Start with the medicine.

These words arrived as an offering, a gentle yet profound invitation, a clear place to begin our journey:

Start with the medicine.

This is not a suggestion but a necessary turning toward what sustains us. We acknowledge, with open hearts, the deep work of healing that lies before us. We recognize that the wounds of these days—both those inflicted recently and those that echo from long ago—that run deep within our community, our society, and our planet. There is much to repair, much to reconcile, and much to restore.

The questions before us are vital: Where do we begin this immense work? How will we heal?

Start with the medicine.

Sunday: Welcoming the Medicine of Wonder and Awe

This coming Sunday, we will intentionally welcome and embrace the powerful medicine of wonder and awe as we gather to celebrate Earth Day together.

Join us for worship at 9:00 am and 11:00 am, livestreaming at 11.

We often fall into the trap of believing that the most effective way to motivate ourselves and others is through the heavy burdens of fear, shame, and despair. But our collective wisdom—and the essential nature of the body and spirit—knows this is not a path toward sustainable wholeness. We need honest, nuanced conversations about the hard and undeniable truths of our current environmental crises, and we need to find our way forward into lifegiving patterns of wholeness, healing and repair. We will begin by grounding ourselves in the primary medicines of wonder, connection, and awe. These are the wellsprings that replenish the spirit and sustain our commitment to justice and change.

A Sacred Ceremony: The Indigenous Medicine of Smudging

At 10:30 am, situated between our two Sunday services on the front steps of the church, Amelia Marquez will once again offer us the profound and beautiful gift of sharing the Indigenous medicine of smudging. All are welcome to join us for this sacred ceremony. The practice of smudging, or burning sacred herbs like sage, is a powerful way to clear negative energy and create space for peace and healing. If you are new to this ceremony and would like to learn more about the practice beforehand, we encourage you to take five minutes to watch a short, informative video, How to Smudge: Burning Sage.

Conversation and Action: The Environmental Justice Team

Following both the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday services, the Environmental Justice team will be hosting a space for snacks and vital conversation about our ongoing efforts to steward the Earth and advocate for a just future. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about our current projects, understand the impact we are making, and discover tangible ways you can get involved in this crucial ministry.

Mark Your Calendars: Plant-Based Potluck & Movie Night

Thursday, April 23 – Mark Your Calendars: Plant-Based Potluck & Movie Night
Healing and repair also happen in community, through shared experience and vision.We will be hosting a special intergenerational evening designed to nourish both body and spirit. The night will begin at 6 p.m. with a plant-based potluck—a collective celebration of sustainable eating and community—followed by a movie night at 7 p.m. featuring the compelling and insightful film, Future Council. More information and how to RSVP for this evening, can be found below. We look forward to sharing this time of learning, community, and vision with you.

See you at church as we start with the medicine,

Rev. Jen