A pedestal stood in the vestibule of the Wyle Chapel at Torrey Pines Christian Church, its sandy surface studded with candles. Another pedestal stood at the entrance to the church proper, this one bearing two …
February 13, 2008
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Stories by Matthew Lickona
Newcomer’s reaction to the gentle riot
Torrey Pines Christian Church
“The term ‘emergent worship’ doesn’t really provide a good definition,” said Pastor Michael Spitters when we spoke before Sunday’s service. “We don’t know what we’re emerging to become. We just know that we’re getting out …
February 6, 2008
Jarhead Red
"First to Fight for Right and Freedom," reads the title of the big military print on the tasting room wall at Carlsbad Wine Merchants. The painting depicts a group of Marines moving along a ruined …
On-Line Church
Oooohhhh, my head. My back. My joints. My everything. Sick, sick, sick. No way I’m getting to church today. No way I’m even getting out of bed. Thank God — so to speak — for …
January 30, 2008
Underserviced
Portland didn’t agree with marketing VP Kathy Bankerd. Her employers at the tech company InFocus had moved her up north and bought her a house, but she still hadn’t sold her home in sunny SoCal. …
He Had a Dream
“I have no hands but yours,” read the plaque below the statue of Christ outside the church. No tengo mas manos que las tuyas. And it was literally true — Jesus’ outstretched arms ended at …
January 23, 2008
Boutique Bubblings
The hills across the road from Steve Chapin’s Temecula vineyards — situated out past the tourist-friendly wineries and a short hop from Lake Skinner — are fallow now. Chaparral grows where vines once stood — …
Harbor Church Mid-City
“A church for Ken-Tal,” read the glossy cardboard flyer that arrived in my mailbox. The usual photos of lovely, multiethnic churchgoers were accompanied by the less usual word “skeptical.” Ah. Going for the affluent intellectual …
January 16, 2008
Improve on Nature
‘Cork is random,” observes Michael Friedman, CEO for Oneo Closures North America. “It’s a plant. When you punch a cork out of a piece of bark, it’s very unusual to get one that’s absolutely perfect, …
Evangelical Free Church of America
“We went to Europe four or five years ago,” said 20something pastor Jeff Holmes, “and we saw that the church...was not really relevant to the real life of most people — the young people, especially. …
January 9, 2008
Not to fear, Joseph
A number of spiritual currents ran through the service on the Sunday before Christmas at Hope United Methodist; several made themselves felt within the choir’s opening set. We began with the traditional: a straight-up rendition …
January 2, 2008
At the Cusp
“These are people who are established. They’re well known for writing books.”
Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Convention
"My work as Director of the Commission for Inter-Religious Affairs has made for some interesting travels," said Mark Pelavin, addressing the December 16 plenary session of the Union for Reform Judaism biennial convention, held at …
December 27, 2007
Genius Oddballs
"People ask, 'After Sideways dies down, do you think it will go away?'"
Serious Jew and serious Christian debate the celebration of Christ's birth
Matthew: The last time my father visited, I learned what seemed a remarkable thing: all three of his best friends in high school were Jewish. He grew up in Poughkeepsie, an hour from New York …
December 20, 2007
Biennial Convention of the Union for Reform Judaism
"Are you headed to Ballroom 20?" I asked a woman as she strode through the Convention Center foyer. She eyed me, assessing. "What's in Ballroom 20?" "A Muslim woman is addressing a delegation of Jews." …
December 20, 2007
Power + Elegance = Balance
"I mean, you put one drop in your mouth and it explodes... Our wines are identifiable!"
Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church, San Carlos
St. Dunstan's — the building was dedicated in 1969 — is a church on the cusp. If you look back and up as you pass through the front door, you behold a row of exquisitely …
December 13, 2007
Double-Edged Sword
"You would be smarter to look to South America than to most parts of the United States."
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Mission Valley
"I don't know if you're a visitor," said the woman who approached me, "but I saw you taking pictures and I thought you might like to know the story of the crucifix at the front …
December 6, 2007
Horizon Park Chapel
A cluster of the homeless was encamped across the street from the church, sitting on the narrow strip of lawn between the Sixth Avenue sidewalk and the hillslope leading up into Balboa Park. Inside, the …
November 29, 2007
Foodie Appeal
"We want everyone to have a fighting chance to get exposure."
Evangelical Philosophical Society
Last week, the Evangelical Philosophical Society held its annual conference (in conjunction with the Evangelical Theological Society) at the Town & Country Convention Center in Mission Valley. On Friday afternoon, a crowd gathered in the …
November 21, 2007
Born to Host
"I was built to bartend. It's what I was put on this planet to do."
Grace Community Church, San Marcos
My first note upon hearing the band at Grace was "powerful." Not so much the lyrics — the songs were familiar enough that I remembered at least three from last week's service at another church …
November 15, 2007
Blue Streak
"I've been on every day since April of '78 & five original shows a week."
November 15, 2007
The Naked Sommelier
"The people at Saturday School are my people; I keep it to groups of 12."
Faith Chapel, Spring Valley
At Faith Chapel on Sunday, the crisis had passed; the evacuees had returned to their homes. The 150 air mattresses, donated to the church along with blankets and pillows, had been packed away. The 150 …
November 8, 2007
Citywalk Christian Church, Little Italy
October 28 marked Citywalk Church's entrance into the practice of weekly Sunday worship. Prior to that, communal worship events had been monthly; the weekly gatherings were smaller and held in people's homes downtown. Church member …
November 1, 2007
American Dream Come True
"They say in Napa Valley, 'The best fertilizer for the vineyard is the owner's footsteps.'"
Great Palates
"Women are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying different varietals."
Mission Gathering, North Park
"Snow Patrol wrote the greatest worship song," proclaimed Pastor Rich McCullen. "'Open Your Eyes.' As a church, we've decided to open our eyes to the world and what's going on around us. And sometimes, that's …
October 18, 2007
The Joy of Aging
"We go back to '59 on Burgundy, '61 on Bordeaux, '74 on California."
The Resolved Church, Bay Park
Resolved Church (Bay Park) Denomination: Acts 29Address: 1717 Morena Boulevard, Bay Park, 619-393-1990Founded locally: 2005Senior pastor: Duane SmetsCongregation size: 50>Staff size: 1Sunday school enrollment: 4Annual budget: n/aWeekly giving: about $500/weekSingles program: noDress: casualDiversity: mostly CaucasianSunday …
October 11, 2007
The Moon Makes the Earth Breathe
"If you're filling the vines with chemicals they become lazy. They don't explore the soil."
Bonita Church of Religious Science
"I am loved," crooned singer Tiamo, standing on the tiny stage at the front of the church, strumming his guitar over keyboard accompaniment. "I am strong. I am peace. I am healed. I am strength. …
October 4, 2007
Hillel of San Diego, SDSU Chapter
"Yom Kippur Is the Day of Repentance," read the colorful Hillel pamphlet at the entrance table. "It is the chance to fix the things in our lives that need a little repair. Jewish tradition gives …
September 27, 2007
Garden Project
"Send the chicken into the vineyard and let nature take its course."
Self-Realization Fellowship, Encinitas
On September 16, the Self-Realization Fellowship in Encinitas opened its doors to the public for an Open House and free concert. Just inside the entrance to the Fellowship grounds, a china setting was laid out …
September 20, 2007
Saucy Upstart
"In the early evening, at least, most sales were half-bottles of Beaujolais to solitary ladies."
Covenant Presbyterian Church, North Park
A churchgoer of a certain age might take in the '60s décor at Covenant Presbyterian Church and think, "Time for an update." The tawny gold of the deep pile carpet, the worn blue velveteen on …
September 13, 2007
Imbiber's Bible
"Perhaps the Merrie Englanders and the Puritans are not so far apart as each imagines."
Calvary Chapel, Point Loma
The high inverted V made by the slanting walls made it clear that this was a church, but the overall effect was unobtrusive: abstracted stained glass on the high front wall shedding light onto a …
September 6, 2007
Magic in a Bottle
"We have to get back to the visceral love, pleasure, seduction, sensuality of it."
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Encinitas
A cascading wave of honeyed wood and gray-white marble poured its way across the front wall of St. John's; the wood matched that used for the highly stylized crucifix suspended just in front of the …
August 30, 2007
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Encinitas
It's easy to be suspicious of good taste in matters of religion, to fear that a refined aesthetic sense, so concerned with making the atmosphere harmonious and pleasing to the senses in an unobtrusive way, …
August 23, 2007
23 Reader writers describe the regime of editor Judith Moore
Busy Fingers Are Happy Fingers — Joe Deegan Mother Reader — Barbarella Build Your Writing Muscles — Ollie Let the Tape Recorder Do the Work — Matthew Lickona Faith — Abe Opincar Make Something Better …
August 16, 2007
Let the Tape Recorder Do the Work
I could almost be tempted to resent Judith for getting my hopes up. When she signed my copy of her food memoir Never Eat Your Heart Out back in 1997, she inscribed it, "To Matt …
August 16, 2007