Special to the Town Crier
After 20 years of service at the Los Altos United Methodist Church, John Dodson, 65, is retiring. The church has 2,500 members and the average Sunday attendance is 950 members. With such a large membership, Dodson learned to listen to people.
"The most important gift we can give each other is to listen to each other. Our shared stories are the vehicles of our healing," Dodson said. "When you and I tell our stories to each other, it puts the reality of value in each of us. Many people find their way to God through telling their stories."
Hallis Ayres has been on the staff of the United Methodist Church the past 12 years and has worked with Dodson closely.
"It's a bittersweet time for all of us. We are sad he is leaving, but it's that time in his career when he is looking to do something else in his life," Ayres said. "He's an incredible human- being. We had a retirement dinner for him and 900 people came to the Double Tree Inn in San Jose to honor him, and there wasn't a person in the room who did not have a personal connection with him."
Dodson grew up in Santa Cruz and Oakland and served in the ministry 42 years. He is excited about retirement because there is still so much to do, he said. Serving the Los Altos United Methodist was exciting and fulfilling for him, he said.
"I am taking with me a lot of love and support from the congregation. I received great and wonderful things here, and I have a lot of gratitude for my time here," Dodson said. "If there was anything I enjoyed, it was the opportunity to be an integral part of the community. I knew everybody who came to my dinner. They were all my friends."
Becky Snedigar, a parishioner the last nine years, went to the dinner. It was a time of celebration, appreciation and sadness. Numerous people spoke, including State representative Ted Lempert and Melvin Talbert, the bishop of California-Nevada Annual Conference of the Methodist Church.
"The invitation read from 5 to 8 p.m. but it wasn't over until after 10 p.m. because a lot of people wanted to pay tribute to John," Snedigar said. "In his caring warm-hearted way, he inspires people to do things. He has taken groups to Israel, he relishes in the church youth groups and in their successes. He touches people in various ways."
Kee Davenport, of Los Altos Hills, calls him a dear friend because of their deep friendship. "I went through three family deaths in the years I have known John, and he has always comforted me and consoled me. He was always there for me when I needed his encouragement," she said.
Dodson said listening to people, you realize they have heart. Heart is the combination of soul and personality that creates the unique people we are.
"People who have lost heart, need encouragement, attention and not so much in finding the answers, but to listen to the hopes, hurts, and fears a persons has," Dodson said. "I stand in awe at the amount of heart and care this congregation has," he said. "Our motto is 'the church that reaches out' - and we mean it. We started the Alpha Omega program here because of heart and the want to share"
Barbara Coyle, a parishioner and friend, said two years ago they gave John a party to celebrate his 40th year in the ministry.
"As people introduced themselves one thing stood out. It wasn't his spiritual life, it was his community life," Coyle said. "His role in medical ethics has been very influential in this community. John is open and truthful, and he can cut right to the issue with love and compassion."
The future is bright for Dodson. There are a lot of different things he might do in retirement. He has a lot of offers, but as yet, no calling.
"I hope to find a way to continue hands-on ministry," he said. "I'm looking to be an integral part of community action, but I don't know where that will be.
"If you aren't enjoying what you do, you are headed for the bone pile. Having fun is worship, life and celebration along the way. There are plenty of times when we cry, when we are hurt and when we are betrayed and disappointed. It's imperative we celebrate every time we can.
"I believe our life comes from God, and we go home to God, but we have to have fun along the way," Dodson said. "Don't be afraid to live!"
Toward the end of Dodson's retirement dinner he took over and directed the last moments of the evening.
He asked people sitting at the tables to join hands with each other because it's "the signature of the moment" when you touch the lives of other people.