Dear Friends,

Last Sunday, we were fortunate to hear from Ryan Nakade, who led us through the intricate art of bridging divides between those with opposing views. His insights resonated deeply, given the divisive politics in our country.

I felt the conversation was enriched by the valuable discussion and resources shared within the group, including connections to Weave: The Social Fabric Project and a thought-provoking article from the Christian Science Monitor on rebuilding trust in divided communities. Following the Sunday Prayer Hour, Rev. Tafel also shared this reading on How Faith Makes Us Purple, - I highly recommend it!

For those who wish to continue exploring these ideas, Ryan has graciously shared his email (ryannakade@gmail.com) for further dialogue.

This Sunday, I am honored to be your speaker (!), bringing you my reflections on the power of miracles in our lives. It's a topic I've been thinking a lot about these past few years, as it closely connects to my own faith journey.

Together with you, I hope to delve into the subject of miracles—what they tell us about the nature of God, how they shape our faith, and how to manifest them in our lives. I encourage you to bring your questions and stories to add to the lively discussion.

In closing, I ask that you keep Rich and Carol's father, Lou Tafel, in your prayers, as he has entered hospice care. Let us surround the Tafel family with our love and support during this time.

While Rev. Rich is away, our services will continue online, with recordings available on our CHC website. Should you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Kateryna Pyatybratova

CHC Community Coordinator

katempya@gmail.com

(202) 817-9176

Guest Speaker Bio | Kateryna Pyatybratova

Kateryna Pyatybratova, MBA, PMP, is a marketing and business development professional with a deep passion for creating transformational leadership experiences. She has played a key role in launching several innovative initiatives, including world-class leadership programs for executive and rising women leaders. Kateryna also directs the nationally recognized Cafritz Awards Program, celebrating DC Government employees who have made significant contributions to improving life in our nation’s capital.

Kateryna is the co-founder of SoulFull Life University, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, which provides life and leadership coaching, work readiness training, financial literacy education, and career advisory services to underserved youth.

Kateryna holds an M.A. in European and Eurasian Studies and an M.B.A. from the George Washington University, along with a Professional Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the world through travel and literature, constantly seeking new perspectives and experiences.

Readings for the Coming Sunday

Genesis 18:10-15; 21:1 (NIV)

Sarah's Laughter and the Birth of Isaac

"Then one of them said, 'I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.' Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?' Then the Lord said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh and say, "Will I really have a child, now that I am old?" Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.' Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, 'I did not laugh.' But he said, 'Yes, you did laugh.'

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. 

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Ask and Ye Shall Be Given

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Luke 5:4-7 (NIV)

The Miraculous Catch

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Swedenborg Insight

Arcana Coelestia, n. 7290.

Miracles were performed that they might signify such things as belong to the Lord, His kingdom, and the church; and hence they were Divine, for the Divine does nothing except for an end that looks to eternity. The miracles of the Lord, as all His other acts, signified the state of His church and kingdom; and because they signified those things, they were Divine. This is the origin of the miracles in the Word.

The Holy City Digest:

Can 50 Nonprofits Build Something Together? A Hopeful Idea Begins to Spread

A recent Chronicle of Philanthropy article explores an ambitious collaboration among 50 nonprofits. Our own Rev. Rich Tafel and CHC President of the Board Annabel Park are highlighted for their key roles in this initiative, showcasing their visionary leadership. Full article is linked below.

* * *

By  Drew Lindsay | August 14, 2024

For an industry that works for the common good, the nonprofit world can be unkind. There’s the elbow thrown while jockeying for a donor’s attention. The disparaging remark about a group seen as a rival. And the reality that the humble and nice aren’t always rewarded in the funding scramble.

All that seems forgotten as 50 or so nonprofit leaders gather here at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, which sits on a hilltop bathed this evening in the setting sun’s glow. They are part of a long-standing pact in which each has pledged to help the others advance their organizations. The next day, in an exercise akin to a barn-raising, a few will present a dream project and seek help — advice, connections, partnerships, money. 

The gathering is the 41st meeting of the National Civic Collaboratory, which began more than a decade ago to bring together leaders of groups with different missions and ideologies. Offshoot pilots have taken root in a handful of cities, among them Atlanta, Chicago, Lexington, Ky., and Wichita, Kan., as well as for all of Arizona. Anyone could do this, Liu says. 

The group this night convenes for a welcome reception and dinner in the museum’s three-story, glass-walled pavilion, where Reagan’s Air Force One is suspended from the ceiling. Among those attending are a nationally renowned documentary filmmaker and a New Orleans librarian. A MacArthur “genius” grant scholar and a Marine veteran of Iraq. An executive at the conservative Hoover Institution and a founder of the ultra-liberal MoveOn.org.

The coasts and liberal progressivism are well represented, but a scattering of people come from conservative quadrants as well as flyover country — Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma. In years past, the roster has included Tea Party members and Black Lives Matter leaders.

Each has responded to a simple invitation, Liu says: “Let’s build something together. And let’s build someone up together.”

Thought of the Week

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