How Thankfulness Arose Even from Utter Tragedy O ur very warm, wet summer has transitioned into fall with cool nights, warm sunny days, trees adorned with glowing brown, red, and yellow leaves, sights I haven't seen in this area for some time. Breathtaking! Krystal has adorned our living room mantel with Fall decorations—pumpkins flaunting various shades of orange, a Fall wreath of leaves and gourds with a muted harvest patina, and other copper accent pieces that accentuate

The Church Must Continually be Reformed As we head into October, the term “Reformation” may come to mind for some Christians in the United States and around the world. Sadly, I fear that fewer Christians ponder its meaning or take its continuing significance seriously. For many, the Reformation is an event that took place long ago and has little bearing on our lives today. Even in the very progressive San Francisco Bay Area, where I was born and raised, many congregations c

Back to School As another school year begins, our congregation has an important opportunity to support students, teachers, and families with prayer, encouragement, and practical help. Many of us remember the old rhyme, “No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers’ dirty looks,” or Alice Cooper’s playful version in “School’s Out,” but by late summer the focus turns again to the blessing and responsibility of education. All humor aside, we know how important a good educati