recovery – Into the Wilderness

The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother: A meditation on addiction and grace

So…this isn’t about plastic — I preached this week at First Congregational Church of Martinez. Thought I’d share:

On Hope

Helicopters were circling Berkeley the day the surgeon called to tell me she had found a tumor in my left breast. It was late April, 2017. I had just quit my job. In three days I was supposed to drive across the country to start an unpaid summer internship as a chaplain at a hospital…

Gratitude and depression

I was dreading Christmas that year, 2011. It wasn’t the first holiday I’d spend alone – it had been seven years since I’d been in a romantic relationship during the holidays, and more than twenty since I would fly back to my hometown. Not that family has to be romantic or genetic; when I lived…

Gratitude Month is Coming 2018

Daily Gratitude List: Make a list of things/people/furry critters you are grateful for and share it to the Facebook ItW Gratitude group. It really lightens the mood of your newsfeed! Each season, Into the Wilderness offers a spiritual challenge on Facebook. Join our mailing list for updates.

New Spring Programming at Into the Wilderness

Online Morning Meditation: Online Morning Meditation, MWF, 7:00 a.m. -7:30 am Pacific Looking for a way to jump start your daily meditation practice? Start your week with Meditation at 7:00 am Pacific, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We log in, have an opening prayer, read some scripture, meditate for 5 minutes, and share a bit….

Lent is Coming: Into Vulnerability

I hate giving things up. I have zero willpower. Seriously, for me, immediate gratification takes too long. So, what to do with Lent, a season that I used to understand as a time to give something up? The gift of Lent for me is this: it is a time to give up something/take up something…

Epiphany: A Practice of Wonder

Epiphany: January 6, 2016 to Feb 9, 2016 In Christian traditions, Epiphany is the manifestation of the holy/sacred in the world — a time of inspiration and awareness of wonder in the world. (see below for history notes) To celebrate the season of Epiphany (which runs from January 6-February 9) each day we will post…

Psalm September ’15 is Coming….

Looking for a way to jump start your daily meditation practice? Join Into the Wilderness for Psalm September. The psalms trace the full range and emotion of a life of faith — from lament to gratitude (sometimes in the same verse). Some of them seem completely annoying and outdated. We’ll read those too. Join us…

Back to Dust: Thoughts on Psalm 90*

Every Monday, ITW folks meets online to read a psalm together, meditate and then share a few thoughts. All are welcome to join us. So, Psalm 90 is one of those psalms that really focus on the brief span of mortality: “You turn us back to dust/and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’/For a thousand years…

Lent ’15 Informal Reflection, Ash Wednesday

Here is our really, really, really, informal reflection from our Ash Wednesday service. (Scripture below). (If you’re wondering, last year’s sermon is here.) Also, we’ll be meeting tonight for our online check in. Hope to see you there. All are welcome Lent 15 sermon 1 Matthew 4:1-11 4Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit…

Lent 15: Into the Wilderness

Into the Wilderness is an experimental spiritual community that will meet during Lent. There are three parts to Into the Wilderness – you can choose just one, or do all four. 1. Opening ritual Wednesday, February 18, 6:00– 6:50 p.m. Loper Chapel (First Church Berkeley, at the corner of Dana St and Durant Ave in…

Ash Wednesday Sermon 3-5-14

Note: This was the opening sermon for Lent in 2014. Matthew 4 1:11 If the link below doesn’t work, just download the zip version here. Sermon 3-5-14 (As of today, I am still not smoking. Thanks, God!) Join us for Lent 15!