Dear Church,

We are moments out from the recent election cycle. Some are still reeling while others are

continuing to rejoice. Some lay in wait to see what will unfold from the decisions that were

decided upon through this election. Some are already acting out those decisions even while not

yet officially inaugurated. Some hide in shadows out of fear, and others boisterously display their

eager egos. Some prepare for violence and force, and others return to their gardens and crops to

make sure there is enough for others.

All Peoples Presbyterian Church strives to follow Christ’s leadings and to be a church that not

just welcomes all people, but discovers and celebrates the inherent value and worth in all people.

We cannot say we believe this and then celebrate when decisions are made to devalue and

diminish certain people. This only tears down Christ’s message and Christ’s church. And so, we

grieve...for however long we need to grieve.

And through that grieving, we find our way back to our community, to our church, to our family,

and we hug and hold onto each other, and we start sharing Christ’s message of an unconditional

love that discovers and celebrates the inherent value and worth in all people. We gather our

strength in each other and in a God who created us as the beloved, and we continue to work

towards justice and mercy, compassionately caring for all of God’s creation.

We find ourselves on the precipice of Advent, and we will soon be reminded of our Immanuel,

God with us. In the form of a child, God re-discovered and modeled for us all of our

belovedness. May that we embody the values of being All Peoples Presbyterian Church!

With Hope,

Rev. Brian S. Symonds

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