Spiritual Life

Courtesy of Ezzy Schusterman
Maayan Weitzman, left, and Teagan Cimring decorate pastry at a previous teen-oriented Los Altos Chabad event. 

In the weeks leading up to Hanukkah, young families dust off an heirloom menorah or proudly display a newly minted, often misshapen, preschool edition of the Hanukkiah. Aside from crafting a candleholder or finding a new book about the old story of the Maccabees, most local Jewish families turn to food to mark the holidays.

In that spirit, Los Altos Chabad has scheduled a family doughnut-making party 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday at 1758 Marich Way in Mountain View. Part of the Kids in the Kitchen series, the local Chabad center created the $10 classes (more information and registration at jewishlosaltos.com) to celebrate the foodways of holidays like Rosh Hashanah as well as more generic Jewish traditions, such as challah baking, according to Ezzy Schusterman, rabbi of Los Altos Chabad.

Courtesy of Robin Chapman
The Rev. David Moore is distracted from the job of Christmas decorating at Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos by his daughter Daisy, who arrived just in time for the holidays.

Local residents who enjoy Christmas food, music and worship will find plenty of opportunities to celebrate at Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos this holiday season.

The church is celebrating the addition of a new member to the congregation – Daisy Moore, daughter of the Rev. David Moore and his wife, Kaidi. Daisy arrived Nov. 15, weighing in at 8 pounds 2 ounces. Pastor Moore also serves on the Los Altos Historical Commission.

Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos has scheduled an InSpirit Praise and Prayer Healing Room 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of every month in the sanctuary, 858 University Ave.

Director Laurie Kurgas said the healing room offers prayer for anyone feeling discouraged or battling an illness or injury.

 

The Palo Alto Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ 32nd annual Christmas creche exhibition is scheduled for display noon to 9 p.m. Saturday through Dec. 11 at 3865 Middlefield Road. This year’s event – with the theme “Star of Wonder, Star of Night, Guide Us to Thy Perfect Light” – will feature 250 nativities from 50-plus countries. Admission is free and open to all. For more information, visit christmascreche.org.

By the Rev. David Moore

The haunting line that continues to echo in my mind from teen climate activist Greta Thunberg’s provocative speech to the United Nations is, “We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”

I can’t help but wonder how those thunderous words of woe matter here where we live, work, live lives of faith and of good conscience, recreate, celebrate life and retire.