A Word From David

There’s a lot going on at Western this fall. Elsewhere in this e-blast you’ll find updates from the pastor nominating work, mission work, Free Inquiry gatherings, and more. Here are three more items for each of the next three Sundays:

Sunday, Oct. 27, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the courtyard we’re hosting an organization fair for several of the GW student groups suspended by the university over the summer for taking part in the divestment encampment on campus in May. Western connected with the groups in August when it became clear that they needed space for organizational meetings and, in the case of Jewish Voice for Peace, space for Shabbat services, including a Rosh Hashanah gathering last month.

The organization fair will include tables with information from the groups, snacks, and maybe some live music. It’s a good opportunity to connect with some students who are passionate about justice and grateful to Western for being neighborly this fall.

Sunday, Nov. 3, is the Sunday that falls closest on the calendar to Reformation Day (Oct. 31) so we’ll mark that in worship. You can anticipate A Mighty Fortress, and other nods to our Reformed heritage during worship. It is also the Sunday closest to All Souls Day, so we’re also likely to sing For All the Saints and remember the saints of Western Presbyterian Church who have joined the church triumphant over the past 12 months.

Sunday, Nov. 10, during worship we will hold a brief congregational meeting for the purpose of electing officers. We will elect new classes of elders and deacons at that time.

Over that same period, I will offer a three-part sermon series on “The Politics of Jesus.” You’ll notice that the final one falls on the Sunday after the election. That’s intentional, because the politics of Jesus is fundamentally different from partisan electoral politics, and the work of the people engaging such a politics does not end on election day.