Urban Sanctuary

San Jose, CA

News Feed

Christmas at Cafe Stritch

12/24 at 5pm, 374 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

Built to Spill on the stage we’ll be using for the service

Christmas at Stritch is fast becoming a favorite holiday tradition at Urban Sanctuary! This year on the 24 at 5pm, we’ll be enjoying a “jazz Christmas,” with readings about the season by members interspersed with Scripture. And of course, we’ll be singing carols together–classics like Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World and The First Noel–not to mention enjoying free snacks! Come celebrate an urban Christmas with us, with plenty of time left that evening to rush home and put out cookies for Santa!

The Light Inside the Fire

Arts and Spirituality Mini-Retreat

This Sunday, December 1, during worship time–that is, 10am-12:30pm–and with the help of the Coalition of Artists and Creatives for Compassionate Communities, we’re holding an “Arts, Spirituality and Activism Mini-Retreat!” This will be jointly led by local artists and activists and Urban Sanctuary, giving us all a great opportunity to build relationships and connect with the divine through creativity.

The schedule for the retreat is as follows:

  1. Gathering Circle – with rhythm and drums (with the legendary PJ Hirabayashi!) we bring our voices together to call in the wisdom of our ancestors and to invite the Creative Spirit to open our imaginations
  2. Contemplative Guided Meditation
  3. Creative Workshops – a choice to go to one of the following workshops: Creative Writing, Stone Painting, Making Peace Cranes. All workshops will provide a chance to reflect, create and dialogue about around wisdom we can draw from to address the need to create more just and compassionate communities
  4. Sharing of Our Experiences after the workshops
  5. Closing with a Gratitude Circle and making an offering of our creations on a simple altar in the meditation garden

No RSVP needed. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the arts community in spiritual practice!

Blue Theology Retreat: October 25 & 26

At Urban Sanctuary, we believe that stewardship of the planet is part of our Christian duty. God’s creation should be cared for, not exploited!

On October 25 and 26, Urban Sanctuary will be going on a retreat together to Pacific Grove to participate in Blue Theology, a program focused on the intersection between spirituality and the ocean. Rev. Deb Streeter leads the program, which includes a visit to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium!

If you would like to go, please contact Pastor Lauren. You must RSVP to attend!

Book Club Aftersession: Sept-Oct

As our focus on incarceration continues, after worship every Sunday we gather to discuss The Church of the Second Chance: A Faith-Based Approach to Prison Reform, by Jens Soering.

Find it on amazon, or at your local library.

Meet us at 11:30 in room 7. You don’t have to have read it before, or be caught up on anything. We love to learn in community, and all you need to bring is yourself and your questions!