Church and Nuts

Today’s a holiday. It’s President’s Day. So the Center is closed. That gave us the opportunity to do a little spiffing up around the RV and Joyce did the wash. Other than that bit of labor, it was a nice restful day. But last week? Well, let’s see.

Work as usual. I finished Matthew then did 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and Colossians. It’s fun doing the shorter books; seems like it goes faster. Joyce is still doing her stamp thing – pricing Germany, Peru, Argentina, Panama, Chili, Costa Rica and a few others. She figures she has priced over 900 stamps so far.

Let me tell you about church. Actually churches. We church hop here. The two Sundays we were in LA we went with Jana and family to Marina Christian Fellowship. The Sunday in Fountain of Youth we attended the nondenominational worship in the RV park. Then we arrived here on a Monday. These churches have been blessed by our presence:

• January 17 – Life Point in Catalina. It is only 5 years old and growing. It is very VERY much geared to reaching unchurched people. Good worship.
• January 24 – Community Church at Saddlebrooke. This is a nondenominational group comprised mostly of the residents of Saddlebrooke – a large planned development of upscale homes next to the property Jim and Joyce own. There were at least 300 in attendance meeting in the community’s performing arts center. The place has no center aisle so there are 37 seats in a row. If you are in the middle, don’t have bladder problems! Good worship.
• January 31 – Vitoso Community Church. These folks direct their worship toward senior adults -- all hymns, choir, order of worship, but a young pastor. We liked this church. It is located in an area of mostly retired people.
• February 7 – Open Door Baptist Church which meets in the chapel at the Center. Very friendly but I had a hard time following the pastor’s message. This was our least favorite.
• February 14 – Casas Church. Jim and Joyce attend there and we have gone with them when we were here before. We like this church. They have three services. Jim and Joyce have chosen to attend the worship that begins at 7:50. In the morning! We left here at 7:15 a.m. because the church is in Tucson (I felt like I was going to an Easter Sunrise Service). After worship we went to the Senior Adult Sunday School class followed by lunch at McDonald’s with the “lunch bunch” Jim and Joyce hang out with. Then back home for a nap! 

This is Cases Church. The early worship is really quite well attended. It just doesn't seem like it because the sanctuary is so big.

Now, I’ve saved the best to last. Have you ever gone gleaning for pecans? Me either. Until Saturday. One of the other computer people I work with went last weekend and told us about it. So a group of decided to give it a try. As it turned out there were 7 of us in a van only knowing vaguely were we were going. We found an orchard about 30 miles from here. Up near Picacho Peak if you know the area. The man in the farm yard told us go down this dirt road to the end, turn right, go under the freeway and the best orchard would be on the right. We did and it was. The picking was not real good because they had already disked the center between the tree rows. But there were still lots between the trees. I got all I want to shell – about a grocery bag full. Haven’t shelled them yet. I need to do that this week.

These dead-looking things are pecan trees. Seven us us fanned out and only covered a small part of the orchard. We found most of the pecans on the high area between the trees. You can see a few clusters of nuts still on the tree in the foreground.

 The weather is what we have been waiting for – in the 80s during the day and only down to high 40s at night. The weatherlady predicts more of the same to come. So blessings to each of you. Stay warm.