Elaine and I enjoyed a camping trip with Dennis Apel, Tensie Hernandez and their kids, Rosella and Thomas.  These are the dear friends with whom we did hospice for Ladon Sheats in the spring of 2002—eight long years ago!  We then pulled the last of our cilantro and lettuce and planted our bean starts as well as tomatoes and chile for the summer garden.  We are slowly building more raised beds that will eventually double our capacity—striving for a measure of food self-sufficiency.  When I then climbed on a plane to fly to Toronto, it was the first time I’ve traveled out of state in six months—the longest stretch in 20 years!  I’m deeply grateful for the time at home, and we are trying to move in this direction for the sake of our physical and emotional health.  But less travel and speaking means declining program revenue for BCM, so do keep that in mind as you think about your support of our work.  Meanwhile, you can follow BCM on Facebook now!

My four days at the Five Oaks Centre (www.fiveoaks.on.ca) outside of Toronto were enjoyable.  I worked with two groups of mostly United Church of Canada ministers and lay leaders, focusing on “Luke and Sabbath Economics.”  A highlight was attending a Sunday service at the Chapel of the Delaware on the nearby Six Nations Reserve.  I enjoyed lively conversation with Lee Claus, a vision-keeper at the Francis Sandy Centre (an indigenous theological training center, www.fstc.ca) and George Montour (left) of the Six Nations Council.  He, his wife Wanda, and Lee are leading a new effort to bridge the formidable divide between native and non-native Christians in Canada, called “Nations Uniting” (www.nationsuniting.ca). 

 While I was away Elaine drove to Fresno to meet with historian Paul Toews about her upcoming trip to the Ukraine.  On her way back she stopped in Bakersfield to meet with the spouse and sister of a man killed by a drunk driver; they are interested in a possible restorative justice process with the offender.  She also gave two performances with the Ojai Community Chorus this month, and wrote the lead editorial for the Ojai Valley News on the “Watershed University” course she has been attending.

We congratulate the Los Angeles Catholic Worker, which celebrated its 40^th anniversary this month.  They threw a fabulous celebration party, which was a real gathering of the saints.  Among those were Liz McAlister, her daughter Frida Berrigan, and Martha Hennessy, the granddaughter of Dorothy Day.  These three wonderful women returned with us to Oak View for a couple of days, which included poring over Martha’s pictures of Dorothy and the early Catholic Worker years (right).  They also visited with the women of the Abundant Table Farm Project.

The following weekend was our annual BCM party, yet again at the home of Ross and Gloria Kinsler.  Some 35 friends enjoyed a lovely afternoon outdoors, visiting and hearing from Rev. Russell Daye, who is chairing the United Church of Canada’s Right Relations Committee working on the Truth and Reconciliation process concerning the legacy of residential schools.  We also said goodbye to Rick Zemlin and welcomed new board member Cassie Lewis. (Right, Glenn Stassen concentrates on Russell’s presentation; left: Rick blows out candles on his cake).  We then enjoyed four more days with Russ back at our place, which included also a couple of days with my mother Charlotte Myers, who is celebrating her 88^th birthday!  Other visitors this month: Tevyn East and her road companion Ali, who are touring with her one-woman show on faith and the ecological crisis entitled “Leaps and Bounds” (www.affordinghopeproject.org); Duke Divinity School student Tim Kumfer and Sojourners staffer Allison Johnson; and Christine Lafferty of the Echo Park Catholic Worker.

We were pleased to learn that my Sojourners magazine article on Luke 12 (“Pay Attention to the Birds”—most of you received it in your last BCM mailing!) won the first place award in the “Cause of the Year” category given by the Evangelical Press Association.  Speaking of publications, we are delighted that our dear friend and elder Zee Holler has published a book entitled Jesus’ Radical Message: Subversive Sermons for Today’s Seekers (you can order it by clicking here.).  Zee’s wife Charlene gives this account of the book-signing party thrown by friends at Greensboro’s Beloved Community Center: “We had 125-150 attending.  Cokesbury sold all of their books, plus some of Z’s copies.  We had music from Brian Cahall from Guilford Guitar, Logie the African American story teller, and Salimah dancers.  Most stayed for the program and when Nelson Johnson spoke about what Zee has meant to him and the greater community, he had to stop briefly and collect himself.  The folks ranged from the homeless to the hoidy toidy!  Zee was touched, and has a renewed spirit.”

Two eco-notes: Friends at Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns are tracking important developments in environmental policy, practice and theory on this site: www.faitheconomyecology.wordpress.com.  Katarina Friesen of the Abundant Table Farm Project found this cool quiz online that tests your awareness of your bioregion; check it out here.

Finally, we mourn with Marylin and John McEntyre the painful passing of their daughter Shona (left); say a prayer for their family.

We wish you a blessed season of Pentecost.