Author Archive for SJFUMC Webmaster – Page 3

Thanksgiving / El Día de Acción de Gracias

Thanksgiving is one of the holidays in North American culture that I like the most, because it is a celebration of gratitude to God for what was received during the year. Or as they say, it is the harvest of what is sown.

I am not going to write about the history of this tradition; you know it well, because it is yours. I will write about how we Hispanics live it in this great country. For me it is very satisfying to hear that people share with those who do not have what is needed: the pumpkin pie, the corn bread, the champagne, and above all, the baked stuffed turkey. The whole family gets together. Members travel from different states to be present that day with their loved ones, and everyone prays and gives thanks to God.

Painting of the first Thanksgiving meal

Hispanics/Latinos are embracing this celebration with great respect as God is present in united families. Some Mexicans do not know how to cook the traditional delicacies, so we use our own recipes and cook foods such as pozole and tamales, and our beverages are punch and tequila. We do not try to change the traditions, but because we don’t know how to cook turkey in the oven, it turns out very hard and dry. So, in order not to fail, we eat our own dishes. The important thing about this date is not the food, but rather being together, and, united as a family, giving thanks to God for what we have received from the fruits of our labors.

The pandemic has changed our lives. For everyone’s safety many families will not meet this year, so that the virus does not spread further. We want to be healthy and alive for next year. So, traditions will be set aside. I know that many will call their families by phone or video to greet each other or visit during virtual dinners. It is sad, but we should not be discouraged; instead we should thank God that we are alive. We can be heartened by sharing with those around us.

This year I want to thank the members of First Church and the Methodist women for their donations, making it possible for the families in El Maguey to have food on their tables in these difficult times. For them it is a blessing and also for you, since they are doing what God likes: helping and loving our neighbors as ourselves. On Friday November 13th in El Maguey, Cristo Vive distributed 120 grocery bags for families in need. It is a blessing and a reason to thank God and you.

This coming Thanksgiving Day I recommend that you do not stop celebrating, either alone or in company. You have to thank our Lord Jesus Christ for His love, protection and blessings.

Today we celebrate that God is good and always will be. We thank God for being our Heavenly Father, He has provided bread in the home and has given strength to each one in the family to continue achieving dreams. Thank God for being the light in the midst of the darkness of hardships. In difficult moments He has been our comfort. Thank God for his blessings and for the happiness He brings to our hearts.

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

Happy Thanksgiving Day!
Pastor Gerardo Vázquez-Padilla

All Saints Day / Day of the Dead

In many countries like in the United States we celebrate All Saints’ Day. Many Mexicans celebrate All Saints Day and El Día de Los Muertos. For many it sounds scary, because some literal Christian churches think that we are celebrating death and not life. This misunderstanding is unfortunate, but over the years that belief has grown. In my opinion it is important that other cultures know more about our tradition, since we celebrate the lives of those who left before us.

Mexicans especially celebrate that day by painting their faces with skulls, dressing in black, and participating in many types of activities. For example, in Mexico City people prepare for a parade by creating floats with large altars full of orange flowers. That special flower is called Cempasúchil, which is Marigold in English. Altars are set up in town squares and in houses, where photos of deceased loved ones are placed, along with flowers, candles, and favorite foods of the deceased. Of course the deceased are not expected to come to eat it, so only a little of that food is placed on altars. Some families, like mine, eat that special dish that day and go to cemeteries to decorate the graves with flowers to honor their loved ones. This tradition is carried out across many borders.

There are many families in the United States who are undocumented or who do not have money to travel to their places of origin. Many of them do not make altars in their houses or apartments because there is no space, since they share living quarters with other families. This special day becomes very sad for them. So, understanding the sentiment and tradition of Latinos and Mexicans, on November 2nd in 2016 our church opened its doors to our neighbors to come in and build their altars. This provided a space to celebrate that day of mourning so important and cultural for us Latinos.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has taken away many things from us, and this year Latinos will not be able to celebrate in the traditional way. They can’t even send money to Mexico to buy flowers to decorate graves, since the cemeteries are closed for everyone’s safety. The restrictive conditions are very sad for me, too.

Day of the Dead altar during virtual gathering

On Tuesday November 3rd of this year it will be different, since our celebration will be conducted virtually. I am inviting people who visit my FaceBook page to write the names of their relatives in the comments section. I will sound a bell after each name, and I will play praise hymns and traditional Mexican music to help us celebrate together. The usual attendees are from various countries such as Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Our Hispanic group has relatives in these countries, and our ministry has already extended to their place of origin. From their homes we all connect via FaceBook in love and unity in Jesus Christ .

Each time I complete the transmission of my service and message, I make the production available for people to watch later. These videos have been viewed 1200 or more times; however, in the last month that number has decreased by 60%. I think this is because some people have already returned to work or are looking for work. Also, many do not have access to the internet. These people remain in our prayers. The most beautiful thing about all this is that communities come together in these difficult times as brothers and sisters and children of God.

Now I want to share news from the communities of El Maguey and Atotonilco. The state of Jalisco is already on red alert again, since there are more people every day infected with coronavirus. In the cemeteries of Atotonilco, according to what I have been told, they take two to three bodies to be buried every day. One of the main problems is that there are no tests to detect the virus, and there are no hospitals in the area. Also, there is no medicine nor caregivers available, so the state government has closed all activities again.

In these difficult times let us pray for the people of El Maguey and Atotonilco and for our little sister church Cristo Vive. Thanks to your donations this week, Juan Carlos, the lay minister of the church of Cristo Vive, distributed bags with food to 65 families. Thanks to God and to you for your generosity. Cristo Vive is a small light in the middle of the mountains that supports the neediest families in the area.

I also want to share news of the local Hispanic ministry. At this time none of our members is infected with the virus. Some people are already working part-time and have full-time jobs. Since they cannot stop working, they are taking precautions not to contract this contagious disease; however, like all of us, they continue to run the risk. These two Latino congregations are merging as they are connected most nights and on Sundays during the service on FaceBook. We all pray for San Jose First and its multiple communities.

I am going to share with you a poem by an unknown author:
“I have not died. I only left earlier and I don’t want to be remembered with tears as one who has no hope. I have not died; although my body is gone, my presence will always be felt. I will be the silence of our home that we shared so much, I will be the breeze that kisses their faces, I will be a sweet memory that attends their memory, I will be a beautiful page of their history. Sorry everyone, I only took one of the previous trains and I forgot to tell you … I haven’t died, I just left earlier.”

Pastor Gerardo Vazquez-Padilla
Blessings

Being a Pastor During a Pandemic

When I felt my calling to become a pastor, I knew that I would be available to the Lord 24/7, but I never thought that a pandemic would happen during my time as a pastor.

I was very concerned about my congregation, and I was afraid that the Latinos would disperse. But that did not happen. We united more, as we were in contact every day through my pastoral message on FaceBook.

It never occurred to me that this pandemic would last so long, keeping me from being in contact with all of you. I know that Rev. Jeffrey is taking care of the English-speaking congregation, and that gives me peace of mind. But I know that you want to know what happens with the Hispanics in San José and El Maguey, and I decided that it would be a good idea for me to inform you. I want you to know that you are also important to me, and that you are in my prayers every day. Latinos are also eager to return to the Church. They are in constant prayer for you and your families.

The Latinos in San José First Church are fine at the moment. I have not heard that anyone else has the virus, and the lady who had it is already fully recovered. Little by little some part-time employees are returning to their jobs, and they are surviving. They receive good quality food from the Open Pantry program. The youth of the church are more active at this time, since they participate as volunteers on the days of distribution.

Irma Navarro is very grateful for all your prayers for her and for Nancy who is in glory. We hope that when the doors of the Church open again, we may have the celebration service of Nancy’s life. All of you are invited to accompany Irma and her family. Please continue to pray for Irma, because she is very vulnerable and depressed about Nancy’s departure.

Mariel Cornejo, Horacio’s stepdaughter is passing through difficult times. Rev. Jeffrey and myself are keeping an eye on the family. Jennifer Hall is supporting Mariel with her company, friendship and prayers.

Children and mothers of families are very frustrated with online classes. Children do not want to be in front of a computer for so many hours. This causes a lot of stress for mothers, who call me requesting that I talk with their children. They want me to tell them to do their homework and sometimes even to urge them to take a bath, since they don’t even want to do that. The good thing about this is that the children pay attention to me, since in the Latin tradition they have to respect and listen to the pastor of the church.

From Pastor Gerardo

Because of your donations and those of the Methodist women’s group, this week 155 El Maguey families will be receiving bags of discounted foods from October 14th to 17th. To help them in these difficult times, Juan Carlos and Eduardo Anaya will be taking the groceries to the families’ homes. For the safety of all, people are not gathering outside of Cristo Vive. The virus arrived late in Atotonilco and El Maguey. There are people sick with the virus and others have already died due to lack of medical care.

The crisis in El Maguey and Atotonilco is affecting the most vulnerable—the elderly and the low-income families—in their health and also their economic status, since there is no work. Your help is of great value since Cristo Vive is an umbrella for people, where they can take refuge for help.

I feel that I am growing spiritually, since my faith is increasing. In these difficult moments a lot of faith, trust, and prayer are required, since there are many people who request my prayers and pastoral care.

Please keep my family in prayer, because my nephew, Pedro Vazquez, died today, Saturday, October 17th from the Covid 19 virus. Because the virus was detected so late, it was not possible for him to be effectively treated. This is often the case for many people who don’t realize they are infected until it’s too late. Because of this the rest of Pedro’s family plans to get tested, so they can determine whether or not they need treatment. They need to be very careful because most people cannot afford expensive medicine and hospitalization.

For the moment this is the information that I have for you, beloved congregation. I will be praying for all of you, so that God protects you while we continue to do good before God.

Pastor Gerardo Vazquez-Padilla
Blessings

What Happened to the Glasses?

He who is generous prospers;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25, NIV

On behalf of the CRISTO VIVE CHURCH I bring you the warmest thanks for the donations of your glasses. The recipients know that all of you kept them for some sentimental reason or to give them a better use. But we know that God’s plans are different from ours and those glasses had to reach a new owner who needed them. In Mexico–and especially in El Maguey–people have very low-incomes, and there is no way to purchase glasses. The frames are very expensive, and people prefer to buy food to eat.

People of El Maguey receive eye glasses donations

Adults over 40 years of age often begin to have problems with their vision. For example, they struggle to read the instructions on medicine bottles. Also, there are many children who do not have good vision, which results in difficulties learning at school. And there are some people who never know if they need glasses, since they have never had an eye exam.

Well, thanks to your generosity and solidarity, a suitcase full of glasses arrived for the community of El Maguey. Many children and adults have benefited by receiving them. I plan to share some photos so you can know what happened. You will enjoy seeing the happy face of a child who received his glasses. When he noticed the difference in his new view of the world, his face lit up! God has blessed you for your noble gesture.

Blessings
Pastor. Gerardo Vazquez-Padilla

Pastor Gerardo’s Message from El Maguey

Whoever is generous will be blessed,
for he shares his food with the poor.
Proverbs 22:9

May the blessings of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I am writing here to thank you for your help with the El Maguey community during these difficult times caused by the pandemic. In mid-June I approached Susan to ask if there were still funds from the last mission trip to El Maguey. When I heard funds were still available I then spoke at the next VLT meeting, to see if it was possible to send the remaining funds to El Maguey for the members of Cristo Vive. The response surprised me when the Methodist Women’s group raised their hands to offer help by giving $4000! In addition to this generous gift, the group, as well as members of the congregation, continue to donate.

Viewing photographs of the long lines of people outside my house waiting to receive a grocery bag, one can see that women, men, and their children have relied on this help. Seeing so many needy people made my heart begin to fret, and something told me that I had to go to El Maguey. My purpose was not only to deliver groceries, but to encourage the people and to pray for them. I felt that they needed to be fed spiritually, and I wanted to bring them the greetings of the Methodist women and the members of San José First Church and to show the generosity that is in their hearts. They needed to know that in the United States of America there are people who care about them. In spite of the warnings against traveling in times of a pandemic, I felt the responsibility to go to Mexico.

On August 19 of this year, Cristo Vive completed 13 years of service to the community. The leaders of Cristo Vive and I decided to make the biggest presentation to honor God for the anniversary. There was an attendance of more than 1,200 people including children, the elderly, and the disabled outside my house. That day we passed out 327 bags of groceries to families. We also provided salads, snacks and drinks to everybody. I was afraid we wouldn’t have enough food for so many people; however, as it turned out, we had plenty.

It was already 7:30 PM when I arrived at the front of the crowd to give my message and instructions. When I looked at the group of 300 children staring at me, my legs began to shake as they looked at me so intently. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit watching me doing what He himself planned for El Maguey. I want to tell you that the blessings that came out of your hearts for the people of El Maguey were multiplied by God. He multiplies them in return, since all the people benefited from the aid you provided. These families bless you for your noble gesture of love for your neighbor.

May God bless you,
Pastor Gerardo Vázquez