Tag: religion

For an engaged couple in which one person belongs to a religious congregation, the choice of wedding venue is relatively simple. But a couple with no connection to an organized religion that wants something more than a simple civil ceremony, the choice can be quite difficult.

For the past year, a Morgan Hill church has offered a unique ministry for South Valley's young adults. It welcomes those attending college, starting families or beginning careers to come Sunday evenings for “a fresh encounter with God and a connection with a community of young adults.”

Easter is the most important holiday of the Christian Church. Despite the rampant commercialism promoting Christmas (the birth of Jesus), it is the commemoration of His death and resurrection that is most deeply significant in understanding the Christian faith.

The large sign in Detroit Metropolitan Airport reads: “Religious Reflections Room.” Noted religion scholar Diana Butler Bass used this sign as her starting point while presenting a talk to a recent adult forum at San Jose's Good Samaritan Episcopal Church.

On March 14, members of Congregation Emeth (South Valley's Jewish Community) celebrated a holiday quite unlike any other. Although Jewish holidays tend to be somewhat somber, Purim is marked by revelry and merry-making.

South Valley residents are invited to an important event at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 22. Morgan Hill's Advent Lutheran Church (16870 Murphy Ave.) is hosting a concert to benefit Reach Out, the local food pantry affiliated with the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Pastor Shalea Adams has a strong connection with Morgan Hill, where she has been involved in ministry for 17 years. In 2002, she was director of the Lighthouse Outreach Center, a facility on Main Street housing an amazing array of free services for adolescents, including refreshments, tutoring, a pool and video games. As teens and their families came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, Adams planted Lighthouse Christian Church in 2003 to accommodate the socio-economically and ethnically diverse surrounding neighborhoods.

I recently reviewed a book by scholar Reza Aslan that attempted to prove the orthodox view of Jesus of Nazareth is mistaken. Indeed, he says church officials repackaged Jesus’ story to make it more appealing to first century gentiles and Roman authorities.

Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians, and it arrives relatively late this year: April 20. However, it is preceded by the preparatory season of Lent, which begins on March 5 for most Christians (and March 3 for those following the traditional Eastern Orthodox calendar).

San Jose First United Methodist Church (24 N. Fifth St.) held an exciting event last month. Members, government officials and visitors attended a worship service marking the “grand opening” of the congregation's new building, which is located directly across from San Jose City Hall.