North Westminster Presbyterian Church

04/28/2026

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for…I was a stranger and you welcomed me…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25 selections)

Beloved, I am taking part in a one week fast of solidarity with detainees at ICE’s North Lake Detention Center that began yesterday to address the deplorable conditions in which they are being held.

Last fall, detained women filed a class action lawsuit and last week several men began a hunger strike. The goals of the men's hunger strike are timely access to appropriate medical care for the nearly 2,000 detained, decent food, and an end to the procedural delays that continue to arbitrarily detain those who meet legal requirements for release. As Christians, we are called to treat each person as if they were Jesus, loving them and caring for them. Let us show our love by spreading this news. They are simply asking for food, medical care, end to procedural delays. May it be so. Amen.

04/04/2026

https://www.ucc.org/daily-devotional/are-we-at-the-end-yet/?inf_contact_key=5ef69ed0acdd805a1ca71facea5c9cf45829043fa73cf2bc2dd7addb4cb374c3

Without endings there would be no new beginnings, so let the cessations begin without interruptions. The end is here. And so are the seeds for new ways of being.

04/01/2026

https://www.wilx.com/2026/03/30/hundreds-gather-palm-sunday-procession-lansing/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQ4qjpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR6jlgd_Q8FfZylmnAvWTrxblmch8AzcMlpo0Jy19ef5eRb5VawtQJZwIKc1qQ_aem_M8jUItH0sgtjvLcXTc59Wg

The march began at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ and ended at the Michigan State Capitol.

03/27/2026

This Sunday, more than 1,000 Michigan Christians from 30 counties will walk together to the State Capitol in Lansing, not to protest, but to witness.

Palm Sunday Path Michigan brings together nearly 20 faith traditions in a public affirmation of the values of Matthew 25: feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger.

Read the full press release at the link in the comments.

📍 Sunday, March 29 · 3:00 PM · Pilgrim Congregational UCC → Michigan State Capitol
🔗 Register at mipalmsundaypath.org

03/27/2026

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - Faith leaders from across Michigan gathered on the steps of the state Capitol on Tuesday, united in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) efforts nationwide.

Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Pagan leaders unite at the state capitol lawn to oppose immigration enforcement.

03/25/2026

Our Ministry Partners, UKirk at Michigan State are hosting a Trivia Night!

The countdown is on...! We are a little over one month away from our Spring 2026 UKirk trivia night fun(d)raiser. Friday night April 17th at The Presbyterian Church of Okemos. Game starts at 7PM. Teams of six players each $120 per table or $20 per person. Registration is open https://forms.gle/ADzi1ENatnrX1jc7A

03/20/2026

Daily Devotional
March 20, 2026
Are We There Yet?



Yael Lachman

On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left Egypt, the whole company of Israel moved on from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin which is between Elim and Sinai. The whole company of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron there in the wilderness. - Exodus 16:1-2 (MSG)



In case you’re counting, God’s people have been out in the wilderness less than a month before they start pining for the old days: “At least in Egypt we knew where our next meal was coming from. Does Moses even know where we’re going? And how could we possibly not be there yet?”



Here on the brink of mutiny, the people don’t yet understand that God has brought them into the wilderness not to reach a destination but to undergo a transformation. And (lucky for Moses) they have absolutely no idea how long this is going to take: long enough for a whole community to be spiritually re-fashioned from the inside out. God’s people are in the midst of a wilderness so vast that not only will they lose their way, but all their old ways of living.



When we talk about wilderness these days, we’re usually referring to those rare places that have not yet been exploited for human profit or convenience. Places where our familiar strategies for security and control tend to fall apart. Which, as the Israelites quickly discover, can be a pretty uncomfortable experience. But as any wilderness guide will tell you, on the other side of that discomfort lies an opportunity for a profound spiritual shift. Out in the wilderness, we learn the value of humility and the necessity of living within sustainable limits. We might even discover the beauty, and the deep joy, of mutual interdependence.



How long will it take? I wish I knew. But the promise of our ancient stories is that wherever we go and as long as we wander, God will be with us.



Prayer

For the holy, wild places of this world and the ones who keep them safe, thanks be to God.

Yael Lachman
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rev. Yael Lachman is a UCC minister and artist who leads contemplative retreats, art adventures, and worship for all ages, most often in wild places. You can find Yael here.

When we talk about wilderness, we’re usually referring to those places where our familiar strategies for security and control tend to fall apart—which can be a pretty uncomfortable experience.

01/27/2026

Daily Devotional
January 27, 2026
A Good Word



Vicki Kemper

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. - Psalm 119:105 (KJV)



What are your go-to scripture passages?



Yes, it can be hard to choose just one, but do you have even one?



When I was lying flat on my back in an ambulance after having been hit by a car, I found myself reciting portions of the 23rd Psalm.



When it feels like the world is falling apart (which happens a lot these days), I often turn to Psalm 46, adapting the ancient language to reflect the details of the latest destabilizing development.



When my car broke down in the middle of nowhere and my dog and I were at risk of heat exhaustion, Psalm 121 gave me hope.



When I don’t know how or what to pray, I remember Paul’s encouragement to the Christians in Rome: that the Spirit knows the right words and will surely offer them on our behalf.



I’ve found comfort and strength in many verses and phrases, some in the Bible and some not. I remember the former hostages and prisoners of war who said snatches of scripture and poetry kept them grounded through years of isolation and confinement.



Here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter what your anchor scripture is. What matters is that you have something—almost anything—to remind you that you are not alone, to assure you there is someone you can trust, to ground you in what is always solid and forever true, to shine a light that reveals the next step on your journey.



Don’t know where to start looking? Ask someone else who’s searching for meaning, comfort, or just a good word.



Prayer

For good words that keep us going, we praise you.

Vicki Kemper
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vicki Kemper is the Pastor of First Congregational, UCC, in Amherst, Massachusetts, and a spiritual director.

01/23/2026

Prayer for Minnesota

Oh God, you who heard the cry of the Israelites in Egypt,
Who sent water, and manna, and quail to those struggling in the desert,
Who sent Esther to the people in danger,
Who sent Jesus to us all as our teacher, healer, and savior,
We ask for your help now.
Speak into the hearts and minds of those doing violence in Minneapolis.
Soften their hearts and help them to see with your own eyes.
Let that vision give them pause.
Let it stay their hands.
Let it give them compassion
And let it give them courage to do what is right and good,
So that the people of Minneapolis may have a just peace.

Beloved God, we have seen the images and read the stories,
We have heard from eye witnesses,
And so we know the violence, the cruelty, and the terror they are inspiring.
Please grant a sense of safety to the innocents, that they may be able to live their lives with an inner peace.
Grant them courage to face each day, not knowing what the day will bring.
Grant them people of love, compassion, and courage to surround them and support them,
to care for their bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.
Let this violence and terror end, oh God. For the good of your people, let it end.

God of justice and peace, you whose son died on the cross,
Grant us all the courage we need so that we may do what we can in support of a just peace.
Grant us knowledge of the truth, and the wisdom to know how to respond to it.
Grant us partners we can be in solidarity with, and the hope that solidarity inspires.
Grant us courage and perseverance in the face of overwhelming feelings.
And help us all to be guided first and foremost by Jesus, our teacher.
Let us follow his model of compassion, faith, and inner strength.
Let us follow his model of peaceful action, of non-violence, of prayer and trust in you.
Let us follow him that we may be the servants of your people that you call us to be. Amen.

01/22/2026

Good day, Dear Ones.

I wanted to share with you that faith leaders around the country are inviting people into a day of prayer, fasting, no work (unless it is a hardship), and no purchases tomorrow (Friday) in order to decry the violence in Minneapolis. If you are unable to fast, please consider fasting from something else (like media or books). Our goal is to pray for peace and justice, turning our focus to God and to the love of our neighbors in Minnesota.

Blessings, Pastor Laura