In the midst of this strangely warm epiphany season, we've had some days of incredible light. I'm used to the kind of Spokane winters that make me fear if I don't see a sliver of sky soon, I will come undone. Not this year. And yet . . .

And yet.

My heart cries out not from a place of light, but from a place where-as William Stafford writes-"the darkness around us is deep."

Economic injustice. Class warfare. Entitlements. Right wing. Leftist liberals. The lingo is as mind-numbing as the outcomes are sobering:

• More than 20% of U.S. children are at risk of hunger while we throw away-toss in the garbage!-nearly 50% of the food we produce in America;
• Foreclosures on 1 million homes nationwide in 2010 set an all-time record, while the homeless are turned away from Spokane's shelters for lack of space;
• In 2010, in the midst of the Great Recession, the demand for plastic surgery increased by 9%. Meanwhile, our infant mortality numbers were worse than Cuba and Croatia.

But then is now--the greed of empire, the apparent powerlessness of otherwise decent human beings to disconnect from an oppressive system, the outrageously counter-cultural nature of the King who shows up in the midst of it all.

And what of us? What are we to do with this world? This King? How do we live our Story in this murky and irrational landscape?

I yield my time to the gentleman from Kansas with an excerpt from his poem, "A Ritual to Read to Each Other":

If you don't know the kind of person I am

and I don't know the kind of person you are

a pattern that others made may prevail in the world

and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

. . . .

For it is important that awake people be awake,

or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;

the signals we give--yes or no, or maybe--

should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.

--William Stafford

Keep awake, give your yes--or at least a maybe

@ www.trinityspokane.org 

bishop jim on economic justice

Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. James E. Waggoner, Jr., and our deacon and urban missioner, The Rev. Kris Christensen, served on panel presentations at the 2012 Eastern Washington Legislative Conference on Jan. 21. Read about the bishop's comments on economic justice here.

in memorium

temple beth shalom kosher dinner  

Be a part of the tradition when Temple Beth Shalom hosts its 71st annual kosher dinner, Sunday, March 11, 11am to 6pm. Experience a traditional kosher meal with live Jewish entertainment, a Jewish gift shop, and homemade baked goods.

This year, the menu includes appetizers, roast brisket of beef, potato knishes, carrot tzimmes, challah, Mediterranean spiced apples, and rugelach.

Adults are $16, children 3-11 are $9. Purchase tickets via the Temple Beth Shalom website or in person at: the Temple (1322 E. 30th Ave.), at Huppins Hi-Fi downtown, Pawn 1 stores, Manito Ship & Copy, Super 1 Grocery (29th Avenue), Maggie's Grill (2808 E. 29th, and Rosauers (2610 E. 29th). Contact Temple Beth Shalom for advanced ticket group discounts. Kosher dinner hotline: 509.747.3304. 

From the notes of Rev. Barry for the use and information of the next clergyman in charge of Trinity Church, June 8 1904:

The electric lights of the church are not safely balanced they need overhauling--it is well to have an expert tell whether they are really safe at present.

Thanks to Julia Bertaut for her research and organizational efforts in our archives.  

2.2: 5:30pm - "why wall st. can't be fixed" part 1 @ Salem

2.5: 10am - family friendly worship followed by sunday school 

2.8: 5:30pm - ht dinner table

2.9: 5:30pm - "why wall st. can't be fixed" part 2 @ Salem

2.12: 7pm - evening prayer 

• Sharon Kjensmo;
• Ben & Hillary;
• the repose of the soul of Alma Johnson, and for her family;
• our state legislators as they begin a new session and seek to balance the state budget; 
• Brooks, who bakes delicious bread each week for our ht dinner table guests;
• our West Central partners in ministry, especially this week The Oak Tree.

Please give thanks for:

• all those who gave so generously of their time, talent, and treasure at Holy Trinity last year;
• Judy, who donates many hours to keep ht's books right & true; 
• the many committed volunteers who reveal Jesus to our guests at HT Dinner Table.