Midweek Message September 11, 2025

Dear friends,

Last Sunday, our Water Communion reminded us that we are a community woven together by many streams. The ritual was beautiful in itself, but what moved me most were the words you shared on the rivers and waterfalls of paper flowing along the back wall. So many of you wrote about what home means to you - family, friends, love, safety, welcome. Together, those words became a river of belonging, carrying our stories forward.

This coming Sunday, we will continue reflecting on that theme of home and belonging through the lens of immigrants and refugees. Our choir will sing the anthem Would You Harbor Me? The lyrics ask a simple but searching question: Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? These words remind us that home is not only a place but also a practice of the heart, the way we open ourselves to others, especially those seeking safety and welcome.

My own family story shapes how I hear this call. My great-grandmother, living in Nazi Germany, was once nearly sent to a concentration camp after she was caught helping a Jewish family. She risked herself because she believed in something larger than fear: the sacred duty to offer shelter, protection, and love. I often wonder whether I would have the same courage if faced with such a choice.

The gift of church is that we do not face these kinds of questions alone. Each week, we gather not only to worship but to strengthen our capacity to love boldly and to live with courageous compassion. We may not always know what the future will ask of us, but we can practice now what it means to open our hearts and extend our hands to those in need. May we be a community that expands our definition of home, until it becomes large enough for all who seek refuge, belonging, and peace.  

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Together, may we continue to be a harbor of love and hope in the world.

With gratitude,

Josh Figueroa (He/Him)

Director of Music Ministries