Emmaus Blog

Today is Friday, July 24, 2026: Get Ready for Sunday, July 26, 2026:   Emmaus Community  Celebrates the  Feast of  Mary of Magdala The essential question is  "What does Mary of Magdala have to teach us today?”  By Victoria:  Our upcoming Emmaus liturgy celebrates the feast of Mary Magdalene, and we will honor her legacy by exploring what Mary of Magdala might have to teach us.  We’ll use scriptural texts, video, poetry, and prayer, and our liturgy will look at how a woman who was barely mentioned more than a dozen times in scripture, can come to be known as “The Apostle to the Apostles.”  The essential question is "What does Mary of Magdala have to teach us today?”  Mary seemed to love Jesus with her whole being -- she "got" his message, maybe in a way that the more fearful apostles didn't. Jesus knew this.  He felt this love.  It was Mary to whom he first appeared. She didn't recognize him at first, thinking he was the ga...

Thursday, July 23, 2026:  There is a Mary Magdalene within each of us — fearless, compassionate and wise, loving and visionary.  By Sister Larretta Rivera-Williams  May God grant us mercy and compassion, for God alone truly knows our hearts. Only God understands our deepest desires, failures, struggles and aspirations.  Mary Magdalene knew well the pain of rejection, accusation and character assassination. Through such humiliation, she came to experience the transformative power of God working within her soul. She took nothing for granted as she encountered love, forgiveness, healing, and the restoration of dignity and integrity. \ What a privilege it was for Mary Magdalene to witness the risen Christ and proclaim that Jesus had risen from the dead. Yet, despite her faithfulness, she was questioned and not believed. The apostles’ disbelief revealed not only their uncertainty, but also their struggle to fully trust the promise Jesus had spoken to them.  There is ...

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: A note and prayer request from Nancy and Bob for their grandson Jackson: Dear Sisters and Brothers:  Please pray for Nancy and Bob's 16 year old grandson Jackson. Here's the story as told by Nancy: Our grandson, Jackson, age 16, was in a basketball tournament this weekend in Las Vegas, and at the end of the game he was elbowed by another player, totally by accident. He was rushed to the hospital, where they found he sustained a fractured skull.   Then he was rushed to another hospital and later  discharged to fly home today, where he may require surgery and close follow-up.  Although he’s not out of the woods yet, his family was told, he'll need a 6-8 week period of recovery. 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026: An Incomplete American Christian Litany of International Women* In honor of the Feast of Mary of Magdala July 22, 2026   Many remarkable achievements are absent from history because they were done by women. A conclusion is sometimes drawn that nothing was done by women because nothing is recorded there! We are here today to keep Women’s memory alive, recall and recover her experiences, because all women are less visible, their collective worth less valuable, when one woman’s world disappears. A reading from the Book of Proverbs (based on Proverbs 31: 10-31) (From: Woman Prayer, WomanSong: Pg 118 Miriam Therese Winter)  She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous an...

Monday, July 20, 2026 We need both compassionate action and contemplative practice for the spiritual journey Father Richard Rohr explains why both action and contemplation are part of a fully articulated life of faith: The most important word in our Center’s name is not Action, nor is it Contemplation; it’s the word and.  We need both compassionate action and contemplative practice for the spiritual journey. Without action, our spirituality becomes lifeless and bears no authentic fruit.  Without contemplation, all our doing comes from ego, even if it looks selfless, and it can cause more harm than good. External behavior must be connected to and supported by spiritual guidance.  It doesn’t matter which comes first; action may lead you to contemplation, and contemplation may lead you to action. But finally, they need and feed each other as components of a healthy dynamic relationship with Reality. I used to think most of us begin with contemplation and a unitive encounter...

Today is Saturday , July 18, 2026: Join us at Christ Church United Methodist in Santa Rosa or on Zoom for a reading and discussion of  A Chronicle of Our Land  a new book by our friend Adam Manasra who grew up in the tiny agricultural village of Wadi Foquin near Bethlehem.  Also please note: Denise Dixon has 5 copies of the book and will willingly drive to you to drop off a copy as long as they last! Call Denise! Then Please put this on your calendar and plan to attend: A talk and conversation led by our friend Adam Manasra.  Adam has written a new book about his life in a village in Palestine. The Book "A Chronicle of Our Land" tells the story of Adam's life in his ancient agricultural village of of Wadi Foquin, located in the occupied territories near Bethlehem. Hear the story of a community under tremendous pressure and the grace with which they meet every challenge.  It would be great to see many folks from Emmaus -- and please share this information with f...