Dear Talmadge Hill Family,
What a privilege it was to co-lead worship for the first time here at Talmadge Hill with Cheryl Bundy, who delivered a thought-provoking sermon. On a day when we celebrated both the Feast of Saint Francis and World Communion Sunday, Cheryl invited us to consider a challenging question posed by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: "Is our capacity for empathy so finite, our hearts so small, that if we increase our empathy for some people, we have to reduce it for others?"
In a world marked by division and what Rabbi Buchdahl calls "zero-sum empathy," Cheryl reminded us that both Saint Francis and World Communion Sunday proclaim the same gospel truth: love is never diminished by being shared; it only grows. Through the story of Francis, who saw the spark of God in every living thing, and through our shared communion table that transcends all borders, we're called to practice an empathy that makes space for all of creation—even what we don't understand.
The worship itself was filled with beautiful moments that embodied this spirit. Many of you brought pictures of your beloved animals and plant families to celebrate St. Francis Day. Poignant was the inclusion of a photograph of Jane Goodall, who passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91. How appropriate it was to honor her on St. Francis Day, as she embodied the saint's same spirit of deep compassion and connection to all living beings, seeing the divine spark in all of creation. And in a moment that seemed almost divinely choreographed with Cheryl's sermon, Rob's piano duet with the canary became its own sermon—a perfect illustration of how all creation joins in worship!
This spirit embodies the heart of Talmadge Hill Community Church: we embrace the entirety of creation and our wonderfully diverse human family. This learning transforms us, helping us grow into the likeness of God and bring about the kingdom of God on earth.
As Cheryl beautifully proclaimed, "Here, everyone has a place. Here, everyone is welcome."
This Sunday, we will continue the vital conversation about identity and belonging, guided by the story of the ten lepers healed in Luke 17, now translated as people living with a "defiling skin disease." We will explore how their ailment was not just a physical condition, but an exile from community. In their culture, the priest's role was the only path back to communal life. Yet, in this story, one man—a Samaritan—makes a radical choice. Instead of seeking restoration from the old system, he returns to Jesus, recognizing him as the true source of a new identity and a new community.
This crucial insight shifts the story's focus away from a simple lesson on gratitude and toward a profound exploration of what it means to be made truly whole. To explore this, I will share my own journey of navigating stigma and isolation, and the wholehearted, life-saving power of being restored to a welcoming, Christ-centered community. We will consider how, like Jesus in this story, we can offer a new identity and true belonging to all who seek wholeness, particularly as we navigate our interim space and discern who God is calling us to be.
I am looking forward to being with you in community on Sunday. I hope to see you in worship!
Mooi Loop,
Dries