Letter from the Pastor – June 2025

Dear Church,

It has been another year in the life of the church, and I am grateful to have been on that journey with you all.

Much has gone on in the church this past year. Some of it has felt familiar and some of it has felt a little different, probably more like change. Part of that is because we have welcomed several new friends into our community of faith, as new people have joined the church. The church has also had to mourn and say good-bye to old friends as several longtime members passed away this past year.

Something else familiar that returned this year was the Perry Gresham Lecture series. After a three-year hiatus, the lecture series returned this past November as we hosted Rev. Beau Underwood, who spoke to us about his popular new book on understanding and combating Christian Nationalism, Baptizing America. We look forward to continuing to host this event in the future.

We have also seen some new ministries begin to take shape. Specifically, the putting together of comfort bags for distribution to unhoused individuals throughout our wider community. Also, our church has continued to give generously to the Detroit Public Schools Great Start Readiness programs Christmas gift drive. Once again, this year, our church was able to donate over 100 bags full of clothes and toys to some of the youngest and most in need DPS students. We collect funds for both of these ministries twice a month during worship, when we collect a ”noisy offering,” which is the collecting of loose change into buckets (usually with the help of some of our church’s youngest members).

This is the tip of the iceberg of what has been going on at CWCC this year, and as I look to the future, I see more blessings and more opportunities for us to continue to serve our community and spread the Good News.

I look forward to the year ahead, and working with the Council and other dedicated members of this church as we explore new ways of doing ministry together.*

Peace,

Pastor Zach

*This was part of the Annual Report submitted at the Congregational Meeting held June 1st, 2025