There is a practice among Christians during the season of Lent. That practice is to “give something up”. The practice is ostensibly for the purpose of appreciating in some small way the suffering of Jesus. How about we flip that practice and all of the underlying assumptions it perpetuates? Everyone
Continue readingDisappointment is part of life. Learning to deal with disappointment is part of how we develop wisdom and maturity. It was a disappointment that Werner Tillinger could not be with us for the retreat and Sunday worship, due to the flu. In dealing with that disappointment, I discovered something of
Continue reading~What Makes Us Great?~ “Great job,” we tell someone when we like or approve of something they’ve done. “He’s a great man,” we say of a man who has wielded power for the benefit of other people. “Great” was also an adjective used to describe the nemesis of Harry Potter: Voldemort.
Continue reading~Getting Ready~ There is a lot of getting ready going on. In addition to everything else going on in our lives: work, doctor’s appointments, exercise, class, finals, looking for work, grieving, running errands, going to holiday concerts and programs, cleaning, etc., etc., etc., we are getting ready for Christmas. There
Continue readingJulie’s Jar & Mike’s Left-Hand Remark Giving Thanks and Looking Forward First Christian Church of Pomona is a community that continues to find ways to express the hospitality of Christ. You as members of this faith community offer a warm, genuine welcome to everyone who comes through the doors AND
Continue readingTradition… Thanksgiving is filled and fraught with tradition. When you think of the traditions of Thanksgiving that were part of your life 20, 30, 50 years ago, what has changed and what has stayed constant? The people change as loved ones and friends come in and out of our lives
Continue readingOn “The Gathering” Thank you for being First Christian Church of Pomona, a place where the edges of our region met on Oct. 22nd. Thank you for being a people of tremendous Christian hospitality, without guile in the midst of fun and frustrations. I am deeply grateful especially to Ginger
Continue readingJesus was born into a culture of violence. Games of brutality were popular with men fighting one another, sometimes to the death. Often they were forced to fight for their lives. This was considered entertainment. Keeping the peace or Pax Romana, was done by military force. It is not so
Continue readingI imagine there are some people who are sad, angry or indignant that the fourth grade mission project, once a rite of passage for parents of California 4th graders, has gone the way of the dinosaur. I am not one of them. One day, after both our children had moved on
Continue reading~Trying Something New~ The first Spiritual Practices of Pomona Meet Up group met last night. 12 people RSVPd who are not associated with the congregation. One actually was brave enough to show up! Four church members were present, the visitor and a Disciples clergyperson serving at Urban Mission in Pomona.
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