2013 Faith Family Archive Stories

Calvary Christian Center in Yuba City is honoring veterans this weekend with A Grateful Nation Remembers, but religion has little to do with it. "This is nothing like a church service," said the Rev. Michael Ciociola on Wednesday. "No preaching, no hymns, nothing of that nature. The normal liturgies are off the table. This is not to do a

Yuba City Men to serve missions Tyler Jerome and Tyler Stimson of the Feather River congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left to serve as missionaries for two years. Stimson, the son of Paige Hensley and Greg Stimson, both of Yuba City, will serve in Baltimore. He graduated

Browns Valley Vang to serve mission in Canada Browns Valley resident Javon Vang will serve for two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Vang is the son of Michael and Kasia Vang of Browns Valley and is the second person of Hmong descent from this area to serve a mission.

When I look at a painting, I see a reflection of the world as I know it. The painter works with tangible mediums: oils, acrylics and watercolors. Similarly, when I watch a play, I am in a world I know, and the playwright creates with materials I understand: the stage, the actress, the costume. When I listen to music, though, I leave this

Many stories have dealt with angels leaving heaven to interact with humans. The Creative Light Theatre at the Church of Glad Tidings in Yuba City will present its own take on this familiar plot. "Manifest Kingdom" starts Friday and runs through Tuesday. "This is (a play) that's fun, has a good message and is entertaining,

Editor's note: The May 19 performance of "Miss Saigon" at River Valley High School was canceled due to a power failure at the school. A make-up performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23. Ticket prices are the same. The May 24-26 performances will go on as originally scheduled. A US Marine falls for a 17

Marysville Knudson to serve in Brazil Trevor Knudson of Marysville will be serving as a missionary for two years in Vitoria, Brazil, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before his departure, he will speak to the congregation at 9 a.m. May 19 at 1997 N. Beale Road, Linda. The son of C

Saturday night, our teenage daughter came to us with some bad news. Someone out there in cyberspace had just withdrawn $200 from her checking account. Christy earns her money the hard way — $8 an hour at a minimum wage job. She puts most of it in a savings account for college. I lay awake that night creating mental images of the thief and

One of the many staples of elementary school is the spelling bee. The Acting Company's latest production takes that hallmark and turns it into a musical comedy. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" begins its run on Friday. "It's one of the funniest musicals ever written," said Jason Clocky McDowell, who is co-directing t

I am always grateful to hike with a friend who is good at identifying poison oak. Jeremiah used a stick to point to the dangerous leaves. He shoved them to one side as we picked our way past. Then something happened that made this caution meaningless. A pod of whales was moving up the coast, surprisingly close to the shore. We watched th

Marysville Spring luncheon set Saturday "Spring has Sprung!" is the theme for the 54th annual Women's Association Salad Luncheon at the First Presbyterian Church, Sampson Street and Rideout Way, Marysville. The event is from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday in Huston Hall. Reservations are suggested for

The 62nd National Day of Prayer on May 2 will bring people of all faiths together to commemorate the day signed into law in 1952 to emphasize the United States' constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion celebrated by all Americans. "Nine out of 10 people are going to think this is a Christian day of prayer," said

Back when we had three young kids, I barely ducked at all when I drove our new minivan. I figured people looked at the young man behind the wheel and concluded that he was a responsible father. I could live with that. Now, 13 years later, my wife drives a shiny Avalon and my teenage kids would not be caught dead driving the minivan. Need

Yuba City Wrestling benefit set May 3 D-Day: The Rumble is Coming, a fundraiser for Speed the Light missions, is set for 7 p.m. May 3. Presented by the Ultimate Championship Wrestling, the event features local wrestlers. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. at the Calvary Christian Center gymnasium, 2620 Col

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inviting people of all beliefs to participate in a day of service to benefit three different places in the Yuba-Sutter area. Mormon Helping Hands service day takes place on April 27 in California and Hawaii, it's the fourth annual event locally. Worldwide, it happens elsewhere on other d

Yuba City St. Andrew to host E-waste drive St. Andrew Presbyterian Church is hosting a free community E-waste Drive from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. E-waste that will be accepted includes microwaves, computers, televisions, cellphones, printers, DVD players, monitors and scanners. Items can be dropped o

My wife's grandmother, who will be 100 years old in June, was admitted to a nursing home last week. Yesterday, we visited her. Entering a nursing home is like diving into a cold pool. It shocks you. In the lobby, a woman lay curled in a fetal position on a worn couch. Patients in wheelchairs were strewn up and down the halls like abandon

After more than 50 years of campfires, campouts, skits and s'mores, Camp Pendola in Camptonville is moving. The Yuba County camp has been a fundamental site for Catholic youths in the Sacramento Diocese, which encompasses parishes from the southern end of Sacramento County to the Oregon border. By the summer of 2014, the camp will be at

Yuba City Film benefits Hands of Hope The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Yuba City is hosting two showings of the movie "Hell and Mr. Fudge," about the sometimes hilarious trials and tribulations of an evangelical scholar, at the Cinemark Theater, 1410 Whyler Road, Yuba City. The movie is at 7 p.m. Sunday a

Music students from first through 12th grades in Yuba-Sutter are performing pieces, from baroque to classical, romantic to 20th century, at the Tri-Counties Music Competition Winners Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Church in Yuba City. They can play anything that is not pop, noted competition chairman Donald Pitter. "If

It has become a tradition for churches, church organizations and Christian schools in the Yuba-Sutter area and elsewhere to send teams to Mexico during spring break to build homes and schools for impoverished people and to help the participants strengthen their faith. St. Andrew Presbyterian The largest such contingent in

I am the wrong gender to be a bride, but walking through an orchard in the spring, I sure feel like one. No sanctuary was ever more lavishly decorated. Wedding attendants, robed in blossoms, stretch before me as far as the eye can see. Petals float silently to the ground beneath my feet as I make my way down the aisle. When the p

Yuba City Women donate Easter baskets A total of 72 Easter baskets were assembled and donated for foster children in Yuba and Sutter counties by women and young women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sutter Buttes ward. The service project, in its 10th year, included toys, games and hygiene

It was minutes before game time and the Loyola Ramblers entered the tunnel, ready to rush onto the basketball court. But there was one last order of business. The team huddled with a 5-foot tall, 93-year-old nun wearing a Nike workout top, black skirt and maroon sneakers with gold laces. "Sister" was embroidered on the heel of on

Turkey vultures were riding thermals all around me. An occasional hawk arced its way across the sky. Chickadees flitted in the bushes. A flock of quail exploded at my feet and buzzed off to hide in the blackberry bushes. I was so fascinated by the birds that I kept tripping, forgetting to watch the trail. I finally arrived at my favorite