I've been hearing the term Radical Hospitality in Christian circles for some years now. It seems to vaguely mean Inclusion, Tolerance, and Support for the individual on his or her faith journey, as well as a method of bringing newcomers to the faith. It has meant different things to the various different people and congregations …
Category: Faith
Weekend Coffee Share: It’s Time
If we were having coffee, I might ask if you follow any sort of Lenten practice? I do, and generally find it a helpful, healthy time of year to clean up, clean out, recenter. In years past, I've given up chocolate, red meat, etc., or taken up some reading, some form of self-improvement. Last year, …
A Gift in Hidden Figures
If you haven't seen the film Hidden Figures, go do so immediately. Also, if you don't want any spoilers read no further but go see the film and then come back. Therefore be warned: SPOILERS AHEAD. There, I've done my spoilery duty. ************************************************** It's Valentine's Day and I am grateful my valentine loves going to …
Six Degrees of Immigration
The year I don't know, but in the early days of the 20th Century a young man from a small village outside Kiev boarded a ship in Frankfort, Germany, crossed the Atlantic and, passing through Ellis Island, an anonymous agent recorded him under the Anglicized name, Bernard Gross. He married a fellow immigrant, a girl from the old …
Friday Five: Random @ 3:00 a.m.
The RevGals may not know what they've unleashed in asking for any old five things that have been on our minds. Sometimes it's my bladder, other times it's Blanca's, but 3:00 a.m. is an old friend of mine. Three a.m. has taught me how quick, agile, and completely random a brain can be, how full of …
From Hot Dogs to Hope
The following is an editorial/article I wrote from my church newsletter. Resurrections: Moving Beyond Hot Dogs, Providing Hope for Homeless Couple Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Larry Nichols, Director of Resurrections Ministries, and a team of seven more Resurrections faithful, for lunch. I was curious about a new venture they’re launching and Larry …
Grief Waves
It's probably normal for a coastal-raised child to liken many things to the sea. Currents and tides have been a useful metaphor for me (and many writers far better), but I think the reasons why became clearer for me Saturday while grocery shopping. Grief is sneaky, unlike ocean tides and waves which while sometimes dangerous, are at least …
Ministry Five
The RevGals do a Friday Five, but this one is my own on the eve of the eve of my parish's Ministry Faire this Sunday. Completely unsolicited, here ya go people of SSSJ and all people of The Way, here are five reasons to be involved in active ministry. Washing coffee pots brings about personal, spiritual …
The Maundy Thursday Cowboy
Foot washing. Ugh. This was the task assigned to the lowliest servant of a home in ancient times in lands where people wore sandals and streets were filthy. When I visited Pompeii, I noted areas along streets where there were little speed-bumps, taller stones its citizens had used for crossing the street and thus avoiding the filth strewn in …
A Need for Gethsemane
It has been hard to focus on Lent during this abrasive and invasive electoral Lenten season. Another act of terror, eliciting unhelpful responses from the GOP candidates: Ted Cruz calls for pogroms against American Muslims, a modern version of what my Russian-Jewish grandfather fled at the beginning of the last century. Donald Drumpf rants that discrimination against …
Southern Fried Californian 