<![CDATA[Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

<![CDATA[Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Blog]]>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:46:15 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Advent Hope]]>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:42:22 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/advent-hopeDuring Advent, we prepare for Christmas by telling stories of hope, expectation, and longing—stories of hope that come from communities which were experiencing the depths of despair. It feels easy to identify with that anguish this year, as this holy season has been desecrated by acts of violence. This December we witnessed the horrific mass shooting in Australia targeting the Jewish community, and closer to home experienced antisemitic hate speech and hate symbols shared on social media from students at one of our city’s high schools. At the same time, ICE and other government agents have continued to terrorize immigrants and citizens, separating families and intentionally creating a culture of fear that is preventing people from receiving the education, healthcare, and basic needs that God calls us to provide for all people.

Here at CGS, these acts of hatred and violence against Jewish people and immigrants are not just felt as attacks on our neighbors, but on ourselves—our friends, our family, our community. These attacks are felt deeply and personally, because we know the victims. But whether the victims are loved ones or strangers, we are committed to standing with one another against hatred, bigotry, and violence. We know that all people are sacred and beloved by God.

As we have throughout this holy season, we will continue to hold these communities in loving prayer. We also recommit ourselves to the work of building real relationships and acting with each other for justice and peace. Now and in the year to come, rooted in the relationships we have already built with Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good (SVACG) and other institutions, we will be acting in solidarity with our Jewish and immigrant siblings.

In partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) we will hold an educational event around fighting antisemitism at a date to be determined. On January 11th, from 3:00-5:00 pm, we will host a Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network training, to learn some ways to support our neighbors in the event of an ICE raid. I encourage all our members to attend these actions to answer our Christian calling—to move our statements of solidarity toward acts of solidarity.

The story of Advent is a story of hope amidst hopelessness—a story of what is possible for God, even when all seems lost for mere humanity. To believe in this story is to recognize that God is still speaking and acting in this suffering world, and to hope that we might be a part of God’s work to heal the wounds that mar our community. I pray that in deepening our relationships and acting in solidarity together, we find this Advent hope together.

In longing and expectation,
Pastor Kristofer Rhude]]><![CDATA[Recent Additions to the CGS Library – Fall 2025 Special Church History Edition]]>Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:03:57 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/recent-additions-to-the-cgs-library-fall-2025-special-church-history-edition The titles below have been added to the CGS Library and are now available for your reading pleasure. Many of the titles were added to support the current (and future) adult education course on the history of Christianity. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf of the book truck) or may already be found on the bookshelves. We use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system by which the books are arranged. The numbers in bold following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you have any questions (What library?, What is a book truck?, How do I use the Dewey system?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me, Paul) will be happy to help.

Coakley, John, and, Andrea Sterk. Readings in world Christian history. Orbis, 2004.
270 Coak
The selections here include texts that show how Christianity developed and was lived in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean. These texts show Christian life beyond the confines of Byzantine and Western Christendom as Christians enter the Mongol and Chinese courts, struggle to cope with Islam, and continue to live in places such as Ethiopia and Egypt.
Duncan, Lenny. Dear revolutionaries : a field guide for a world beyond the Church. Broadleaf Books, 2023. 261.83 Dun
You may remember Lenny, an African American Lutheran pastor, was a guest speaker at CGS a few years ago to discuss his book, Dear Church (copy available in the CGS library).
Dear Revolutionaries is a book for the community which is ready to rise up and build something new from the ashes. Casting a vision for a new spiritual future led by the people, Dear Revolutionaries offers a series of peace-building practices that will give readers the tools to build, guide, and care for spiritual community in a world beyond the church.
"Fierce in both their criticism of America's institutions and their love for its people." --Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review
"Duncan speaks loudly and clearly, cutting through the cacophonous noise of cheap love and cheap grace." --The Christian Century

Eusebius, Bishop of Caeseria. Eusebius : the Church history. Translation and commentary by Paul Maier. Grand Rapids : Kregel, 1999. 270.1 Eus
Eusebius's "Ecclesiastical History" (Greek: Ἐκκλησιαστικὴ Ἱστορία) is a 4th-century work that chronicles the history of the Christian church from its inception through the early   centuries of the Roman Empire. It is considered the first comprehensive narrative of Christian history and provides invaluable insights into the early church's development, key figures, and events.
In summary, Eusebius's "Ecclesiastical History" is a crucial text for understanding early Christianity, its challenges, and its growth within the Roman world. It remains a foundational work for historians and   theologians alike.
“There is no book more important to understanding the early church history than Eusebius’ The Church history. And there is no edition more readable and engaging than this one” – Mark Galli, Christianity Today
Fugelsang, John. Separation of Church and hate : a sane person’s guide to taking back the Bible from fundamentalists, fascists, and flock-fleecing frauds. N.Y. : Avid Reader Press, 2025. 220.61 Fug
In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred—a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who’ll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist.
Irvin, Dale. History of the world Christian movement. Orbis Books, 2001. 2 v. V.1. Earliest Christianity To 1453 – v.2. Modern Christianity from 1454-1800. 270 Irv v.1, 270 Irv v.2
Hands down, this is the most balanced, comprehensive survey of pre-Reformation church history yet published . . . . I have taught church history for a long time but I gained new insights from every chapter."-- George Harper, in Journal of Asian Mission
“A lucid and informed account of the universal expansion of the Christian Churches...accessible without compromising intellectual integrity." -- Church Times
Janz, Debus. A people’s history of Christianity : from the early Church to the Reformation. Student ed. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2014. 270 Jan
This volume contains careful selections and abridgements of the original content (7 volumes) organized to fit ideally into a course in Christian history. It provides a valuable overview on such topics as birth and death, baptism rites, food, power, heresy, and more. Students are both informed and inspired by seeing the importance of ordinary Christians in shaping Christianity across time.
LeGuin, Ursula. Book of cats. New York : Library of America, 2025. 814.54 Cats
I added this book to the CGS library for those who accuse me of not appreciating cats. Meow. Pssst!
“The presence of a cat keeps me in touch with the mystery, the unreasonableness, the beauty, the stubborn wildness of the nonhuman world.” In her life as in her art, Ursula K. Le Guin was fascinated by the feline. This irresistable book about cats gathers poems, meditations, and drawings dedicated to the complicated creature that captured her imagination. Here are:
The Art of Bunditsu, Le Guin’s hard-to-find “tabbist” meditation on the arranging of cats.
26 cat poems, many illustrated by Le Guin herself.
The Historic First Issue! of Le Guin’s one-of-a-kind cat comic book, Supermouse Comix!
Cat Correspondence: letters between Le Guin’s cat and those of her daughter detailing the Five Deliberations that cats spend their lives studying.
Cat Tai Chi, as depicted in a charming series of drawings.

Lund, Eric, ed. Documents from the history of Lutheranism, 1517-1750. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2002. 266.54 Lund
This unique collection of excerpts from Lutheran historical and theological documents -- many translated here for the first time -- presents readers with a full picture of how the Lutheran movement developed in its thought and practice. Covering not only theology but also church life, popular piety, and influential historical events, the more than 200 primary documents excerpted here show not only the evolution and development of Lutheran doctrine but also its devotional writings, hymns, liturgical texts, letters and diaries, satire, political documents, woodcuts, and pamphlet literature
McLaren, Brian. A new kind of Christianity : ten questions that are transforming the faith. N,Y. : HarperOne, 2011. 270 McL
[McLaren] has been hailed widely as one of the most significant religious leaders of our time, compared by some to the leaders of the Protestant Reformation….In articulating this longing and his disquiet with the status quo, McLaren strikes a chord with many — The Christian Century
Christians must be unlocked from ‘a prison’ of long-held assumptions and have the freedom to ask honest questions, Brian McLaren indicates in his newest book, A New Kind of Christianity. He’s not advocating for a new set of beliefs, he says, but rather a ‘new way of believing.’” — The Christian Post
A New Kind of Christianity is a stellar accomplishment, a combination of hard tack fact and unfettered hope, an overview in delightful narrative of the long way of our coming to this time and of the multiform ways of our arriving. In every way, a dispatch from the front — Phyllis Tickle, author of The Great Emergence
Very rarely a book appears that houses the power to change a generation. A New Kind of Christianity is nothing less than one of those moments — Peter Rollins, Ikon
Moffett, Samuel. A history of Christianity in Asia. 2nd ed. Orbis Books, 1998. 2 v. V.1. Beginnings to 1500 – v.2. 1500-1900. 275 Mof v.1, 275 Mof v.2
The history of Christianity in the West has often been told, but the story of Christianity in the East has received scant attention. This Christianity looked neither to Rome nor Constantinople, and for centuries remained proudly Asian. Priests of the Church of the East -- later called the Nestorian -- established centers in Persia and Afghanistan, across India and the Mongolian steppes, and in China itself as early as the 7th century.
Pavlovitz, John. If God is Love, don’t be a jerk : finding a faith that makes us better humans. Louisville, KY : Westminster John Knox Press, 2021. 234.23 Pav
“A sobering yet inspiring discourse for open-minded, thoughtful readers” – Library Journal
“[This book] calls us to create a more just and equitable world—one that affirm the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands”—Yvette Nicole Brown
“[The author’s] compassion, empathy, wisdom, and guts will remind you of what Jesus actually preached. This self-described theological ‘mutt’ is a pastor, prophet, poet, and a prince. John has given us a book of great insight and wit. It will remind you of what Christianity is supposed to be about”—John Fugelsang
Rorem, Paul. Singing Church history : Introducing the Christian story through hymn texts. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2024. 246.5 Roer
A brilliant idea brilliantly done! There is no book we can hold in our hand that contains as much history as a hymnal. The story of each hymn in its particularity can teach us moments in church history that, together, give us the entire sweep of the past from Miriam to Lina Sandell. A great treasure and resource for congregations. -- Gracia Grindal, professor emerita of rhetoric, Luther Seminary
Rorem applies his deep knowledge of church history and theology to hymns, and the result is an engagingly written brief history of the subject. Intended for lay audiences, it would make a good college or seminary textbook. --Joseph Herl, professor of music, Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska
Wilken, Robert Louis. The first thousand years : a global history of Christianity. New Haven, Conn. : Yale University Press, 2013. 270 Wil
The First Thousand Years is a remarkable achievement, above all for its consistent wisdom and judicious perspective both in particulars and overall. Title and subtitle capture its considerable chronological scope and its innovative geographical compass. Necessarily that range required selectivity and brevity, and it is the skill and judgment evident in that process that is so impressive, along with readability, clarity, and impressive scholarship.”—Frances Young, Journal of Religion
[This book is] an up-to-date overview of the first millennium of Christian history. [Wilken’s] writing style makes it easy and interesting to read. . . . His emphasis on the spread of Christianity beyond the Roman empire shows that the gospel has had a global reach from the very beginning of the church's history. —Joel Otto, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly

                                       Children’s and Young People’s books

Doerrfeld, Cori. The rabbit listened. N.Y. : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018.
J [Fic] Doer
“With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The rabbit listened is about healing heartaches big and small, and taking the time to listen”—book jacket.

Frolic Preschool Bible. Sparkhouse, 2017. 87 p. : illustrations J 220.62 Fro
Created for emerging readers, the Frolic Preschool Bible highlights 40 Bible stories, 20 from the Old Testament and 20 from the New Testament. The engaging, easy-to-read text and colorful, ethnically diverse illustrations invite beginner readers to learn more about stories and characters of the Bible.
Olson, Marc. The world of the first Christians : a curious kid’s guide to the early church / by Marc Olson; illustrated by Jemima Maybank. Beaming Books, 2020.
J 270.1 Ols
The life and teachings of Jesus changed the world forever--but what happened after the events of the Gospels? How did Christianity grow from a small group of followers to one of the largest religious movements in human history? How did the first Christians survive in an oppressive Roman Empire? What did the early church believe, and how did they worship? Curious Kids' Guides present cool and surprising information about Christian history and beliefs in an entertaining, visually engaging way for kids.
Reisch, J. A. Frolic first Bible. Sparkhouse, 2016. 87 p. : illustrations [A board book] J 220.62 Rei
"Great for young kids because it tells the bare-bones version of Bible stories without delving into more difficult concepts. Each story also has a very simplistic truth application for the child. This book truly is a great introductory Bible storybook for little hearts. I also like that the Bible story depicts the biblical characters as Middle Eastern, rather than white - a far more accurate depiction." --KidzMatter
Sotomayor, Sonia. Just shine! : how to be a better you. Philomel Books, 2025.
J [Fic] Sot
"This is a timely reminder that a remarkable sense of community can emerge through ordinary means. Alcántara’s dreamy, ornate marker-and-gouache artwork emphasizes the beauty of kindness. A thoughtful primer on the transformative power of goodness." —Kirkus Reviews
Spark story Bible / stories retold by Patti Thisted Arthur…[et al.]. Sunday School ed. Sparkhouse, 2009. 555 p. : color illustrations
J 220.62 Spa
The award-winning Spark Story Bible opens up God's Word to kids through colorful art and rich retellings of 150 of the most popular Bible stories. The Bible uses creative language familiar to kids and features full-color, vibrant artwork. Designed for age 2 to grade 2.
Weaver, Katie. The trouble with children (according to Dog). Little Offbeat Publishing, 2024. J [Fic] Wea
The family dog has a LOT to get off his chest. Because, well, living with children can be...challenging. Between playing dress-up, being squeezed too tightly, and dirty toys in Dog's water bowl, this canine has had ENOUGH!! Will Dog find that there are sweet moments to be cherished amidst the chaos?
“This humorous, lively dog's-eye view provides gentle instruction for interacting with pets” – Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review).

]]><![CDATA[Council Article -How I came to CGS]]>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 02:05:04 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/council-article-how-i-came-to-cgsHow I came to CGS

My husband John Haselden & I were searching for a social justice, Christian faith-based community. John had been raised by a devout Southern Baptist family and I was raised by a devout Catholic family.

We were members of MCC, {Metropolitan Community Church} until sadly it closed, for many years. MCC was a small social justice and LGBGTQ Christian church where all were welcomed. We tried to make a difference, and succeeded some times. From prison ministry, to giving care packages to homeless on street corner, we representing MCC in Pride parades. At Christmas we started a gift drive for youth who were affected by HIV and AIDS or family member especially if parents were affected. Sponsored by the Jerry Larson Foodbank. I continued this on to Stanford Biology Dept. then partnered with to CGS. The foodbank no longer focuses on that purpose. CGS is turning to The Family Giving Tree to help us direct Christmas Giving to children in need again this year. More on that later.

We first attended CGS on Palm Sunday 2013, and became members in October 2013. A close friend know we were looking for a Christian community since the closure of MCC and told us he thought we might like CGS and did we ever! We had attended several other congregations before CGS but we had not felt a connection. From the moment we walked in and sat in our pews we both felt at home. People was very friendly and genuinely interest in us! Not since MCC had we experience this. I remember the Interim Pastor Levitica’s serum that Sunday personally spoke to me, {do not ask me the topic I cannot remember I just remember how it felt at the time}, plus the music and choir were wonderful.

Since joining CGS, I first joined the property commit and we achieved many goals during the time as a member. I have been a member of the mixed choir since Daniel Thomas came to CGS. I have serviced 2 terms on the council and now on my 3rd. John and I have been very blessed to be a part of this community and look forward to active and contributing to for many years to come.

Thank you, and may God bless you all.
Joe Shackelford

]]><![CDATA[The Church and our prison system]]>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 18:24:15 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/the-church-and-our-prison-systemFrom Paul Thomas:

Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSVue)
“Then the King will say to the people on his right, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father! Come and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you ever since the creation of the world. I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’ The righteous will then answer him, ‘When, Lord, did we ever see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we ever see you a stranger and welcome you in our homes, or naked and clothe you? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!’”

The passage above is quoted here because it helps us to understand what we learned and, more importantly, what we felt after finishing this Spring’s adult education class on Christianity and people in prisons and our prison system. One striking example of what the church is doing in this area was the visit we had from a Lutheran pastor whose congregation is located inside an actual prison.

New Beginnings Worshipping Community! (NBWC) is a Lutheran mission church led by Rev. Samm Melton-Hill that holds regular in-person worship services inside the Denver Women's Correctional Facility. It is open to all who wish to join the community.
Its mission is to restore shattered lives to wholeness through the love of Jesus Christ.

Rev Samm came to CGS to talk to us about the NBWC, the prison ministry inside the Denver Women's Correctional Facility. We heard wonderful and inspiring stories about how this ministry impacts the lives of the prisoners both while incarcerated and after their release. We also learned the prisoners are supported not only by Pastor Samm’s ministry, but by the Highlands Lutheran Church in Denver where Pastor Samm also serves as part-time pastor. Nevertheless, there is always more that could be done to help this ministry and the people it serves. Once released from prison, don’t we want these people to lead useful and fulfilling lives? If the answer is “yes”, then do we have a responsibility to help inmates both while in prison and afterwards?

At the end of our class this Spring, members asked themselves what we could do. We had also asked Reverend Samm during our session what we could do to help the NBWC ministry. Rev. Samm responded that direct donations to her congregation were one solution as, unlike congregations like CGS, Reverend Samm’s community has no money and cannot collect donations from its members. Another suggestion was donations in-kind. Greeting cards, for example, would be more than welcome. It is vitally important for prisoners to maintain relationships with their families on the outside, and sending birthday and other cards to family is one important way for them to do so. Unfortunately, cards available to the prisoners in the facility for purchase are terribly expensive and out of reach for most. So a donation of cards (with appropriate postage) would be a great help. Susan Duran kindly volunteered to coordinate the collecting and sending of cards to the prisoners.

We also talked about what we might also be able to do locally -- whether there are any opportunities here. Ann Ponikvar did some research to look at what might be available in Santa Clara County. As it turns out, there are not a lot of correctional facilities in the county. Outside of the county jail, we have the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas. It includes facilities for both men and women. The women’s facility hosts approximately 250 inmates and is now home to a library just opened last December that is run by the Santa Clara County Library District. There might be opportunities for serving the inmates in Elmwood. If anyone at CGS would be interested in evaluating the possibilities, please let me know.

If you are interested in (or considering) serving the prison population, whether in Denver or Milpitas or elsewhere, there are some resources to which you can avail yourself:

Contact information for giving to the NBWC: Give | New Beginnings Worshipping Community

Two documentaries of interest:
The Quilters follows the daily lives of several quilters inside the sewing room at South Central Correctional Center, a Level 5 maximum-security prison in a small town two hours south of St. Louis, MO. From design to completion, the men reveal their struggles, triumphs, and sense of pride in creating something beautiful in this windowless, sacred space deep within the prison walls. Watch on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/82006530
Vice, How Private Prisons Protect their Profits, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuY0LQd9Jgw

Reading
You may also want to read the book we read for the class which is available in the CGS Library: Jeffrey Reiman and Paul Leighton, The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison, 13th ed., New York and London: Routledge, 2023. 364.973 Rei

]]><![CDATA[August 07th, 2025]]>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 16:47:45 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/august-07th-2025The titles below have been added to the CGS Library for your summer enjoyment and are now available to all. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf of the book truck) or are already on the shelves. We use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system, and the books are arranged by that system. The numbers following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you have any questions (Where is the library?, What is a book truck?, How do I use the Dewey system?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me) will be happy to help you.

Recent Additions to the CGS Library – Summer 2025

Le Guin, Ursula K. Hainish novels and stories. Edited by Brian Attebery. N.Y. : Library of America, 2017. 813.54 LeG
v.1. Rocannon’s world, Planet of exile, City of illusions, The left hand of darkness, The dispossessed, Stories – v.2. The word for world is forest, Stories, Five ways to forgiveness, The telling.
“The star-spanning story of humanity’s colonization of other planets, [these stories] redrew the map of modern science fiction”—Brian Attebery.
Also found in Pastor Kris’ library.
Le Guin, Ursala K. No time to spare : thinking about what matters. N.Y. : HarperPerennial, 2017. 813.54 N
“Short, punchy, and canny meditations on aging, literature and cats…[Le Guin] offers her many fans a chance to share her clear-eyed experience of the everyday”—Publishers Weekly
“Altogether fantastic …A magnificent read in its tessellated totality”—Brian Pickings

Pavlovitz, John. If God is Love, don’t be a jerk : finding a faith that makes us better humans. Louisville, KY : Westminster John Knox Press, 2021. 234.23 Pav
“A sobering yet inspiring discourse for open-minded, thoughtful readers” – Library Journal
“[This book] calls us to create a more just and equitable world—one that affirm the beauty in all humanity—and leaves us feeling that it is all within our hands”—Yvette Nicole Brown
“[The author’s] compassion, empathy, wisdom, and guts will remind you of what Jesus actually preached. This self-described theological ‘mutt’ is a pastor, prophet, poet, and a prince. John has given us a book of great insight and wit. It will remind you of what Christianity is supposed to be about”—John Fugelsang
Rohr, Richard. Jesus’ alternative plan: the Sermon on the Mount. 2nd ed. Cincinatti, OH : Franciscan Media, 2022. 226.9 Rohr.
“When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God, he was talking abut an utterly different way of relating to human society as we know it. He lays out a blueprint for this new life in his best-known teaching, the Sermon on the Mount. From the Beatitudes onward, the Sermon on the Mount overturns conventional wisdom and traditional power structures, offering a plan for an alternative way of being. Acclaimed spiritual teacher and Franciscan priest Richard Rohr explores the implications of this vision in Jesus’ Alternative Plan”—back cover
Rose, Sarah Elizabeth. Held by hope : a memoir of survival, faith, and the quiet fight to keep going. Global Publishing Agency, 2025. 813.6 Rose
“I wrote Held by Hope because I needed to tell the truth—not only just for myself, but for every survivor who has ever felt silenced, unseen, or beyond redemption.”
Tisby, Jemar. The color of compromise : the truth about the American church’s complicity in racism. Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan Reflective, 2019. 305.8 Tis
“If you want to understand why we remain mired in racial unrighteousness, you need to read this book. Its pages radiate not just historical but also moral insight as Tisby shines a light on to the dark places of American Church history. [This book] tells the truth -- and only the truth will set us free” – Heath Carter, Assistant Professor, Valparaíso University


                                       Children’s and Young People’s books

Doerrfeld, Cori. The rabbit listened. N.Y. : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018.
J [Fic] Doer
“With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The rabbit listened is about healing heartaches big and small, and taking the time to listen”—book jacket.
Tisby, Jemar, with Malcom Newsome. I am the Spirit of Justice. Illustrated by Nadia Fisher. Grand Rapids, MI : ZonderKidz, 2025. J 323.11 Tis
“Lyrical texts…personify [the spirit of justice] for children, demonstrating how it inspired [African Americans] throughout key events in America’s past. In addition, an author’s note unpacks the importance behind each of [the] illustrations…helping kids better understand how they fit into the history of civil rights and how they too can work to make a difference for their future”—book jacket.]]><![CDATA[Answering the Call to Care: Reflections on QPR Suicide Prevention Training]]>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:36:40 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/answering-the-call-to-care-reflections-on-qpr-suicide-prevention-trainingOn Wednesday, July 9th, I had the opportunity to attend a powerful and eye-opening session held right here at our church: the QPR Suicide Prevention Training, also known as Gatekeeper Training. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer—three simple but potentially life-saving steps anyone can learn to help someone who may be considering suicide.
Unlike professional mental health training, QPR is designed for everyday people—parents, friends, teachers, coworkers, neighbors—anyone who wants to be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide, engage in compassionate dialogue, and guide someone to seek professional help. Just as CPR helps sustain life in a medical emergency, QPR helps sustain hope in a mental health crisis.
As I sat in the training, I couldn’t help but think back to my younger years—times when I struggled deeply with my own mental health, including self-harm and thoughts of suicide. I struggled quietly and alone. I never heard anyone at church speak about these things. Not in Sunday school. Not in Bible study. Not from the pulpit.
And if it was mentioned at all, it was often in the harshest of terms—described as a mortal sin, or referenced only in connection with Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. The message, whether spoken or implied, was clear: suicide was a shameful failure, not a cry for help or a sign of suffering. There was no space to talk about despair as something a Christian might feel. There was no room for grace in that conversation.
And so I carried it in silence, believing that perhaps these were things not meant to be shared in a faith-filled life.
That’s why I am so profoundly thankful that our church is changing that.
By hosting this QPR training, we are declaring—boldly and compassionately—that mental health matters. Struggles with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are not signs of weak faith or moral failure—they are part of the human condition and deserve to be met with empathy, not judgment. As a church community, our calling is not to explain away suffering but to sit with it, walk alongside it, and offer hope in its midst.
The QPR training equipped us with practical tools: how to recognize verbal, behavioral, and situational clues that someone might be in crisis; how to ask difficult but caring questions; how to listen without judgment; and how to guide the person toward professional support. It reminded us that we don’t have to be therapists to make a difference—we just have to be present, aware, and willing to speak when silence might be deadly.
I left the training feeling more prepared, but also more hopeful. Because what encouraged me most wasn’t just the skills we practiced—it was the witness of our church opening the door to this long-overdue conversation.
As a Lutheran, I found myself reflecting on the foundation that shapes so much of our theology: grace. Martin Luther taught that we are saved by grace alone, not by our strength, our success, or the steadiness of our feelings. He understood that the life of faith includes fear, doubt, and even despair—but grace is not reserved for the strong. It is poured out for the weary. It is a promise for the trembling heart.
Luther once said, "Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a person would stake their life on it a thousand times." This grace is not theoretical. It is the hand that lifts us when we are too tired to stand. It is the whisper that says, "You are still loved. You are still His." And it is the assurance that no matter how deep the pit, we are not beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
That’s why I believe the church must speak openly about mental health. Because grace belongs here. And so do the hurting, the grieving, the anxious, and the overwhelmed.
If you've ever believed the lie that mental illness has no place in the church, let this be your sign: we are making space now. And if you're carrying pain in silence, please know this: there is no shame in struggling, and there is help, hope, and healing available.
QPR gave me tools. But it was our church’s willingness to host this training that brought me to tears. May we continue to open our doors and our hearts—for each other, for the next generation, and for all who enter, wondering if they truly belong.
They do.
By grace alone, they do.

By Sophie Jobe

]]><![CDATA[Recent Additions to the CGS Library – Spring-Summer 2025]]>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:36:33 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/recent-additions-to-the-cgs-library-spring-summer-2025 The titles below were added to our CGS Library over the past few months and are now available to all. Some were gifts to the library, some were requests, and some you may blame on me. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf of the book truck) or are already on the shelves. Please note that we use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system, and the books are arranged on our shelves by that system. The numbers following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you have any questions (we have a library? Where is the library?, What is a book truck?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me) will be happy to help you.

Recent Additions to the CGS Library – Spring-Summer 2025

[Bible. Mark. English. Mann. 1986] Mark: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by C.S. Mann (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 27) Doubleday, 1986.
226.3 Mann 1986
[Bible. Matthew. English. Albright. 1971] Matthew: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary by W.F. Albright and C.S. Mann (The Anchor Bible, Vol. 26) Doubleday, 1971. 226.2 Alb 1971
Borg, Marcus, and, John Dominic Crossan. The last week : a day-by-day account of Jesus’s final week in Jerusalem. San Francisco : Harper, 2006. 232.925 Borg
“If there is to be one book for the redemption of Holy Week, this is it. Lent cannot be better concluded than with this expert guide through the passion to Easter. This is a ‘must read’ for clergy and laity” – Peter Gomes.
Bourgeault, Cynthia. The meaning of Mary Magdalene : discovering the woman at the heart of Christianity. Boulder: Shambhala, 2010. 226.092 Bou
“A remarkable invitation into the origins and wisdom of Christianity, through the apostolic witness of Mary Magdalene. Expect a challenge, perhaps more than you’re ready for. This book should change something, as it invites you to deepen our capacity for love, through the witness of Jesus’ beloved disciple”—Dr. Katherine Jefferts Sciori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

Brantl, George, ed. Catholicism: the meaning of Catholicism, the organic unity of the Christian experience. N.Y. : Braziller, 1961. (Great religions of modern man)
282 Bra

Cahill, Thomas. Desire of the everlasting hills: the world before and after Jesus. N.Y. : Anchor Books, 2001. 232 Cah
“[Cahill] is a popularizer of the best sort, and well suited to the task of writing about the greatest religious populist in Western history. Cahill depicts a Jesus that even those who know the Bible better than the Gideons might find unfamiliar … revelatory.” -- LA Times.

Connolly, Peter. The legend of Odysseus. (Rebuilding the past). Oxford, 1986. 823.914 Con
Connolly’s adaptation of Homer’s story is informed and enhanced by a detailed archaeological presentation of the Greek and Trojan way of life at the time of Odysseus. Site reconstructions, illustrations, maps and photographs, all in full color, help reveal the facts and faces behind one of the world’s great stories.
Dunstan, J. Leslie, ed. Protestantim: the spirit of Protestantism, the God-Man encounter as living experience. N.Y. : Braziller, 1961. (Great religions of odern man) 284 Dun
Gard, Richard, ed. Buddhism : the way of Buddhism, its ideals and philosophy. N.Y. : Braziller, 1961. (Great religions of modern man) 294.3 Gard
George, Margaret. Mary, called Magdalene : a novel. N.Y. : Penguin, 2003.
813.54 Geo
“An expansive thoughtful novel”— San Francisco Chronicle.
Hadas, Moses. Imperial Rome. N.Y. : Time-Life, 1995. 913.37 Had
A well-illustrated book that puts the Roman world of Jesus into historical perspective.
Hertzberg, Arthur, ed. Judaism : the unity of the Jewish spirit throughout the ages. N.Y. : Braziller, 1961. (Great religions of modern man) 296 Hert
Johnson, Elizabeth. She who is : the mystery of God in feminist theological discourse. Crossroad, 1992. 25th anniversary edition. 231.4 John
“As perhaps the best book of feminist theology to date, She Who Is is at once thoroughly orthodox, grounded in classical Christian thought. Liberatingly contemporary, and rooted in Woman’s experience”—Library Journal
Moyers, Bill, introd. Talking about Genesis : a resource guide for individuals, families, and groups. N.Y. : Doubleday, 1996. 222.11 Moy
This is a companion book to the PBS television series Genesis: a living conversation.
Nanos, Mark D. The mystery of Romans : the Jewish context of Paul’s letters. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2006. 229.306 Nan
This is a well done book, and its extensive notes constitute an interesting tapestry of relatively recent insights into Pauline studies” – Krister Stendahl, Harvard Divinity School.
Reiman, Jeffrey, and, Paul Leighton. The rich get richer and the poor get prison : thinking critically about class and criminal justice. 13th ed. N.Y. : Routledge, 2023.
363.2 Reim
We used portions of this book for the most recent adult education class.
Renou, Louis, ed. Hinduism: the spirit of Hinduism, its mythology, philosophy, religious and moral practices and beliefs. N.Y. : Braziller,1961 (Great religions of modern man) 294.5 Ren
Safire, William. The first dissident : the Book of job in today’s politics. N.Y. : Random House, 1992. 223.106 Saf
With clarity and verve, Safire renders Job as the matchless investigator of innocent suffering and the prototype of resistance to authority” – New York Times Book Review, Notable Book of 1992
Towner-Larsen, Susan, and, Barbara Brewer Davis. With sacred threads : quilting and the spiritual life. Cleveland : United Church Press, 2000. 242.68 Tow
“For those who doubt the proximity of play and prayer, this book is an invitation to celebrate the image of God within us through quilting as a creative art form that shapes and expresses spirituality. It is a book about the cosmic quilt of the Maker of all things” – Rev. Dr. Thomas Dipko, UCC
Williams, John Allen, ed. Islam : the tradition and contemporary orientation of Islam, a religiously integrated way of life. N.Y. : Braziller, 1961. (Great religions of modern man) 297.082 Wil

                                       Children’s and Young People’s books

Barnett, Mac. The three Billy goats Gruff. N.Y. : Orchard Books, 2022. J [Fic] Barn
Seuss, Dr. A Hatful of Seuss : five favorite Dr. Seuss stories. N.Y. : Random House, 1997. J [Fic] Seuss Hat
Shulman, Naomi. Give thanks : you can reach out and spread joy. North Adams, MA : Storey, 2021. J 179.9 Shul

]]><![CDATA[Relay For Life]]>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:31:41 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/june-18th-2025Hello friends,

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be participating in Relay for Life again this year, but at a different location. I’ve been a dedicated participant for 11 years with Cambrian Relay for Life, but unfortunately, they’ve decided to join Campbell Relay for Life. So, this year, I’ll be joining the Campbell Relay for Life.

The event will take place from July 12th at 10 a.m. to July 13th at 10 a.m. at the Campbell Community Center track. The funds raised at this event will be instrumental in supporting the American Cancer Society’s research, patient support, and advocacy efforts for cancer patients.

As a breast cancer survivor, I’m deeply passionate about working towards a world free from cancer. However, I’m saddened to share that the recently released proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2026 has resulted in a significant cut to the funding for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This cut amounts to almost $2.7 billion, or approximately 37.2% from the current fiscal year.

In light of this concerning situation, I kindly request your support in reaching out to your elected representatives. Please urge them to reconsider these cuts to the NCI and ensure that cancer research and patient support continue to receive the necessary funding. Additionally, I would be honored if you could contribute to my fundraising efforts at Relay for Life. Your support will make a significant impact in helping to combat cancer.

Here’s a link to the event page: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/PMenard

I’m excited to share that I’ll be raffling off a beautiful quilt this year. Each ticket costs $10, or you can purchase 6 tickets for $50. If you’d like to be included in the raffle, please find me at church or make a donation at the provided link, then email me and let me know. I’ll then add your tickets to the raffle.

Another way to honor cancer caregivers, remember someone lost to cancer, or support a cancer survivor is by purchasing a luminaria bag. These bags are available at the same link as the raffle tickets. Alternatively, you can let me know who you’d like to honor, and I’ll create a personalized luminaria bag for your honoree.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting this important cause and contribute to the fight against cancer. Together, we can make a difference!

-Petra Menard

]]><![CDATA[Join a House Meeting to Serve our Neighbors!]]>Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:42:30 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/join-a-house-meeting-to-serve-our-neighbors
From Our Community Organizing Representative Chuck Witschorik:

Responding to our call at CGS to Proclaim, Welcome, and Serve, we've recently committed to serving our neighbors through membership in Silicon Valley Allied for the Common Good (SVACG). As an organization dedicated to bringing together diverse communities from throughout Silicon Valley, SVACG is made up of a variety of religious and civic service groups. Striving to learn directly from members of these groups about their concrete social and economic needs, the work of SVACG involves face to face meetings, called house meetings, where people get together to share frankly about the challenges they are facing. Once these meetings are completed, a discernment process begins, where the information learned in the meetings is brought together and consensus is arrived at among the partner members of SVACG about what area(s) to focus on in response to the communities' articulated needs. For example, if a concern was heard at the house meetings about improvements needed in city park facilities for children, SVACG would then organize and work together to attend city council meetings and help advocate for favorable outcomes that would address that particular community need.

In these months of March and April, SVACG currently is involved in the house meetings phase of this process. This means that there are a number of meetings happening, not in private homes in this case, but at some of our partner institutions. During these meetings, local members of the community come together, listen to one another, and learn about social or economic challenges they each are facing. This valuable input will then become part of the process that the larger group will engage in as a way to decide together on next steps.

In essence, our participation as a congregation in SVACG is a way we can serve our neighbors. By learning directly from those around us about their concrete needs, we will be positioned to contribute to tangible solutions through the work of advocacy that we will participate in. Please feel free to speak with any of us on the CGS SVACG team, including Rebecca, Jean Hope, Chuck, and Adolfo, with any questions you may have. We hope you will consider attending an upcoming house meeting and joining us in this work of service for and with our neighbors!

To register for a SVACG house meeting, please click here and fill out the form.

]]><![CDATA[From Our Librarian]]>Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:41:35 GMThttps://www.cgslc.org/blog/from-our-librarianSince February is Black History Month, I thought I would present a list of books in the CGS Library that are by or about African Americans and their experiences. Please note: in the list below, the numbers that follow each entry are the call numbers, the way you can find the book cited on the shelves. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me about what I did with the title you want that you can’t find.

CGS Library
Black History Month
Books dealing with the African American experience

Anderson, Victor. Creative exchange: a constructive theology of African American religious experience. 277.306 And

Arnold, Harriet. Antioch, a place of Christians: chronicles of an African American church, 1893-1993. 926
Baldwin, James. The fire next time. 305.896073 Ba
Baldwin, Lewis. Never to leave us: the prayer life of Martin Luther King, Jr. 363.092 Ba
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the world and me. 305.800973 Coat
Cone, James. A Black theology of liberation. 230.089 Cone
Cone, James. The cross and the lynching tree. 277.308 Cone
Copeland, M. Shawn. Enfleshing freedom: body, race, and being (Intersections in African American theology) 233.089 Cop
Collier-Thomas, Bettye. A treasury of African American Christmas stories. 810.8 Col
Cudjoe-Wilkes, Gabby. Psalms for Black lives. 261.1 Cud
Douglas, Kelly Brown. Sexuality and the Black church: a womanist perspective. 230.082 Dou
Duncan, Lenny. Dear Church: a love letter from a Black Lutheran preacher to the Whitest denomination in the U.S. 266.6 Dun
Echols, James. I have a dream: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the future of multicultural America. 305.8 Ec
Gordon Reed, Annette. On Juneteenth. 394.263 Gor
Griffin, Horace L. Their own receive them not: African American Lesbians and gays in Black churches. 261.84 Grif
Haley, Alex. Roots. 929.2
Hannah-Jones, Nicole. The 1619 Project. 973 Han
Harris, Jessica. High on the hog: a culinary journey from Africa to America. 641.59 Har
Harvey, Jennifer. Raising White kids: bringing up children in a racially unjust America. 649.709 Har
Jenkins, Willis. Bonhoeffer and King: their legacies and import for Christian social theology.
261.10 Je
Johnson, G. Jeff. Black Christians: the untold Lutheran story. 267.1 Jo
Joshi, Khyati. White Christian privilege: the illusion of religious equality. 305.67 Jos
King, Martin Luther, Jr. Strength to love. 220 Ki
Kujawa-Holbrook, Sheryl. Injustice and the care of souls: taking oppression seriously in pastoral care. 206.1 Kuj
Lorde, Audre. Sister outsider: essays and speeches. 814.54 Lor
Mason, Eric. Woke Church: an urgent call for Christians in America to confront racism and injustice. 272.3 Mas
Nittle, Nadia. Bell hook’s spiritual vision. 305.42 Nit
Noel, James A. The passion of the Lord: African American reflections. 232.96 No
Obama, Michelle. Becoming. 973.932 Obama
Oluo, Ijema. So you want to talk about race. 305.800973 Ol
Pero, Albert. Theology and the Black experience: the Lutheran 267.1 Pe
Pinn, Anthony. What is African American religion?
Reynolds, Jason. Anti-racism and you. 305.800973 Rey
Ritchie, Andrea. Invisible no more: police violence against Black women and women of color. 365.232 Rit
Taylor, Keeanga. From #Black Lives Matter to Black liberation. 305.896 Tay
Thomas, James. A rumor of Black Lutherans: the formation of Black leadership in early American Lutheranism. 261.1 Tho
Ward, Jesmyn. The fire this time: a new generation speaks about race. 305.896 Ward
Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste: the origin of our discontents. 305.5 Wil
Wilkerson, Isabel. The warmth of other suns. 304.80973 Wi
Williams, Reggie. Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus. 230.044092 Wi
Youth books
Cherry-Paul, Sonja. Stamped (for kids): racism, anti-racism and kids. J 303.8 Rey
Hamilton, Virginia. The people could fly: American Black folktales. J 398.208 Ha
Lyons, Kelly. Sing a song: how Lift Every Voice and Sing inspired generations. J 813.6 Ly
Pinkney, Sandra. Shades of Black: a celebration of our children. J 306.7 Pink
Tarpley, Natasha. I like my hair. J 813.54 Tarp

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