Courage is calling to us this October, as we gear up to Defend Democracy in Wisconsin, and to kick-off our Forge Our Future fundraising campaign! Facing the truth, especially when it’s frightening, takes courage. But as brilliant author and civil rights activist James Baldwin so famously said, nothing can be changed until it is faced. Our faith calls us to courage in this moment: the courage to face what is true, and then to take action to create change.
Our Defend Democracy Team will lead three Democracy Sundays—October 2, 9, and 16—where First Church members can learn about voter education, registration, and turn out. On October 12, the team is offering a training on “Persuasive Communication in the Public Arena.” Our faith calls us to democracy, and our democracy needs us right now.
On October 23, we will celebrate the kick-off of our fundraising campaign to Forge Our Future. This will be the most important thing we will do together this year, and will influence our church’s power, vitality, and ministry for generations to come. Our morning church services on October 23 will celebrate who we are and where we are going together. Then after church, we will celebrate with a Halloween Street Party campaign kick-off event. There will be a costume contest for all ages (yes, you can wear your costume to church if you want!), face-painting, games for the whole family, food trucks, a blues band, and more! The party will be outside, so masking is optional, and we will all have the chance to laugh and play and have fun together. There will not be any solicitation at the event.
I’m looking forward to spending a joyful, courageous October with you, where we face what is true and take action together for a beautiful future!
With love,
Jennifer
Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom, Senior Minister