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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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 Tuesday, February 3, 2026: "The Magnificat is the most passionate, the wildest, one might even say the most revolutionary hymn ever sung." The Magnificat in Minneapolis: May Mary proclaim her words once again Reflection by Mickey McGrath The Prayer Of Mary: The Magnificat My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,  my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.  From this day all generations will call me blessed:  the Almighty has done great things for me,  and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.  He has shown the strength of his arm,  he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,  and has lifted up the lowly.  He has filled the hungry with good things,  and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy,  the promise he made to our fath...
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Monday, February 2, 2026:  "I’m afraid too.  Let me be afraid with you. " A homily from our friend and mentor Father Jim Fredericks Ten years ago this month, Pope Francis celebrated mass in Ciudad Juarez. Mass was held at the wall. Those who gathered for mass that day stood on both sides of the wall. There were thousands in Ciudad Juarez and thousands more on the other side of the wall in El Paso.  Two cities. Two countries. One Church.  At that mass, ten years ago, Pope Francis spoke about the suffering of immigrants and their dignity as human beings. He spoke in solidarity with “the exploited, the extorted and the marginalized.”   And then he said something very important for us here at Saint Leo’s. He said: some will measure this crisis in terms of “numbers and statistics.” The Church, however, must take a different path. The Church must think about immigration in terms of “names, stories and families.”  In my homily for you today, I am not going ta...