Holy Week 2025

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, April 13th, 12n in person at 780 Ashbury Avenue, El Cerrito and online via zoom.

We have been invited to participate in a Lutheran Maundy Thursday meal and service, April 17th at 6:30p at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran in Berkeley. RSVP's required. Click here.

We are also invited to a multi-church Good Friday service at Orinda Community Church (UCC) at 4:00pm on April 18. Punctuated by modern words, sacred texts, music, and pastoral reflections, we will consider the final words spoken by Jesus as we seek strength, courage, and hope for these tumultuous days as we partner with God to expand their Realm of Love on this earth as it is in heaven.

There will be another UCC Good Friday service at First Church, Berkeley at 7p that will include two choral selections: "Don't You Know, Mary" and "The Crucifixion" from Margaret Bonds' powerful Simon Bore the Cross, which tells the story of Good Friday while also focusing on the narrative importance of SImon of Cyrene, who was traditionally thought to be Black. The links above are to a performance that the FCCB Festival Chorus (a mixture of community singers and our chancel choir) did in late January. 

I will be participating in both Good Friday services and look forward to celebrating Easter and the Feast of the Resurrection on Sunday, April 20th at 12n. 

May love of the Holy One surround and strengthen us for the living of these days!

Upcoming Community Work + Fun Days!

Nancy Lemon and Roger Ridgway

Community Work + Fun Days @5166 Sobrante Ave are held each last Saturdays, 12-3p (Mar. 29 and May 24).
Wear sturdy shoes and clothing and bring work gloves and gardening tools. Or just stop by for a tour!

Our workday on Sat. April 26th will be from 10a-1p in preparation for the Good Table UCC’s 75th celebration!

Jacob DayComment
Planting Justice El Sobrante Farmers Market Every Sunday!

The Country’s First Only QTBIPOC and Woman-Vended Market

The Planting Justice Farmers Market in El Sobrante is the only strictly QTBIPOC and woman vended market in the country. The farmers market is located directly in front of our exciting new project, The Good Table (a pay what you can plant nursery-cafe-bakery-community space-live music venue-farm & garden store, that will open early next year). We DO NOT charge stall fees and offer all the equipment necessary to have a functioning market booth. The Planting Justice Farmers Market mission is to uplift small businesses while bringing food to a community that has never had a farmers market before. Come enjoy live music, organic farms and delicious food every Sunday at 5166 Sobrante Avenue in El Sobrante, CA. All of our vendors use organic methods of farming and they all accept EBT.


Key Details

  • Every Sunday 10am - 2pm, open year round

  • We accept EBT

  • Address: 5166 Sobrante Ave, El Sobrante, CA 94803

  • Directions via Google

PARKING: Ample parking is available at The El Sobrante Christian High school at 5070 Appian Way, El Sobrante CA 94803. Only 100 feet away from the farmers market!

HOW TO BECOME A VENDOR: We would love to have you join our market! If you’re interested in becoming a vendor at our farmers market please read the attached market handbook and submit a vendor application, which is located on the last page. There is no fee to apply and no stall fees ever. We offer an equipment support program that can loan new vendors a canopy and weights. Planting Justice is about to kick off our Mobile Farmers Market program, so for all potential agricultural vendors, we have an outlet for produce you do not sell by the end of the market. Either by donation or purchase, Planting Justice can then take what you don’t sell at the market and distribute it to folks who struggle to have access and are able to afford organic food. If you have any questions about what is necessary to become a vendor please email our market manager Sam at sam@plantingjustice.org 

Jacob DayComment
In The Community: Planting Justice Holiday Night Market

Correction: Day of The Week is Saturday, Not Thursday as the last email announced!

Planting Justice is so excited to host our First Annual Holiday Night Market,
and you’re invited to celebrate with us!

Date: Saturday, December 21st
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: 5166 Sobrante Avenue, El Sobrante, CA


What to Expect

25+ Vendors: Shop from QTBIPOC and women-owned farms, food businesses, artists, and crafters.
Santa Appearance: A special visit from Santa!
Free Hot Apple Cider to keep you warm.
Live Music to fill the night with joy.
Movie Screening to wrap up the evening.
Tree Lighting to brighten the season.
Moment of Silence: Standing in solidarity with those suffering in Palestine.


Why You Should Come

This market is about building community and uplifting small businesses. Just like at our weekly farmers’ markets (Sundays, 10 AM – 2 PM at 5166 Sobrante Ave), vendors keep 100% of their proceeds—no fine print, no fees.


Spread the Word!

Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to join us for this magical evening of shopping, music, and community connection. Let’s celebrate the season together while supporting local, independent creators and small businesses.

Surviving Thanksgiving as a Vegan: 8 Tips for Navigating Family Gatherings

In the Kitchen:

 “I’ll pass on the turkey, but thanks—more room for pie!”

 

Thanksgiving is a time for connection, gratitude, and of course, food. For vegans, however, the holiday can present unique challenges, especially when family members may not fully understand or accommodate a plant-based diet. Last year we wrote an article called, Gravy Without the Drama: 8 Simple Tips for Hosting Vegan Relatives. This Thanksgiving we thought we’d write something up from the vegan’s perspective. With a little planning and a positive attitude, you can enjoy a delicious and drama-free Thanksgiving. Here’s how:

Photo source pexels.com by Nicole Michalou

1. Communicate Ahead of Time
Before the big day, let your host know about your dietary preferences. Politely explain what veganism entails (no animal products, including dairy, honey, and eggs), and offer to help in any way you can. This might mean sharing simple recipes or bringing a dish or two of your own to ensure there’s something you can enjoy.

2. Bring a Show-Stopping Dish
Think of this as an opportunity to wow your relatives. Bring a hearty vegan main or side dish that everyone can enjoy—like a lentil loaf, stuffed acorn squash, or a creamy dairy-free mashed potato. Not only will you guarantee something to eat, but you’ll also introduce others to the delicious potential of plant-based cooking. If you’re looking for a great recipe, check this favorite of ours for a Mushroom Wellington that will even have the staunch meat eaters coming back for seconds! 

3. Embrace the Sides
Thanksgiving sides are often naturally vegan or can be easily adapted. Green beans, cranberry sauce, roasted vegetables, and salads are your friends. If your family tends to use butter or cream in everything, ask if you can prepare a vegan-friendly version of a classic side dish.

4. Navigate Conversations with Grace
It’s not uncommon for dietary choices to spark curiosity—or even debate. Be prepared for questions or comments about your vegan lifestyle. Instead of getting defensive, use these moments to share your perspective with kindness and humor. “I’ll pass on the turkey, but thanks—more room for pie!”

5. Don’t Forget Dessert
Pumpkin pie, pecan bars, and apple crisps are all easily veganized with substitutions like coconut milk, flax eggs, and dairy-free butter. Bringing a dessert can be a delightful way to share your lifestyle without compromising on flavor.

6. Focus on Gratitude
At its core, Thanksgiving is about togetherness and giving thanks. Remember, the day is less about the food and more about the company. Focus on the laughter, stories, and memories being made, and you’ll leave with a full heart—even if your plate wasn’t overflowing.

7. Use Simple Vegan Substitutes for Classic Sides
Many traditional Thanksgiving side dishes can be made vegan with a few easy swaps. Be helpful in the kitchen, and often you can set aside part of a side during prep to make individual portions vegan. For mashed potatoes, replace dairy butter with vegan butter or olive oil and use plant-based milk (like oat or almond milk) for creaminess. Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth in stuffing or soups, and opt for coconut cream or cashew cream to replace heavy cream in dishes like green bean casserole. These substitutions are straightforward and often go unnoticed, so you can enjoy familiar flavors without compromising your diet.

8. Pack a Few Extra Tasty Vegan Options
If you suspect the spread might be light on vegan-friendly dishes, come prepared with some crowd-pleasing options. Consider a savory mushroom and lentil shepherd’s pie, a hearty wild rice and cranberry salad, or a creamy vegan mac and cheese made with cashews or a store-bought cheese alternative. Portable finger foods like stuffed mushrooms or roasted chickpeas can double as appetizers, ensuring you have something filling to enjoy while also sharing plant-based flavors with everyone else.


 By being proactive, flexible, and gracious, you can navigate Thanksgiving as a vegan while fostering understanding and maybe even inspiring a few plant-based converts. Happy Thanksgiving!

Spiritual Touchstone: Happy All Saints Day!

Spiritual Touchstone:

 “On All Saints' Day, it is not just the saints of the church that we should remember in our prayers, but all the foolish ones and wise ones, the shy ones and overbearing ones, the broken ones and whole ones, the despots and tosspots and crackpots of our lives who, one way or another, have been our particular fathers and mothers and saints, and whom we loved without knowing we loved them and by whom we were helped to whatever little we may have, or ever hope to have, of some kind of seedy sainthood of our own.
– Frederick Buechner

Growing up Presbyterian, I wasn't very familiar with the concept of All Saints Day, even though I did love the Ralph Vaugh Williams hymn "For All the Saints", I mostly remember singing it at funerals, not on a particular Sunday. So, All Saints Day was something that was celebrated by Catholics, but not us. Fortunately, my horizons were broadened over the years and now it is one of my favorite church feast days because I now understand that we are all saints-in-the-making who can be inspired by the stories of saints from the past.

As some of you know, I am an oblate at the Monastery of Christ in the Desert and when you take vows as a Benedictine oblate, you also choose a saint name. I chose to become Sister Hildegard in honor of Hildegard of Bingen, the early medieval abbess, herbalist, and musician who is not only a saint, but has been named a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Ironically, or perhaps providentially, the day that I took my vows at Christ in the Desert was the feast day of St. Gregory of Nyssa, the patron of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco, one of my favorite churches. St. Gregory’s is also the location for the most magnificent depiction of the community of saints you can imagine. 

From their website, The Dancing Saints icon is a monumental, surprising and powerful statement of faith for the ages, created by artist Mark Dukes with the people of St. Gregory’s. Completed in 2009, it wraps around the entire church rotunda, showing ninety larger-than life saints, four animals, stars, moons, suns and a twelve-foot tall dancing Christ. The saints—ranging from traditional figures like King David, Teresa of Avila and Frances of Assisi to unorthodox and non-Christian people like Malcolm X and Anne Frank —represent musicians, artists, mathematicians, martyrs, scholars, mystics, lovers, prophets and sinners from all times, from many faiths and backgrounds.

 May all the saints pray - and dance - with us. Amen.

Jacob DayComment