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A Pastoral Message for the Day After
the Election
Dear Members and Friends,
What will we do when the phone stops ringing? We are about to find out for a while! As we gather in the days following the election, with the campaign robocalls and advertisements finally behind us, I want to acknowledge the many emotions that may be present in our community of faith.
We do not all think alike, and we may not share the same feelings about the outcome. And that is okay. The church has never been called to be a place where everyone agrees, but rather a place where we learn to live together in faith, grace, and love.
For some, today brings relief or hope. For others, it brings sadness, anxiety, or fear about what lies ahead. Whatever you are feeling, there is room for it here. As people of faith, we are allowed to grieve, question, and sit with uncertainty. But we do so with hope—not because we know what tomorrow will bring, but because we trust that God is present even when the way forward is unclear. God's love is not determined by election results, and God's work in the world is far from finished.
In the days ahead, let us pray not simply for those with whom we agree, but for the grace to love our neighbors, including those with whom we disagree. Jesus calls us to love one another, and that love is not always easy. It asks us to listen before judging, seek understanding rather than division, and recognize the humanity of those whose views differ from our own. We are called to resist hatred, speak with kindness, and treat every person as someone created in the image of God. In the United Church of Christ, we proclaim that “God is still speaking”—and perhaps that means we must keep listening, especially to one another.
And then, we are called to act. Scripture reminds us that God's work of justice, peace, and compassion has never depended solely on those who hold positions of power. Again and again, God calls ordinary people to extraordinary things: standing with the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger, speaking for those whose voices go unheard, and working toward a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect.
That calling belongs to us, too. We may not hold elected office, but we have a voice, a responsibility, and opportunities every day to make a difference. We are called to be peacemakers, advocates for justice, companions to those who struggle, and bearers of hope wherever hope is needed.
At Pilgrim Church of Duxbury UCC, we affirm a simple but powerful belief: “All Are Welcome.” Our unity is not found in political parties, voting records, or shared opinions. It is found in our common faith, God's abundant grace, and our commitment to be the church together. Wherever you stand politically, whatever you are feeling today, you belong here. There is a place for you at our table, for your questions and concerns, and for you to share in the work of being Christ's presence in the world.
There will undoubtedly be challenges, disagreements, and moments when the road ahead feels uncertain. But we do not walk that road alone. God is with us, God's love holds us, and God's call to live with compassion, courage, and justice remains unchanged.
So let us give one another grace, not because we agree on everything, but because we are bound together by something greater than our differences.
God is still speaking. God is still at work. And we are still called to be the church. May we continue to be a living expression of God's love, hope, and justice for the sake of the world.
Peace and Blessings,
RB
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