July 09, 2025
- College Heights
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Dear Beloved Community,
I am looking forward to being back with you this Sunday. I will be preaching on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.
We’ll explore the story of Jesus sending out seventy of his followers—beyond the twelve disciples—to prepare the way for his ministry. He sends them out with nothing but each other, God’s peace, and the promise of hospitality from strangers. Like young birds nudged from the nest before they can fly, these disciples are pushed into the world to practice—to trust, to fail, to grow, and to discover the strength they didn’t know they had.
I believe today, we are being invited into that same trust. In a world that prizes self-reliance and independence, Jesus calls us to lean into community, to give and receive hospitality, and to live interdependently. Especially in times of crisis—social, political, or deeply personal—God calls us not to isolation, but to each other.
Come Sunday as we ask: What does it mean to be sent out today? And how can we live with the trust that, in Christ’s community, we will not lack a thing?
Peace and blessings!
-Jorge
P. S. July's Giving Sunday offering is for Mission Hospice. This offering helps Mission Hospice & Home Care provide compassionate end-of-life care by supporting patients with serious illness through personalized medical, emotional, and spiritual services, whether at home or in their hospice house. They also offer grief counseling, volunteer support, and community education to help families navigate the challenges of illness and loss with dignity and understanding.
The Church Council recently clarified what monies in the collection plate go to our Giving Sunday recipient each month. On the first Sunday of the month (the "Giving Sunday"), the whole plate goes to the designated nonprofit. Any other time during the month you can contribute by way of a check with the name of the nonprofit in the memo line.
Recent sermons
Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.
Recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.
Upcoming services and events
Thursday Discussion Group: Thursday, July 10, 7pm on Zoom. We're moving on to Laura Lynne Jackson's second book, called "Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe". Any one is invited to the discussion (book-reading is optional). Lots of us have stories to tell of asking for a sign and receiving something pretty amazing. Come share your story!
Taize Service: Friday, July 11, 7:30pm. Our monthly service of chant, prayer and silence. We'll be joined by Hermann Lara and his saxophone. Poetry by Naomi Shihab Nye. Also available on Zoom.
Instant Choir: Sunday, July 20, rehearsal 9am. We'll sing during the service.
No Council meeting in July.
Book Group: Sunday, July 27, 7pm on Zoom. Reading "Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life" by Agnes Callard. Read chapters 8-11 (Part III). We are spending several months on this book.
Worship & Arts: Sunday, August 3 after worship. Everyone is welcome.
Women's Retreat: Aug 22-24 (weekend before Labor Day) at Pacific Grove. Talk to Polly for more information.
Links and resources
Sister Patsy, who was so recently with us to offer a different kind of sermon, is sort of in the news at the link below. It is about the massive Mercy Housing project in Redwood City that burned so terribly about 18 months ago. Apparently it has been rebuilt.
Quote of the week
"The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who can not provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity." -Sitting Bull
Weekly events
• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am.
In person at the church building
• Sunday worship: 10 am
In person at the church building
• Church Office Hours: Thursdays 2:30pm-5:30pm, in person at the church building.
To schedule an appointment please call or text 510-754-6796 or email xicanominister@gmail.com.
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