Remove the  sandals from your feet as this is holy ground
God told Moses to remove the sandals from his feet as this is holy ground.
At the Feast @ 5 September 3, 2017 service  at St. John’s in Aptos,  Mother Tracy  discussed various physical ways  that people world wide — and through different religions — connect with God.
One way is through removing shoes before entering ‘holy ground’ .  Another way is by raising hands  high to praise  God.
The Feast @5 service is geared for families and  includes everyone.  After the service, there is a pot-luck.  The Feast@5  is held the FIRST Sunday of each month  at The Episcopal Church of St. John,  125 Cantebury Drive, Aptos, CA  95003.  Call 831 708-2278 for information.
  Mother Tracy spoke:   “The Celtic people speak of “thin places,†places where the distance between heaven and earth seems to disappear and the two worlds are able to touch one another.
“The church teaches that the Eucharist and the other Sacraments are some of those thin places where, however briefly, we can touch heaven, but the church’s sacraments are by no means the only means by which we can touch heaven. Â
“I’m sure that each of you could name other “thin places†in your lives where you feel the presence of God is particularly near to you. Â
“And so as we commend Geoff to God, I pray that each of you would know the comfort of touching those thin places – places where you may be still and rest in God’s presence, where you may even feel Geoff’s presence with you.Â
“And in touching those places, may you know in the depth of your souls the truth of the Gospel: Â Â that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Â
The above is a portion of  the  sermon given recently  by Mother Tracy at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church  in Aptos celebrating the life of Geoff  Nickel, son of Suzanne Krakover-Nickel.  About  200 people from the Aptos and Santa Cruz CA community attended the  memorial service for Geoff.
There are  some striking differences as to what ‘yolked’ with Jesus means for people in the pews.
“For my yolk is easy and my burden light….”  So — what makes our burdens light  — or lighter?
Listen  to these two  pastors and consider  what makes your  burdens light — when you are yoked together with Jesus Christ, who heals you. Lots of things similar and some striking differences.  What works for you?  For more information about Aptos Churches visit  www.AptosChurch.info
AptosCommunityGarden.info on Twitter has some  pictures for the Garden.
Like to say ‘hello’?  Maybe share produce  with  fellow gardeners at Aptos Community Garden in Aptos, CA?
That’s easy!
To facilitate ‘saying hello’,  see below list.  You know your plot number, so just look for numbers around you in the garden  &  that way you can easily get acquainted with fellow gardeners.  Saying ‘hello’ is a nice part of gardening together.
 Each plot number and name of person renting the plot are listed below.
Names of persons & Â plot numbers at Aptos Community Garden, July 3, 2017: Â Â
Chuc Nowark                    3
Laurie Nowark          3
Cameron Jackson            6
Samantha Olden        7
Samantha Olden             8
Alejandro Callejas           9
Grace Baillie            11         Â
Jane Amaral                      12
Wandis Wilcox                 13
JoAnn Christiansen        14
Mardee McGraw        16
Elizabeth Renfro              18
Lisa Logsdon                      19
John Lovett                       20
Sandy Lovett                     20
Adriana Bartch                21
John Bartch                       21
Norma Spiegel                22
Jackie Nelson                    23
John Nelson                      23
Jackie Nelson                    25
John Nelson                      25
Neil Kennedy                    26
MaryJo Voorhees           27
Doreen Albertson           28
Neil Kennedy                    29
Dana Abbott                    31
Debby Samuels                32
Janine Kittleson         33
John Lovett                       34
Sandy Lovett                     34
Roberta Ruiz                     35
Daryl Wise                          36
Sumer  Yarema               37
Tom Yarema                     37
Donna Kaelin                    39
Lindsay Rosalba               40
Joseph Stearns                41
Joseph Stearns          42
Lucas Willey                       43
Sally Willey                         43
Gina Mersman                 44
Gina Mersman                 45
John Wescoat                   46
John Wescoat                   48
Verginia Voinea         49
Lisa Dupont                       50
Erin McNeally                  51
Michael Schalow             52
Julie Lolmaugh                53
Karen Juarez                     54
Michelle Lloyd          55
Sian St. Laurent 55
Nathaniel Ritchie             56
Juanita Contin                  58
Max Contin                        58
George Winslow             62
Terrie Winslow         62
Andela Milligan              63
Kasey Milligan                 63
Gina Mersman                 71
Gina Mersman                 73
Aptos Community Garden  — as of June,  2017  — has some  plots available.  Plot No.  10,  12,  24,  46 and 57 are still available.  Come see if one of the available  plots interests you.
Like to garden? The organic way?   Live in Aptos  or  near by areas?
Come rent a garden plot and join us!  Find us on Facebook and Twitter. Â
 Aptos Community Garden  — as of June 2017  — has some  plots available
Plot No. Â 10, Â 12, Â 24, Â 46 and 57 are still available.
Come see if one of the available  plots interests you.
Directions: Â Â Take Highway #1 and go to the Freedom exit. Â Or travel down Soquel Ave. all the way to the end. The very end. Â Â The Garden is located just past the California Highway Patrol office near the Freedom exit off Highway # 1.
Take a look around. Â Pick up an application. And call 831 688-5757 extension 2 and leave a message.
Organic gardening means no chemicals …. Â And that means some critters like to come and eat our stuff ….
 Know someone who can  control gophers & rabbits — those little critters  which love eating in our Garden.  Perhaps you know a retired person with outdoor skills? Or someone willing to learn how to trap them?  Perhaps this person  might like a garden plot in exchange for some gopher control?   Call 831 688-5727 extension 2 and leave a message.                     Â
 Aptos Community Garden is sponsored by Christ Lutheran Church in Aptos, CA http://www.AptosChurch.org  Â
 COME! ALL  WELCOME!  Sunday,  May 7, NOON – 2 pm
Aptos Community Garden is now CLEAN and READY to welcome YOU!
All gardeners and public welcome! Raffle! Â Food!
Come say hello! Some members and Pastor Dale below:Â
Come  Sunday,  May 7,  NOON – 2 pm, Aptos Community Garden located off Highway 1 and Freedom Blvd.  10707 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003
There’s still a few choice garden plots not taken.  Come see! Info is available near the main gate of the Garden.  Call 831 688 5727 extension 2 and leave a message.
St. John’s episcopal church in Chula Vista CA just sent 11 pounds of pill bottles to Matthew 25 Ministries.  The church  started their collection of pill bottles about 2 months ago.  Ted Owens is the contact person there:  Ted.Owens@yahoo.com
During evening prayers on Friday  3/17/17  at St. John’s in Aptos, CA —  hear about another dynamic duo:  St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.
John of the Cross was asked by Teresa of Avila to follow her — which he did.  Both  Teresa and  John  were 16th century Catholic  mystics living in Spain.
St. Teresa of Avila was a writer, reformer and mystic who started the Carmelite order.
St. John of the Cross, famous for Spiritual Canticle, wrote Dark Night of the Soul while he was locked in a 6′ by 10′ cell. Both of these  were written in Spanish.  At that time,  the Bible was only available in Latin.
St. John of the Cross made a drawing of Christ from above was  later was the basis of Dali’s famous painting.
At age 43, Teresa of Avila started her first convent  and later  several other convents for women. She created a rule for how the women  were to live, committed to a simple life of poverty based on love.
“The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything.†(1)
John of the Cross created a similar way of life in  living together  for men.  John of the Cross  served as Teresa’s spiritual director and confessor.
