Stories & Blogs
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 22, 2024
** Bonton Farms in south Dallas began as a small home garden. Today, Bonton Farms has expanded to two fully functioning farms, a market & store, and coffee shop. This neighborhood is known for being a food desert with high rates of poverty and crime. Bonton Farms now employs south Dallas residents in job training…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 15, 2024
I would like to encourage you as a Sunday Letter reader to use the Comment box at end of each Sunday Letter. All that is needed is name, email and touch the Submit button. I truly look forward to reading them and respond to every Comment. Your Comments guide me in selecting topics and my…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 8, 2024
** My Santa Fe friend, Roger, introduced me to the important role of Creating an Experience. The Experience could be in car shopping, at Costco or the fast-growing local taco shop. Yet, the rapid expansion of parking reserved for Curbside Pick-up, Uber Eats, along with zooming, ATM and fast-food lanes, limits our experience of each…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 1, 2024
** A true American hero, Senator John Lewis, now has a bronze 12′ statue in front of the county courthouse in Decatur, Georgia. The statue of Senator Lewis replaces a monument to the Confederacy that had stood for 100 years. Younger SL readers may not know the heritage and role of Senator Lewis in making…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 25, 2024
** Habitat For Humanity (Ft. Worth) has city approval to construct a “tiny house community” for seniors. Habitat will build 31 one-bedroom homes of 465 sq. feet and 8 two-bedroom homes of 835 sq. feet, along with a pavilion, pond, and walking trails. Any future sell by a homeowner will have to meet age and…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 18, 2024
** CNN’s Good Stuff brings us inspiration and encouragement. In Gothenburg, Sweden, an orchestra has come together involving 300 players with different backgrounds, languages, voices, and musical talent, including Ron Davis, conductor. Members are refugees, immigrants, and others searching for a safe place to live, play and be a part of something special, thus, The…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 11, 2024
“ Opinions do not strengthen connections; Opinions do not carry the power to heal divisions nor hearts. The sharing of our Stories is how we connect; by listening to the stories of others, and telling our own story, divisions are healed, as are our hearts.” Roy Bowen – 2024 ** Multiple internet sites provide reasons…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 4, 2024
** The word Community has been heard often this week. The Paris Olympics have encouraged Community across borders, language, and teams to form International Communities. Toyota ads promote joining the “Toyota Community.” The rapid growth of online global Communities provides everyone, whether urban or rural, a way and place to belong. My heritage and understanding…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 28, 2024
Last week’s Sunday Letter described the importance of uniforms to student for improving academic achievement and consistent attendance. I have now learned the members of our local University Christian Church, provided 6,897 shirts, jeans, and shorts to Fort Worth girls and boys during the 2023-24 school year. I am sure UCC would welcome your contribution…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for July 21, 2024
** Each Monday, I begin with a blank pad of paper following the sending forth of the Sunday Letter. The process seems to include notes on a news item, a quote on keeping the seams together of society, climate, faith and perhaps a personal sharing begins the slow move from pad to screen. When the…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 5, 2026
This Easter weekend Beth & I walked our neighborhood block of 16 homes. Beth had prepared a gift bag for each neighbor with Zucchini bread, a card with her original art on the front and contact information. Both Jesus and Mr. Rogers spoke about neighbors. By knocking on 16 doors, we extended the hand of…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 29, 2026
Neighbors and Neighborhoods 2026 I am writing this week about the ways both neighbors and neighborhoods have changed, never to return to the days of images and memories of our experiences often reflected in a TV series or movie. Beth and I live on a traditional block of 16 homes. In my youth I grew-up…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 22, 2026
Being Safe, Prayers All Will Be Safe Where was your safe place as a child and later as a teen? Who were the individuals or groups who taught you about safety and provide you safety as a child…as a teen. Today, who are you teaching about safety and being free from harm? In what ways…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for Match 15, 2026
A Writing About Balancing The Quiet & The Noise A writer of people’s stories placed a recording microphone in a city park. His sign, asked a simple question, Who Inspired You? The resulting stories were of teachers, grandparents and the encouragement of others. I would add these similar signs: Who Gave You Comfort? Who Listened…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 8, 2026
Meaningful Insights of the Week This week’s Sunday Letter will highlight several insights, words and phrases I have read or heard this week. Friends and family members who give us support continue to change, shift as illness, relocations, death, and lifestyle preferences reshape our circle of relationships. Hopefully, we are adding and inviting new friends,…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 1, 2026
The Unfolding of Life and Faith My parents attended a neighborhood church which meant early Sunday morning, Sunday school and back again for evening Training Union. I accepted a youthful Faith as taught to me by caring adults I knew and trusted. As I grew physically, my early faith carried me through my teen years…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 22, 2026
A Reflection and Summary of Our Monks 110 Day Journey & Their Now Return Our local Monks, now with national and international followers, have returned to their home Temple grounds from their 110 day Walk for Peace. I humbly add my thoughts to the writers who know more and better described the people, events and…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 15, 2026
Practice For Lives Well Lived There have been two large events taking over my notepad and content of this week’s Sunday Letter. The first and most significant was the returning home of Ft. Worth’s own Buddhist Monks. On Saturday, Beth and I joined thousands of others in anticipating the final miles of their so very…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 8, 2026
Continuing To Encourage Believers to Believe Yes, these are confusing days with news breaks, headlines and decisions that do not encourage an active life of hope or support for many. And yet, this is the very time when the strengthening of relationships and community connections is so important. I offer these notes as our week…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 1, 2026
Life Stages Of 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80.s Reels and Google easily present “What you need to know” about you or someone close to you in individual life stages. I was still achieving in my 50’s and 60’s mind set and work style. I paid little attention to what would have been helpful for me…