Imagine stepping into a story larger than your own – a story of courage, loss, hope, and the search for a better life. This Sunday’s service invited us to explore the deeply human experience of “coming to America,” not as a distant historical idea, but as a journey that shaped – and continues to shape – who we are. Together, we reflected on the hardships, joys, surprises, and profound disappointments that countless individuals encountered as they crossed oceans and borders. From the perilous Atlantic passage in fragile, overcrowded ships to the harsh realities of an unfamiliar land, the stories of arrival are as diverse as they are powerful.

Some of our ancestors came willingly, fueled by dreams and guided by a sense of possibility. Others were violently taken, kidnapped and chained, forced into a life of enslavement that still reverberates through generations. In this service, Lori Nitchals and Victoria Kindell shared the stories of their forebears, and Brian Jordaan offered a firsthand account of coming to America more recently with his family. Their voices helped us understand this shared, complicated legacy in a new way. This service was a truly mind-opening experience – one that reminded us of the resilience of the human spirit and deepened our understanding of our collective journey.