The Church of the Roses, Santa Rosa, CA

On Sunday morning (June 28), I attended the Church of the Roses, a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation, close to the Charles M. Schultz Museum. This church has an interesting history. It started as "The Presbyterian Church in Montgomery Village” on June 21, 1952. The original building was actually built in one day. It was reported to have a wedding also the same day, as soon as the church was built. When you go to the website, www.churchoftheroses.org, be sure to click on the link about its history timeline link at the top of the history page. Then, look at the link about the stained glass windows of the church. My pictures did not do them justice.

One of the interesting things the pastor told me was: instead of being the Presbyterian Church of the Roses, the word "Presbyterian" dropped, so the church would be listed first under "church" in the local phone book. But in their literature, it is clearly known that this is a congregation of the Presbyteian Church (USA).

The Pastor, John Cushman and his wife, Cheryl, were so gracious to me. After going to the Charles Schultz museum, and the Luther Burbank Gardens on Sunday afternoon and evening, dinner, and wifi work at this same McDonalds were I am at now doing this blog, I was invited to come back and use the church parking lot to park for the night. The church has a facility that includes a fully-equipped, wheel chair accessible shower. How cool is that!! The pastor offered its use to me this a.m.

Cheryl Cushman, and a staff, conduct the Rosebud Preschool. Before I left this a.m., I was able to meet one of the other teachers, and a couple of the kiddies as they were coming to school this a.m. I am attaching some pics below of my visit at the Church of the Roses.

Well, for some reason, Blogger is not letting me attach pictures to the blogs. So I will come back to this blog entry, as well as the one about the Charles Schultz Museum and add some pics later. But, be sure to go to the church's website.

Peanuts and the Gang

Yesterday, after worship at the Church of the Roses (which I will tell you about in the next blog), I had the best time going to the Charles M. Schultz Museum here in Santa Rosa. (After the museum closed at 5 p.m., I was able to go back to the center of downtown to walk through the Luther Burbank gardens.)

The Schultz complex actually has three major buildings. First the ice rink, including the Warm Puppy Cafe. Charles Schultz was from Minnesota and missed not having a place to ice skate or play hockey, so he had the Ice Arena built for the city of Santa Rosa. Built very close to his office, he would start out the day at the Cafe with coffee, muffin, and watching the skaters. He had a table reserved just for him by the fireplace which is still there today.


After lunch at the Warm Puppy Cafe, I went over to the museum itself. Among original cartoon frames of Peanuts cartoons, is a reproduction of C.M.S.' office with his desk, drawing table, and bookcases with a variety of titles on a variety of subjects within them. Mr. Schultz was widely-read, and in a movie-interview shown felt his funny ideas had to come, in part, from his love for reading.

To me, the most impressive item in the museum, is a mural wall black and white outline drawing of Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown. This wall is made from 3,588 individual strips arranged in such a way to make this mural.

For a long-time lover of Charlie Brown and the Gang, this museum was a real treat. I remember when I first heard about it, and the comic strip mural, I said to myself, I need to go there someday. Well, yesterday was that day. What a joy.

The third part of the complex, of course, is the inevitable gift shop. Nuff said about that.

Summery info on the GA Committee where I actually was assigned.

Hi: while I have a McDonalds wifi still available to me this afternoon, I wanted to share a bit about the GA committee where I was assigned.. Our task was to review info, and make recommendations to the GA, concerning two permanent committees and one Commission of the PC(USA). In our committee, we reviewed the Presbyteries' Cooperative Committee on Examination of Candidates (PCCEC). This group is responsible for the ordination exams for office of Minister of Word and Sacrament. We made recommendations to the GA to revise the Book of Order descriptions, listing, and other wording in G-14.0431. Our recommendations were brought to the GA and at 11 p.m. on Thursday (June 26) they were approved. This day of the General Assembly started at 8:30 a.m.

Our committee also reviewed a self-study, relevant surveys and listened to hearing testimony of the work of the Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethic Concerns (ACREC). We made four recommendations which also were approved by the whole GA at the late hour on Thursday night.

And, approved also were five recommendations for the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC). In the testimony given to the committee, plus the extensive self-study document, we concurred with the the commission, among other items, that there is a greater need for technology support for their Commission.

on the scene details of "the vote"

Hi.

this blog post is especially for Presby folks. I thought you might like to know that the assembly vote was 380 "yes" to 325 "nos" on the vote to delete the current paragraph which requires church officers to "live in within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or single" and replace it with new language. now, that does not mean that the Book of Order will automatically change. This action, like some others taken at the General Assembly will have to be taken back to the 173 Presbyteries for 2/3rds majority approval. Similar proposals in 1997 and 2000 sent to the Presbyteries were rejected. There also was a minority report that some would have hope would have been the recommendation sent to the Presbyteries instead. The General Assembly rejected the minority report on a vote of 319 to 375. When the final vote was taken on the committee's recommendation, the room was silent. No cheering, just silence.

F.Y.I Concerning the counting. We all had electronic push button keypads to use in voting. One would vote within 8 seconds. The screen in the front of the room would give the percentages of yes to no, or 1,2,3 choices in bar graph form, with the actual numbers at the top of the bargraph. It was not used in every vote. Many times, voice votes were adequate. But, on important issues, or when the voice vote result was undetermined, the voting keypads were used.

off to Santa Rosa

Good 1 am California time morning:

just wanted to let you know I am leaving San Jose tomorrow (Saturday) after the General Assembly closes the sessions. I am going to visit the Charlie Schultz/Peanut museum on Sunday afternoon. The plan is to attend worship and then go on to the museum.

I will try to post again to this blog after I get back from a meeting tomorrow a.m. at the General Assembly. right now I need a bed. judy
z z z z zzzzz

for my Presbyterian folks

Hi: Today (Friday)at the GA was a loooong day into night. We finished at 11:45 California time. Some quick news: Gradye Parsons was elected Stated Clerk. The ordination motion made it, but the marriage one did not. You know the ones with the "elephant." (Actually the committee voted to disapprove the overture from the Presbytery of Baltimore---so the vote was actually in the positive favor to vote the committee's recommendation. ) The vote on the study of the Belhar Confession made it through the positive vote, with no meaty discussion. I'll hope to give you more details when I can get back to this and it is not 1:10 am California time.

No Time Now

Hi again, I promised earlier today (Thursday) I would update the blog later tonight. Well , it is now later tonight. It is 1:12 a.m. in the night and I need to go to bed. We have to be back in the General Assembly at 8:30 a.m. We were in our meeting until after 11 pm. Getting back to the hotel, I had to spend time getting organized. Is that possible. I am not sure. Anyway, hopefully before I leave this fast connection, I can get some more neat stuff posted. j

real quick update to GA happenings

Hi everybody: I am going to have to catch you up later on some cool music that happened yesterday and this a.m. , but, for now, a couple of news bulletins for Presby church folks:
Name changes approved: General Assembly Council to General Assembly Mission Council, and Youth Advisory Delegates (YADs) name change to Young Adult Advisory Delegates (YAADs)
We dealt with the language in the Heidelberg Confession and approved the action of the committee.
all for now. I have 15 minutes to get back to our evening session. I did figure out that if I came over to the Hilton next door to the convention center, I can use their wireless Internet. Picture below is of a hand cut communion table cloth that we used in worship today. j.g.

two days of work in my committee

Monday and Tuesday, 6-23 and 6-24:

After being one of the overture advocates, asking the Social Issues committee to allow the entire General Assembly to view a documentary film on Living Waters of the World, a program to provide clean water to specific places where it is lacking, I went off to be a part of the committee I where I was assigned. Our group, Review of Permanent GA Committees, had the task to hear testimonies and review written documentation of two standing committees, and one commission of the General Assembly. After the presentations, we were divided into three sub-groups to evaluate the committees and commissions by the information given to us, and to write a summary report, with possible recommendations, that will be presented to the General Assembly. Below is a couple of pics of our group at work. Notice all the laptops. We were required to bring laptops with us, to use PC-Biz, an Intranet created for our work. PC-Biz use is to cut down on the amount of paper we might otherwise use.

Before our committee work began, we participated in a worship service that had a feel of Taize.

You may be wondering about the Scales of Justice as part of the worship set up on the stage of the Civic Auditorium. I realized that I have not shared that the Scripture for this 218th General Assembly is
Mic 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

On Tuesday morning, some of the folks who are from the Presbytery of East Tennessee got together at 7 am for breakfast.

In the picture, left to right, Ron Sabo, Charles Snodgrass, Carol Schlich, Carl Schlich (the new Interim Presby. Executive), me, Donna Hopstead, Paul Rader, and Sharon Carter. Jonathan Wiesehuegel, Bill Barron, and Harvey White were not present at the time for breakfast.

Wonderful Worship and the rest of the day

Sunday: This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! And, we certainly did this a.m.---Rejoice in Worship. I could not even begin to describe how wonderful the worship experience was this morning----the music and the choir especially. I can tell you that it was a worship service in two different venues at the same time. Most of the service was live in each venue--the same music, congregational singing, choir anthems, and liturgy. The sermon given by the outgoing Moderator, Joan S. Gray, was delivered by a satellite link to one venue, and live in the other. The same was for the benediction and charge given by the new Moderator. There were 400 chalices and 100 plates used for communion that had been handcrafted by one potter for this service.


I have extra worship service booklets that I will share with different folks after I get back to Clinton.

After worship, I met my friend of 47 years, Rev. Herb Valentine. We went and had lunch in an outdoor restaurant with a couple of his friends, then did some of the exhibits. At 4:45 I was back in our General Assembly meetings listening to folks who were placing in nomination folks who are wishing to be elected as the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly.

After those presentations, we all viewed a film concerning our relationships and courtesies with folks who have a disability. It was presented in a "Ten Commandments" format with humor. It would be a good video for a church group to present---like a Sunday Evening Supper Club at FPCOR.

After a group supper, we all went to our first session of our assigned committees. We did an interesting ice-breaker where we had to line up according to our month and day date of our birthdays--without speaking aloud to one another. We discovered one of our folks had a birthday today. So a rousing addition of Happy Birthday broke out.

all for now, I have "homework" for tomorrow. judy g

first day business and Bruce Reyes-Chow elected Moderator of the 218th General Assembly

Our first day of official business at the 218th General Assembly began with a short worship service, followed by reports and presentations by various established offices within the denomination. I also hit the exhibits as much as I could. Learned lots.

Tonight, our primary focus was to elect a new moderator to serve for the next two years. After two ballots, Bruce Reyes-Chow received 55% of the total vote, with 3 other candidates. Rev. Reyes-Chow is a part of the Presbytery of San Franciso. He is the founding pastor of the Mission Bay Community Church. During the question and answer period to the commissioner, I was impressed by his "cutting to the chase" in his answers.

However, he was not my first choice, but my second of the four candidates. I was inspired by the work of another candidate, Carl Mazza, from the New Castle Presbytery. Rev. Mazza is the Director of Meeting Ground. Meeting Ground offers friendship, worship, Bible study, and prayer, emergency meals and transitional housing.

Here is a photo clip I of Rev. Reyes-Chow and myself. I have a short video clip of Rev. Reyes-Chow as he was being installed as Moderator.

All for now. Worship is at 10 am in the morning in two different venues at the same time ??

AFTER 3,442 FUN MILES......

....I am here. I made it into San Jose proper about 4pm this afternoon (Friday, June 20) checked in to the hotel, brought stuff in, set up the computer, made some phone calls, and went off to my first meeting. The meeting was an orientation for folks who are overture advocates----those speaking in favor of an overature (read like : speaking in favor / support of a motion before a committee).

Thursday night, I parked my van in the parking lot of a cute little Presbyterian church in a pretty little town, Gonzalas, CA.. I went to do some laundry. I happened to see their small library in a shopping center, right across the parking lot from a Dairy Queen. How better can that be!!!

Going into the library, just to "check it out," to my delight I saw an ALA READ Poster hanging---the one with Danica Patrick!

Before I left that area, I took a side trip to the Pinnacles National Monument. It has natural rock formation that apparently is a favorite for rock climbers. I didn't get to see much up on the top except some pretty visitas of the farmland and vineyards in the area.

Stopping in Salinas, CA for a late lunch, I discovered the Black Bear Restaurant. Trust me, it was an experience. The "sides" were a portion that filled a good size soup bowl. An a "piece of pie" was a soup bowl size of cobbler. A "bear claw" was the size of a real bear's claw!!

Some first few pics I have taken in San Jose. All for now, judy

getting my kicks on Route 66

Good morning: It is actually Thursday morning, but I am catching up. Again, my use of the Internet has been hit and miss. It will get better when I get to stay in San Jose for the week.

On Tuesday, 6-17, in Kingman, I found a very interesting Route 66 museum in a restored building that had been a power house for the area. After eating lunch/supper at Mr. D’s 50’s style café, I headed out toward Needles, CA by the original route of Route 66 over the Black Mountains and Oatman, CA. Driving the Black Mountains and its hairpin turns was not much different than driving TN 61 between Maynardville and Luttrell; or driving up the mountain to Clairfield, TN. Oatman was a short-lived gold rush town, and still has that look, complete with wild burros.


After arriving at Needles, and seeing my first $5.19 sign for regular gas, I went onto the Interstate and stopped for the night at a small, real truck stop in Ludlow, California.

Yesterday, Wednesday, 6-18, I had the absolutely wonderful morning backtracking on Route 66 to Amboy, CA. Amboy, CA is the home of Roy’s Motel and Café, one of the real places left on Route 66 used as a bases for Flo’s Café in the movie, CARS.
I met “Amboy Jack,” a gentleman who works for Albert Okura, the owner of Amboy, CA. Mr. Okura bought the whole town of Amboy a few years ago, and promised the former postmistress that he would restore the town. Across the street, at the Amboy Post office, I met Joan Fuentes. She wanted to know all about Dollywood, and wants to come someday. I hope she does.

From Amboy, I came back to Ludlow, had lunch at the Ludlow Café Coffee shop and went again on Route 66 that literally is beside I-40 for a good part of the route. Stopping at the Bagdad Café close to Newberry Springs was an ice tea and potty break. But, there I met two gentleman from France to do Route 66 (and could afford it, because the dollar exchange is low). The Bagdad Café was originally the Sidewinder Café, but changed its name after it was used as the setting for a movie entitled “Bagdad Café.” Café.”

Arriving at Barstow, CA I found a Juan Pollo restaurant that is owned by Albert Okura. Juan Pollo is a chain of restaurants that features roasted chicken and the side fixings.
At Barstow, I had to turn from Route 66 and head toward Bakersfield. So, Bakersfield is where I am sending this post to my blog.

Well, today, Thursday, from Bakersfield, I will be heading up California Highway 101 toward San Jose. According to my Rand McNally’s it is 244 miles between the two cities. I will need to stop somewhere close enough to San Jose tonight to complete the journey tomorrow. I can’t check into the Wyndham Hotel until after 3pm tomorrow, so I anticipate these two days being a relaxing drive.

Thanks for letting my share my Route 66 journey with you.

Experiencing the power of God's Creation

Good morning greetings from Flagstaff, Arizona.

Yesterday, after attending a small Presby church in Winslow, Arizona, I had the opportunity to experience and be reminded of God's great handiwork of the heavens. I first went to the Meteor Crater just southwest of Winslow. Then, last night here in Flagstaff, I had the opportunity to visit the Lowell Observatory. We had the opportunity to look at the planet Saturn, with three of its moons, our own moon in the bright sky last night, and some star clusters through a variety of telescopes.

On the facility was a building built as a library for Percival Lowell. His personal collection of books, writings, drawings of the Heavens are all still there and being preserved. It serves now as a museum of original writings, and older telescopes.

It was an awesome experience. I don't know how else to describe it.

some pics:


This observatory building is the one used where a student of Percival Lowell first saw Pluto on a photographic plate attached to a telescope. This is on of three actual observatories open to the public to see. In the bottom picture, is one of the older telescopes used that is now housed in the library building of Percival Lowell. Notice the balcony holding bookcases of books. The building and this room is circular.


Leaving Flagstaff, I am on the way to Kingman, Arizonia, then off the Interstate to do a good portion of the original Route 66 between Kingman and Needles, California. If there is time today, a side detour of the Boulder Dam. Well at 2,330 miles from Clinton and counting. all for now, judy

Four Corners of the U.S.

Hello from Flagstaff, Arizona: First of all , if you already read my last blog (which I did late at night) you may have caught my "dessert" for "Painted Desert." Thanks Marilyn for catching my mistake. And, of course, spelling checker did not help in that case!!!

I didn't include some pictures of my trip to the "Four Corners" monument---the only place in the U.S. where four states come together: Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. The monument is within the Navajo Indian Nation. It was early evening when I arrived, so the sun was low in the west which made the shadows long. "Four Corners" is about 120 miles north of Gallup, N.M. I will share a couple of pictures here: Seeing these pictures, some may say "well, it doesn't take much to entertain her," but putting my feet in four states at once does something for me. It was well worth the 240 mile detour off of I-40!!

backwards to Abilene, TX and Rosemary Sluder

Hello everyone: Today, (Saturday) I left Gallup, N.M. and headed over to the Petrified Forrest and the Painted Desert. Totally awesome scenery. More about that later. I may have said this already to some, but a couple of days ago, I found out by email that I will be a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the PC(USA) instead of an Alternate Delegate. So, I am in for more than I bargained for, but I am excited and looking forward to the experience. I will be filling in for Dr. Michael Gant of Knoxville who will be unable to attend.

Let me catch you up with my visit in Abilene, Texas, including my visit with former member of the FPC of Oak Ridge, Rosemary Sluder. My friends, Mark and Barb Tucker were able to go with me to San Angelo, TX where Rosemary Sluder has lived the last 16 years. All of us had the best time, including participating in a worship/communion service at Rosemary's current church, St. Paul Presbyterian (USA) there in San Angelo. Rosemary is living at a very nice assisted living complex. She really likes it there. All four of us were able to have dinner with Rosemary's brother, Bill. Bill has been a character actor in movies and televisions series. After dinner, Rosemary took us on a tour of the Water Lilly Ponds that San Angelo is famous for.



My friend, Mark , is the Library Director at Abilene Christian University. That university is one of the universities of the Church of Christ. On the campus, is a wonderful sculpture entitled Jacob's Dream. It was designed by one of the university professors. Thomas and his son Alexander Campbell were early church leaders of that denomination (as well as the Disciples of Christ). The library holds a 200 year old pulpit used by Thomas Campbell. I am including some pics here. I am going to quit on this post now. I am at a McDonalds and I keep losing the connection. How I long for a DSL line now. I should be thankful however. I am using it free of charge here. more about the Painted Desert later. Maybe tomorrow will be a better time with WiFi.

While in Abilene, Mark, Barb, and I experience traveling mercies. While sitting at a stoplight near their home, Barb's car was hit by another car with its airbags already deployed. That is the first time I have ever seen actual air bags expanded. Occupants of the two other cars were not hurt, and not even angery or nervous, which might be normally expected.

all for now, (edited on Monday, 6-16)

catching up in Albuquerque

hi gang: well, I am at a Flying J Travel Center here in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Today, I am going to visit the Unser Family Museum, and then take a side trip to the "Four Corners" of the United States (where Utah, Colorado, Arizonia and New Mexico meet) .

Yesterday, as I was checking email, I found that instead of being an alternate delegate to the General Assembly, I will be a Commissioner. One of the Presbytery of East Tennessee Commissioners will not be able to attend, but I will be dissappointed that Dr. Michael Gant from Knoxville will not be with us.

On another post, I am going to catch you up on my visits in Abilene, including a picture of Rosemary Sluder and info about our visit with her in San Angelo.

Well, this connection is wayyyyy toooo slooww to upload images. So, I will wait until I can get a faster connection. Hopefully this evening. But we had a great visit with Rosemary, including a visit to her church, St. Paul Presbyterian Church. We met her co-pastors, one of which is attending the GA. And, I had a great visit in Abilene with my awesome friends, Mark and Barb Tucker. The visit included a tour of the campus and library of Abilene Christian University. Mark is the library director there. I want in another post to send a couple of pics of a very cool sculpture entilted "Jacob's Dream" that is on that campus.

Windmills in Texas

"Abilene, Abilene, prettiest town I've ever seen...." (Grand Ole Opry's George Hamilton IV 's song). I made it to Abilene from the Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday evening, to land at the home of some very cool Christian friends of mine--Mark and Barb Tucker.

For those of you who are use to seeing the windmills from the Walmart parking lot in Oak Ridge, I thought you would like to see a couple of pics of Windmills up close. These are in Albany, Texas (25 miles northeast of Abilene). Barbara and I traveled over to that part of Texas this afternoon, and saw windmills up close and personal. No restricted, roped-off space around them.

I will be here in Abilene until Thursday.

opportunity to share our faith

This morning at the Loves Travel Center in Van, Texas, I met some college age folks who are a part of TeenMania ( a Youth for Christ-like group). The group was doing a car wash for their organization and mission. It was too good of an opportunity to miss to be able to have my Big Purple Van washed in Van, Texas!! I had an opportunity to share with them my mission to be attending the General Assembly and what the Presbyterian Church does. We all had prayer together, and a picture opportunity was not to be missed.

from Diamond Jacks casino in Shreveport, LA

It's Friday evening: No, I am not playing the slots!! I am using the Diamond Jacks hotel lobby's wireless Internet. I am taking a break before crossing into Texas. Had a great visit with Kay and Dr. Mounger last evening and this a.m. Before I left, we went over to his church and took a couple of pics.

This is the church Dr. M. is serving. He is planning on being at General Assembly as well. He hurt his foot the other day, so he has to get "medical clearance" from Kay, never mind the doctor!

On to the Texas Motor Speedway for tomorrow night's (Saturday) Indy Racing League race (same guys, and Danica who race at Indianapolis). I may not be able to post again until after I leave the race track on Sunday morning going toward Abilene. We'll see. Peace and Prayers, Judy G.