I am wowed too! You definitely have found a home for your Franciscan hearts. I celebrate with you as I too have found,unexpectedly, such a church home in "a sweet Methodist Church".

I'm just so touched and amazed by the church home we found here in Ithaca. Sunday night many of us gathered at one family's house to celebrate, welcome and help prepare: the community has been sponsoring the followup surgery required for a woman from Mali, who had advanced breast cancer and the church had flown here to have those surgeries done some 4 years ago now. The surgeons then indicated that she would need subsequent care, so again one of our congregation contacted her, found that she was unable to receive that treatment, and again the congregation contributed time, space, food, and the funds to fly her, her husband and two small children here, so she might have this second set of surgeries. She will have them today. Her name is Mariam. And I know she is surrounded by prayer. There is no question, I think, in any of the congregation's mind, that we are doing this for us, for the joy that she and her family bring to us, for the act of loving.

But what I wanted to share with you is this letter to our local paper from our church, explaining why the tiny church lawn has been sporting Occupy tents for the past cold month.

the full article is here:
www.theithacajournal.com/article/2012013...-ideas-mesh-church-s

And from it:
We cannot ignore our faith, and the conflict we see between what we believe to be fair and possible in this country and what is the reality on the ground.

As Christians, we believe we are all God's children. In this country, with such astounding wealth, no one should lack the dignity of a safe home and a fair wage. We also know that Jesus reserved his harshest rhetoric for those in power who ignored the plight of the needy.

These folks wow me!

I am also wowed by the statement very clear, very strong, very Christian. And I too give thanks for also finding a new wonderful church home in Florida. --Amazing, thank you G-d
Thank you!