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Dear Friends of National City Christian Church Foundation,
Happy Holy Week!
Normally, I write to you through the primary lens of the Foundation President, but on this Holy Week it feels only fitting to write to you also through the lens of our shared faith and as senior pastor of our national church. A congregation and community who cares deeply about justice, takes the scriptures seriously, and nurtures community wholly. It is a beautiful thing to be both a foundation and a congregation.
On Sunday, we joyfully welcomed Jesus with palms waving and smiles that spanned faces and generations as we entered into our holiest of weeks together. The pulpit flowers were also in dedication of the Foundation’s Board Chair, Loretta Franklin’s birthday which we celebrated on Holy Monday. Also, yesterday, our church steps were filled with God’s faithful as we hosted the Moral Monday Witness with Bishop William Barber and the Repairers of the Breach, a truly fitting way to start this week’s journey.
Later this week we will gather around a table for a shared meal and prayer on what is one of my favorite services of the year, Maundy Thursday. Of course we will sit together in the grief-filled mystery of Good Friday and then resurrect with joy (and our famous dove balloons!) on Easter Sunday. We are so grateful for the ways National City as both a Foundation and Congregation support the work of God, especially in this holy season.
As we journey this week, know that we would love to join in this time together be it in person or online. No matter where you are in the world or your spirit, know that National City is here with you and for you, to support the resurrecting work of loving care for our community, nation, and world that our God and our Foundation’s mission call us to. This is why we say, We Need Each Other.
As you may know we are following a Lenten theme of “Tell Me Something Good.” And while we celebrate what that means every Sunday we don’t want to miss the Good News that shows up every day in our community. And we won’t stop sharing the good things God is doing at National City! As I shared with you, so much is happening in the faith life of the community this week, but the amazing thing about National City is that we are a community that serves people in body and spirit year round.
- We have done the faithful work of caring for the spirits of those God has welcomed home, by maintaining our beautiful columbarium.
- We have welcomed thousands of people into our beautiful sanctuary for concerts such as our Foundation’s weekly music ministry, Music at Midday, which is a free organ concert that shares the beauty of our instrument and our sanctuary with people from around the world.
- And without fail - yes, even in our winter storms, we fed hundreds of people with our weekly food pantry ministry. A ministry of consistent food and spiritual support for our neighbors. Which we have provided with God, for over 30 years and is one of the longest running food pantries in D.C.
People know National City. And they know where to find God because they know where to find us, and that is only possible because of the generous support of our National City community.
So, this Holy Week, as we are called to reflect and dream, may we give thanks to God who has shown up within us and among us. And for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who gave everything he had for the sake of what his people, us, are to be and become.
Happy Holy Week, beloveds. I am so grateful to serve with you and for our God.
Gratefully,
Stephanie
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