It' s the second week of Advent, and our scriptures this week bring us the amazing and hope-filled stories of both Ruth and Naomi, and Mary, Mother of Jesus. And on of the things that resides at the heart of both of these wonderful tales is chesed, the indwelling faithfulness and commitment of God to us, and of us to each other. Join us for a journey through the scriptures today.

Thanksgiving can be hard...both the national holiday, and the act of gratitude. But Jesus, in our Gospel lesson for today, a clip from the Sermon on the Mount about worry, providence, and thanksgiving, offers us a solution. We can find ourselves poisoned by the negativity around us and within us sometimes, and gratitude opens us up to...more. More joy, more connection, more life. So join us today for a meditation on the power of gratitude.

It's time for All Saints Sunday, folks, one of the weirdest and, arguably, most wonderful celebrations in the Christian Year. We take a Sunday to remember and honor and grieve those who have died...but it's not a morbid service. It is an affirmation of legacy, and love, and life, the connections that still hold us together. Enjoy today's conversation, and maybe find a church on Sunday to enter in to the mystery that is life.