Dear Church,

Today marks the end of the Jewish observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. L’Shana Tova to any who might be reading these greetings! Wishing you a sweet new year.

This past weekend Antisemitic graffiti was found in Goffstown just ahead of the High Holy Days. This comes on the heels of a long stretch of increased white supremacist activity across the State of NH. These things never happen in isolation. I am grateful to clergy in Goffstown, led by the Rev. Jason Wells, who are speaking out, and thinking of how to stand in solidarity with their Jewish neighbors. This is our responsibility as Christians, Quakers, and Unitarian Universalists. It is what Love requires of us.

The Council of Churches too has raised our collective voice in recent months when we see the common good under attack. I imagine there have been times when it would be easy to wonder what a particular issue, or idea has to do with Church. And yet, it could not be more essential to who we are as people of faith. Each week, we gather in sanctuaries, and worshipping spaces throughout the state across lines of political, theological, and other lines of difference. At the Council, we come together with unified voice to say that holy unity requires that we honor our God-given diversity. Attempts to silence voices, and institutions that do the work of supporting the common good, is not of God. It is what Love requires of us.

I am reminded of this holy text from the Book of Revelation:

 “I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

We hope you’ll register for the Welcoming and Safe Communities event listed below as one way to come together in this work. It is what Love requires of us.

Blessings and gratitude,

Rev. Heidi