Religion: Gratitude in difficult times
These are difficult times. The world has seen worse, but there is no denying the fear, the sadness and the general feeling of desperation that has become so prevalent these days.
In a recent article in The Atlantic, David Brooks writes that the “percentage of...
Giving and thanks
Longtime St. Catherine Parish member Anna Quinones and Maria Dominguez, the church’s office manager, led the preparation, organization and distribution of Thanksgiving meal baskets for families in need on Nov. 18.
Photo: Michael Moore
While Thanksgiving is often celebrated as an opportunity to enjoy abundance...
Religion: Obligating ourselves to do good things
I am fascinated by etymologies, the origins of words. As we approach Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about the origin of our English word “thank.” It comes from the P.I.E. (Primitive Indo-European) root tong, to think. Thank is related phonetically to think, as sang is to...
Religion: The commonality of Islam and Judaism
Do Islam and Judaism have anything in common? Are they two religions that are radically different and at constant odds? There is a common perception that Muslims and Jews have been at odds for hundreds of years.
These two faiths share more in common than...
Religion: Coping with the world
Whenever I feel like life is difficult or my circumstances are less than desirable, I think of the story of the ancient Israelites, led by Moses out of Egypt into the wilderness as found in the Holy Bible.
They wandered from land to land for...
Religion: Take courage, hope in God
On Oct. 27, 2018, as Jews gathered in Sabbath worship at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we were horrified with the news that a gunman entered the synagogue and killed 11 Jews in worship.
This year, almost exactly five years later, as...
Advent Lutheran celebrates 50th anniversary
“I needed a place to be with God again. I watched the services on YouTube for a few weeks and decided I was ready. I loved how the service was so clear to me and helped me understand how the community works together. It...
Religion: Thanksgiving: My 30 years in the priesthood
How shall I return to the Lord for all the good He has done to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, (Psalm 116:12-13).
I would like to think that these 30 years have not been in...
Religion: Big questions
What if churches around the Bay Area decided to work together across denominational lines to help people explore some of the big questions of faith and life? Thankfully, it is no longer a “what if,” but a reality.
Currently, more than 150 churches around the...
Religion: The pumpkin spice latte: A ridiculous flavor or a fall blessing?
As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, one thing has become abundantly clear: it's Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season once again! Even before fall has arrived, the return of this beloved autumnal beverage brings long lines at Starbucks and various...