A Note from the President

Dear Friends of National City,

Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed!

So much has happened since Resurrection Sunday that it seems like nearly a lifetime ago, but we are still in Eastertide and my cup continues to overflow from the love and joy our community shared during Holy Week and Easter. I hope you were able to join us in-person or online to witness the newness God continues to create in our midst. We had a new member, new visitors, a new worship, new art, new music, and new spaces of abundance in the name of the risen Christ. And of course, our annual balloon dove release (which was seen by over 20k people!) brought the awe of God back into the hearts of God’s people. It was a sacred time with God and God’s people that I won’t soon forget.

After Easter, when most pastors get to rest from the marathon of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, I hopped on a plane to Indianapolis for the work of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It was a wonderful time to gather and hear about the work God is doing across Discipledom. I hope you will read more about that meeting in this month's General Board article and help me prayerfully think about how we might be better collaborators with our denominational ministry partners. At the board meeting, I led the community in saying “We Need Each Other,” and now it's up to all of us to live into that holy call.

While I heard many wonderful things at General Board I also heard that former General Minister and President and past National City Foundation Board member and chair, Dick Hamm, is dealing with some serious health challenges. He will be starting chemotherapy for his cancer and so I ask that you join me in holding Dick and his wife Mindy in healing prayer. I have also heard from a few of you that you are carrying your own health concerns and struggles as well. We are people of God, first and foremost, and the work of community care takes the whole of community. So, please let myself, Loretta, or Tori, know how we can be praying for you and your loved ones. The world is heavy enough, there is no need to carry the weight of our concerns alone.

So, with all that is happening in the world and for all that we are carrying both individually and collectively, may we end in prayer together.

Holy One, with gratitude in our hearts for all that you have done for us, we come to you in prayer. O Lord, when the world is seemingly upside down with the sins of this world, and the daily struggles of our lives seem to never cease, we are grateful that we know, love, and serve You, our God who never leaves us. For when we feel alone, you send the text of a friend. When we long for someone who has gone home to You, we hear their laugh in a child. And when the road is unknown, you give us the wisdom to know there is care in community. Lord, thank you for this National City community. A gathering of your beloveds around the world, who know your work, speak your truth, seek your justice, and lean into your everlasting love. May we remember that we are all that we have because You live in each of us and You are all that we need. We pray all this and more in the name of the risen One, Jesus the Christ. Amen and Amen.

With a grateful heart for our ever expanding community of care,

Pastor Stephanie

News from the Meeting House

Holy Week March with Repairers of the Breach

As the national church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), National City was intentionally placed by the denomination in our nation’s capital to speak the truth of the Gospel to national and global leaders alike. For nearly 100 years National City has leaned into that call and created a notable history of leading and collaborating with organizations that work to hold our leaders accountable to the care for all of God’s creation. It is important work all the time, but perhaps even more so during the most sacred seasons of our faith. Which is why this year it was important, as part of our Holy Week gatherings, to host a rally and participate in a march to the White House in collaboration with Repairs of the Breach.

Read the Full Story

National City at the Spring 2026 General Board

The week after Easter, Pastor Stephanie headed to Indianapolis for the spring gathering of the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. At the General Assembly in Memphis, Pastor Stephanie was elected by the denomination to be a member of the board and she was excited for this opportunity. The General Board gathered to hear reports from the regions, general ministries, and recognized ministry partners such as National City Christian Church Foundation.

In the National City Christian Church Foundation’s report, we celebrated the many ministry opportunities that we were a part of in the past year such as the multi-denominational prayer vigil, Moral Mondays with Repairers of the Breach, and World Pride.

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Stained Glass Feature: The Sowers Window

As part of a new series highlighting the rich history and architecture of National City Christian Church and Foundation, we will be featuring our historic stain glass and it's story in our newsletter. This month we want to highlight The Sowers Window. This window was dedicated in 1980 and designed by Willet Stained Glass Studios, of Philadelphia, PA, and is located as you exit the sanctuary to Beasley Building.

The Sower window represents Jesus' parable and his seed from the gospels of Mark 13:1-23 and Luke 8:4-8. Central to the window is the Sower casting his seed upon the earth.

Surrounding the Sower are flowers from many areas representing the congregation's diversity. On the left side of the window is the Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel. In the lower left corner is White Trillium from the Provence of Ontario, Just to the right of the Trillium is the Ohio Scarlet Carnation. In the bottom right corner is the Connecticut White Geranium. Above the Geraniums sits the Illinois Violet. Moving up the right side, is the West Virginia Rhododendron. In the top right corner is the Virginia Dogwood.

Your gift to National City Christian Church Foundation supports our ability to be YOUR national church and be a witness for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the nation's capital.

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