Shalom participants place a high value on community, spiritual renewal, social justice and outreach. These four aims represent our congregational priorities. Community: We value fellowship with one another through mutual support, public sharing and reflection, small group gatherings, shared meals, celebration and help during life’s transitions and other recreation. Children Read more…
I attended a meeting of the Interfaith Round Table this week on Speaking the Truth. And I was a little anxious going in because I went with an agenda. I’m convinced that one of the most important elections in our County for sometime could happen this Tuesday when we decide Read more…
Shalom Community Church is a vital and significant presence in the lives of its participants, and a blessing to the communities it serves and touches. We strive to embody divine love, humility, justice, and compassion, following in the example of Jesus. We work together to discern what this means for Read more…
A sermon by Trevor Bechtel For Shalom Community Church June 7, 2020 As many of you know our niece Evelyn has come to live with Susan and I in these days when the pandemic has left her without a plan about which house she wants to live in. It’s transformed Read more…
John Powell “How long, YHWH, am I to cry for help while you do not listen? How long will I cry ‘oppression’ in your ear and you do not save?Why do you make me look upon injustice?Why do you countenance tyranny?Outrage and violence . . . this is all I Read more…
Trevor Bechtel Almost 25 years ago, Susan and I lived in England for a year. We knew we were only going to be there for a year so we were very deliberate about seeing something, and usually seeing something different, every weekend. We had lived in Chicago for about five Read more…
More than anything else I am glad that I have retained some ability to wonder. To find something out about the world and to let it be, in addition to whatever else it might be, a marvelous thing, and object of astonishment. I am in a high risk population for Read more…
Good morning, Over the next few Sundays we are going to turn our attention to a variety of topics around immigration. Shelly’s brother Paul Neufeld Weaver, who has been active in this world for much of his career will speak to us on May the 12th, and John Powell will Read more…
Good morning, In his book, What the Robin Knows, Jon Young tells the following story about a pair of cardinals. It begins with the familiar chirp that cardinals make. We have all heard that chirp even if we were sure what it was. I first learned to associate it with Read more…
Good morning, I’m happy to report that much of this sermon was written outside in the wonderful weather of yesterday afternoon. I don’t know if that increases the authenticity of my reflections or not, but it has been great to be able to spend the last two weekends outside, although Read more…