Reflecting on Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch's call for Americans to embrace ambiguity when facing complex history, Patrick Scriven connects it to his own seminary journey of reconciling faith with historical scholarship. He critiques a White House report accusing the Smithsonian of "radical, activist ideology," arguing that ideological pressure toward simplicity, whether nationalistic or partisan, distorts our understanding of history and faith alike.

True patriotism isn't measured by flags displayed but by actions taken on behalf of democratic values. Drawing on Lincoln's 1862 call to "disenthrall ourselves," Rev. Paul Graves challenges both Trump supporters and opponents to break free from political obsession and superficial patriotism. Real healing begins not with symbols, but with the hard, ongoing work of democracy.

Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church hosted its third annual Pre-Pride Palooza on June 6, welcoming LGBTQ+ youth and allies for an afternoon of tie-dye, pizza, and community. Organized with Called to Love, the event is part of a series supporting Gender and Sexuality Alliance students across the region — offering safe space, new friendships, and a reminder that all are seen, valued, and loved.

Multiple opportunities await in Lay Servant Ministries (LSM)! Upcoming courses on Zoom are open to laity throughout the Greater Northwest and Mountain Sky areas. To participate, you'll need to purchase the course book, complete all readings and assignments, and engage fully in all five sessions with both audio and video active. Check out the courses and find the right fit for you.

When a man critical of illegal immigration trips and falls at a farmers’ market, a Hispanic vendor named Carlos rushes to help him without hesitation. In Rev. Paul Graves’ parable, the unexpected kindness quietly rattles the man’s assumptions, leaving him wondering whether the people he’d written off as threats might simply be neighbors he hadn’t met yet.