Dear Ones, 

     Just a quick note to check-in with everyone. I hope everyone is safe and warm. I missed worship this morning but I’m sure “playing hookey” worked for most of us. We all could use the break. 

     I imagine this has been quite a challenge for many of us. If you need anything, just let us know and the COM community of faith will mobilize and help.

     I was certainly looking forward to the Unity Service with the other congregations today and, know that we plan on rescheduling. I do believe, though, through the “Woman’s Marches” around the world yesterday we experienced what it looks like to come together in unity.

     You may choose to read on about the Guiding Principles of the Washington March.

It follows the Non-Violent Communication guidelines of MLK. I believe that Jesus would approve.

     I have included an abbreviated version but included the URL to access the entire guideline.

 

Much Love,  Pastor Donna

 

Guiding Principles (from URL: http://www.womensmarchsac.com/mission-vision/)

Borrowed from the Women’s March on Washington.

Women’s rights are human rights, regardless of a woman’s race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age or disability. We practice empathy with the intent to learn about the intersecting identities of each other. We will suspend our first judgement and do our best to lead without ego. We follow the principles of Kingian nonviolence, which are defined as follows:

 

    •       Principle 1: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people…

    •       Principle 2: The Beloved Community is the framework for the future…

    •       Principle 3: Attack forces of evil, not persons doing evil…

    •       Principle 4: Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to     achieve our goal…

    •       Principle 5: Avoid internal violence of the spirit as well as external physical violence…