Let’s make hope visible

This past week, in keeping with tradition, we festooned the exterior of our church building with boughs of evergreens, bright red bows, and a few very festive wreaths. We also hung new banners advertising our free food for all programs to the community and sharing the mission of our church with our neighborhood. We also created a community art project.

Running along the entirety of the West End Avenue fence is a 63-foot long banner emblazoned with 149 bright white stars. The message on the sign is that West End Church makes hope visible, and there are instructions to write your biggest hopes for 2021 onto a star (we’ve put out some Sharpies). The neighborhood, and indeed many of you, have accepted our invitation and the westside of our campus is now filling with hope. If you haven’t walked by, do so. If you want to write a hope, share it with all of us and the community. And if you’re not in NYC or can’t make it to the church building, you can share your hope in an email to Michael.

In this week when hope comes in the form of an innocent child, take time to look around and find your own hope. If you may, allow me also the opportunity to be among the first to wish you a very happy Christmas. May God’s blessing be upon you. May peace and joy settle in your heart.

Be well, beloved,
Pastor Will