“A prolific author, [Julius] Lester had more than four dozen books for adults and children to his credit. He was also variously a literary and cultural critic, folklorist, photographer, civil rights worker and professional musician. As an essayist…
Profiles in Black History: Bridget “Biddy” Mason
Bridget “Biddy” Mason was born into slavery in Georgia in 1818 and was eventually acquired by Robert Marion Smith. In 1848, Smith, a Mormon convert, decided to move West, and Biddy was forced to walk the 1,700 mile journey from Mississippi to Utah. After two years in Utah, Smith agreed to move to California and help establish a Mormon community in San Bernardino. On the journey…
Huge Thanks for the Year-End Fundraiser!
Reconciling America? Teaching Series Begins Jan 10th
We learned a lot about America this week. The ugliness of Jan 6th confirm that systemic racism, white supremacy, and the dangerous threat of authoritarianism and Christian nationalism are very real threats. Some are already pushing for the nation to unify and heal. But this runs the risk of ignoring the very real trauma, loss, and grief that Americans are experiencing...
Lamenting America
Tuesday we learned that officers involved in the shooting of Jacob Blake will not be held accountable. This re-awakens the ongoing trauma so many of our fellow Black Americans experience after high-profile killings of people like Breonna Taylor and George Floyd.
Add Your Final Feedback To Our New Mission Commitment
Four long months, six listening sessions, twenty-three household survey responses, and two organizational analyses later, the first draft of our new Mission Commitment is finally here. We want to thank all of you for contributing to this process in so many ways.
Mission 2023 update
As you know, for the past 3 months we have bene immersed in an effort to revise our Mission Commitment — the values, vision, mission, and priorities of our congregation. Since September we have engaged in a series of listening session, a congregation-wide survey, and one-on-one conversations with people inside and outside our church.
Help us fund our mission with a year-end gift
We exist not for our own survival, but for the good of the surrounding community. That’s why our mission is “to make disciples for the sake of the city.” We practice Christ’s teachings so that God’s will may be done, “on earth as it is in heaven” — so that daily bread, forgiveness of debts, and deliverance from evil might become a tangible reality in our community.
Youth Make 250 Thanksgiving Lunches for Homeless Neighbors
On the day before Thanksgiving, our youth parented with the youth ministry at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad to assemble and deliver 250 sack lunches to homeless neighbors at Interfaith Community Services in Escondido.
Advent Meditations for a World on the Brink
One of our fellow congregants at OSC, Father Larry Hart, has generously agreed to share with us his latest book, Advent Meditations For a World on the Brink . Larry is a kind friend, a brilliant conversation partner, and longtime pastor serving as a priest in the Episcopal and then later, the Ecumenical Catholic traditions.