It’s no accident that Advent is a celebration of the coming of Light into the darkest time of year in the northern hemisphere, or in a season when we see social needs all around us, or when we wonder how we’re going to get along with a certain person in our lives yet another year. Advent coincides with a timeRead More →
Western Friends, This Sunday coincides with Armistice Day – now Veterans’ Day – when we will remember the centennial anniversary of the end of World War I, the “war to end all wars.” The word “armistice” literally means “arms stand still,” referring to the cessation of fighting. As we prepare to remember and honor those who have served our country,Read More →
Although All Saints’ is an ancient tradition, the only thing I knew growing up was that it was the name of my neighbor’s Episcopal Church. All Saints’ Day is the tradition of remembering those who have died in the past year, usually members of a church or loved ones. Some Christian traditions make the distinction between All Saints’ and AllRead More →
Western friends, A civil servant recently shared her gratitude for Western, a church where she can be true to her values without the cognitive dissonance her work sometimes requires. As next week’s mid-term elections approach, and in this season when we talk about the impact of Western’s ministry, I give thanks that social justice remains a priority that transcends partisanRead More →
Western’s ministry in Foggy Bottom, in the Washington region, and around the world, is made possible by you. When you give to Western, you support our Mission Benevolence budget, which in turn provides help for women in crisis through Calvary Women’s Services, works to reunite immigrant families through Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and helps to shelter homeless LGBTQ youthRead More →
As Session and the Deacons broke bread together on Tuesday, Laura and John proposed a journey Western could embark on to become a more fully inclusive and intercultural church. We would follow a model laid out by Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Rev. John Janka. The first step: Forming a vision team — 8-10 elders, deacons, and congregation members — Read More →
Did you know that the People For Fairness Coalition (PFFC) was started in 2008 in Miriam’s Kitchen dining room right here in Western Presbyterian Church? Ever since, this group of MK guests, former guests, and concerned citizens has been fighting and advocating for the right to housing and for homeless people living in poverty. They are working on several initiatives youRead More →
No one has ever accused me of being part of an angry mob. Public demonstration or peaceful protest? Yes. But “mob” mentality? Never, at least, not until this month. For me, the words coming from the administration are not so much about my political affiliation, but about the values shaped by my faith, especially women’s rights and social justice. IRead More →
During the Civil War, a man asked President Lincoln if he thought God was on the Union’s side, and Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side…” Lincoln’s statement rings in my head frequently, especially when I find that a prayer or hope has political ramifications. Or whenRead More →
As mother of an almost-teenage girl, as pastor of women who have survived sexual violence, as a former teenage girl with a story of my own, as a human being and person of faith reading Christine Blasey Ford’s account of sexual assault, I felt my heart both sink and ignite. Professor Blasey Ford’s story sounded too much like other storiesRead More →
