Spirituality

Los Alamos Jewish Center News: Go Climb A Tree!

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Linnea climbs a tree. Courtesy//Rabbi Jack Shlachter

By RABBI JACK SHLACHTER
Los Alamos Jewish Center

Go Climb a Tree!

Most of us recently celebrated a new year, the Gregorian new year, which falls on Jan. 1. But many other new years are familiar.

The Jewish calendar provides adherents with numerous new years. Perhaps most familiar is Rosh HaShanah, the annual celebration of the creation of the world, and in particular, of human beings. That holiday occurs in September/October (the Jewish calendar moves around relative to the Gregorian calendar) and is often observed by attendance at synagogue Read More

Rev. Laura Loving Joins United Church As Director Of Children’s Ministry

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Rev. Laura Loving to the ministerial staff. She was recruited specifically to focus on children’s programs due to the growing number of youth in the United Church.

By Georgia Strickfaden
United Church of Los Alamos

Rev. Laura Loving

The United Church, especially the children, are joyfully welcoming the Rev. Laura Loving to the ministerial staff. She was recruited specifically to focus on children’s programs due to the growing number of youth in the United Church.

Loving is a United Church of Christ (UCC) minister and has served as a pastor, educator, children’s curriculum writer, retreat Read More

Fr. Glenn: The Best Pedigree

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

As you might imagine, churches often get requests for research into genealogies—people wanting to find out the family line and history, and genetic testing and websites like ancestry.com have been a bit of a rage over the last couple of decades. Who were my kin? Is one of my long-long-past relations some great leader or ruler … or villain? Did my ancestors come over on the Mayflower, or maybe with the Spanish settling the southwest? But, of course, as far as longevity, all of us not of indigenous ancestry are comparatively newbie immigrants anyway. My own mother’s sister often Read More

Fr. Glenn: Do Whatever He Tells You

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Hmmm … classified documents in President Biden’s home. Same for former President Trump. Representatives and senators lying to be elected. Bribes. Voter fraud allegations. Financial schemes, scams, hatreds. Lie, cheat, steal. Rampant shoplifting. Sigh. Who are we able to trust to do the right and the good? To borrow from Thomas Paine: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” (“The Crisis”)

Each time new such news arises, are we not left with a miserable feeling of being let down and more disillusioned, regardless of who it is? Often one “side” or position revels in bad news Read More

All Shall Be Well: Response + Ability

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Clergy from left, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Assistant Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Courtesy photo

By DEACON CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
ELCA

Who is responsible? We’ve all heard the comment, “Somebody really should do something about that!” But who is that “somebody,” really? Do individuals have any responsibility for the way things are? Certainly, in this town, there are lots of ideas about what “somebody” ought to do about “the way things are,” but is it helpful to complain without lifting a finger?

In Hebrew Scripture, the Prophets write about failing Read More

Celebration Of Life For Joyce Eyster At BELC Jan. 21

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Joyce Eyster March 13, 1921 – Nov. 30, 2022 (link)

COMMUNITY News:

A celebration of life will be held for Joyce Eyster at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church at 2390 North Road. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bethlehem Evangelical  Lutheran Church fellowship committee. Read More

Scenes Of 2023 Holy Theophany Blessing Of Ashley Pond

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Scene of Fr. Theophan blessing the water of Ashley Pond Wednesday to celebrate Holy Theophany. Courtesy/Fr. Theophan

Scene of Fr. Theophan blessing the water of Ashley Pond Wednesday to celebrate Holy Theophany. Courtesy/Fr. Theophan

By Father Theophan
Saint Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church

Thursday Jan. 19, the Orthodox world celebrated Holy Theophany, the baptism of Jesus Christ by John in the Jordan River at the beginning of his earthly ministry. St. Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church in Los Alamos celebrated the Day the evening before on Wednesday with a vesperal liturgy.

Paired with the Nativity Read More

Fr. Glenn: They Shouted All The Louder

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Whew! What a goat-rope that election for the Speaker of the House was this week. It was wearying to see the infighting and negotiating for bargaining chips. But almost every election cycle, although in less lengthy and formal processes, there is battle for the gavel. Of course, we only see and hear a smattering of what really goes on; who knows what deals are made when power plays are going on. Will those deals be for the benefit of the people, or simply for the benefit of the power players? We tremble to think it.

I couldn’t help but think of such while reading recently the account of Read More

Los Alamos Choral Society Spring Season Starts Feb. 7

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LACS News:

Los Alamos Choral Society (LACS) will start its 2023 Spring season 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, in United Church Graves Hall (educational building next to United Sanctuary).

The start date is a change from a previous announcement.

LACS invites any and all interested singers to join them in song! No audition required.

For questions, contact Wendy Swanson at w_swanson@mac.com. Read More

Wedding Announcement: Jayme Cayton And Adam Scott

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The United Church of Los Alamos held its final wedding of the year on New Year’s Eve for Jayme Cayton and Adam Scott shown here with friends as they prepare to ring in 2023. Photo by Bernadette Laurtizen

Bride Jayme Cayton is joined on the day of her wedding Dec. 31 by Jade Portillos, Kristian Pacheco, Becky Erickson and Rachel Erickson. Photo by Bernadette Laurtizen

Groom Adam Scott is joined by friends Sam Bond, John Caparone, Hayden Meadows, Caleb Key and Jackson Bowles on the day of his wedding Dec. 31 at United Church. Photo by Bernadette Laurtizen Read More