To benefit Shepherd’s Gate women and children’s center, Antioch Church Family ministries

“A complex and ambitious adventure for lovers of ancient historical romance.” — Kirkus Reviews

By Wes Seeley, PR by the Book

Valentine’s Day celebrations generally include chocolates, flowers, and perhaps a candlelit dinner. But in The Legend of Valentine, screenwriter, director, and author Sheldon Collins draws back the curtain on the world’s most romantic holiday and recreates a dark history born from rebellion, forbidden weddings and a love so fierce it defied an empire.​

Set in Rome, 268 AD, in an age of tyranny and turmoil, an eternal love story ignites a revolution. Valentine, a once-fearsome warrior reborn from the brink of death, sheds his violent past for a new destiny inspired by his blind lover, Agatha. Amidst the ruthless rule of a merciless emperor, Valentine undertakes a clandestine mission: to unite lovers in secret ceremonies, defying imperial decrees that threaten to obliterate the Christian faith. As Valentine’s covert acts of defiance grow bolder, he challenges the tyrannical order, planting the seeds for a celebration of love that will echo through the ages.

The Legend of Valentine is an epic tale of love, war, faith, and rebellion. This gripping saga looks beyond the candy hearts and greeting cards to find the roots and meaning of the holiday – a world where love defies all odds, heroes rise from the shadows, and the undying spirit of hope shines through the darkest times.

Discover the man behind the myth, witness the birth of a legend, and experience a love story so profound it promises to live forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sheldon Collins is a distinguished storyteller whose career began in Hollywood as a screenwriter and director. His films, celebrated for their compelling narratives and rich character development, have been featured on premium television and at numerous film festivals—earning critical acclaim and a host of awards. The Legend of Valentine marks Collins’s debut novel. The multi-cast audiobook edition, which he co-directed, was the winner of two 2026 Society of Voice Arts and Sciences Voice Arts Awards. 

Educated at UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric and holding a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the prestigious American Film Institute, Collins brings a unique blend of narrative expertise and directorial acumen to his literary endeavors.

For more information, visit https://prbythebook.com/experts/sheldon-collins and https://sheldoncollins.com/about.

Amazon link: www.amazon.com/Legend-Valentine-Ancient-Historical-Revolution/dp/B0DPTDX66T/  

The Legend of Valentine

Publisher: Hutchinson & Collins Publishing

Pub Date: 2025

ISBN: 9798991362405 (HC), 9798991362412 (PB), 9798991362443 (Ebook), 9798991362429 (Audiobook)

Available from Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, bookshop.org

By Allen D. Payton

Join St. Ignatius Church of Antioh for a memorable organ concert featuring an evening of colorful, uplifting music with German organist, composer, and YouTuber, Paul Fey on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

Fey stands out for combining traditional church music with modern media, making organ music more approachable — especially to younger audiences. His performances reflect both reverence for sacred music and a fresh, engaging style that marks him as one of Germany’s most innovative young church musicians.

On his website, Fey shares, “I was born in 1998 near Leipzig and always loved playing music, especially because of the way it can connect people, and the feelings it can communicate.

“My music education started when I was in kinder garden and my parents signed me up for ‘early music education’. I really enjoyed making music, so we decided the next step would be to start me with classical guitar lessons during my first grade at primary school.

“About one year later, I’d also discovered the magic of piano music. When I was about 15 years old, I was eventually introduced to the pipe organ at our local church – which caught my attention almost immediately! I went on to practice and experiment on this instrument for several hours at a time, never once getting tired of all the possible combinations of the different timbres.

“After studying organ and sacred music full time at the specialist university in Halle (Saale) I’m now a full-time musician, composer and Youtuber.”

Concert Details

When: Sunday, February 15, 2026

Time: 4pm

Where: 3351 Contra Loma Blvd., Antioch

Cost: Free admission. Free-will offering will be collected.

For a sampling of Fey’s music, visit his YouTube channel.

For more information about St. Ignatius of Antioch Church click on the ad on the right side of this website.

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Will offer multiple services at former Community Outreach Center

“We’ve been working day and night to transform the place. The new sign just went up today” – Pastor Damon Owens

By Allen D. Payton

Genesis Church of Antioch leaders, Pastor Damon and his wife Shantell Owens invite you and your family to the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening of the Genesis Family Life Center on February 7th from 12 Noon to 3:00 pm.

“We are fully persuaded that the Genesis Family Life Center located at 525 East 18th Street in Antioch will be a place of hope and transformation where lives will be changed for the better,” they said.

The center’s slogan, Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly… is from the Bible verse Micah 6:8 which reads, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The Owens’ shared the following “list of culturally relevant wrap around services” available at the Center:

• Grocery Share Program
• After School Programs for At-Risk Youth
• Senior Day Programs
• Trauma Informed Care
• Business Incubator for Entrepreneurs
• Pop-Up Commercial Kitchen
• Community Youth Development
• Workforce Development
• Prison Re-Entry
• Transitional Housing

The building was purchased from Golden Hills Community Church, which operated their Community Outreach Center there, until last year, for $800,000, according to Golden Hills’ Executive Pastor Matt LaValliere. The two churches are part of the same 170-year-old Baptist denomination known as Converge, for which Pastor Damon is a member of the Board of Overseers of the PacWest division.

Golden Hills also sold Genesis their church building down the street on the corner of Woodland Drive and E. 18th several years ago.

The transition from the COC to the GFLC was quick as, according to Pastor Damon, they signed the loan docs on November 24th.

“Genesis qualified for the loan and closed escrow. God did it,” he exclaimed.

Volunteers from the church then began work the day after Thanksgiving to prepare the Center for opening.

“We’ve been working day and night to transform the place,” Owens shared. “We wanted to bring an open Silicon Valley-type feel for organizations to use the space to provide the wrap-around services.”

“The new sign just went up today,” Pastor Damon added.

Asked if they would be serving meals to the homeless and those in need he said, “We’re going to be providing ready to eat groceries for those people without a kitchen, like those living in the Opportunity Village (transitional housing hotel), next door.”

“This building is just a shell; it is the people who will fill it that matter most,” the Owens shared. “Seeing the G.F.L.C (Genesis Family Life Center) transition from a vision on paper to a functional space has been a journey of faith and hard work.”

For more information about Genesis Church and the new Family Life Center visit https://yourgenesischurch.com.

Will compete in district competition February 19

By Wayne Steffen

Twelve boys and girls aged 8 to 14 were named local champions of the 2026 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.  Antioch Council #3265 sponsored the local competition at Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church parish center. 

The champions are:

Age                 Boys                            Girls

8                      Greyson Elliott            Charlotte Kerian

9                      Santiago Sandoval      Riley Page

10                    Cristiano Pham           Ava Agpalo

11                    Michael Kelly             Cameryn Smith

12                                                        Devyn Jones

13                    Jayden Rivera

14                    Ryan Wisely                Xofia Espinole

The champions will compete in the district competition to be held on February 19 with an eye toward moving on to diocese, state, national and international levels.

Council #3265 in Antioch, CA is one of 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally, and internationally with financial contributions and hands-on service.

Presents it to Pastor Damon and Shantell Owens of Genesis Church

During their meeting on Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved the following proclamation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and presented it to Pastor Damon and Shantell Owens of Genesis Church in Antioch. District 1 Councilwoman Monica Wilson was absent. But first, Pastor Owens spoke followed by District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker sharing his bio and her experience working with him in her district.

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us that we are ultimately measured not by where we stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but by the stand taken during times of challenge and controversy;
WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy reminds us that moral leadership does not require a person to be in elected office or hold a position of power. Instead, exercising moral authority requires the will to do the right thing;
WHEREAS, Dr. King helped transform how our country saw itself and its future, providing a framework for how each of us can shape the future and working toward something better;
WHEREAS, The King Center has declared their theme for 2026 is ‘Mission Possible 2: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way’. This theme defines the 2026 King Holiday Observance events and programming while serving as a compass for all the work accomplished this upcoming calendar year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Antioch’s Recreation Department has planned for Martin Luther King Jr. Day to spend “a day on, not a day off,” encouraging all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Let’s work together to build a stronger Antioch!
Participate on January 19, 2026, from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the following Locations: Antioch Community Center, Antioch Skatepark, and Antioch High School Theatre. (See related article)
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON BERNAL, Mayor of the City of Antioch, do hereby proclaim January 19, 2026, as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.” and call on all of us to gather strength from Dr. King’s legacy and use our moral authority to push for a more equitable city, state, society and world.
JANUARY 13, 2026

RON BERNAL, Mayor

The Greatest News Ever Given

The lyrics in the old Christmas carol pretty much sum up the story of Christmas: “Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn king! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.’” Because that’s how it’s described in the book of Luke, chapter 2 in the Bible and that’s the kind of angels they were who announced the greatest news ever given.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby [Bethlehem], keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:8-14

As we celebrate Christmas, today, exchanging and opening presents, eating wonderful homemade food and watching classic Christmas movies, let’s remember what this holiday is really all about – celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Christ.

He was, in the slang of speaker Ken Poure, “God in a bod.” He came down from Heaven, made himself lower than the angels and took on the body of a human being, was born as a baby – not into earthly wealth or power, but to a holy, yet imperfect young, virgin woman and a carpenter, to whom she was engaged, and in a stable with domesticated animals looking on, then growing into adulthood, so he could be one of us.

Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, who the prophet Isaiah proclaimed 700 years before His birth, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

However, He was not a political messiah as many sought in that day, to lead a revolt and rescue them from the rule of the Roman Empire, but rather a spiritual, eternal messiah whose kingdom will never end. What’s more important and lasting, something political or spiritual? Obviously, spiritual.

As a human, Jesus was able to communicate with us, show us how to live and love, and share with us God’s message of salvation, which He provided. Instead of the yearly sacrifice of the unblemished lamb, whose blood merely covered over the sins of the people, the unblemished, perfect Christ provided us the once-and-for-all sacrifice, eliminating our sin and defeating the power of death – ultimate, spiritual, eternal death – for those who choose to follow Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. He is our bridge to God the Father, who reached down into human history to offer us a way to have a relationship with Him, that had been broken off by the sin of Adam and Eve.

So, today, this Christmas day, I encourage you to read the story of the birth of Jesus, the Christ in Luke, chapter two. Then find a Bible-believing church to attend today to seek out others who understand and have experienced the true meaning of Christmas, found in Jesus, who came to give us hope; salvation from the degradation of sin in our lives – because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – the opportunity to have an abundant life, not just one of empty pursuit of pleasure and acquiring things; peace in our hearts; and to be with Him for eternity. Because unlike any other spiritual leader in history Jesus is the only way to God, as he proclaimed “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

And that is the way to have a truly, Merry Christmas!

Allen D. Payton, Publisher

Here are the words to the song that memorializes the most important herald that has ever been – the announcement by the angels of the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus the Christ, the long-prophesied messiah, born in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago.  He was born to bridge the gap between humans and God, due to the sin in their lives, which breaks our fellowship and relationship with Him. This year, you can know the true meaning of Christmas by opening your heart to the message and reason for the season, the birth, perfect life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Learn more by clicking here.  Enjoy the lyrics and song of “Hark the herald angels sing.”

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

To hear it sung, click here. 

"Hark the herald angels sing” Christmas Carol was written by Charles Wesley,
brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church, in 1739. A somber man,
he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics and thus “Hark the herald
angels sing” was sung to a different tune initially. Over a hundred years
later Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate
Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. English musician William
H. Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s music to fit the lyrics of “Hark the herald
angels sing” already written by Wesley.

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

From the Bible in the Book of Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26-38 NASB; and Chapter 2, verses 1-14, NIV.