Dear Proximate Paragons of Poetry: Someone once pointed out that we are often coming or going but not necessarily staying put. The image of a revolving door or a merry-go-round […]

Dear Urban Sanctuary Friends, Next Sunday, Nov 1 is the Feast of All Souls.  It's also the last Sunday we gather before Election Day.  I'm reaching out to you to […]

My dear Urban Sanctuary friends, My heart reaches out to you asking you to stay connected to each other and to pray for our presence in downtown San Jose during […]

Dear Hopers for a Great Sea-Change: The coming week will be something to be alive for. Per Mark Strand (whose bounding poem, "Eating Poetry" was on last week's docket): "…it's […]

Dear Poetry Folklery: I thought last week's discussion was especially nice, although I now wish I had explained a bit about "The Night Game" and the baseball context of it beforehand for the non-baseball fans in the group. Don Maruska made a wonderful suggestion after I said, "If I didn't know Robert Pinksy was the […]

Hi Urban Sanctuary Friends, You never know what a week can bring, and this week it is Ibram Kendi, renowned author of "How to Be Anti-Racist".  Silicon Valley organizations have come together to invite Dr. Kendi to speak to what Anti-Racism might look like in our community.  For more info, see below: How to Be […]

Community Coffee on the church patio 

Hi Urban Sanctuary Friends, For your Sunday sabbath it is our hope that we can provide you with a time that inspires, centers and connects you to God and your friends at church. We'll be reading from Psalm 90 and singing some of our community favorites again this week.  Bring your prayers to share and […]

        This week's poems: "What makes a great poem? What makes a poem great?" “Great Poems” by Steve Seely “The Worm’s Waking” by Rumi. “Yellow Glove” by […]

This week Paul's words to the Galatians come to mind - "Do not grow weary in well-doing".  As we face another acceleration of the impact of the coronavirus on our […]

Dear Urban Sanctuary Friends, We have a fun social opportunity in store this week. Jim Thompson and Dana Bainbridge invite you to a unique Thanksgiving event.  We are adapting the […]

Sunday Gathering: The New Jerusalem: Envisioning a New Normal Aftersession: Envisioning a New World Octavia Butler 1947-2006 Hugo and Nebula Awards, Author of The Parable Series The Book of Martha - […]

This week’s poems are: "What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade" by Brad Aaron Modlin. Wouldn't we all like to have had a teacher like Mrs. Nelson with […]

Advent: Anticipating What is Coming, Navigating What is Ending Pastor Dana interviews Megan McKenna, Bible scholar, storyteller, and activist.  Megan McKenna will open up the Advent scriptures as we begin […]