Moderator's Memos

O Come O Come Emmanuel

I can’t believe we are already in the last month of the year! As countless internet memes have joked “What do you mean it’s almost 2022? I’m still processing 2020.” December is of course a time for people around the world to reflect on the year that has passed and look to the year ahead. For Christians, December is also a time to observe the season of advent. From the Latin adventus, advent means

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GraceGiving
 
At the time of this memo, Julius Jones’ execution has been stayed. He has been given life without parole, despite maintaining his innocence. I give thanks that today is not his last day on earth and pray for his release going forward.
 
This time of year, we talk a lot about what we are grateful for. I am grateful to each of you for making CPCUCC such a special, spiritually nourishing place. I’m a big believer in

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Self Care Is Community Care

As we look to darker days ahead (don’t forget to change your clocks this weekend!), I can feel my body slowing down. If colder, darker weather is challenging for you, know that you are not alone. Be gentle with yourself. Now is the time to rest and go inward. In light of darker days ahead, I thought I would share some self-soothing techniques that I use with my yoga students, and in my personal practice.

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Listening for Questions We Never Thought to Ask

As you hopefully know by now, Cleveland Park Congregational UCC is in the beginning stages of piloting a racial justice audit created by the Central Atlantic Conference. This pilot was created by a team within the CAC to help predominantly white churches grapple with white supremacy and de-centering whiteness in a Christian context.
 
You should receive an e-mail with the individual racial justice audit tomorrow. We hope that as many members

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Last year in the height of the pandemic, many people wondered aloud about an impending apocalypse. Some of the commentary was light-hearted zombie jokes, others sincere concerns about the state of the world. Amidst all the end-of-days rhetoric, an Indigenous Twitter user noted “Something I don’t think occurs to settlers is that Indigenous people already are living in a post-apocalyptic world.”  If you have not considered this statement before, I encourage you to take a slow breath and sit with

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