Hello Gorgeous People,

I pray that your Labor Day was lovely. Brent and I, along with a few other Island United folk, attended the Peninsula Multifaith Coalition annual “Prayers for Peace” in Twin Pines Park, Belmont (say that five times fast). It was a lovely gathering of gentle souls from different faith houses who came together to share songs and prayers of peace from our different traditions, followed by a potluck. It was a truly beautiful way to start the day.

This week we wrap up with Beguiled by Beauty: From Beauty to Compassion and Justice. Through Scripture usually associated with Advent, Isaiah 52:7-10, we will look at reconciliation, restoration, and redemption. By seeing the inherent beauty in others and in creation, we can be filled with compassion for (suffering with) them, leading us toward seeking justice and right relationship –Tikkun Olam, the repair and healing of the World. I saw some of this in action at our gathering Labor Day morning.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream. 

Share the beauty!
Rev. Michael Cronin

P.S. Don’t forget that next week is Homecoming AND Consecration Sunday. Bring a friend, extend the family. 

Curious Ones,

It is said that babies start asking “What’s that?” around 15 to 18 months of age. Between two and five years, the “where’s and the why’s” come in as their experience expands. And then, in the terrible teens, the why’s creep in again – especially when dad tells you to do something. Teen: “Why?” Dad: “Because I told you so!”

And then the world imprints upon us that people and things have value. That value is determined by how it relates to us, serves us, or benefits us. We are called to let go of this valuation of people and things and see them for their inherent beauty – which is not related to us – without asking “Why?”

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we continue Beguiled by Beauty: The Beauty of the World Without a “Why” through the Song of Songs 4:1-7. Invite a friend along for the adventure.

Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin

People of Wonder,

My name is Michael. And I am a Pisces. (Hello, Michael)

Over the years, I have read many a horoscope, the positive and negative traits about my birth sign. “Sometimes Pisces emotions are so deep and so powerful words cannot express them… They are as unfathomable and mysterious and powerful as the ocean… Pisces is represented by the symbol of two fish swimming in opposite directions, which is thought to capture the sign’s dual nature and tendency towards introspection and escapism.”

And you?

This week we continue Beguiled by Beauty: Abyss, Mystery, and Wonder as we look at Psalm 135:1-3, 13-21. Marcia McFee, the creator of this series writes, “The spiritual part of ourselves is a ‘divine abyss.’ It is a dimension that is not touched by words, thoughts, ideas, and feelings.” No matter how we locate or define God, God and our experiences of God are unfathomable. I love that mystery. The constant journey toward knowing and understanding that which we will never know.

I look forward to seeing you at 10 am on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream this Sunday.

Share the adventure with a friend,
Rev. Michael Cronin

P.S. Don’t forget to return your homework – “How has beauty been a source of resilience and hope for you?” – for the gratitude jars!

Lovely Ones,

We often hear that we are living in “unprecedented times.” As we look back to history, it turns out that unprecedented times are not all that uncommon. We are always experiencing things never done or never known before. Creativity, innovation, experimentation, and introspection are just some of the things born of chaos and turmoil.

Today I was thinking of the U2 song “Beautiful Day”. If you’ve not heard it, I invite you to listen to it on our YouTube channel. According to Bono, “Beautiful Day” is about “a man who has lost everything but finds joy in what he still has.” Blender interpreted the song and the line “It’s a beautiful day” as “a vision of abandoning material things and finding grace in the world itself”.

This week we continue with Beguiled by Beauty: Awakening to Beauty, Falling in Love with the World by examining Psalm 147:1-11, a Psalm of Praise. “Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God! How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!” In the midst of unprecedented times, can we stop and take in the beauty of what God is doing in the world with and through us?

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we examine the resilience we find in beauty. Remember to spend some time “warmed” by sitting/walking in the sun or sitting/lying while wrapped and cradled in a soft blanket – allowing your mind to slow, your heart to open, your eyes to drink in your surroundings. Share the beauty!

Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin

P.S. Don’t forget to bring back your slips with “What pain or suffering has led you to beauty and gratitude?”

Beloveds,

How often do you make a mistake and then have your inner voices berate you? Eeyore visits and says, “Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” Glum from Gulliver’s Travels sits on your shoulder whispering, “We’ll never make it” or “We’re doomed.”

On any given day, there is negativity that can seed itself and take root in our psyches – separating us from ourselves, each other, and God. We forget that Divine Beauty abounds. If we but open our eyes and bodies to it, we are once again connected to the Goodness that is. We see ourselves and each other as God sees us, wonderfully and beautifully made. 

Throughout history, Chrisitan mystics such as Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila remind us that “all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well’ and “may God protect me from gloomy saints.” The psalmist writes (Psalms 16:8): “I’m always aware of your presence; you are right by my side, and nothing can shake me.” How would our attitudes change if these were the voices we heard?

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we move deeper into the series “Beguiled by Beauty: We Are Made for the Beloved.”

Share the beauty,
Rev. Michael Cronin

I spend a good deal of each day in front of my computer. In the bottom left corner of my screen, a prompt shows the weather conditions. As I write this, it is 65F and windy in San Francisco and 70F and windy in Foster City. At regular intervals, there is a “Breaking News” or “News for You” prompt that appears and lures me to click into the browser to feed this cat’s curiosity. Today, the headlines read:

“Trump questions whether Harris is ‘Black’ at conference of Black journalists” – Reuters

“Iran vows revenge for killing of Hamas leader in Tehran” – The Washington Post

“4 people, 3 dogs killed after mobile home intentionally set on fire: Sheriff” – ABC News

“1 dead as Colorado wildfire spreads; California Park Fire raging” – USA Today

“Katie Ledecky wins gold in women’s 1500-meter freestyle at Paris Games | Social media reacts” – USA Today

Four of five headlines cause me to “facepalm.” And, when in the car, I’m listening to KQED. The election cycle instills dread. And then there’s social media. The goings-on of the world can be overwhelming and depressing. But then I think about the beauty and goodness around me and in my life, and I breathe, I calm, and l smile. I am beguiled.

Over the remainder of the summer, we will be taking a more contemplative approach to worship with the series “Beguiled by Beauty”. The series is designed to deepen our spiritual practice to feed the well that helps us not just to survive these trying times but to thrive. I look forward to seeing you at 10 am Sunday on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream.

Invite a friend to share in the beauty.
Rev. Michael Cronin

P.S. You’re invited to share a photo of something that speaks beauty to you.

Beloveds,

So much has changed in the political landscape since we last gathered. There is excitement and panic on both sides of the aisle. And division.

We are 102 days from a decision that will shape the future of our country. No matter the outcome, there are rough seas ahead. Batten down the hatches!

But, I will not let fear rule my days. We have each other and an abundance of love and compassion to go around and carry us through. We will continue to feast and invite to the table. People need it.

I look forward to seeing you at 10 am Sunday on Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we look at John 6:1-21 when Jesus feeds the 5000 and calms the sea. Keep extending an invitation to join the fun we share.

Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin

People on the Journey,

Perhaps you are familiar with the 59th Street Bridge Song by Simon & Garfunkel:

“Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy…”

Hearing the tune and remembering the lyrics make me smile from the inside. It’s a reminder to not get caught up in the grind, to take a time out. Easier said than done. I remember Alexis once saying, “If there were forty hours in a day, I’d use them.” And those words resonated to my core.

In this week’s Scripture, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, the healing stories continue with Jesus inviting the apostles to “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Reminding us that, in all our “comings and goings”, we need to take time for ourselves, to just be and leave behind the distractions of the world. If we don’t, we won’t be of much service to anyone. Jesus recognized it then and reminds us now.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we reflect upon this pericope.

Invite a friend to come and just be.

Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin

Companions on the Journey,

Many of us are familiar with Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Alice’s main antagonist is the Queen of Hearts. Wikipedia posts that she is a childish, foul-tempered monarch whom Carroll himself describes as “a blind fury” and who is quick to give death sentences at even the slightest of offenses. “The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. ‘Off with his head!’ she said, without even looking around.” It is said that she represents egotism and narcissism syndrome. Hmmm, sounds like a familiar personality?

If you guessed King Herod, you are correct!

This Sunday we will be looking at Mark 6:14-39 and the beheading of John the Baptist. The grisly story is the filling between last week’s story of Jesus’s sending out the disciples two-by-two to heal and next week’s story of their successes in what is known as a Markan Sandwich. Ann will be sharing her sure-to-be dramatic reading of Scripture from Bellevue, Washington, via Zoom.

I look forward to seeing you at 10 am Sunday on 1130 Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream. Bring a friend and share the fun.

’til then,
Rev. Michael Cronin

Happy Independence Day!

Today, as we celebrate July 4th, I am keenly aware of what lies ahead over these next months. I thought about the Declaration of Independence and the clauses about “long train of abuses and usurpations” and the tyranny exhibited “over these States”, which forced the colonists to “alter their former system of Government”, and “all men are created equal.” Well, some then … and still.

We have been reading The Women by Kristin Hannah. It is a novel about the women who served in Vietnam, who were often ignored and not talked about. My dad served in Korea from 1962 to 1964. On Memorial Day, a number of names were lifted up in memory of those who served in different conflicts in the name of Democracy. It is my hope that these people, my dad and your loved ones, did not serve in vain. We as a country have big decisions ahead of us. I hope we will make them with love and grace.

We know that conflict has been a part of the human condition since, well, forever. Jesus walked the earth teaching the ways of love, peace, and freedom from oppression. Today some people seek power, dominance, and exclusion in the name of Jesus. What they propose, as I mentioned last week, is not very Christlike. And throughout his ministry he faced derision (especially in his hometown) and ultimately death. We – with the help of the Holy Spirit – are called to carry on his mission of love, even in the face of derision and conflict, with courage.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday at 10 am on Balclutha, Zoom, or Livestream as we look at Mark 6:1-13 when Jesus says, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house” (6:4). He then tells the disciples to travel lightly. “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them” (6:10-11). Essentially, shake it off and move on to the next place in their mission.

Who thought sharing God’s message of love and inclusion with the world would be so challenging? But that is what we are called to do. Even when we have to shake off the rebuke of those claiming to speak in the name of Jesus.

Remember that we are interdependent and invite a friend.

Love,
Rev. Michael Cronin