Dear Westwood Family,

One of the things that has continued to be true for me about following Jesus is that it hasn’t been easy. At least, in the sense that it hasn’t been comfortable, and in that it always keeps asking more of me.

Every Sunday, at the start of worship, Dr. Carter and I affirm our belief that the image of God is in every person; we celebrate the gifts that brings, through all our diversities.

These past weeks and days, violence in communities in Minnesota has been heart breaking. I grieve the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti; I lament the violent treatment of those detained by ICE and those from the community who are standing watch as witnesses. My heart breaks that agents working on behalf of our government are engaging civilians with such hostility. I know that is especially visible on the streets of Minneapolis, but that similar aggressive and dehumanizing enforcement is happening all over the US, including in Los Angeles. I lament for each of the 23 people who died in ICE custody last year, and all those who have already died in 2026.

Core commitments of our Christian faith – and values repeated each Sunday in our worship – require that we work to help build a different way of being in the world. We cannot stand by while neighbors (immigrant or otherwise) are dehumanized or villainized; we cannot stay silent while agents of our government perpetuate violence against people; we cannot turn away from the call of the gospel to be a presence of compassion, care, and community.

Of course (and this is where it gets challenging for me) this means we also have to work to see the image of God in ICE agents, too. The gospel does not rest until we reimagine a way of being that makes space for all of us to change our minds. The ancient prophets imagined wolves and lambs abiding together. In Jesus, we are called to love our enemies.

Perhaps the people you find hardest to love are different from the ones that I have named. But in this time of divided politics, I’m guessing there’s someone you find it challenging to love.

This doesn’t mean the process to get there is easy; lots has to happen, like truth-telling, transformation, accountability, and restorative justice. For today, I just mean to remind myself of the end goal: not only the absence of violence, but the presence of justice (as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s words and ministry taught me). Our goal is salvation that includes all. May our work never lose sight of that goal, and may we never lose the hope that comes from God.

There’s more to reflect on, and I trust you’re reflecting prayerfully. I wanted to share this recent statement from our United Methodist Bishops, as an additional park of the conversation.

I continue to be grateful for the privilege of being your pastor. Our church communities are so important now, as places to be formed by God’s love and to practice our faith; we are a living network of care that has the capacity to bring love to a world in need.

grace and peace,

Pastor Molly