A pastoral letter: The United Church of Christ strongly condemns the violence directed against former President Donald Trump. Political violence has never been a solution to differing political beliefs and ideologies. As more details emerge regarding the shooting at the political rally for President Trump, we are horrified at the events which unfolded before us. With the
Wildfires set Maui ablaze on Aug. 8, 2023, destroying thousands of acres and structures and claiming more than a hundred lives. Lahaina, a historic whaling village that was once the capital of Hawaii, experienced the worst damage. The cost to rebuild is steep, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimating the total to be
It’s been a frequent experience. Peter Makari and I arrive, greet our global partners and exchange introductions, settle in for our time together….and then the floodgates open. It’s as if our partners have been holding their breath, waiting for the moment when they could share their stories, express their grief, and wonder out loud about
In a groundbreaking public statement, the Surgeon General has declared firearm violence in this country a public health crisis. Sharing numerous alarming statistics about firearm violence, Dr. Vivek Murthy outlined strategies for firearm and violence prevention, focusing on the health and well-being of children, youth, families and communities. You can read the full report here.
In 1215, at Runnymede in England, King John signed the Magna Carta. The mythos surrounding this document as a foundational text of Western democracy, which ensured that even kings were subject to the rule of law, inspired the those who drafted the founding documents of the United States. I confess I was taught this mythos
Hiking trails perfumed with pine needles. Lakes shimmering like diamonds. Mountaintop sunrises that awaken the soul, and valley sunsets that tug at the heart. It’s summertime in Vermont’s Green Mountains and, borrowing from George Gershwin’s opening aria in the 1935 production of “Porgy and Bess,” the “livin’ is easy.” Or is it? First Congregational Church
“People know that things aren’t right in this world right now,” said the Reverend Seth Wispelway, minister for Economic Justice with the United Church of Christ. “I wanted to create a resource for those who want to go a little deeper into why systems are not interested in people thriving. You aren’t losing it—capitalism and
There’s a meme that spreads throughout social media in times of collective contention reminding people “in a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Kindness can make a difference in the world, with recent studies showing that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound positive impact on mental health. It can
At First Congregational Church, UCC, in Colorado Springs, CO, our Climate Justice Leadership Team worked with individuals to help them identify their deep sense of purpose to help them align with like-minded groups and causes, both inside the church and beyond, so they can make meaningful contributions toward combating climate change. Reaching into the scientific
