Mom and I visited SCC 3x last year when we were in Sebastopol. The pastor is a great teacher and…read moreBiblically sound. I thought we made connections with the women but..... I believe as Christians and representing our Savior, we should try to be women people of integrity who keep their words and do what they say. In today's day and age, it is a treasure to find true followers of Christ and people of true integrity. I felt superficiality from the women but according to the Bible, we should be true and have fair treatment of all types of people no matter what race they are. I was so looking forward to joining a zoom women class I was told about but not one lady called or responded or reached out to me even after I sent an email inquiring more about it.

Great church! Been attending Saturday night services for over 2 years. We looked long and hard for…read morea church that felt like home in the area and this one was it! Teaching is great. Worship on Sat. nights (5:30 pm) is very contemporary. They also have a 9 am Sunday traditional service with hymns and one at 10:40 am on Sunday more contemporary. If your looking for a home church come check it out

Very down to earth service. Heartfelt. Loved the music and…read morethe spirit shared with the congregation.

This is a hidden gem!!! Gorgeous venue, hardly needs decorating at all. I had my wedding here and…read moreeveryone I dealt with was beyond wonderful. Janette, the event space director, is super sweet and flexible. My wedding guests kept raving about the breathtaking views. There is plenty of parking too!

I have attended some events and meetings here over the past year, but last week I decided to…read moreventure in to their regularly scheduled "religious" service on a Sunday. The greeting was beautiful, everyone had name tags, they were smiling, jubilant and welcoming. I filled out a form, put on a name tag, and was given a cute little gift bag with some Hershey Kisses and Andes candy in it, along with a bookmark, notepad, pen and information about UU. I've been on a spiritual journey/quest for a while, trying to find a new church home, a more open, accepting and welcoming place. I have been a member of another church (and still am) for going on fifteen years, leaving hasn't been easy, and as I visit other churches, I'm learning that I'm right where I need to be. It gets very warm in the room where they have their service, and frankly it felt more like a political rally of sorts rather than a spiritual experience. They music is interesting, they have a pianist, and a group of people who sing, a choir actually, it's solemn type music, almost put me to sleep, but not in a bad way, in a peaceful way, sort of like meditation. They have a time where you can write your joy and/or sorrows on a slip of paper, and say they reverend will read them (I did not expect what happened next), so, after a reading from a Dr. Suess book, they congregation was to hold up these slips and the ushers would come to get them, well, the Reverend; Joy took mine, and the others were brought up to her. SHE READ THEM ALL ALOUD to the entire room, the entire congregation, and it felt like a horrible violation as I misunderstood - I did not see or read or hear anyone say Reverend Joy was going to read them aloud, right then and there for all to hear. GOODNESS I was blown away, just in awe and shocked to hear what was written said out in public for all those people to hear. It felt like a huge violation of trust! Fast forward to the end of the "sermon" on earth day, they have some coffee, and water, with snacks after out by the beautiful fountain, and several people chatted with me, which made me feel more at ease after hearing what I'd written read to so many strangers. The warmth, love and comfort I received from complete strangers was more than I've received from any member, staff or pastor (current or past) at the church I've been part of and a member of for many years. Although I was hoping for more of a spiritual teaching, and not such a religious feel, in the end, UU was exactly what I needed on that day. It's different ... It's special ... It's a gem!

My experience at Odiyan has inspired me to follow my dreams. I continue…read moreto be involved when time permits creating sacred art. A caring attitude toward each other and Odiyan's vision keeps me involved. Alan O.

I've lived and worked both at Odiyan and nearby Ratna Ling Retreat Center for almost 3 years around…read more2012 to 2015. Since then I've come back regularly every year for a few weeks or a couple of months at a time. Odiyan is a hidden gem, an otherworldly place, like no other I've ever been. Life at Odiyan is very simple, work is very hard, but the time you spend there is so so worthwhile, heart opening and life changing. The way the community immerses itself into spiritual practice at Odiyan is through work, the daily practices and study. There's a lot to do at Odiyan. The grounds are immense and breathtaking wherever you look, and the amount and scope of projects are remarkable. The Buddhist teachings manifest at Odiyan as sacred symbols, temples, prayer wheels, stupas, books, online programs, and the grounds of this amazing unique mandala. Life and work at Odiyan are one. People there embrace the projects as their own, and the grounds as their own home. Having your mind and body immersed in the beauty of Odiyan's nature, and in the sacredness of what you work with, puts you face to face with your own idea of self, and with the purpose of being here in this planet. You meet your own resistance, and your own potential as human being to overcome it. Odiyan teaches you that you can be and accomplish much more that you ever thought you could. This is not your typical meditation retreat center, it's a place where people come to engage with concentrated spiritual practice that manifests through their work in the sacred art and construction projects, the gardens, care for the land and animals, the kitchen work and the practices and classes. My life was transformed by working and living at Odiyan and with this community, and for that I will always be thankful to this amazing community and its Founder. I don't think there's many other places on earth were you can have such a powerful experience. I would recommend anyone that is seriously considering a spiritual path or that loves simple life and hard but fulfilling work to try Odiyan for at least 6 months. This is the most amazing place to take an extended break from you habitual, worldly life.

If you are looking for a sense of belonging and inspiration in a community of progressive…read moreactivists, this is a great place. Joining this congregation has been transformational for me. I am not a religious person; what I believe in is community. I have gotten a stronger sense of community from this congregation than from anything else in my adult life. There are so many ways to participate, be of service, learn, and just have fun. Members are deeply caring and fascinating people. I feel so appreciated and valued for everything I contribute to the congregation. There is a strong child and youth program for families with children. Extremely LGBTQIA-friendly. It's a good size - about 230 members, so you can get to know a lot of people but not feel like just part of a crowd. Come for a visit any Sunday at 10:30 and see what you think. You'll be greeted warmly.

Friendly people. Most over 70. Went to join and found that most were atheists, even the pastor that…read morewas there. I was the only one who believed in prayer. I won't go to a Christian church, but I also don't want to go to a mostly atheist one. The Center for Spiritual Living is similarly mostly over 70 and very unfriendly. I give up. I'll just go in nature.

This is why I am in Marin…read more In spirit, anyway. It's just across the Golden Gate Bridge, a 15-minute drive. On Sundays at 10:00 am the celebration is usually at the Corte Madera Recreation Center, on Tamalpais Drive just west of Highway 101. During the week, classes are held around 6:30 pm in the learning center at 199 Greenfield Avenue, in San Rafael. That's just off 4th Street right before the San Anselmo border. I'm learning to ride Golden Gate Transit, to check out cars from City CarShare, and to ask for rides from my colleagues. On weekends My Lady will either check out a City CarShare car or rent a car from Enterprise or Alamo. Why do we do this? Because there is a wonderful atmosphere in Marin County. People are peaceful here. The air is fresh and the sky is blue. The sun is warm, and there are plenty of sun dresses, shorts, and bicycles. The services at GGCSL are well worth attending, too. The music is fresh, the minister, Rev. Karyl, is inspiring, and the congregation is welcoming. The theme is offering "practical spiritual tools to transform your life and help make the world a better place." It's a great contrast to the cold and fog of the Richmond District, that's for sure.

It's been 17 years since I walked through the doors of Golden Gate Center for Spiritual Living and…read moreit's always felt like home. I have been a practitioner here for 10 years and it has been so rewarding. If one is looking for a place to feel comfortable and at ease please come on Sunday at 10 am. You will always find something in the talk that pertains to just what you need at that time. It does for me.

A sole encounter with Fr. Roa, listening to his homily, I felt that he was talking directly to me…read more He along with another priest. Both of them are truly men of God. It literally changed the way I live mass. For the first time in my life, I have experienced a closer connection with God at my regular church and I know in my heart that it is because of the above experience.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church is a beautiful chapel in the culinary center of the Napa Valley. It…read morefeeds the spirit. There's a beautiful side chapel with the fully armed saint, and in the back there are some rather sad statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Joseph that could use some loving restoration. The stained glass windows of various saints are lovely. It's a place for contemplation among the vineyards. It's a spiritual oasis when it has places like Michael Chiarello's Bottega/NapaStyle as well as Thomas Keller's French Laundry, Per Se, and Bouchon down the street. While it's within earshot of Highway 29, it is a place of silence and beauty.

On our way down to Bodega Bay, we made a pit stop to St. Teresa of Avila Church. Made famous from…read moreAnsel Adam's photography, as well as a feature in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds", this old church is incredibly well maintained on the outside. We arrived around 11am on a Sunday, and was quite surprised that at how empty the place was. There was one other person parked there when we pulled up, but surprisingly there was no service in session. The church itself was closed and locked down, but we saw no signage anywhere to indicate that they were any factors (renovation, etc..) that might result in an extended closure. I guess service is either just really early in the morning, or not held regularly here. We walked to the back of the church where you'll see a marked grave for Ellen Orr. Turns out, she was a first cousin to Mrs. O'Farrell, wife of Jasper O'Farrell; of whom O'Farrell street in San Francisco was named after. A bit further down the path and around the corner you'll find Potter Schoolhouse, which was the setting for the schoolhouse scene in "The Birds". The school is now a private residence, and they no longer offer paid tours. There are two driveways up the steep but short hill leading to the church. One is for incoming traffic, and the other is for outgoing traffic. Sadly, the driveways are not marked so it's a bit too easy to go through the wrong one. There is also a restroom out back, but it is locked during non-service hours.

Lovely, simple historical church perched on a hill that yields beautiful vistas of the contoured,…read morerolling farmland. I attended a 5pm Saturday mass that drew different participants from well-dressed women to local fisherman to bright young people, a good community. Even if you're not Catholic and even if you're not a believer, take time to check out this peaceful structure and sit a while.

If you are looking for answers, this place has them. This is the real deal. I only wish they were…read moreopen every day!

The courses are helping me to expand my business.They provide the exact data to resolve…read moreproblems.The staff are friendly... Truely a gem !

I love weddings, but the actual wedding ceremony is often not very memorable. Mary made our wedding…read moreceremony meaningful and engaging for everyone. For me, the ceremony went beyond my expectations and became my favorite part of the whole day. Both friends and family confirmed that it was an amazing ceremony, and many said that Mary was the best officiator they'd ever seen. Simply put, Mary is a natural leader who engages people and ensures they feel a part of the ceremony itself. She creates an experience that is very spiritual, without being religious (although Mary may be able to cater to that, too, if that's what you'd like). And, for us, engaging with Mary was a delight. Prior to the wedding, we talked via phone and met in person twice. She came with lots of ideas on how to structure the ceremony itself, and then let us pick and choose from her ideas and add our own. It made for a low-pressure process at a time when we didn't need any more pressure.

From the owner: I have been officiating at weddings as an ordained minister since 1986, and what a pleasure it is!…read more I am especially sensitive to couples marrying for the second time. The meaning of the ceremony is important to them for different reasons than when they married the first time. They have a better idea of what a marriage is all about and the depth of the commitment they're making. It's the details that make each wedding special and uniquely personal. Helping you choose the elements that make your ceremony a perfect reflection of you as a couple is one of my specialties. Putting you and your wedding party at ease is another. If you are looking for an exceptional wedding officiant for your Wine Country wedding in Sonoma or Napa counties, or dreaming of a destination wedding, look no further. Let's create a wedding that is a perfect reflection of the two of you, just as you are.