Church retains Pacific traditions
Marshall Islanders, who are among nearly 900 Pacific Islanders and native Hawaiians living in Spokane County, turn to their church to help them retain their culture, language and community.  Those who have moved to Spokane for educational and job opportunities face adjustment to a different economy and different values, said Shem Mito, deacon at the Jaran Radrikdron Congregational United Church of Christ in Spokane.... read more

Four bishops in dialogue will explore opportunities
Four bishops and an ecumenical leader will discuss “Bread Broken and Shared:  Challenges and Opportunities for Ecumenism Today” at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, November 6 at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John, 127 E. 12th Ave. They are Christ Holy Sanctified  Bishop Walton Mize, Catholic Bishop William Skylstad, Episcopal Bishop Jim Waggoner, Lutheran Bishop Martin Wells and Alice Woldt of the Washington Association of Churches (WAC)....... read more

Walla Walla coffee shop connects people, faith
The Walla Walla Roastery serves more than a good cup of coffee. An icon of the Virgin Mary hanging on the wall in the kitchen reminds the brother and sister who own the coffee shop that their role in life is to serve people. Co-owners Thomas Reese and Mary Senter invite conversations...... read more

Documentary depicts parallels between immigrants and Advent Posadas
A 55-minute documentary, “Posada,” tells the stories of unaccompanied immigrant children, drawing a parallel between their journeys and the traditional Mexican Advent Las Posadas procession and stirring concern about attitudes toward and treatment of immigrants...... read more

Teens and adults feed hungry through Fatima garden
In a vegetable garden near their church, young people and other members of Our Lady of Fatima parish work together to cultivate both the soil and a spirit of community, and to help feed the hungry in Spokane. For the past five years, youth group members along with parishioners have harvested hundreds of pounds of tomatoes, peppers, beans, carrots and other fresh produce for the House of Charity,...... read more

Oxen and mules help Palouse farmer slowly adopt organic methods
A rusty windmill stands proudly at the Zakarison family farm on Highway 27 between Pullman and Palouse.  The local landmark identifies where three generations of Zakarisons have lived on the Palouse since 1935. Some aspects of Eric Zakarison’s approach to farming today are like earlier Palouse farming as he increases the acreage devoted to organic farming out of his desire to care for the environment..... read more

Second Harvest plans for tough times
Second Harvest is preparing for a challenging 2009, said executive director Jason Clark. The food distribution organization seeks to be ready for potentially tough economic times. According to a Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development statewide food bank report, a record 27.6 percent of clients were new in the most recent quarter....... read more

Concert presents original songs telling stories of homeless people
The 2008 HeartSongs from the Edge of the World Concert emerges from relationships among people of different social and economic experiences.  Scriptwriters and musicians listen to stories of homeless people and create original songs that convey their experiences and feelings. The third annual concert presents human faces to help the audience see homelessness with new eyes, said the Rev. Michael (Redhawk) Rice-Sauer, pastor of Covenant Christian Church, guitarist and composer...... read more