Halfway through our week here, we have already experienced extraordinary grace, beauty, suffering, and compassion.

The reservation — The Rez — is a hard place, by design. Centuries of genocide, oppression, and deprivation have made sure it is so, and continue to this day. This is one of the poorest places in the United States, where many people live without running water, heat, electric power, or adequate — let alone healthy — food. The people here are suffering economically, physically, mentally, and spiritually. There is every form of injustice. And yet we are hearing from our Lakota relatives that there is a renaissance unfolding. People are re-learning their heritage: their language, traditions, songs and ceremonies and prayers. As we offer our labor to build and deliver beds, safety ramps, and outhouses — outhouses! — they generously reciprocate with their life stories, both trauma and hope. It feels important to contribute, as Nancy put it, concrete interventions to problems that go way beyond the concrete. And it feels equally important to gratefully embrace our Lakota relatives as beloved family, to join with them in heartfelt prayer for peace, justice, and an end to White Supremacy.

As hard as it is, The Rez is also a profoundly beautiful and sacred place, as Branda captured in her poem, and as you can see in some of the numerous photographs we have taken. In our nightly closing session, we have reflected on how each day’s experiences have kindled our spirits with gratitude and wonder. There is so much more to share with you, much of which will take us time and discernment to fully process.

Thank you for sending us here with your love and support. Please continue to pray that God will work through all of us — those of us here in Pine Ridge this week and all of you at home — to re-member creation, to heal and make whole that which humans have broken.

In love —

Julianne, on behalf of Andrew, Branda, Henry, Jodie, Maggie, Michaela, Nancy, Petra, Sonia, and Rev. Will

Badlands by Branda Wilhoite

Painted desert,

desiccated to fading,

Crumbly underfoot,

Framed by wide, blue skies.

A ribbon of green, swaying grasses

Swathed at its feet

A dry creek bed- the memory of a river-

A trickle, a shrinking puddle,

In the hot afternoon sun.

Rock spindles stand like tall sentries

Guarding “The Bowl”

Unlikely life- sage, paintbrush, and thistle,

Breathe hope into this desolate,

Beautiful place.

Re-Member

To make whole that which is broken.

Please join us for a Church Bike Ride this Saturday, June 20, at 1:00 PM. We’ll meet at Michelle & Rich Crawford’s house in East Arlington at 1:00 and bike to Lexington Center via the Minuteman Bike Path. Once in Lexington Center, we’ll take a break, re-group, and then bike back to the starting point, so that’s about 11 miles round-trip.

All ages and abilities are welcome. We’ll have that stop in Lexington Center where we’ll re-group, so you may go at whatever pace feels comfortable to you!

The Crawfords live at 85 Lake Street, Unit 2, in Arlington, but their driveway entrance is on Lakehill Avenue and there’s plenty of free parking on that street so, if you’re driving over, please park there – just off Lake Street.

There’s a couple of Blue Bike stations nearby if you’d like to rent a bike for the ride. Please arrive early if you plan to rent a Blue Bike.

Last but not least, we’ll be serving a coconut chocolate chip cake made by Karen Lauterwasser at the end of the ride!

Contact person is Michelle Crawford

Text/Call: (781) 367-7725

Email

Please feel free to call, text, or email with any questions.

And wouldn’t you know!!! This team went above and beyond when John and Andy decided to take on cleaning the Dwelling Place fridge!  Check out our picture catching them in the act!

The next chance to serve at the Dwelling Place will be Saturday May 16th. Hope you can join us!

Then for our traditional Lenten series, Tuesdays with Jesus, we’ll have soup and bread together and do a deeper dive into the given reading for that day with round table conversations and consideration of the themes that the devotional highlights. We hope you’ll engage the daily devotionals and will join us on Tuesday nights starting, Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 from 6:30 to 8pm.

Calling all who have a delicious soup to share – please consider making soup for one of the Tuesday evenings during Lent and sign up here!

Join us from the comfort of your own home and computer for an hour of meaningful engagement with the scripture focused on the coming Sunday’s scripture text. This week we’ll consider the Transfiguration passages from Matthew 4 and Luke 9 which is always the preparatory text for the Sunday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. We hope you can join with us.

When:  Friday, February 27, 2026 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Where: First Congregational Church

Who:  Parents, Grandparents, Kids

Join us for an evening of fellowship, faith, and fun for the whole family! Adults will have a chance to connect with each other and talk about faith at home, while kids enjoy a movie night complete with pizza, popcorn, and fun.

• Movie & Pizza for Kids – Chidley Hall
• Appetizer Potluck, Fellowship & Faith for Adults – Palmer Room

Questions? Ask Maggie or a member of the Children & Youth Faith Formation Ministry

RSVP Today!

Download the Event Poster Here:

7-9 pm on Zoom

This month’s book is “Time of the Child” – by Niall Williams.  Contact this year’s co-coordinators, Lynne Rahmeier or Susan Sawyer with questions.