A Word from Grace: Being Here
In the Gospel of John, when Jesus tells his disciples to “come and see,” he offers not just an invitation to be with Christ, but to live out the Good News. Being with you this summer, I see how “come and see” evolves into a call to live out an active faith. God’s work at Western moves us to take faithful footsteps both inside and beyond the church’s walls, what Pastor Laura calls, “praying with our feet.”
Just this summer, I’ve seen many ways that Western and the D.C area are inseparable and that is a holy gift. Being at Western means being a neighbor to a more expansive community than what might first come to mind when we think of “church.” I am in awe of how being in Foggy Bottom breathes life into this church and how this inherent proximity necessitates a call to live out our faith.
How many churches can host a Pentecost worship service and picnic on Sunday and march in the Capital LGBTQ+ Pride Parade and the March for our Lives Against Gun Violence... all in the same weekend? As an intern, I got to preach my first sermon at a Sunday service and then invite new Western friends to kayak in the Potomac River where we spotted a bald eagle, majestic willow trees, and other wonders of God’s creation, passing by the Lincoln Memorial and the Kennedy Center along the way. Only at Western could I harvest vegetables with George Washington University students at their community garden, donate that produce to Miriam’s Kitchen, and then serve meals crafted with those vegetables during a volunteer shift in Miriam’s dining room.
As Jesus called his disciples to “come and see” before sending them off to build the Kingdom of God, I have seen how Western welcomes all to “come and see” so that we may work together towards God’s Kingdom.
Reflecting on my time at Western, I feel great gratitude and awe. Your efforts to reflect the vision of Christ as well as the support, love, and words you have shared with me prove how being at church involves something greater, what Christ called his disciples to when he told them to “come and see.”
Grace