Friends:
God looks on us with mercy and not blame.  In God’s sight we do not fall; in our sight, we do not stand.  Both of these are true, but the deeper insight belongs to God.

–Julian of Norwich

Homecoming was a great re-gathering of our flock, which has travelled around the globe once again.  Christine’s painting of the ‘Ocean’s Arrival’ deepened our empathy for Jonah’s story of “being taken where he didn’t want to go”.  Jake’s baptism touched and connected all our hearts.  We are blessed!
Depression – Pathways to Healing and Wholeness:  Martha will present our Forum this Sunday that will include insights about suicide warnings, risk and protective factors.  Your presence is cherished.
Our Forums on October 5 and 19 will be on Healthy Self-Care.
The New Directory is almost in your hands!
The Embodied Prayer Series at San Damiano presented by Kaleo, Elise and myself will begin next Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 6 – 7:30 pm.  It will be a 6 Session series.  You can come to one or all of them… consistency though leads to greater depth.  We will integrate prayer, meditation, qiqong, scriptures and East/West practices.  Register at: www.sandamiano.org.
Our St. Francis Animal Blessing and Pet Festival is happening Sunday, October 12 from 12 – 3 pm.  Organizing is flowing well.  Additional gifts for the Silent Auction are welcomed.
The Children’s Advocacy Group continues to engage vital responses for the protection and nurture of all of God’s children.
The High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah this week.  Please keep our Jewish friends and all of our interfaith friends in your prayers.
This Jubilee Weekend we join with Ezekiel, Jesus and current global voices to stop predatory hedge fund behavior. We raise our voices to pray for our neighbors in West Africa where Ebola is ravaging countries saddled with enormous debt burdens.  The nation of Guinea is spending more money paying off its debt than it is on health care. Lord, have mercy.
 “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”  -FDR
“Perfect love casts out all fear.”  -John, the Beloved Disciple
Nazruddin was asked to show his ID at the Post Office.  He pulled out a small pocket mirror, gazed into it for a moment and said, ‘Yep, that’s me alright.”
Blessings, Pr. Steve