This time finds us all in tender moments during which we grapple with learning how to navigate novel challenges. Without wanting to be alarmist, I wanted to share storybook resources-- a core of how we discuss and learn in Sunday school-- for grief.

Much like Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept for what he knew would come, many of us are experiencing an unease and anticipatory grief. Many of us have begun to experience loss. Mindful of what the statistics and experts tell us about what is to come in the next few weeks, I wanted to make available a couple of books that may help your children understand and process this time and the loss that may well accompany it.

If you wish to purchase the books, they are:

Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

and

A Last Goodbye by Elin Kelsey

If that isn't in your budget at this time or if the YouTube videos have been working well for your family, I have made readings available on YouTube:

Ava's Poppy

A Last Goodbye

These times will continue to challenge us. I hope you are able to deeply experience Holy Week this year and draw comfort in the reality that we are all progressing through Holy Week in a unique kind of solidarity this year.

Continue to be with each other and find ways to savor each other's presence and nurture each other with grace.

Current Vision

I envision a storefront (a bookseller/spiritual items/ethical and alternative gift shop) with space to lounge, read, and enjoy community conversation and silence with coffee and tea.

I hope to sell curated books for children and adults, assembled curricula, items for worship and spiritual growth (candles, stones, sage, altar cloths, communion sets, journals, etc.), and assembled gift sets. Items should be ethically sourced. The prevalence of stores and items for sale like this in the San Lorenzo Valley leads me to believe that there is a market for this. Changing demographics also lead me to believe that there may be a shifting religious dynamic and a generation of progressive millennials whom the church has not yet engaged.

I envision selling at-cost plain coffee and tea (with self-serve sugar etc.) catered from the local coffee shop. I hope to convince them to purchase a fair trade roast.

I hope our website/online store can be successful and that it can launch “Subscription Boxes.”

I plan to host worship on Sundays.

I envision the name “Divergent Spirit” on signage; “Divergent Spirit” is the name of the shop; “Divergent Spirit Church” is the community name. I imagine using the space to assemble and sell Spirit Stories subscription boxes/ in-house assembled gift sets.

We may be able to rent/sublet the space on evenings to local organizations and nonprofits.

I hope that this project can generate fair wage jobs in the community and operate as a nonprofit that promotes literacy in its business, worship, and fundraising activity. Profits will subsidize curricula for churches and families that demonstrate financial need.

I also hope to publish my own work, including A Bible Translation/Paraphrase (Tentatively called the “Bible Reboot”).