Often these days I find myself questioning the worth of my prayer life. These are the times when I am certain, upon reflecting back, that I confuse prayer with a request line. You know what I am talking about, I’m sure you do.
Read MoreBeing on a Journey implies not staying in one place very long – or it would not be called “Journey.” Our faith Journey finds us continually on the move. Sometimes we get comfortably settled and figure, “It will always be thus.” Yet we know from experience that as things change, we need to leave the comfort zone and move forward into the unknown.
Read MoreAs I have returned from vacation, checked in with many of you this week, and heard your stories, I am aware of how heavy many of our lives are right now.
Read MoreForgiveness is a mysterious thing. We hold trauma in our bodies. And sometimes when we forgive others and ourselves, we have to let go of things in layers. We might even think we are done with the forgiveness process, and don’t even know another layer is there. Maybe that is why Jesus said what he did to Peter about forgiving “seventy times seven” times. Sometimes there are that many layers of trauma trapped in us and we have to let them go one by one so the light can return to us again.
Have you noticed how preparing creamy mashed potatoes involves preliminary messy times of dealing with potato peelings? A well-running car has messy times of oil changes. We perform these actions, not because we relish the mess, but because we have a bigger goal in mind.
Read MoreWe are a long way from Detroit, however there is a surprisingly long history of automobile manufacturing here in the East Bay beginning in 1916 with a Chevrolet assembly factory located on E. 14th Street on the Oakland/San Leandro border.
Read MoreThis Saturday is also my 55th birthday, And as I breathe deep and celebrate that as my anniversary grief comes up, I find myself thinking about my son’s first birthday and the life changing journey that was the first few hours of his life. God held us through that messy, terrifying, light/dark place- Just as God held us through Stan’s funeral last June, is holding us as we move into new things as Beloved Community and is holding all of you as you share your challenging stories with me. God holds all of us. That is the euangelion (Gk), or “Good News” we share, no matter what the terrain looks like where we are walking: River Deep. Or Mountain High.
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On our recent trip to New Mexico, we visited the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque and attended part of a lecture on black holes.
Read More“Once I knew only darkness and stillness. . .
My life was without past or future . . .
But a little word from the fingers of another
Fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness,
And my heart leaped to the rapture of living.” Helen Keller
Read MoreThe Gospel of John is full of signs of a different sort. From the opening of Jesus’ ministry at the Marriage Feast at Cana, people are all really interested in Jesus giving them a sign. Some of the signs in John’s Gospel are easy to see. And some aren’t. Peter gets a very interesting sign in John 21 as he and the Disciples encounter Risen Jesus on the beach at the Sea of Tiberius/Galilee. To see it, you have to be able to read a little Greek.
Read MoreSo here we are, already at Easter. It seems like a week ago we were celebrating Christmas and I haven’t even sent out my Christmas cards yet! What does all of this mean to us? How can we authentically celebrate Easter? In other words, what in our own lives, is the living out of the Resurrection experience?
Read MoreI sometimes let Clivie have a snack and watch a show or two before I move him on to homework in the afternoon. It gives me a chance to breathe, unload the dishwasher, and hopefully have a few minutes to pray. One recent afternoon, as I pulled out the tablet and asked him what he wanted to watch- he said emphatically “I want the show with the green excalius Beyblade!”
Read MoreFans of the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy will recognize the classic catchphrase that was spoken in many of their films in the early days of American cinema.
Read MoreCrayons and coloring books are among my treasured childhood memories of days long past. I usually had the standard box of 8 broken and well used colors but longed for the tantalizing large box of Crayola’s, the one with 64 crayons including white and all those glorious metallic colors.
Read MoreStanding in one of several seemingly endless lines at the post office during pre-Christmas days, I watched one of the clerks. As each person approached that clerk’s counter space, she greeted them with a warm smile.
Read MorePrior to the surge in residential growth of the 1950’s and being away from coastal fog and wind, the rich land between Mission Blvd. and today’s Fremont Blvd. and surrounding Mission San Jose was ideally suited for the planting of grapes.
Read MoreI just listened to "Holy Now" by Peter Mayer for about the fifth time. I did not listen to it over and over, but rather with a day between each listen. I have listened multiple times because each time I hear a different part of the lyrics and my heart sort of leaps.
Read MoreThe world lost a bright light yesterday morning. I received the following note from Mary Oliver’s Facebook page:
“Mary Oliver, beloved poet and bard of the natural world, died on January 17 at home in Hobe Sound, Florida. She was 83….
Read MoreWe all experience them – moments when we stand nose to nose with a fear – knowing we need to step into the experience and walk through it. Fear can appear when we need to speak in public, change jobs, face unexpected medical issue, loose a loved one, move to a new location, and other situations only you can name.
Read MoreFrom our living room window in Fremont we can see a large portion of the panorama of the rolling hills stretching from the “Niles” hillside sign down to Mission Peak, Mount Allison and Monument Peak. It’s not a completely unobstructed view due to trees and neighboring houses, but pleasing enough to be able to enjoy the fresh green tinge that is beginning to appear and the brilliant glow of winter sunsets.
Read MoreThe United Church of Hayward is an open and affirming church that serves the Bay Area community.
We are glad you’ve found us!
When the Israelite people were in the wilderness, Moses invited everyone whose "hearts were stirred and spirits were willing" to offer their gifts, time, and talents so the people could gather, worship God and serve the community. They discovered they had everything they needed and then some! Is your heart being stirred to support our UCH ministries in the Hayward area? Click here to make a difference!
