Emmaus Blog

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...

Friday, July 17 , 2026: A Chronicle of Our Land is 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 friends and family. Adam speaks and leads a discussion of his book and his community's life under oppression: Date: ...

Tuesday, July 14, 2026:  When you lose someone you love,  Your life becomes strange For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die … a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. -  Ecclesiastes 3:1,2,4 I would like to offer a suggestion: If you are not currently in a season of grief, tuck this poem away for a time when you are. That season comes to us all, and this is a poem that offers comforting words that can encourage us when it does. I find myself in such a season right now, and this poem comes to me as a true gift. This poem is a blessing to me for several reasons. First, because it is honest. The ground beneath me does feel a little fragile right now. And I do find my grief ambushing me without warning (as it did when I was leading worship last Sunday). Second, because this poem reminds me that I can trust my sorrow – it knows, more than I do, when to pull the rope of grief....