Religion

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24). Deep in the founding scriptural pillars of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) the Prophet Amos writes a powerful lament for the Hebrew Nation.  Before becoming a Prophet, Amos was a...

World religions have more in common than most people imagine. A very basic tenet of every religion is what we call The Golden Rule. It is so well known, that even some who claim no religion at all know it: “Do Unto Others As...

For followers of Jesus, Easter arrives each year with beauty and intention—sunrise services, full rooms, hopeful songs and the deep reminder that life can emerge even from death. These moments matter. They lift us, ground us and reconnect us to what is most true.  They...

It is our 170th Anniversary! Our very first church meeting was held on June 4, 1853. This year, Gilroy United Methodist Church will celebrate our 170th Anniversary on Sunday, June 4, at 11am. Lunch will follow the worship celebration. If you are available, please...

I’m grateful to be celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary and for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. I’m grateful for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the subsequent Bill of Rights and later amendments that outline the freedoms preserved for us.  I’m grateful...

As many around the world celebrate New Year’s Day with fireworks, parties and resolutions, Muslims mark the beginning of their calendar year in a very different way: through quiet reflection, spiritual renewal and remembrance of profound historical events. The Islamic New Year, also known as...

With all the excitement over the election of the American Pope Leo XIV, it is appropriate to ask: what does a pope do? While a pope has several titles, the two most important would be Vicar of Christ and Successor of Peter. A vicar in...

With Halloween just a few weeks away, our neighborhoods are filling up with creative displays and decorations. Pumpkins, inflatables, lights—and, of course, skeletons.  When I see those skeletons, I’m reminded of one of the strangest and most powerful visions in the Bible. The Old Testament prophet...

At the Bible Museum in Washington DC recently, several high-profile political types spent time reading their favorite Bible passages as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday and its spiritual beginnings. President Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my...

“Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their parents; only for one’s own crime shall a person be put to death.”  — Deuteronomy 24:16  This injunction in the Book of Deuteronomy is a reversal...