Community Church of Atascadero

10/13/2025

10/13/2025

It's important to acknowledge our history.

06/13/2025

An unprovoked assault –
of course the response will be violent,
an escalating blood bath

Blatant lies
(“falsehoods” is too polite)
continue fueling abuse

Rights
claimed by those with power
denied to the rest

Bullies worshipped,
empowered and elevated,
as though anything good will emerge

Meanwhile

People rounded up like cattle –
but treated much worse

Healthcare slashed –
except for unborn growth within death

Science maligned as simply opinion
though peer-reviewed
revised over years of research

History corrupted
textbooks rewritten
names whitewashed

Information disrupted
against fears of truth

All a backdrop
to life and love,
anger and pain,
laughter and tears,
pride and protests

And I,
battered by a tornado of emotion
seek the eye of the storm where peace,
even if but for a moment,
steadies my shuddering heart and realigns me
In You,
Infinite Love who never stops whispering
“There is another better way”

I inhale Sacred Breath
I pause in Holy Wonder
I rest in Eternal Presence

Recentered,
I step back into the fray

06/06/2025

Neighbor

I met him on a walk
Out working
I waved
Hi

Thank you for the pride flag
Hanging high
Boldly stating
Welcome

He was just a union man
Same company
Same job
Retired

His work group was diverse
Gender sexuality
Ethnicity race
Background

His outlook was broadened
Perspectives stretched
Friendships formed
Ally

And I remember with gratitude
When alone
Or afraid
Neighbor

I wonder what others see
Walking past
My yard
Welcome?

05/23/2025

I look up at the empty sky
cloudless blue

a single bird flies across the expanse
then I see others flitting among trees
my attention shifts to a bug on the bark
a bee buzzes somewhere nearby
a butterfly flutters into my awareness

I look up again
notice a slight wisp
white subtle on blue

it’s not really empty

and I wonder…
how often do I not see what’s there?
how often do I miss life around me?
how often do I look only for what matters
to me?

perhaps my preoccupation is self-obsession
and maybe nothing is really empty

May I be present today
to life
in its many colors and sounds
patterns and textures
wondrous diversity
contributing to the intricacies of beauty
Amen

05/16/2025

I arise bodily aware
jaws clenched
shoulders tense
stomach tight
brain on hyperdrive

I cry out to you
pain and anger
denial and disbelief
achy with longing

and I pause
and I inhale
your spirit
your breath

my gaze shifts outward
absorbing beauty
shiny leaves of life
avian grace
transient white on blue

your world still fills me
with gratitude
with peace
with awe

and so
for just a bit
my body relaxes
my mind rests

and I give thanks for this day

05/16/2025

🫶🏾

"Christianity is being co-opted globally. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last that Christians find themselves grappling with what it means to be Christian in a contemporary context where discontent is evident, and the fears and anxieties of people are exploited by politicians and power mongers. Christianity has never been monolithic and yet followers of Jesus have core beliefs that should transcend the political challenges that are used to redirect how we love our neighbors as ourselves."

-Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, GMP/CEO, UCC

Quote from her latest On My Mind Today blog post, "Great Expectations": https://ow.ly/iwRo50VRqA8

05/09/2025

Four Words: a Prayer

Peace be with you

a greeting for well-being
initiating trust
welcome

a foundation for building
providing direction
hope

a statement of intent
shalom salaam
longing

a place of beginning
seeking peace
amen

05/09/2025

🙏🏾 The United Church of Christ joins with the ecumenical community in celebrating with our Roman Catholic siblings on the selection of Cardinal Robert Prevost, who will serve as Pope Leo XIV.

We pray for the leadership of Pope Leo and believe his call to serve as the Bishop of Rome will honor the legacy of Pope Francis in building bridges and speaking for the vulnerable and marginalized among us.

We offer congratulations to Pope Leo and give thanks for his years of ministry and leadership in the church.

At this critical moment, we affirm the strength of our relationship, pledge our continued partnership, and look forward to ongoing dialogue and collaboration attentive to pursuing together a

-Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, General Minister and President/CEO, UCC

05/08/2025

🫶🏾

"The church must continue to be diverse, with intentions to be more welcoming than we currently are. We are a big tent, the world an even bigger one. How we choose to embrace the unity that is possible in the church and in the world is up to us."

-Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson, GMP/CEO, UCC

Quote from her latest On My Mind Today blog post, "Unity Not Uniformity": https://ow.ly/huNN50VKRAV

05/08/2025

Bible Study with Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy

Faithfulness Beyond Boundaries: The book of Ruth is a book of reversals that starts in famine and ends in harvest, begins in death and ends in birth. Driven by the faithfulness of an outsider, a people in crisis find a way to hope. Join us as we read portion of this text with the voices of migrants and people on the move.

For more information about Annual Gathering, including registration info, please visit our site: https://www.scncucc.org/annual-gathering-2025/

05/02/2025

today may I be
open
to love
present
to beauty
still
in you
amen