Postcard Training for Reclaim the Vote Campaign: August 16 after worship
Western’s Mission Ministry Team is sponsoring training, Sunday, August 16 after worship, by Reclaim Our Vote Campaign on how to write postcards to contact voters of color in key voter suppression states. These postcards ask voters to check their registration status, re-register and vote. This is a critical time for this work as states are now completing the purge of their registration rolls and the opportunity to re-register is now.
A Word from Laura: We Were Made for This
The meme floated across my screen recently, probably church-related, but I don’t know the reference of “this.”
I’m discovering that “this” time and place is just what faith was made for.
If you’re reading this email, you’re on our church’s list. And if you’re on our church’s list, it means I’ve been praying for you this past week:
• Praying for your health
• Praying for your emotional well-being, particularly if you are caring for those who are sick or worried about what you’ll do for your children’s schooling this fall
• Praying for your safety in the storm
• Praying that your heart may be open in new ways to the work of anti-racism
• Praying that you might discover God’s call to you to work for justice in these challenging times
• Praying for what you’ve been carrying on your heart, that I couldn’t possibly imagine
Watch Party, Sunday, August 9 — Suppressed: The Fight to Vote
Western’s Mission Ministry Team is sponsoring a watch party for the film, Suppressed: The Fight To Vote immediately after church. This short 38 minute film powerfully shows how voter suppression tactics can effect elections on the ground. The film exposes rampant voter suppression that affected the outcome of the 2018 midterm election in Georgia and is a cautionary tale for 2020. The close vote in the GA Governor’s race between Brian Kemp and Stacey Abrams was national story at the time.
Discover the Washington Inter-faith Network (WIN)
As Western’s leadership considers partnering with organizations working to change policies that engender systemic racism in our communities, I’ve encouraged our Mission Ministry Team to consider the Washington Inter-Faith Network (WIN). As part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), WIN is a broad-based, multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan, District-wide citizens’ power organization, rooted in local congregations and associations. WIN is committed to training and developing neighborhood leaders, to addressing community issues, and to holding elected and corporate officials accountable in Washington, DC.
From my vantage point as pastor, WIN does thorough training of faith leaders to hold elected officials accountable. When I think of the District leaders of faith communities who are out in front leading justice, I’m never surprised to find out they are members of WIN. I’m interested in deepening my own connection and involvement, but not without the commitment and support of a larger group of Westerners.
A Word from Laura: Western Worship Your Way!
Friends,
As we’ve continued along this journey into new things with worship, if you’re like me, you’ve noticed that Zoom can start to feel old pretty fast! Especially if you’ve been in front of your computer all week. Or you’re trying to get a four-year-old (or forty-four year old!) to sit still.
Worshiping in front of a screen can feel very un-worshipful, no matter how you try. We’re working on things from the church end, but in that process encourage you to try some things on your end, so that worshiping the God of heaven and earth doesn’t feel like the same Zoom calls you’ve been on during the rest of the week. Here are some of my favorite tips from the church staff and others:
A Word from Session: Second letter
Dear Western Church,
Your Session sat for its regular meeting – as we have every month during the pandemic – on Zoom earlier this week. Two topics dominated the conversation: our response to the call to anti-racism, and the practical issue of returning to some form of in-person worship.
You received our anti-racism response last week. This report shares our thinking about in-person gatherings.
It probably goes without saying, but when we open our doors again, things will be different. We will faithfully follow the District’s reopening criteria and our own duty of care for your health and well-being.