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Justice at the table, listening to every story with equal weight

This year, Black History Month was not just a date on the calendar for me; it was a table where we tried to live awake, not only in February but all year long. We asked hard questions in other spaces: Why do some Black folks seem less visible in public protests while carrying so much of the weight in private? What does it cost to keep explaining the same wounds to people who are just now waking up? And what happens to a soul when “keeping the peace” in church means swallowing pain so others can stay comfortable? Even if you haven’t sat in every one of those conversations, you are still part of this same work here, because underneath all of it is one invitation: to follow Jesus truthfully right now, with the history we carry, the neighbors we actually see, and the courage to move forward into honest conversation together as part of this Come To The Table: Let’s Talk! 2026 journey.  

As we move from February into March, we are not leaving that table behind; we are bringing it with us. March also marks Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme, Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future, invites us to pay attention to the women who have quietly held families, churches, and communities together, while also challenging systems that need to change. From the women who taught many of us our first Bible stories to those who lead ministries, care for neighbors, and mentor the next generation among us right now, their steady presence has helped to shape who we are as a church. In Scripture and in our own stories, women have modeled what it means to lead with courage, wisdom, and faithfulness, often without recognition and often at real cost. As we keep coming to this table, we honor the women in our congregation and beyond who have prayed, organized, taught, nurtured, and spoken up for justice and mercy, helping us imagine a future where every member of Christ’s body can flourish.  

So how do we begin to live this out together? Often, it looks smaller than we expect. It looks like really listening when someone in our community says, “This hurt me,” instead of rushing to defend ourselves or the church. It looks like asking, “What do you need from me here?” and being willing to adjust how we speak, joke, or move in shared spaces. It looks like admitting when we did not see something clearly and choosing to learn instead of shutting down. Working with one another is not about agreeing on everything; it is about deciding that our relationships, our stories, and our shared discipleship matter enough to stay at the table when the conversation gets uncomfortable, and to keep coming back even when it would be easier to walk away.  

You are not an extra in this story; your life and your voice matter. Whether you usually read quietly and say nothing, or whether you engage more openly elsewhere, there is room for you at this table. Bring your questions, your discomfort, your prayers, and your stories. As we move through this year, we will keep walking this journey one conversation at a time, trusting that the same God who met us in February will keep shaping us in March, and in all the ordinary days where we are called to be the body of Christ in our communities, as this Come To The Table year unfolds.