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Dear Friends of National City Christian Church Foundation,
For only being the first month of the year, we are already holding so much together. As I shared in my newsletter to the congregation this past week, as the national church, we were intentionally built on Thomas Circle to be good neighbors, as we share the Gospel of Christ Jesus to those on our front steps and global leaders alike. As we look around, we recognize that a lot has changed in our nearly 100 years, and yet our call to follow Jesus, to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God,” remains the same. Regardless of the day or decade, it is still our understanding that we must care for the least among us and hold each other accountable for the sake of community and the soul of our nation. That is what makes a good neighbor.
As such, it is National City’s foundational call to speak up when those in power misuse their office, often doing so in the name of Jesus. So, as part of our long history in the nation's capital and our longer history with God, and in the face of America’s original sin and its many current manifestations, we will not be silent. We must bear witness and join the collective outrage and practices of hope and care, at what we have seen in Minneapolis, with the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. We must also remember Liam and all the children who are being forced into inhumane detention centers and used as human bait to rip immigrant families apart. My prayers are with Liam, who is currently battling an illness away from the comfort of home, and his father as they seek safety and freedom.
I am so grateful for all the Disciples pastors who have lifted their voice in song and protest, wrapped their arms around community, and who continue to lean boldly into their faith as they support and protect the most vulnerable among us. When we prayerfully do this work, we do it with care and vision for all of us. So, to each of the clergy and lay people from Minneapolis to Maine, from the DMV, to California, from the southern Texas border across our whole country–thank you for the work you are doing. Thank you for loving our neighbor.
Thank you for loving who God loves. Thank you for insisting on a better vision for our world and country. When one of us suffers, we all suffer, but when one of us displays compassion and practices justice, we are all strengthened. Your national church feels your compassion and strength in the midst of a suffering world.
While we hold each of our churches, clergy, and lay people and their incredible work, we continue to be both a national church and a local church that serves its neighbors. So many of our neighbors who we love, worship with, and serve at our food pantry every week, are without homes in subfreezing temperatures and layers of ice. Thank you to our Foundation and congregation members who braved the cold and ice to make sure our neighbors had food and connection this week. In all the ways the world is hurting and healing, it has never been more apparent that we need each other.
So, at this moment in our collective history, let it once again be known that National City will continue to lift our voice and stand on the loving side of history with Jesus.
We will continue to care for our immigrant, unhoused, transgender, and poor neighbors living in our own occupied D.C., across the nation, and around the world.
We will continue to lovingly welcome all who come through our doors and create a safe place for hard conversations and tender hearts. We will continue to help each other grow through prayer, study, worship, and service. We will be the national church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
Friends, God requires our participation not our perfection. This is our time to make our work with God known. And when we find ourselves needing hope and the embrace of community, may we always remember that it can be found at the table of our Lord.
Amen.
With love and hope,
Stephanie
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