We love our family and our friends but when life events hand them difficulties beyond measure how can we be with them in ways that are truly helpful? Most of us want to “do” something but in reality what proves to be most comforting is to simple “be” with them. Karon has learned in her … Continue reading Being In Empathy
Most Americans — starting at a young age — have heard their minister, parents and teachers talk about “freedom of religion.” It’s guaranteed, as we all know, by the First amendment — or the “establishment clause” of our constitution. Many Americans — and certainly those practicing a more extreme faith — often interpret this to … Continue reading History of Religious Freedom and Suppression in the United States
The Religious Society of Friends, better known as “Quakers,” conduct their meetings for worship in silence. Although worshipers may rise during the meeting to share a spiritual insight they are admonished to do so only if they can improve upon the silence. Quaker’s have always known and prated what the neuro-scientist, Jill Bolte-Taylor wrote about, … Continue reading The Meaning of Silence: Quakers Faith and Practice
Join us for a Sunday of traditional Christmas hymns. Sally Terrell shares the story of ‘Good King Wenceslas” and, if we have time, we can share our own family tradition stories.
Join us for our annual service celebrating the returning of the light. This is a special service that honors pagan tradition, nature’s beauty, and a look back upon the closing year.
As the holidays approach join us in a fun and playful service exploring the beauty of giving and receiving from the heart. We invite you to join our patchwork community of narrators, ‘piece work’ players and musicians in recreating the beautiful message that unfolds throughout the story of The Quiltmakers Gift. It’s truly a story, … Continue reading The Quiltmakers Gift
There is a lot more that connects us than divides us, and that includes the celebrations of the holiday season. Nearly every major religion has a major holiday between the end of November and early January. Not surprisingly, they tend to have a common theme: the comfort of knowing that the long winters night will … Continue reading Everybody, Celebrate!
Our current existential dilemma – intimately intertwined over-population, over-consumption, and myriad environmental quagmires – can best be understood in the light of human behavioral characteristics that have arisen over evolutionary time. The “agenda of the gene”, is baked into our DNA: to reproduce, to consume, to compete and seek status ensured our survival through evolutionary … Continue reading Clever But Not Wise
Father James Neilson returns to our pulpit to deliver a sermon called: Comfort Me With Apples: Discerning the sacred and the profane by way of this nutritious and delicious fruit. An overview of how both Jewish and Christian cultures have considered apples within religious texts, rites, rituals and recipes. Fr. James Neilson, O. Praem., is … Continue reading Comfort Me With Apples
After my wife had a spinal fusion this last Summer (her second) I jokingly remarked, ‘We have to walk at least three miles a day before she doesn’t have to wear her support hose … THREE MILES … that’s more than normal people walk! She’s wearing me out!’ The friend I was talking to asked, … Continue reading “Isn’t It Annoying?”
