Power This month Metro Richmond at Prayer renewed its covenant. Participating congregations will continue to pray not only for the region generally but for specific challenges within the community. Metro Richmond at Prayer blends many voices. Diverse dispensations unite to overcome crime, violence, racism, poverty, dispossession, alienation, and economic uncertainty, as well as the disquietude that occurs when men and women lose sight of their true natures.

Those New Year’s resolutions of old somehow seem out of date for 2009. How can you resolve to keep your closets straight when you’re worried you might lose the house? Or stick to your fitness plan when you can’t afford that gym membership anymore? In these bleak times, resolutions have more to do with faith, hope and perseverance.

Douglas A. Hicks, associate professor of leadership studies and religion at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies and executive director of the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Richmond, will speak about his book “With God on All Sides: How leaders should look at faith and lead diverse and devout communities,“ at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at The Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. in Richmond.

Aflickering candle has universal appeal. Its flame inspires and soothes, especially now around the winter solstice, the darkest days of the year. “Light is hope, promise and even relief,“ said Kristin M. Swenson, assistant professor of religious studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. “Long before Kwanzaa, Christmas, or even Hanukkah, people fired up those darkest days to make the hope of new life real.

Every day the business news brings fresh anxieties. Bankruptcies, foreclosures, layoffs. It’s only natural to ask “Is my company OK?“ “Am I OK?“ “Is my job secure?“ For some, the answer has already come, and the answer was “No.“

Manger-building project gives fathers tools to teach children about Christmas.

Watch Richmond-area Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Adha at the Arthur Ashe Center.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church long has been known as the historic Capitol Square church with a socially relevant ministry. In time, it also will be known for “doing brave, bold things,“ said the Rev. Canon D. Wallace Adams-Riley, the church’s new rector.

Nelson County residents Alan Scherr, 58, and his daughter Naomi, 13, were in Mumbai as part of a meditation retreat at the Oberoi Hotel, one of the sites hit in the attacks. The retreat was organized by The Synchronicity Foundation, which is headquartered in Nelson.

When Darlene Gunnell watches her sons play peekaboo with 2-year-old Chrisno Jeudi and their young faces light up with laughter, she knows that she and her husband, William, did the right thing. Just a few months ago, Chrisno was unable to raise his head and spent most of his days lying on his back, crying in pain.

Catholics have a moral obligation to participate in the political process. That was the message about 150 people heard tonight during a two-hour program sponsored by the Virginia Catholic Conference, Office of Justice & Peace and the Richmond Sowers of Justice. The “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” program, which included greetings from Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, was held at St. Bridget’s Church.