As we get ready for this weekend before Indigenous Peoples’ Day, what used to be celebrated as Columbus Day, I’ve been doing some homework on the Doctrine of Discovery. I had never heard of this doctrine until National Capital Presbytery co-sponsored a 2016 overture for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to repudiate it.

If you were part of the Free Inquiry class when Western’s former interim pastor, Rev. Leslianne Braunstein, spoke, you’ll know the Doctrine of Discovery came about in 1452 when Pope Nicholas V …..

Dear Western Friends,

On behalf of all the church leaders preparing for Sunday mornings this fall, in the words of Christ, I invite you, “Come and see:”

• What makes Western a courageous community, whether you seek courage yourself or seek to join others in courageous action;

• How we grow spiritually and serve God in Foggy Bottom when we gather, in-person, to worship, learn and serve, called together as the Body of Christ;

• How God’s Spirit grows unity in our diversity and hope through our communal responses to racism, Christian nationalism and social injustice.

On behalf of the session, deacons, and worship ministry team, we invite you and all our neighbors to join us September 11 and Sundays this fall, as we return to worship at 11 am. Adult education and choir will begin at 9:45, with children’s Sunday School as children depart after the Time with Children in worship. On the 11th your leaders want to invite you personally to come and sing, to come and serve, to come and join the Spirit at work!