16.8 F
Spokane
Thursday, February 13, 2025
spot_img
HomeCommentaryOn Sacred Grounds, a peculiar but wonderful coffee shop

On Sacred Grounds, a peculiar but wonderful coffee shop

Date:

Related stories

Happy Black History Month?

February has been known as Black History Month since 1976. This year, the month takes more ominous tones in light of Trump administrations war against DEI.

Dreams don’t have to be dreamy to be true

We can romanticize history's dreamy dreamers, but their daily realities were fraught with struggle. This doesn't mean the dreams were wrong, but that they are worth our perserverance.

Follow Bishop Budde’s example: Advocate for universal values with compassion

Universal values like love and mercy guide all faiths. Leaders like the Dalai Lama and Bishop Budde advocate for those values, and we can do the same with compassion.

Biblical marriage shouldn’t dictate who or how to love

Many don't realize how controversial a biblical marriage can be. Because of this, the author shows how other ways to people love one another and decide to couple are just as valid.

Luke’s Gospel challenges Trump’s reign with compassion for the poor

Luke's Gospel tells the story of a rich man and a poor man, named Lazarus, and how loving one's neighbor provides an alternative to Trump's policies of weath inequality.

Our Sponsors

spot_img

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvEngDku8VU] The best thing about On Sacred Grounds, a coffee shop in Valleyford, is its owner Elaine Rising. First of all, what a cool name. Elaine Rising, it sounds like a book title about a woman overcoming hopeless odds. I don’t know much about Elaine, other than that she grew up as a Byzantine Catholic and wears distinctive hats everyday (like the ones your grandma wore to church back in the day). Even though she’s a stranger, when I walked in today with Rev. Marj Johnston of Shalom Ministries, Elaine chatted us up like we were old friends. Here’s what we learned: – On Sacred Grounds is expanding. It’s under construction right now, but when it’s done it will have an art gallery for local artists to display their work. Elaine is open to religious art. – There are lots of books for you to read at the coffee shop, including a row of religious texts. Elaine will put any religious book out, as long as it isn’t vile. – On Sacred Grounds is named so because conversation and coffee is something that spreads throughout numerous religions. But it’s not necessarily a religious store – Elaine said her ministry is being kind to anyone who walks through the door. Oh, and if you watched the video above – that’s just Elaine. Someone inquired about a beautiful, antique organ in her shop and she happily sat down and played. So, if you like quirky places like Rev. Johnston and I do – check this place out.

Tracy Simmons
Tracy Simmons
Tracy Simmons is an award-winning journalist specializing in religion reporting and digital entrepreneurship. In her approximate 20 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti. Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut and Washington. She is the executive director of FāVS.News, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Washington. She also writes for The Spokesman-Review and national publications. She is a Scholarly Associate Professor of Journalism at Washington State University.

Our Sponsors

spot_img
spot_img

2 COMMENTS

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest


2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Marj
Marj
13 years ago

So glad you were up for the adventure and the drive! I don’t often (or often enough) drive so far for a cuppa joe/tea and conversation; however, there’s something soothing about the drive and regaining perspective. Thanks again!

religionnewsspokane
religionnewsspokane
13 years ago

I love adventures!

2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x