Staff

Dear friends,   On July 4, our nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I was in high school in Northern Virginia, just outside the nation’s capital, when we celebrated the 200th. I remember an overwhelming array of parades and fireworks, parties and concerts. At the time, my understanding […]

Dear friends,   “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Jesus spoke these words as he sat on a hill looking over the Sea of Galilee, teaching the multitude who had come yearning for hope and meaning. These words are part of the Beatitudes, a series of blessings that challenged […]

Dear friends,   On a Sunday in March, the Justice and Love in Action Team, in partnership with the Soup Group, hosted a free dinner for people who are caring for our neighbors. Some folks who came are activists – attending rallies, standing on street corners with signs, writing letters-to-the-editor, and holding elected representatives accountable. […]

Dear friends,   On February 18, a dozen members and friends gathered in a circle in the sanctuary for our Ash Wednesday service. We reflected on the biblical story of the prophet Elijah and the unnamed widow of Zarepheth – two people from different contexts who were hungry, tired, and despairing. We named the reality […]

Dear friends,   I am so grateful for this congregation. I am grateful for your tender hearts that feel the pain of our neighbors and our world, and for your toughness in showing up to ease that pain in difficult circumstances. I am grateful for your dedication to the work of healing, justice and compassion, […]

Dear friends, By the first weekend in January, the decorations have begun to come down, dried-up Christmas trees are on the front curb awaiting trash pick-up, and the post-Christmas sale rush is over. Just when we think things are getting back to normal, it’s time for another joyous celebration! On Sunday, January 4, we celebrate […]

Dear friends,   Here’s my favorite Bible Trivia question: What command is given more often than any other in the Bible? It’s not “Serve God.” It’s not “Love your neighbor.” It’s “Be not afraid.”   God says it to Abraham and Sarah as they set off on a journey to a new land and a […]

Dear friends,   “Hey, how about this one?” Kyle Shepherd turned his computer around. Fran Bogle, Clair Ball and I were intrigued: how could Kyle create a meme just like that? Our different generations were showing!   The meme depicted a superhighway with an exit curving off to the right. The sign on the overpass […]

Dear friends,   This fall, our worship centers around the theme, “Living the Kin-dom.” We began with the first words Jesus spoke in his ministry: “The kingdom [realm, kin-dom] of God has come near.” In a time when the kingdom of Caesar seemed all powerful, Jesus’ words were dramatic and dangerous. He called the people […]

Dear friends,   Twenty-five years ago, in 2000, our church made a decision that has shaped who we are today. After a year of study and reflection, we voted unanimously to be Open and Affirming. We developed a statement (found in our bulletin every Sunday) to proclaim that we seek to welcome and affirm people […]