A Word from Pastor Nathan

Dear Friends:

We had two beautiful worship services on Sunday, and we made covenants to one another, our church, and God to grow our faith through generosity. As we approach 2019, excitement fills the air, and our congregational imagination is active. How will we continue to go and love and serve from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth? As 2018 wanes, please remember your current commitments so that we have a strong finish for the year.

On Monday, I received an email update from Week of Compassion. As you know, Week of Compassion is the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and it seeks to equip and empower disciples to alleviate the suffering of others through disaster response, humanitarian aid, sustainable development, and the promotion of mission opportunities.

Washington Avenue is a Circle of Compassion congregation within Week of Compassion, which means we established an endowed fund of more than $10,000 with the Christian Church Foundation that is designated for Week of Compassion. Each February we collect a special offering for Week of Compassion. Through the funds from the endowment, and through this congregation’s annual gifts, Washington Avenue Christian Church is having an impact 2,373 miles from our doorsteps as Week of Compassion is on the ground helping victims and congregations from the Camp and Woolsey Fires in California.

Week of Compassion has already begun providing solidarity grants for affected families in the Paradise and Chico Disciples congregations and are in touch with ecumenical and area partners to support relief efforts. First Christian Church [Disciples of Christ] Chico, CA is in conversation with the area Interfaith Council to identify options for long-term assistance, and First Christian Church Paradise is focusing on accounting for and caring for its members.
As we enter into this holiday season, may we cultivate partnerships with those who are in distress; pursue liberty and justice for all people, including the immigrant and the refugee; and may we count God’s blessings that sustain us and compel us to be a grateful and generous people.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Nathan