I don't want to be a bar. I want to be a hangout - an oasis away from those bars.
August 24, 2006
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Stories by Matthew Lickona
Malbec at the Oasis
Canyon Springs Church
"When the music fades/ All is stripped away/ And I simply come, longing just to bring/ Something that's of worth," sang Trevor Davis. "I'll bring you more than a song..." But songs were exactly what …
August 24, 2006
Community Bible Church, Miramar
"As we sing 'Empty Me' together, just make it a prayer in your heart," said the music leader before the penultimate song. "Say, 'God, empty me of everything I am.'" It was his second such …
August 17, 2006
California Gems
'There are a lot of people who don't want to spend much more than $15.'
August 10, 2006
Full Stomach, Empty Wallet
'I call it Chuck E. Cheese for adults. I have to squeeze myself sometimes, business is so good.'
July 27, 2006
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Hillcrest
St. Paul's Cathedral displays a kind of unadorned majesty. Long green banners, tiny stations of the cross, and a couple of Madonna-and-child paintings are all that break up the great expanses of smooth, gray-green concrete …
July 27, 2006
Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity
Father Acker first addressed the congregation clad in a white cassock with an embroidered green stole knotted into his rope belt. His chasuble hung over a nearby chair. In contrast to these formal trappings, his …
July 20, 2006
Peeled Onion
'Women were dominant consumers, making mostly anonymous purchases in supermarkets.'
Christ Community Church, Mira Mesa
The service opened with film clips: Adam Sandler doing a slow burn in Anger Management and Jane Fonda exploding with fury in Monster-in-Law . The congregation laughed throughout. Then a round of songs, ranging from …
July 13, 2006
White or Light or Sweet or Pink
'I think we have more of a finger on the pulse of what women really want.'
Apostolic Assembly of National City, National City
Pastor Misael Zaragoza was a Navy Seal in the Vietnam War, and it was his idea to hold a patriotic celebration service, which bore a strong military emphasis. But it opened with straightforward praise: Eddie …
July 6, 2006
Country of Smarties
Some people talk a good talk, but in the end, they don�t really know much.
June 29, 2006
San Diego First Assembly, Mission Valley
On June 21, the first day of summer, San Diego First Assembly Women's Ministries held their first meeting of Hot Summer Nights ("Fun in the Son"). The walls in the spacious meeting room were tan, …
June 29, 2006
Litany at Coronado Lutheran stems from Adam to button-down shirts
"Men in Our Lives: A Litany for Father's Day" opened the service. The congregation recited, "Blessed are you, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, wellspring of all generations. As did our fathers in ages past, so …
June 22, 2006
The Right Thing
'I love my 25-year-olds. They're just learning, and they come in all the time.'
June 22, 2006
Sea of Labels
'It's like you're selling your soul to the devil or something.'
Journey Community Church, La Mesa
"Lord Jesus," said worship leader Jason Denison after the opening set, "we come before you with all kinds of stuff going on in our lives.... Would you meet us where we're at, Lord Jesus? Would …
June 15, 2006
No Intimidation
'The one thing that's crucial in this business, is not to pretend you're something you're not.
Missiongathering, North Park
"We were meant to live for so much more/ Have we lost ourselves?" Switchfoot played through the speakers as congregants found their seats for Missiongathering's first service in their new venue, there amid the Moroccan-tinged …
June 8, 2006
Reader writers tell of great wedding moments and minor disasters
At Times It Was Like Shared Music, at Times Like a Skin Graft or Root Canal — Stephen Dobyns I do at a coffin sale — Dorothy Stewart A Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Cake …
June 1, 2006
Two Guys in a Room
I was nervous in the final minutes before my wedding, but not for the usual reasons. I was 22, young, but I had known Deirdre since I was 18 and dated her since I was …
June 1, 2006
Temecula Fruit
'I think as our vineyards mature, we'll buy less and less from out of the area.'
Bethel Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, Stockton
The hard rat-a-tat of the drums set the beat for the choir as they processed into the high-ceilinged church. Swaying, bouncing, and clapping, they mounted the stage and sang out in a near-shout over the …
June 1, 2006
Ocean Beach First Baptist Church
When Pastor Terry Miller arrived at Ocean Beach First Baptist two and a half years ago, he had a desire to "open the doors, warm up the service, and lift up praise." He wanted a …
May 26, 2006
Mystery Label
'It's old-world style - very dry, a little bit of an earthy, peppery streak.'
Foothills Christian Church, El Cajon
"This is what I like worship to be like," said one teenaged boy to another before the service began. "A guitar solo in every song." He was right. The opening 25 minutes might have been …
May 18, 2006
Purple Teeth
'I can get a full-bodied Cab for 30 bucks? Right on!'
Crosspointe Life Church, La Mesa
"Holy Spirit, we invite you into this place," intoned the singer from the stage of the plush green Sanctuary. "Have your way. We love you." Then he broke into buoyant song, his driving acoustic guitar …
May 11, 2006
Enviable Predicament
'When you walk into a cafe in Paris and have a wonderful Bordeaux Superior, you are drinking Merlot.'
May 4, 2006
Pinot Noir is now outselling Zinfandel in California
'We want you to walk away with the notion that it's worthy of careful consideration.'
Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross/Walk with the Suffering
"Welcome to the 15th Annual Good Friday 'Walk with the Suffering,'" said Rosemary Johnston from the flatbed of the truck parked in front of the County Health Building on Pacific Highway. "We're going to be …
April 27, 2006
Business of Bacchus
'I would notice that the waitstaff didn't have a very deep understanding of wine.'
April 20, 2006
East Valley Christian Fellowship
"I am so excited," said Pastor Jack Forness as he opened the Maundy Thursday service at East Valley Christian Fellowship. "We get to start to minister on this Easter weekend and be excited about what …
April 20, 2006
Grape Guru
'Just because you like it doesn't necessarily mean it's well made.'
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church
"What makes this day special?" asked Pastor Bruce Humphrey of the crowd seated beneath the octagonal dome that is the roof of Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church. The congregation answered, "This is the Sunday we …
April 13, 2006
Kick Dirt and Follow the Pruners
"I didn't realize you're not supposed to put the fondue fork in your mouth."
Eastlake Community Church
When the band started at Eastlake Community Church's 11:30 a.m. upper campus service, Pastor Ben Sigman was not in the building. He was still down the hill at the church's more churchlike lower campus, finishing …
April 6, 2006
En Route to Master
'It looks like you can never learn it all, and with 10,000 different grape varietals, I'll never get bored.'
Christ Church
"It used to be a very old congregation," says church administrator Susie Clifford. "But within, I'd say, the past ten years, young families have really started coming here. The Jazz Mass is part of that. …
March 30, 2006
The Envelope, Please
'You know those circus peanuts? That's exactly what this smells like.'
March 23, 2006
Passionate Local Filmmaker Passes
'Garrett Scott and Ian Olds," announced the actor Willem Dafoe after opening the envelope. The two had been chosen for the Truer Than Fiction Award, given at this year's Independent Spirit Awards, broadcast March 4 …
March 23, 2006
St. John of Damascus, Orthodox Church
It took five years to hand-carve the screen that stretches across the front of St. John Damascus, and it shows. Besides its wrought wood, the screen displays a host of icons, their angular lines depicting …
March 23, 2006
Grace Lutheran Church, North Park
The Christ depicted on the wall behind the raised, carved-wood pulpit at Grace Lutheran is Christus Rex: crucified, but clad in priestly robes; glorified, but still hung upon the cross that won his glory. But …
March 16, 2006
First United Methodist Church of San Diego
A wave of late afternoon light gushed through the great arched window at the head of First United Methodist as the congregation waited to begin Vespers on Ash Wednesday. It washed over the white-tiled high …
March 9, 2006