A World of Worship

Yesterday morning I joined in the worship at the First Chinese Baptist Church on the hill in Chinatown, San Francisco. Sitting in the historic brick building we sang "In Christ alone my hope is found." --words so true for me. It is dear that we can find believers we scarcely know, and join in worship of the same savior. So on the ride home that afternoon straight down the 5 to So Cal, I had time to remember worship in other places with other believers.

The year we lived in Costa Rica, each Sunday morning Larry and I would carry two small boys on to the crowded bus for a 45 minute ride south, then walk a kilometer into the village of San Lorenzo. The worship in the tin roofed church there was loud if not harmonious-- but always heartfelt. That was where Larry used his fledgling Spanish to teach the high school kids. And every Tuesday I followed behind Dona Esperanza delivering packets of food to families without.

Easter morning 2008 found Larry, Ani, Laurel and I sitting in the worship service at Redeemer Presbyterian--in the east side of Manhattan. I was heartened to see an auditorium brimming with bright, young, thoughtful people. Tim Keller talked to believers and skeptics alike about the power of the resurrection. And the classical pieces and grand hymns led by the well trained orchestra were an magnificently moving This church couldn't have been more removed from our small Costa Rican congregation-- but the spirit was the same.

In Deyang, China this summer, I sat side by side in the narrow pews, with tiny, gray haired the ladies. They passed their hymn books down the row to include us in the singing. So we would mumble along as best we could to the Chinese hymns, but were able to join in wholeheartedly now and then when "Allelujah" was part of the lyric! It was so precious to sit among these believers in a place where so few people know God. After the service, the ladies gathered around me. One took my hands and started to talk. After a few moments, she realized I didn't understand a word-- and we all had a good laugh together.

One Sunday in a small church south of Paris, Larry preached the sermon while a friend translated it into French. I loved that we sang "Holy, Holy, Holy" even though the language was not mine. We had song that same Spanish song in our church in Seville, and I grew up singing it in California. Perhaps in heaven, people of all countries will sing that "Holy, Holy, Holy" before the One who is holy!

People say that you worship "best" in your own heart language--the one you grew up speaking. But some of the most glorious worship for me has been in the church in Utrera, Spain-- the thumping & strumming of the guitar, the staccato claps to choruses with Andalucian melodies lift my soul to God. I'm hoping that when we get to heaven Jose Maria will be leading the "Coro de Utrera" for all of us to join along.

One last stop. Sitting in the sanctuary at grand All Souls Church in London seems a little taste of heaven. The light streams in through golden stained windows and brightens the gold marble columns and white walls. The magnificent organ plays from the back balcony and hymns are sung. But the thing that reminded me of heaven, is that the pews were filled with people from nations all over the world. We Americans, visiting from Spain, were behind a group from Guatemala. One day we all will worship together before our Lord in all these glorious ways with people of every nation!! Praise be to God.

Boeuf Bourguignon

OK, have you seen the new Julie & Julia movie? Read the book? I have a history with that book! I started it 2 years ago. About a third of the way through, I grew weary of spending time with the caustic Julie Powell. But I recently gave it another go after seeing the movie-- featuring an ebullient Meryl Streep endearing you even more to Julia Child and a Julie Powell minus the profanity and seflish ambition. A charming movie, inspirational, actually!... I came home and googled "Julia Child's boeuf bourguignon." No less than 15 sites popped up, offering her recipe. So armed with her step by step instructions I was off, with delectable results... I'll give you my simplified version here.

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON ala Julia Child (more or less)

6 slices of bacon
1 tab. olive oil
3 pounds of stew meat
1 carrot
1 onion peeled and sliced
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 tab flour
3 cups red wine
3 cups beef stock
1 tab tomato paste
2 finely chopped garlic cloves
1/2 tsp dry tarragon
1 bay leaf
1 pound mushrooms, quartered
2 tab butter
1tab olive oil

Cut the bacon into small bit and cook in a dutch oven. Remove cooked bacon, but leave bacon fat in the pan. Add 1 tab. oil. Cook the beef in batches in the fat to brown all sides. Remove from pan. Brown carrots and onion in pan. Remove from pan. Pour off the extra fat from the pan. Then return the beef, carrots and onion to the pan. Stir in the salt, pepper and flour. Put in a 425 degree oven for 4 minutes. Remove and stir and return to hot oven for 4 more minutes. Then add wine, beef stock, tomato paste, garlic, thyme and bay leaf. Return to a 325 degree oven to simmer until beef is tender (3 to 4 hours).
Meanwhile saute the mushrooms in the butter and oil. Add them the last few minutes of cooking to the pot.

She suggests serving the stew over rice or egg noodles.

Now-- I did it a bit differently. Added more carrots (perfect in the rich sauce!) and I used sirloin (on a big sale this week) so it cooked only 2 hours. And I simmered it on the stove top so it was easier to monitor. I served it with noodles, but they seemed a bit extraneous. Next time I'll let the big loaf of La Brea Bakery bread serve the starch position in the meal.

Delectable the first time and also as lunchtime leftovers. And as pretty as when Julie pulled the pot out of the oven in the movie! Give it a try...

And in fairness to Julie Powell, parts of the book were lovely, especially her closing chapter on the joy elicited from her year with Julia Child and her ability to resist ending the book by writing "Bon Apetit!"

Ani and Brian's Wedding

I think it's sort of silly when women say that they've been dreaming about their daughter's wedding since she was a little girl. But I have to admit I've been giving weddings a lot (and I mean a lot!) of thought since we recently found that Ani and Brian will be getting married in February! There's a lot of joy in seeing my sister stitch up Ani's wedding dress, watching Ani and Brian design her ring, planning a wonderful meal to serve so many people we love who will celebrate with us. But the dearest part of it all is imagining the vows that will be spoken in that old brick church, the commitments that will be made on that day, the new home Ani and Brian will form together. I'm so very thankful for the joy that is ahead for them. God is good.

Deyang Summer

I've been home from China now for a few weeks, but it's not left my thoughts for even a day. How can I tell you about this most memorable summer? We set off to a different place and seemingly a different time, Mel, Jason, Jeremiah, Miranda and I. We settled into our bare rooms and made them home. The connections with our classes full of Chinese teachers was immediate--and then we began collecting memories. The surprise of finding a turtle in our soup! The crazy enthusiasm for the bunny hop with our students. The days of endless dialogues and endearing one on one conversations. Of course, several encounters with Sichuan hot pot! There was the late evening conversation with Shichao as she told me the tale of her terrible loss in last years earthquake-- followed by a tearful visit with her and our team to the earthquake ruins in Wen Chuan. I'll remember the sweet chance to give little Anna her English name (after our Ani--"grace") and her bright fish painting for me in return. The wild gobbles as we acted out the Thanksgiving skit or the worshipful candlelit version of "Silent Night" we all sang together. The warm smiles of our dorm family-- and their washing machine instruction! The afternoon we seemed to go back in time strolling through the park in Mian Zhu and sitting in the tea house over cups of green tea. And evening of delectable street food with Rui-rui and the card games & green tea with her by the river on hot summer nights. I'll continue to be grateful for her care on our trips to the eye clinic through my frightening eye infection. Sunday worship in the crowded Deyang church, shoulder to shoulder with the dear tiny ladies sharing their hymnals... and the Sunday Rui rui joined us there. The cafeteria lunches with students, picking over spicy food. Morning ping pong with Ceicil and friends. Afternoons meeting with our team--sharing stories, reading scripture, praying toether... And the Closing Ceremony followed by unexpectedly tearful hugs and tender good-byes as our teachers left on their way home to towns all around. Unforgettable.