Monday Meditation
Hi everyone
We arrived in San Miguel de Allende last Wednesday. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind of hospitality ever since. One of the congregation members, Keith, had prepared for us a tortilla soup and salad, left at the parsonage where Ron and Fred greeted us warmly at 10 PM. The next day another couple, Lorelei and Roger, took us for initial grocery shopping. The hospitality has been extraordinarily kind. We’ve walked the city some, discovering the central plaza at El Jardin and the famous Parroquia San Miguel de Archangel, a huge sanctuary begun in 1701 and completed in 1890, whose exterior which multiple towers is made in various shades of pink. It’s there in the plaza where people of all ages gather for socializing and music. It’s the very definition of community and conviviality. WAIT. Did I tell you that the Mexicans love their fireworks? They shoot off fireworks each day usually beginning at 5:30 AM until around 7 AM. It’s in celebration of particular saint of the day. We’re told that May has more saint days than any other month. So … early mornings!
We were received with enthusiasm on Sunday morning and the worship was well attended, at least for a Sunday in May. We’ve learned that May is the hottest month here, temperatures rising into the mid-90s, though the mornings and evenings are cool. Some folks travel north and return in late June. The worship service is available on YouTube, and I’m happy to send my sermons from there. (If you have interest let me know.) Here’s a little reflection on our few days here:
Mr Rogers once sang: Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? Your neighborhood? Your neighborhood?
Say, who the people in your neighborhood? The people that you meet each day?
The other day we met
Susan, the church member who lives nearby, and chairperson of the Council, who graciously took us to the church to “get acquainted with the space” before Sunday and filled us with stories of San Miguel and the founding of this congregation
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Marsha - the artist with bright red and green hair, who greeted as she walked by us walking home, inviting us to her home studio a few doors down. She calls it the Embassy. Marsha was carrying a bottle of wine in each hand and said in Spanish, “Si necesitas algo, házmelo saber. Estoy aquí mismo", then quickly translated “if you need anything, let me know. I’m right here.”
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Augustine, the owner of the cafe and coffee shop down the road. He greeted us with warm welcome. “Bienvenidos!” and invited us to come again, “since we are neighbors.”
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We almost walked by a sweet shop but I couldn’t resist the smiling young man offering samples of frozen yogurt. His name is Mark. He put his hand on his chest when I introduced myself and said “mucho gusto, Roy.”
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I’m looking forward to greeting these new friends in our neighborhood.
Who are the people in your neighborhood, the people that you meet each day?