Pilgrim in the Southwest

Christian Century, June 21, 2000 by Talitha Arnold

For both Fiesta Sunday and All Saints Day, we use santos (painted wood panels of saints) and bultos (carved wooden statues of saints) on the altar. These paintings and statues remind us that there is more than one way of being Christian and that God's people come in all colors.

Several years ago, we built an outdoor celebration circle in the shape of a pueblo kiva where we begin the Easter sunrise services and also celebrate baptisms, evening vespers and an interfaith Earth Day celebration. On the altar, we often use Navajo or Hopi baskets and weavings made of native materials, along with a cholla cactus cross, in place of traditional floral arrangements.

As we newcomers learn about life and faith in this land, we receive some amazing blessings. Our administrative assistant is a Navajo woman who grew up on the reservation and whose mother worked at the Episcopal mission in Fort Defiance. This past Thanksgiving, she offered a Navajo blessing as the invocation for the Sunday service. Before she did it, she stood at the mike and looked out at the white and Hispanic faces of the congregation, and remarked, "Welcome, all you pilgrims!"

The people looked startled for a second, then they cheered, laughed and clapped. It felt like being welcomed home.

Talitha Arnold is pastor of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC).