I recently began swimming, actually treading water, on a daily basis. I did this to try to increase my mobility and, frankly, to make Jackie happy. Honestly, I did it more to make Jackie happy than anything else.
How often do we make decisions because we think they will make someone else happy, meet someone else’s expectations, or so that somebody doesn’t get upset? If you are like me, human, it is more often than we like to admit to.
Read MoreMy first job after art school was as a designer for Muirson Label Company in San Jose. At that time Muirson was a nationally recognized leader in the industry that supplied local cannery’s and fruit packers in the Santa Clara Valley with appealing can labels as far back as 1916.
Read MoreOpposites seem to be part of our everyday life although these contrasting connections are often overlooked. For example, for a flashlight to make any difference, the area needs to be dark. Even the name “flashlight” is questionable. You count on it to produce a steady beam, not a flickering light. What can you glean from this example that will enhance your Journey?
Read MoreWe have to ask ourselves, are we willing to engage the long struggle for justice? Or does it feels safer to hold onto our hostility? Can we trust the possibilities that God has in store? Or do we just tack on “seekers of justice” after “Progressive” in our titles and do nothing.
Read MoreBig Tuesday has always been a reference for when candidates are trying to become their Party’s candidate for President of the United States. In the last year Big Tuesday showed us what we already thought we knew. We were going to have our first woman President.
Read MoreIf you are a long time Bay area resident you have undoubtedly passed Vacaville’s Nut Tree dozen’s or even hundreds of times on route to Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and beyond. And it’s likely that you stopped to visit the toy store, restaurant, airplane collection and gift shop, and maybe ride on the Nut Tree Railroad.
Read MoreDeserts seem to come and go as you journey along. Deserts can be defined as those places where you feel “stuck”, bewildered, firmly positioned in place, blocked, angry, envious, discontented, not seeming to progress, or simply “Blah!” You long for an oasis, a place of cooling shade, a refreshing taste of water on your parched tongue, a resting place for your weary heart. What to do?
Read MoreIn recent weeks we have been raising baby chicks at Clivie’s school. It has been a community endeavor. We all watched with breath held and eyes wide open as the little cracks appeared in the eggs, and the chicks wriggled out one by one. We have carefully adjusted the temperature, fed them, and watched them grow. For me, the chicks were the perfect embodiment of the new life of the season of Easter.
Read More“How cool is it that the same God who created Mountains & Oceans,& Galaxies, looked at you & thought the world needed One of You TOO!”
I don’t know whose quote that is, but it certainly made me stop and smile. It also made me think about that concept for a while. Imagine a world where we all believed that God thought that the world needed each one of us. Imagine if we all believed that. Imagine that this same concept applies to every single molecule of creation as we know it.
Read MorePrayer – which is one way to deepen your relationship with the Lord - takes many forms too. We are familiar with prayers of praise, thanksgiving, petition, personal devotions and meditation. Consider this definition: “Prayer is lifting the mind and heart to God.”
Read MoreOne of our great Christian spiritual teachers, Thomas Merton suggests that “Breathing is actually a form of prayer- a pathway to the Divine.”
Read More"She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful for the way she thought. She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn't beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful deep down to her soul." F. Scott Fitzgerald
I saw this quote, and it drew me in. I wondered how many of us really look at each other. Do I even take the time, when I look people in the eye, to see who they are, how they are, or even gather them into my heart? We human beings are a strange people. Somehow we get into worrying so much about ourselves that we forgot that we came to be who we are by caring, communicating, meeting, playing, working, believing, and being with each other. Then, I look at the city, county, state, country, and world, and I think to myself, why am I surprised that peace seems all but impossible?
Read MoreTrusting Jesus during his public ministry seems fairly easy to the disciples as Jesus feeds the multitudes, cures the blind, heals the sick – things are going well. And then - Wham! One fine Friday their entire world turns upside down! Their perspective is thrown out of whack.
Read MoreIn years past, tourists and locals traveling between the Bay Area and Santa Cruz would pass several roadside attractions including alluring signs encouraging travelers to stop and experience the wonder of the “Worlds Strangest Trees”.
Read MoreWhat I need to do is to pay attention to the fact that all in life is holy, we don't see miracles because all of life is a miracle, the Scriptures are Holy and all words are holy. How shall I walk in this? How shall I speak this? How shall I pick myself up when I miss the mark? What is my strength in life and how do I use it?
Read MoreOn the International Day of Women, I reflected on the women who have gone before me and helped make me who I am. I don’t want to write about the women who were famous “first” women or those who fought for and won rights for women. I know I owe them gratitude for a multitude of rights that I take for granted. I won’t even write about my mother and my grandmothers, or this article would get much too long. Instead, I would like to remember those “other” women who touched my life and formed me.
Read MoreAs days go, Sunday evening is much like any other evening, unless you’re in our house. It really starts at about 7 am as we get some breakfast, sit and chat, and begin to discuss who should shower first and get ready to head off to Church.
Read MoreA vibrant music program and talented church choir have been the hallmark of the United Church of Hayward since our inception in 1959. Through the years, dozens of talented congregational members, choir directors and musicians have stirred our souls with the gift of music.
Read More“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” What does it mean “to praise” God? The word “praise” - coming from Middle English - means “to value,” or “to prize.” How easy it is to sing praise to God when we think we are experiencing blessings. Sometimes, however, all does not seem to be “going well with my world.” Is God still praiseworthy then?
Read More1) Make Time for Our Still Speaking God. God wants to be in conversation with us. There is grace to be found, especially when things are chaotic. Pray and meditate each day. Pray for our Nation and our Nation’s leaders. Pray for Rev. Jeanne and the Council. Pray for the Care Team and for God to show up in your life and give you strength. Come to Soothing Sanctuary. Talk to God about what you are being called to do and how you can make a difference. Creating a daily prayer practice is an act of Social Justice.
Read MoreThe United Church of Hayward is an open and affirming church that serves the Bay Area community.
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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!
