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Wednesday, August 5, 2026: There is only one question which really matters: why do bad things happen to good people? Job and the Mystery of Suffering There is only one question which really matters: why do bad things happen to good people -  Rabbi Harold Kushner Through his classic exploration of the book of Job, Rabbi Harold Kushner (1935–2023) questions the common belief that God is all-powerful: The author of the Book of Job … believes in God’s goodness and in Job’s goodness, and is prepared to give up his belief … that God is all-powerful. Bad things do happen to good people in this world, but it is not God who wills it…. There may be a sense of loss at coming to this conclusion. In a way, it was comforting to believe in an all-wise, all-powerful God who guaranteed fair treatment and happy endings, who reassured us that everything happened for a reason…. But it was comforting the way the religion of Job’s friends was comforting: it worked only as long as we did not take th...
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Finding Hope in Uncertain Times:  A Half Day Retreat into Ecospirituality: September 18, 2026 Join us in taking a breather from busy lives and the anxiety of politics to explore our spirituality through body work, meditation, self-care, group dynamics, and reflection.  Maryknoll Lay Missioners Flavio José Rocha and Kathleen Bond lead us through their EcoRetreat with lively group processes inspired by Creation Spirituality, the meditations of Dom Helder Camara and the wisdom of Saint Hildegard.  During the retreat we’ll use a “mental map” process to develop a group concept of Ecospirituality.  Flavio José Rocha and Kathleen Bond are well known for their EcoRetreats and dedicated ministries in Brazil. They bring inspiring concepts and their own deep spirituality to every discussion and experience.  Please join us for this memorable, fun and active retreat into Ecospirituality Date and Time : Friday, September 18, 2026:  1pm - 5pm Location : Christ Church Unit...
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Monday, August 3, 2026:   Jesus makes use of his own Scriptures to teach a message of radical inclusivity, mercy, and justice Just because you use Scripture, even in a God-affirming way, does not mean you are using Scripture for life and love, growth and wisdom—and for the sake of God or others. -  Richard Rohr    Jesus never once quotes from nineteen of the books in his own Hebrew scriptures. In fact, he appears to use a very few favorites: Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Hosea, and Psalms.  Jesus appears to ignore most of his own Bible, yet it clearly formed his whole consciousness. That is the paradox.  If we look at what he ignores, it includes any passages that appear to legitimate violence, imperialism, exclusion, purity, and dietary laws—of which there are many.  Jesus is a biblically formed non-Bible quoter, who gets the deeper stream of God’s unconditional love, the spirit, the trajectory of his Jewish history and never settles for mere surface r...
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Friday, July 31, 2026: Note from Steve Lyman as we  set our course toward the dreams of kinship From Steve Lyman: Dear Emmaus Community, T he Fall monthly Reading Circle will resume in September. We wil be reading Teilhard's essay "The Eternal Feminine" using the Lectio Divina method. To obtain the Zoom link please email Kathleen Duffy SSJ at kduffy@chc.edu and request to be added to the group. She will probably send a copy of the essay as well. See the schedule below. We will meet on Monday's and Wednesday's. The same content will be presented on both days. I hope to see you there. Steve Lyman September 21 & 16 October 12 & 14 November 16 & 18 December 7 & 9 Biblical Christians have thrived when we use the Bible with the goal of becoming good people who, because we follow Jesus, do good works in God’s good world. And we have languished and wandered when we have used the Bible as a weapon to threaten others, as a tool to intimidate others and prove...
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Monday, July 27, 2026:  Prayer of Mary of Magdala: It's so good to rethink the life and reality of Mary of Magdala. We did that yesterday as we worked through the inspiring and thought provoking celebration created for us by Victoria and Dan.  To follow up with more about Mary of Magdala: Here's a prayer we received this afternoon: “Do not be afraid of the dark mornings or the empty places in your life. I know what it is like to sit in the stillness of grief, wondering where the light has gone. But I promise you, the teacher is always nearer than you think, calling you by your true name in the quiet of the garden. Stand strong at the foot of your own crosses. Do not let the world silence the truth of what you have seen, felt, and known. Your deep love and your willingness to stay, even when everything seems lost, is your most radical act of faith.  Rise bravely into each new dawn, because every ending you face is just the beginning of a transformation. You are a witness t...
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Sunday, July 26, 2026: Join Us Today  and Celebrate the Feast of Mary of Magdala. We begin at 3:45 with a greeting followed by our celebration and potluck. In person at Christ Church United Methodist 1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403 or on Zoom Or Join the Zoom Meeting using this link (copy and paste it into your browser) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=85439930916 Passcode: 1234 or start Zoom and copy the meeting ID when prompted Meeting ID: 519 315 8573 Passcode: 1234 Liturgical Order of Service Celebrating  the Feast of Mary Magdalene Victoria rings the Singing Bowl X 3 (to signal the start of liturgy),   greets and welcomes the Emmaus Community and any new participants and offers a brief explanation of the theme of our liturgy Dan Opening Prayer: (written by Dan Vrooman) As we celebrate the Apostleship of Mary Magdalene today, let us imagine the authority Jesus deposited into her as she was sent to ‘go and tell the others.’ Ah, Mary of Magdala, were y...
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Saturday, July 25, 2026: Join Us Tomorrow and Celebrate the Feast of Mary of Magdala. We begin at 3:45 with a greeting followed by our celebration and potluck. In person at Christ Church United Methodist 1717 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa 95403 or on Zoom Or Join the Zoom Meeting using this link (copy and paste it into your browser) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5193158573?omn=85439930916 Passcode: 1234 or start Zoom and copy the meeting ID when prompted Meeting ID: 519 315 8573 Passcode: 1234 Liturgical Order of Service  Celebrating  the Feast of Mary Magdalene Victoria rings the Singing Bowl X 3 (to signal the start of liturgy),   greets and welcomes the Emmaus Community and any new participants and  offers a brief explanation of the theme of our liturgy Dan Opening Prayer: (written by Dan Vrooman) As we celebrate the Apostleship of Mary Magdalene today, let us imagine the authority Jesus deposited into her as she was sent to ‘go and tell the others.’ Ah, Mary of Mag...
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