Something hopeful happened via Pope Francis on Monday. He issued an official document saying that priests can bless same-sex marriages. Who would ever have thought that was possible? He basically says that people who ask for blessings shouldn’t be turned away. (See how I narrowed all those words down?) These are non-liturgical blessings, however, so […]
On Friday, MV Hebrew Center hosted about 200 people from different faiths for a special Shabbat service, focusing on the conflict in Israel and Palestine. Speakers gave speeches, led songs and poems, and invited attendees to follow along reading right to left in the siddur prayer book. “Welcome in Hebrew is ‘bruchim haba’im’, which means ‘blessed are […]
Beginning Feb. 18, folks will have a unique option for facing the challenges life throws at them. Therapist Jeremy McLellan, a good friend of Vineyard Assembly of God pastor the Rev. Matthew Splittgerber, will offer sessions at the church on the third Saturday of each month. The two went to college together, and have stayed […]
To the Editor: It is important for every one of us to stop for a moment and consider what happened on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, at a synagogue in Fort Worth, Texas. A gunman, who just that morning had been given a cup of hot tea by the rabbi there, was permitted to join them […]
Oh, I remember it well: Getting three kids dressed for church by myself and walking literally next door to St. Anne’s Church in Parish, N.Y., on Sunday mornings. It wasn’t far to go, but as the kids got older, it seemed like the last thing they wanted to do. That walk next door felt like […]