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 Sunday, February 15, 2026, Wisdom from the Outside:  “Go and sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.”    CAC Dean of Faculty Carmen Acevedo Butcher takes inspiration from the desert Christians of the fourth century. These men and women fled to the deserts of Northern Africa and elsewhere to practice their faith apart from the Christianity of empire.   Around 313 CE and the Edict of Milan, Christianity became yoked with empire. [1] A lot of people who wanted to have a genuine experience of living out the promises of Christ left the empire, so to speak. They went out into the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, Syria and Arabia. There were women and men, rich and poor. Some of them had been working in royal courts, and some had been murderers (see Black Moses below). Some were people of high esteem in society while others were viewed by society as scoundrels. The Christians who went to the desert sought an interior martyrdom. That’s how they thou...
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Saturday, February 14, 2026: Please Calendar This Upcoming event &  RSVP:  Becoming More Fully Alive: The Spiritual Practice of Aging Well: With Parker Palmer Our final video in the series presented by the Education Committee is the last of the of the 4-part series: It will be shown, followed by a lively and thoughtful discussion:   Wednesday, March 11th at 1:00PM Location: Nancy and Bob’s: at 2404 Marilyn Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954  Please RSVP to Nancy at (707) 773-0904 Or Via Email at rnmcfar1938@yahoo.com What if aging isn't about decline-but about becoming more fully alive? In this session, beloved teacher Parker Palmer invites us to reimagine aging as a season of depth, resilience, and possibility. Drawing from his lived experience and signature gift for storytelling, Parker explores how to stand in "the gap" between the world as it is and the world as it could be-without turning away from the sorrow or joy of being human. Together, we'll reflect on what it...
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Tuesday, February 10, 2026: “The just person is a light in darkness” (cf. Ps 112:4) Frequently, a remarkably trustworthy, honest, and dependable person invites the characterization as being “the salt of the earth.” Such an individual has staying power in the community and is the one whom others turn to when the going gets rough. Jesus also uses the metaphor of salt, along with light, to say something about the nature of his followers. When he describes them as “salt” and also as “the light of the world,” he is not telling his disciples something they must become.  Jesus is informing them and us that, as his disciples, this is what they and we already are.   Like salt’s capacity to enhance food and bring out its full flavor, those who have encountered Jesus and live according to his teachings act to enhance others’ lives and bring about the best in those individuals.  Additionally, salt in the ancient world had always functioned as a preservative, ensuring the freshness of...
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Sunday, February 8, 2026:  Join us  today  for our Sunday Celebration with community greeting at 1:45 followed by liturgy at 2:00PM In person at:  Christ Church United Methodist 1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95405 Or Join us on Zoom:  Join Zoom Meeting using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=89689065098 Passcode: 1234 Or open your browser and go to https://zoom.us/join When prompted to Join the Meeting enter: Meeting ID: 519 315 8573 Passcode: 1234 To use your phone:  One tap mobile +16699006833,,5193158573# US (San Jose) +16694449171,,5193158573# US Here's the liturgy for Tomorrow by Dan Vrooman and Dan Lambert Welcome: (Dan Lambert) Our theme for today’s liturgy revolves around living gratefully to become a blessing to others. The apostle Paul and Jesus speak of a light that shall break forth from the darkness of oppression, of the wisdom of the cross, and of a salt that can lose its taste. They each express awareness of con...
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Saturday, February 7, 2026: Join us tomorrow for our Sunday Celebration with community greeting at 1:45 followed by liturgy at 2:00PM In person at:  Christ Church United Methodist 1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California 95405 Or Join us on Zoom:  Join Zoom Meeting using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=89689065098 Passcode: 1234 Or open your browser and go to https://zoom.us/join When prompted to Join the Meeting enter: Meeting ID: 519 315 8573 Passcode: 1234 To use your phone:  One tap mobile +16699006833,,5193158573# US (San Jose) +16694449171,,5193158573# US Here's the liturgy for Tomorrow by Dan Vrooman and Dan Lambert Welcome: (Dan Lambert) Our theme for today’s liturgy revolves around living gratefully to become a blessing to others. The apostle Paul and Jesus speak of a light that shall break forth from the darkness of oppression, of the wisdom of the cross, and of a salt that can lose its taste. They each express awareness of constraints, bl...
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Thursday, February 5, 2026: Calendars please: Plan to attend Monday, February 9, 2026. An online event: Sr. Dr. Thea Bowman, taking courage through prayer, study, and action As part of Black History Month, join Pax Christi USA for a special evening of reflection and resistance through the example of Servant of God Sr. Dr. Thea Bowman, FSPA, led by Prof. Michael Howard. Monday, February 9, 7 PM Eastern/4 PM Pacific Use this link to register. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RiF1tfjtR3ieba3-RzU_Pw#/registration Prof. Howard will lead us through prayer based in the Scriptures and study of Sr. Thea’s life and witness to the Gospel.  We will view rare footage of Sr. Thea in action teaching about Black History Month. The evening will include time in small groups for sharing and reflection. Use this link to register. The event will start at 7 PM Eastern/4 PM Pacific. https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/RiF1tfjtR3ieba3-RzU_Pw#/registration Michael Howard, MACS, is the founder ...
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Wednesday, February 4, 2026: She lived like a shooting star: The life of Sister Thea Bowman Born Dec. 29, 1937, in Yazoo City, Mississippi, Thea was reared as a Protestant until at age nine when she asked her parents if she could become a Catholic. Gifted with a brilliant mind, beautiful voice and a dynamic personality, Sister Thea shared the message of God's love through a teaching career.  After 16 years of teaching, at the elementary, secondary and university level, the bishop of Jackson, Mississippi, invited her to become the consultant for intercultural awareness. In her role as consultant Sister Thea, an African American, gave presentations across the country; lively gatherings that combined singing, gospel preaching, prayer and storytelling. Her programs were directed to break down racial and cultural barriers.  She encouraged people to communicate with one another so that they could understand other cultures and races. In 1984, Sister Thea was diagnosed with breast can...
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