HopeSB is a wonderful place to grow spiritually, having global impact & making new friends at the…read moresame time while living as imperfect Christian. Every worship is filled with great musicians and the Sunday school teacher(s) for kids ministries are always working with heart & love to serve the communities. The hospitality team always provide special/unique bakeries & treats that will bring smiles to your family every Sunday. Few brothers & sisters in HopeSB also participated in Team World Vision (TWV) to bring clean water to needy communities (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn2jMkP3uM8) as well.

We started going to Hope Church 2 years ago. Although, I was skeptical due to past experiences, I…read morewas open to trying it out. We are so blessed that we did. It has exceeded our expectations and our two little ones love the youth ministry. They ask mid-week when it's church day. Hope states that ALL are welcomed, and it is so true. It is a non-judge mental or pushy church that is open to anyone regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey. The leaders are so approachable and available for discussion if needed. We are proud to call ourselves members of Hope Church.

Online is great to view this church the Pastor is really good with his messages for the sermon he…read moreis teaching about .

Great head pastor, amazing pastoral ministry, children's and youth ministry. Fun family activities…read more Once a month family dinner

A solo trip to Santa Barbara called me to visit Our Lady of Sorrows on a Thursday morning…read more I was lucky to have the church to "myself," to pray the rosary, reflect, and admire the artwork and statues that adorn the interior. They even have Holy Water "on tap" on either side of the church, which I was able to take some home with gratitude. Such a gem and I'm glad I was able to visit Easy to find, ample parking located on the back; beautiful grounds.

I used to serve and do many other things in this parish when the Jesuits ran it (RIP Fr Cahill). We…read moreattended the 11 am mass which was very much diff at that time (Mrs Cunningham was the organist ). It took me the 4 + yrs of coming back to SB lately to even enter . I was petrified they had destroyed it . I was so relieved to see it was in tact . As far as Mass, it's in the same state of disrepair that it has been for 50 years . I did attend the daily Mass by the Salesian , who is leaving , and I was really surprised in a food way . I've attended the Sunday Mass several times and it's sheer chaos . I pray for the pastor . There's an overabundance or extraordinary ministers and deacons but that's par today . There have been those who have complained about it not being welcoming . I get that . There seems to be a one-sided welcoming environment. The standard disorder is omnipresent , people lifting up their hands every 3 seconds ; standing when they should be kneeling and the music is very "Me" oriented . Unfortunately this is all a result of the grave lack of catechesis in the last 50 yrs . That's why I don't want to hear anymore about the lack of understanding or reverence for the Eucharist . That education needs to come from the priest . As does the appropriate direction for the Mass . I doubt that is going to happen unless they get another associate . It's the clericalization of the laity and the laication of the clergy . Please don't believe there are no priests . I know of several religious order priests who'd come to OLS eg. VI , FSSP, CM .

I really love this church. Both the worship team and the teaching are awesome. I feel extremely…read morewelcomed and free to be myself. I have had a hard couple of years and this church has been a haven of safety and refreshment for me. My truest gratitude! Another thing I like about this church is it focus on the main thing, and doesn't get distracted with issues not central to faith that tend to divide people! Nobody will judge you if you're a Democrat or a Republican or not political. I think this church is an extremely healthy and safe place. It is also fairly lighthearted and very joyful.

Grace Gathering Church I feel so blessed to have found this…read morechurch. Pastor Todd, carefully listens to the needs of people and follows through in his compassionate, caring manner. His sermons are of God's lessons from the Bible. Todd has a gift of making how scriptures are relevant to our lives today. He is a practicing servant of God. The people of the church are friendly not only welcoming but accept others and their beliefs, philosophy , as a creation of God to respect and accept. This is a genuine loving caring sharing church.

Favorite Church in town. Inviting and inclusive, good messages great people. Meets at SB Junior…read moreHigh, plenty of parking and inside a beautiful auditorium. Music is really good.

I was told I was a security risk,( after turning to Dono for help previously, about losing my…read morefamily, and sleeping in my car). When I passed Dojo and Mr. Elite pastor I was starred down as I walk down the hall. There motto is "no perfect people allowed", that's so funny, that's a joke. I felt so judged and scrutinized because I trusted to confide in Dono. Rom. 2:1

Good location and facility for weddings and special events with a very nice park across the street…read more As earlier reviews suggest, some years ago the staff were difficult but that problem was alleviated with retirement of the very director who managed to alienate everyone. (This does not reflect on the pastoral side.) They have a nice courtyard outside their medium-sized space as well as a less-well-appointed building which might have a little bit more space lacks the architectural grace and courtyard. If security is an issue, the courtyard is wrapped with an iron gate and access can be controlled at one entry point. Less ideological/religious dogma attaches to this venue, obviously, so it is pretty much the default for more secular ceremonies. Depending on the price and terms you can negotiate, suitable.

Hosted our wedding here! everything went great and so smoothly. The event manager Joanie is so…read morefriendly and works with integrity I really enjoyed working with her! It's a gorgeous and timeless place to host a wedding. They have different packages and options so there really is something for every budget. You can also rent tables/chairs from them directly so it's super convenient! I would recommend them to everyone!

I hadn't been to the Mission in years. This year I went to the Madonnari Chalk Festival - what a…read moregorgeous time. My mom and I had the best of times! Art, Music, food and just sooooo much fun! I danced so much and got to meet many wonderful artists. I def will be back next year and make a whole weekend out of it. I live nearby but I think, next year I'll stay a few days in SB. My mom is already looking forward to it!

Mission Santa Barbara is a historic California landmark that also doubles as a museum. They even…read morehave actual mass in the mission, as well as Sunday service. It is a beautiful space filled with so much historic value. It was founded in 1786!! We got there around 3pm and purchased the Self Guided tour for $17 per person, which was a little high in my opinion. You walk through the museum and Mission grounds at your own pace and enjoy it on your own time. There are QR Codes that provide information to go along with your tour. We checked out the museum, garden, mausoleum, and even sat in the church for about 30 minutes just enjoying the beauty and peace. There is a gift shop you exit through that sells some lovely items such as shirts, sweaters, magnets, artwork, sculptures, candles and so much more. We bought a nice sweater with Santa Barbara written on it, a beautiful candle in a glass, and a small bookmark with a prayer symbol on it. They even have snacks/refreshments. They close at 5pm but sell their last ticket at 4pm. Parking is also free, which is always a plus. This was our third time here over the last 2 decades, and I'm not sure it's necessary to come back again. Once you've seen it, you've seen it.

Pastor Mark is great! He is relatable, humble yet captivating, sincere, and full of integrity. We…read morevisited Santa Barbara for a few weekends and loved attending the Sunday service. They have a lovely garden on the premises that my family was able to appreciate before the services. He officiated a small wedding for my husband and I after we took pre-marital classes, and our close family and friends connected with the message at a deep level. There was much for everyone to learn from and take away. We will treasure this lovely experience our whole lives and really appreciate the great work Pastor Mark and all those at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran do for the kingdom.

Trinity Lutheran is an extremely friendly congregation. Visitor are made to feel at home from the…read moremoment they arrive. Check out their website: so much happening with children and families, as well as with their Outreach ministry. A major renewal of their sanctuary is ready about to happen.

No need to travel all the way to India to find Nirvana. Tranquility can be yours just two hours…read morenorth of LA (depending on the state of the 101 Parking Lot). Nestled in the foothills a smidge south and east of Santa Barbara, this divine spot is a naturalist's dream, with its landscape of native vegetation interspersed with stately eucalyptus groves. Built in the style of Southern Indian, this temple, elegant in its simplicity, is cleverly constructed of hand-hewn timber. Shoes must be left at the door, but not to worry, for the interior is carpeted with plush wall-to-wall, the soft color of a virgin's blush. Silence is golden and de rigeur when inside, but it is easy to hold one's tongue within this womb of cozy spirituality. The property is also the site of a convent for Vedanta nuns, whose novitiates run the wonderfully eclectic book and giftshop. Much like their contemporary Catholic counterparts, one would be hard pressed to identify them as clerics, due to the fact that they dress like regular folks. They are also very friendly, and quite helpful. The shop carries merchandise of all faiths and spiritual practices, as well as some very lovely handmade tschotchkes. They even have a special section for kids. Although, it's much smaller, it puts the Hipster Buddhist Mecca known as the Bodhi Tree to shame by sheer beauty of surroundings as well as, well, the authentic holiness of the ladies on the staff. The temple, shop and grounds are free and open to the public. Visitors of any, or no spiritual persuasion, are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the rustle of the breeze through the eucs, the spontaneous rounds of birdsong, as well as reveling in the spectacular mountain views. Winter hours, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; spring, 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Vespers: winter, 6 p.m.; spring, 6:30 p.m. Sun. lecture, 11 p.m. The bookstore is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

I spent six years of my life in Santa Barbara. It will always be my heart's home. I became…read moreinterested in Eastern Religious beliefs at UCSB and subsequently found Vedanta. The small, serene temple sits on 45 acres of land in the hills of Montecito overlooking the ocean. Run by a a convent of seven nuns, activities include daily worship, meditation and vesper services. The best time to attend the evening vesper services is during daylight savings time when you can quietly observe the sunset. There's a rock not far from the steps outside. I used to sit there after the service in in the "otherworldy" silence that envelops the place and reflect. The following detail on the vespers service comes from their website. I couldn't do it justice, so I thought I'd add it. It is a quiet time, a time for reflection and meditation at the close of the day. During the ritual, five items, representing the subtle elements that form the universe, are offered back to the Lord. The ritual symbolizes the multiplicity of the world being dissolved into oneness. It is an act of surrender to God, an act of the soul's return to its Source. After a brief meditation, the worshiper begins the arati by lighting wicks in a special holder. These wicks are made of cotton dipped in melted ghee (clarified butter). The lights symbolize the light of Brahman (the Godhead). They also symbolize fire, one of the five elements that comprise the universe. The worshiper pours consecrated water three times over the handle of the arati holder as salutations are offered to the fire that is Brahman. Pouring the water three times is believed to aid the worshiper's commitment to the act, thereby enhancing the effect. The worshiper rings the bell continuously with the left hand, symbolizing the mystic sound OM, which eternally reverberates throughout the universe. With the right hand, the worshiper waves the light clockwise before the pictures of Ramakrishna, Jesus and Buddha, thus offering fire back to the Lord. The worshiper then kneels down and passes the right hand over the light and then over the head. By doing this, the worshiper is purified by the light of Brahman and takes the darshan (blessings) of the Lord. This act also signifies the desire for illumination, or for realization of the soul's oneness with God. The worshiper then pours water over the hand as an act of purification before the next, and each subsequent, offering is begun. The second offering is water, which is contained in a conch shell. Water is another element comprising the universe. The conch is waved in a circular motion before the holy pictures, and is then poured into an offering bowl. The third offering is a cloth, which symbolizes the element space. Cloth covers the body as space envelops all creation. The fourth offering is a flower, symbolizing the element earth. The last of the offerings is the chamara (a fan made of yak tail), which symbolizes the element air as it is gracefully waved before the holy pictures. Three songs accompany the vesper service: Khandana Bhaba Bandhana, a Bengali song to Sri Ramakrishna written by Swami Vivekananda; Om Hring Ritang, a Sanskrit hymn to Sri Ramakrishna written by Swami Vivekananda; and Sarva Mangala Mangalye, a Sanskrit hymn to the Divine Mother. The singing is often acccompanied by a harmonium (an Indian hand-held organ), a tampura (an Indian string instrument), tabla (Indian drums) and cymbals. It's truly calming.

A little shout out to say thanks to all the member of the Bodhi Path in Santa Barbara and to Dawa…read morethe teacher. The entire group is so friendly and peaceful. They are warm and welcoming. If you have any interest in understanding Buddhist Philosophy, this could be a very helpful group. Meet some new friends and enjoy a beautiful silent meditation and more.

Bodhi Path is the place to be if you are serious about attaining Enlightenment, learning about…read moreBuddhist philosophy and psychology (gaining wisdom), and practicing proper meditation techniques. This is not your average Tibetan Buddhist center/ temple that offers meditation as a form of practice to relieve your daily stress, pressure, or discomfort. 3/20/2013 - was my first night here. Bodhi Path is offering a course on Profound Practice to learn about The View (Buddhist philosophy and psychology) and proper meditation techniques. It is held every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm. I'll be back!!