Session Invite to a November 6 Conversation
On October 11, 2022, the Session voted to endorse a letter to the President advocating that he issue an executive order creating a federal commission to study the nature and effects of slavery and to develop reparation proposals in response to the injustices done to African Americans. This letter, recommended to the Session for endorsement by Western's Antiracism Interest Group, was written by the Interfaith Sacred Conversation on Race and Diversity and signed by other people of faith. (Full text will be shared soon.)
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A Word from Laura: Seeking God's Will Together
This past Tuesday night, in response to a request from a church member, and endorsed by the antiracism group, the Session discussed a letter urging the President to create a commission to study reparations for slavery.
Before the Session talked about the issue, I invited them to share what they hoped God would be up to in our meeting. One person mentioned “good trouble”; another, that we would be the courageous community we aspire to be. For the record, in our theology “Good Trouble” may be another name for the personage of God we call the Holy Spirit, and “courage” is another word for what Jesus meant when he told the disciples, “Take heart.”
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Miriam's Kitchen Annual Run 4 MK
There's a nip in the air, which means it's almost time for Miriam's Kitchen Annual Run 4 MK on Saturday, November 12! We hope you'll sign up for a scenic run or walk along the C&O canal to help raise funds for one of our favorite mission partners.
Read more on how to register.
A Word from Laura: Land
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 …..
Voting Rights Session #2: Reclaim Our Vote
In this session, Nancy Hwa will discuss the work of the Center for Common Ground, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that educates and empowers underrepresented communities on their right to vote…
Session Notes: September 2022
Your Session sat, by Zoom, for its regular monthly meeting this week.
We heard a report from Lauren Amos and Sherry Trafford, our congregation’s two designated members on the Miriam’s Kitchen board. The pandemic was a transformative time for Miriam’s…