I tried to order the flag, but it sold out in less than a week from one of my favorite on-line sources. The Bitter Southerner began printing the t-shirts after editor Chuck Reese wrote about the events in 2017 in Charlottesville, concluding: “White faces have to look straight into the eyes of other white faces and say: I will not abide your hatred.” Reese was right, but there’s more.

In a life of faith, stopping at “no hatred” sets the bar dangerously low.

You’ve heard people talk about change happening in the midst of keeping an organization going.

“We’re changing tires while driving… we’re building a plane in mid-air.” I wouldn’t wish for either of these in real life, yet it’s happening here at Western. And it’s inspiring to be pastor.

As more people are vaccinated, as the mayor opens up other businesses in light of CDC guidelines, as Miriam’s Kitchen prepares to serve from the dining room after bathroom renovations are complete this fall, Western’s leadership is preparing for hybrid worship and the next transitional phase.

In the last week and a half, two groups of Western leaders have been working towards next steps in our ministry. The Antiracism Coordinating Team – Jen Druliner, Sara Parker, Naomia Suggs-Brigety, with support from Susanne Ward – invited the session to make a pledge or covenant to intentional antiracism and to develop a change team who would be responsible for leading that work in our congregation. (The session is continuing to discuss this, in hopes of acting at our June meeting.)

A new Hybrid Worship Team – Greta Morris, Ari Brose, Jack Hume, Jason Linde, Alec Resurreccion, along with Allan and myself – is working on a timeline to develop worship that includes both in-person and digital members of our congregation, in hopes that we will be able to welcome everyone at full capacity in September. (You’ll be hearing more about a fundraising effort to upgrade our sanctuary in June. I anticipate some smaller group experiences of in-person worship later in the summer.)

“Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible.”- Doris Lessing

One of you emailed me this quotation from Lessing, the Nobel prize winner who grew up white in what is now Zimbabwe. Fiercely against apartheid, her work as a writer meant remaining in solidarity with those who do not share an equality of opportunity.

No matter where you find yourselves these days, you get this email because at some level you have a spiritual home at 24th and G Streets, NW.

Having Western as a spiritual home connects you in a meaningful way to the lives of Waldon Adams and Rhonda Whitaker, two members of the Miriam’s Kitchen community who were hit in a fatal car accident last Saturday at Hains Point. Some of you may have read the piece in the Post; here’s a more recent update from DCist. For those connected with them and their commitment to communities experiencing homelessness in DC, their death feels like a “gut punch.”