An often quoted scripture passage is First Corinthians 13:13, “There are three things that last, faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.” Yes – love endures forever, but how often do we just skip over “hope” without a second thought.
Read MoreSandy and I occasionally take our daily walk at Marina Park at the San Leandro Marina where the spectacular beauty of the bay reminds me how lucky we are to live in the Bay Area. It’s particularly true at this time of year when hear about the East Coast getting hammered with freezing temperatures and blizzards. Here the smooth blue Bay waters, encircled by rolling green hills and the view of San Francisco is right out of a scene of Dorothy’s Emerald City.
Read MoreOn the days leading up to December 25th I had been thinking about what the day after Christmas will be like. I guess this is because the day after Christmas has often been a let down. The excitement is gone and things don’t look as nice, and all of the preparations that took days and sometimes months are over and here I am. Now what?
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Waiting for the expected, no matter what it is, does not come easy for us. We wait for the rain, and when it arrives, we want the sunshine. We have the sunshine, and wonder if it will ever rain again. Sometimes we ponder a memory and say, “Oh, if only I had appreciated it more when I had it.” Perhaps the wisdom to gain from this experience is that NOW, while we wait, is also the time to appreciate what we do have. As we approach the closing of Advent, what have you dreamed for during this time? What have you needed? What have you hoped would happen?
Read MoreFragile, beautiful, painful, messy, and oh so wondrous is the birth process! Advent brings us back to the reality of God Incarnate – becoming one of us – that we might realize our heritage as children of God. Four weeks to prepare for the birth of Jesus and all year to celebrate it!
Read MoreMy dad was an “old school” photographer. He didn’t use a cell phone, pad or tablet but rolls of either 20 or 36 exposure black and white film or an optical camera. We grew up in a home with a darkroom where dad, in addition to family pictures, would supplement his postwar income by photographing kids’ sports teams, youth groups and dance classes.
Read MoreComplacency has a way of sneaking up on us. We don’t even realize it has taken root in our hearts until something wakes us up. Such is the Status Quo: “the existing state of affairs especially regarding social or political issues.” (M. Webster). Stunned by the opposite of our cherished values which seem to be parading under the guise of progress, we stare at situations we never thought we’d have to face. We’re tempted to run “helter-skelter” in fear or in anger, neither of which brings us vision.
Read MoreGracious words are a honeycomb. Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
Read MoreIn some ways it too easy to open our wallets and give money. What if we could do things like make regular calls to our member who can’t get out much, what if we offered to take members who don’t drive out to shop, what if we wrote letters to those members who have moved away but are still in our hearts, what if we visited those members who are in hospitals, convalescent care or assisted living?
Read MoreJohn Muir began his trek by walking from Indiana to Florida and then hopping a steamer to Cuba with the intention of continuing to South America, reaching the headwaters of the Amazon and rafting its full distance to the Pacific Ocean. However, short of funds and recovering from fever picked up in Florida, Muir changed his plans and decided to spend a year or two in California and visit the fabled Yosemite Valley.
Read MoreWaiting is never easy whether it’s for your turn at the gas pump, the checkout counter, the post office, or the lab work results. Reaching the “destination” or receiving knowledge of the results seems to give a sense of relief, a sense of “control” over the situation.
Read MorePlacing her index finger over her lips, Darcy whispered to her son Alex, “Shhh, listen.” As he did so, he heard the soft, unmistakable call of the turtle dove. Contrast that with someone saying, “Shut up and listen!” Or, “Sit still, and stop wiggling!”
Read MoreThe art and journey of spiritual discernment is a lot like the art and journey of photography....
Read MoreIt’s interesting to me the way one day can seemingly run into another so that on some days we aren’t even sure what day of the week it is.
The world today is moving so quickly, and those of us who are concerned about what is happening can get so caught up in issues, people, our causes, our beliefs (and the list goes on), that we get overwhelmed and have to back away. How long we move away depends on our internal strength, our supports, and our faith.
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But here is the really good news, Beloved Community. No matter where we journey, or what adventures and changes we resist and embrace, our Still-Speaking God promises that She/He will be comforting us, giving us light and shade, a “pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.” God also promises to never leave us. God’s place is with us, and our place is in the presence of the Holy, whether the sun is blazing, the breezes are pleasantly blowing, or it is so dark we can’t see our hands in front of our faces.
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On the hill above church and just inside the gate to Garin Park are remnants of a rusty old tractor, its iconic yellow paint long gone, sitting in dry weeds among a collection of crumbling antique farm implements. It’s highly likely that my dad assembled or machined parts for its diesel engine early in his 47 year career at Caterpillar’s San Leandro factory and where I spent several summers in the 1950’s earning college tuition.
Read More"Sometimes we have to fight, move gently, love with vulnerability, ask for help, be still, and care for ourselves unapologetically so we can hear God's voice and feel God's unwavering presence over the chaotic din around us. We have to resist blaming. We have to resist lashing out. We have to keep our hearts open, even when we want to lock them away for safekeeping. For many of us, now is one of those times."
Read MoreI am numb. I know that my heart is aching for the victims and the families of the victims in Orlando. My heart aches for the family of the perpetrator of this horrible happening and for the perpetrator. Yet, I am stuck wondering how I can make a difference, how I can act such that these kinds of things will stop happening, how I can help others deal with the things in life that anger them to a point where something like this could happen.
Read MoreStanding empty-handed before a hungry crowd at the end of a long day, the disciples ask Jesus to disperse the multitude. Jesus has other ideas.
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!
