So.  Where were you?
You know, where were you when you realized that planes were slamming into the World Trade Towers 25 years ago?  If you were alive and lucid on that day, I’m sure you remember, in the same way that some remember where they were when the Kennedy brothers were assassinated, or the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded.  Tragedies have a way of grinding their imprint on our memories so that we don’t forget.

One wonders why.
Why do our brains hold on to these moments in such a way?  Perhaps it is because of the shock of these events that, until they happened, were considered unthinkable, if not impossible.  But these things did happen, and in the process 3000 people (mothers, fathers, children, friends, wives, husbands) died. Approximately 1100 of those never had their remains identified.

And so, we remember, right?  We remember where we were and how we felt, and in fact, how everyone felt.  Maybe that’s the key: we were agonizingly aware of how this impacted everyone.  We turned our eyes from the television and looked at each other, shaking our heads, as if to say, “Can you believe it?” because we knew this affected all of us.

People have said that they wish we were the same country we were on 9/12/01.  Because for once, our human instincts compelled us toward helping, not hurting, bonding, not dividing.  We came together.  I’d like to think that there is something in the human “being” that longs for that bonding, that coming-together.  We don’t want tragedies that, for some awful reason, seem to be necessary to make it happen, but we long nonetheless.

If we had any doubt before, we learned on that day that God does not prevent bad things from happening, even to good and faithful people.  But God is always seeking to bring a goodness out of the darkest of circumstances.  In a time when we are more divided than I can remember us ever being, I do long for more occasions to come together, as Americans…as human beings.  Could it be that as we remember and relive that terrible day twenty-five years ago, that we can also remember and relive the bonding that blossomed between us?

My goodness, I hope so.  Because twenty-five years from now, I hope that the coming-together will still be worth remembering.

Pastor Brad

Worship is the number one thing we do.
It’s where we meet the Divine while in the company of those we love as family.  It’s the place where we gather around the Lord’s Table for the feast of love, Holy Communion. It’s also the primary entry point for people who are new to the congregation.

Worship should not be a “have to.”  We can make it a “want to,” crafting an experience of God that draws others.  But there are many impediments to people participating in worship: church burnout, church hurt, fatigue that requires rest, and schedules that scream for attendance.
The age of expecting people to attend church just because “it’s the right thing to do” is long over.  Now, we meet people where they are, and what we have heard from many of our visitors, and even from long-time members, is that they would be much more likely to attend worship if it started later.

So, starting September 27, worship will begin at 10:00 am.
This has always been the Golden Hour for worship, the time when most people are likely to attend. Understand: I am well-aware of the anxiety that changing worship times can bring.  Many of you felt this when FCC went from two worship gatherings to one. That’s how we reached our current worship time of 9:30, as a compromise between the early and late gatherings.  I want to be sensitive to that residual angst.  Changing worship time is like “touching the third rail” for ministers.  It’s not something I do lightly.

Here are a few positives with worship beginning 30 minutes later:

• Potential increase in worship attendance
• Keeping our Sunday School classes at 8:30, gives us an extra 30 minutes before worship, which will allow us to revive the Coffee Fellowship, something many of you have missed.
• Avoids the bulk of post-worship traffic from Church of the Highlands next door

So, beginning on September 27, we will give it a try.  There will be a trial period stretching through the end of the year, and then we will evaluate whether to continue with the new time or revert to the old.

Not everyone will like this, but as was true with the Vision Statement and the new church logo, we move forward with what we think best fits God’s desires for the church.  As Bono of U2 was once told,
“Stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Find out what God's doing. It's already blessed."

And that, my friends, is exactly what we are hoping to do.

Pastor Brad

A letter from the Executive Director of Week of Compassion:

Dear Church,

Over the past several weeks, the earth has shaken in three places where Week of Compassion has long-standing relationships: the Philippines, Indonesia, and now Venezuela.

In the Philippines, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern island of Mindanao, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. Families have lost loved ones, homes have collapsed, roads and bridges have been damaged, and many continue to sleep outside because they fear returning to unstable buildings. Farmers and fisherfolk have seen their livelihoods disrupted just as they seek to recover.

Just days later, another powerful earthquake struck Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. Entire communities are living with the uncertainty of continuing aftershocks. Thousands of homes were damaged, clean water systems disrupted, and many families remain in temporary shelters near their homes while wondering what recovery will look like.

And this week, Venezuela experienced two major earthquakes within seconds of one another. The destruction in Caracas and surrounding communities has been severe, with collapsed buildings, damaged infrastructure, widespread power outages, and communities just beginning to understand the full extent of the devastation. Search and rescue operations continue even as aftershocks make the work dangerous.

It can feel overwhelming to witness so much suffering unfolding around the world in such a short time.

Yet this is also where the Church shines.

One of the greatest gifts of Week of Compassion is that we do not have to wonder who to call after disaster strikes. We already know. Long before the headlines appeared, we had been investing in relationships with churches and ecumenical partners who are deeply rooted in their communities. They are not arriving after the disaster—they are already there. They worship with these communities, raise their children alongside them, and will remain long after the television cameras leave.

That is what accompaniment looks like.

In the Philippines, we are working through the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines to support food assistance, cash assistance, hygiene supplies, and psychosocial care for communities whose recovery will take months and years.

In Indonesia, our partners at Yayasan Cipta Wahana Sejahtera (YCWS), together with local health partners, are providing flexible cash assistance, health services, and mental health support so families can meet the needs they identify as most urgent.

In Venezuela, our ACT Alliance partners are already conducting rapid assessments while supporting emergency shelter, medical care, food, water, hygiene, and psychosocial care as search and rescue efforts continue.

I am especially grateful that because of your generosity, Week of Compassion can respond quickly. We do not begin by asking, Should we help? We begin by asking our partners, What do you need? Your faithful giving allows us to respond with trust, flexibility, and confidence in local leaders who know their communities best.

In a world where disasters seem to come one after another, it is easy to become numb. But as followers of Christ, we are called not to turn away, but to draw near. Every earthquake reminds us that while buildings may crumble, hope can still be built—through relationships, compassion, and the steadfast witness of the Church.

Thank you for being part of that witness.

Please continue to pray for all who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. Pray for first responders, pastors, volunteers, and community leaders who are caring for their neighbors even while grieving themselves. Thank you for making it possible for Week of Compassion to accompany communities not only in the first days after disaster, but throughout the long journey of recovery.

When your congregation is gathering for worship this Sunday and in the weeks ahead, I invite you to pause and pray for these communities. Though separated by thousands of miles, we are one body in Christ, joined together in faith, compassion, and hope.

A Prayer for the Church

God of mercy and hope,

When the earth trembles and the ground beneath us gives way,
you remain our refuge and our strength.

We pray for all who have lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods,
and a sense of safety.
Surround those who grieve with your comfort.
Protect those who continue to face aftershocks and uncertainty.
Strengthen first responders, local churches, community leaders, and all who are caring for their neighbors with courage and compassion.

We give thanks for the faithful witness of our partners,
who are already present in these communities—offering not only relief, but hope, dignity, and the reminder that no one walks alone.

As we gather in the safety of our own sanctuaries,
remind us that we are one body in Christ.
May our prayers cross every border.
May our generosity become a tangible expression of your love.
May our compassion be more than a feeling—may it become accompaniment, standing with our neighbors for as long as hope requires.
And may we continue to walk together until healing comes.

Give us hearts that do not turn away from suffering, but instead draw near,
just as Christ has drawn near to us.

In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, who calms every storm and whose love remains steadfast even when the earth shakes, we pray.

Amen.

Grace and peace,

Rev. Vy T. Nguyen
Executive Director
Week of Compassion