Dear *{{Informal Name}}*,
In this Advent season of anticipation, of hopeful waiting for new life to be born in the world, I am reminded of how Christians sometimes speak of living in the “now, and not yet.”
God’s kin-dom of love and justice is here now, in small but mighty ways. This year, I have witnessed the kin-dom be ushered into the world through each of you and the way you faithfully embody your values.
Every time you raised your voice to advocate—or leaned into critical conversations about pressing issues like the death penalty, poverty in a post-Roe America, and violence against women—you helped bring the U.S. one step closer to becoming a beloved community.
And yet.
As I reflect on this year, I lament how the U.S. continues to fall short of its promise of “liberty and justice for all.”
Pervasive racism, violence, and hatred continue to steal far too many lives. Protections for women continue to unravel while access to living wages, healthcare, and social support is increasingly out of reach.
The injustices are many, and they are a reminder that we are still living in the “not yet.”
The fullness of God’s kin-dom is still to come, and we are each called to play a role in bringing it to fruition. We’re grateful to be on the journey towards justice with you and we look forward to going deeper together in the year to come.
