out of town that Sunday. But his new book was on sale after church: Earthy Mysticism. He had talked about it when we had dinner with him back in Sarasota in February. If we lived in Phoenix, Asbury UMC would be our church!
After church we went to the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. It has a wonderful collection of history, stories and artifacts of the 22 tribal communities of Arizona. There was even a Sandra Day O'Conner Gallery -- she was a former president of the Board of Trustees.
On another day we went to the Frank Lloyd Wright winter home, the Taliesen. The tour took us through some of his living quarters, as well as his educational areas (he established an apprenticeship school) and entertainment areas. All very interesting. He did most of his work in the last 12 years of his life -- 80-92. There's hope for us yet!!!
We now head north to Flagstaff, and then will spend several weeks in Utah, visiting the national parks.
After church we went to the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix. It has a wonderful collection of history, stories and artifacts of the 22 tribal communities of Arizona. There was even a Sandra Day O'Conner Gallery -- she was a former president of the Board of Trustees.
On another day we went to the Frank Lloyd Wright winter home, the Taliesen. The tour took us through some of his living quarters, as well as his educational areas (he established an apprenticeship school) and entertainment areas. All very interesting. He did most of his work in the last 12 years of his life -- 80-92. There's hope for us yet!!!
We now head north to Flagstaff, and then will spend several weeks in Utah, visiting the national parks.
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