November 13, 2024
Dear Beloved Community,
First and foremost,
You are loved. Breathe.
You are not alone. Breathe.
You belong. Breathe.
I hope you received something from this past Sunday’s worship service that has continued to sustain you during the week. I know some of you are still experiencing feelings of anxiety, fear, grief, sorrow and anger from last week, and that is ok. We will continue to remind ourselves of what we know is true. We hold on to those we love. We turn inward and grant ourselves peace. We turn outward and offer help to other. As many of our hearts continue to be heavy, know that I hold all of you with great care through my prayers, and remember that I am available for any kind of support you may need. I am here for you, to be a space where you can vent and get support. So don’t hesitate to reach out. I always look forward to hearing from each one of you.
This coming Sunday, thanks to Marilyn Garrison, our guest preacher will be our old friend Eric DeBode. He's the founder and director of Abundant Grace Coastside Worker, an organization that works with homeless and low income people on the coast. It provides actual paying jobs both in the fields and with the”clean team”on the beaches, trails, and encampments. Abundant Grace also has a workforce development center to assist homeless people with all the necessities for getting a job. Their website has more details: abundantgracecw.org. Eric is a dedicated and hard-working person and it's always inspiring to hear what he has to say.
May your week be filled with hope and love, and I look forward to being blessed by your presence this Sunday.
Peace and blessings!
-Jorge
November's Giving Sunday offering is for Samaritan House. Thanks for always being so generous with your gifts. Learn more about what this fund supports here.
Recent sermons
Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.
Recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.
Upcoming services and events
Council Meeting: October 20th, after church service.
Council Meeting: November 17th, after church service.
Borg Discussion Group: Thursday, Nov 21, 7pm on Zoom. Read Chapter 7 of “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” by Marcus Borg.
Monthly Church Potluck: Sunday, Nov. 24, right after the church service.
Book Group: Sunday, Nov 24, 7pm, on Zoom. You get another chance to read "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler. This is an acclaimed post-apocalyptic novel published in 1993 but set in the years 2024-2027. In California of all places. Those of us who have read the book highly recommend it. Note the new date.
Congregational Meeting: Sunday, Dec 8 after worship. This is the annual meeting to approve the budget for the next calendar year. Please attend so we have a quorum!
Links and resources
"Seriously", words and music by Sara Bareilles, performed by Leslie Odom, Jr. The composer was asked by This American Life to imagine the words that Barack Obama is not saying about the election and Donald Trump. Posted Oct 28, before the election.
Quote of the week
“If there is no friendship with them [the poor] and no sharing of the life of the poor, then there is no authentic commitment to liberation, because love exists only among equals.”
-- Gustavo Gutiérrez
May he rest in freedom ♥
Weekly events
• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am
In person at the church building.
• Sunday worship: 10 am
In person at the church building.
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