Dear Friends,

Thanks to Rev. Kathy Speas, who last Sunday shared two heartfelt strategies for navigating these turbulent times (click here to view the recording). Her honest reflections opened up a rich discussion that stayed with many of us through the week.

Dr. Peck, who joined from his Father’s Day lunch with his son, sent me some beautiful thoughts afterward. I’ve condensed them here:

Kathy’s message was moving and deeply timely.

In a world seemingly overwhelmed by hate and violence, I continue to find reasons for hope. Years ago, after giving a Sunday message at CHC on compassion amidst cruelty, I began collecting articles highlighting acts of compassion across society. That folder quickly filled. Books like The Expanding Circle by Peter Singer further affirm that altruism is part of our human nature—a theme our Swedenborg reading group will explore next.

Given my long involvement in Middle East peace efforts, the suffering in Gaza is deeply painful. Yet even there, compassion endures—in Israeli and Palestinian women working together for peace, in IDF members driven by conscience, and in the growing solidarity between American Jews and Muslims against hate.

Kathy’s reminder is vital: we must not be paralyzed by the scale of suffering. As Theodore Roosevelt said, ‘Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.’ Wise words for anyone tempted by despair.

Beautifully said.

This week, I’m in Lexington, Virginia to officiate my niece’s wedding. We're hoping to be back in time to join the service at Swedenborg House. Let me know if you plan to participate in person.

Happy Birthday to Sheri Smith!

Please join me in celebrating Sheri’s birthday this week. Wishing you, Sheri, a joyful year ahead, filled with good health, meaningful connections, and the continued unfolding of your purpose. We’re so glad to have you in our community!

Windows Update

We replaced 30 windows in the church building—originals that had lasted 132 years. They were in rough shape, and it’s wonderful to see the transformation. Take a look at how beautifully the new ones turned out!

Coming Up This Sunday

How do we honor our calling to serve others while also caring for ourselves? In this open discussion, guest speaker Katharine Manning will explore the challenge of setting healthy boundaries within a life of faith—and offer practical ways to do so with compassion, clarity, and grace.

Looking forward to being with you in spirit or in person.

With gratitude,

Rev. Rich Tafel

Our Sunday Speaker | Katharine Manning

Katharine Manning is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job (HarperCollins Leadership 2021) and the President of Blackbird DC. She has worked on issues of trauma and victimization for more than 25 years. 

As a Senior Attorney Advisor with the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, for fifteen years Manning guided the Justice Department through its response to victims in cases ranging from terrorism to large-scale financial fraud to child exploitation. Some of the cases she advised on include the Boston Marathon bombing, the Pulse nightclub and South Carolina AME church shootings, the uprising in Charlottesville, the Madoff investment fraud, and the federal case against Larry Nassar, doctor for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team.



Manning now uses her expertise to help organizations prepare for and respond to the challenges they face involving employees and clients who may be in trauma. A member of the bar in Washington, D.C. and California, Manning also served as an attorney with the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop in San Francisco, where she represented Fortune 500 companies in class actions, insurance, and media cases. She is a graduate of Smith College and the University of Virginia School of Law and teaches at American University and in the Master’s in Trauma-Informed Leadership Program at Dominican University.

Readings for the Coming Sunday

Psalm 16:5–8 (NIV)

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;

 you make my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

 surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

 even at night my heart instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

 With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Swedenborg Insight Options

True Christian Religion 435

Love of others means not only giving to the poor and providing for the needy, but also acting in every task with integrity, justice, and faithfulness.

News and Notes from the Pastor’s Desk

Across the country—and the world—spiritual questions are being asked in unexpected places. As people seek healing, meaning, and moral clarity, we’re invited to reflect: How can faith traditions meet this moment with courage and curiosity? What practices open us to transformation—and which ones keep us stuck?

In “What Dying People Taught This Therapist About Living,” a palliative care therapist reflects on the wisdom shared by those at the end of life. Their insights are deeply spiritual, whether or not they use religious language: let go of what doesn’t matter, love boldly, and be present. The piece is a moving reminder that mortality has a way of clarifying our values.

Read the article: https://apple.news/AMeqlCzqfSFqIlIQ8aI5RnQ

In “Clergy Blown Away by Psilocybin,” religious leaders take part in a study exploring the impact of psychedelics on spiritual experience. Their reactions are profound. Many describe feeling more connected to God, creation, and their calling than ever before. The piece raises important questions about how tradition, science, and mystical experience might inform each other in the years to come.

Read the article: https://nautil.us/clergy-blown-away-by-psilocybin-1217112/

And on the frontlines of history, journalist Jason Bellini from our own church community is reporting from Kyiv—capturing stories of courage, resistance, and everyday life in wartime. His reflections are not framed as theological, but they are steeped in questions of meaning, sacrifice, and hope. They remind us that faith, in all its forms, is often forged in the fire of crisis.

Follow his reporting: https://jasonbellini.substack.com/

As these stories show, faith isn’t limited to pews or pulpits. It’s shaped by how we live, what we risk, and the questions we dare to ask.

Thought of the Week - Would You Agree?