October 2025 Chimes
Beloved in Christ,
From the first pages of Scripture, we are reminded that every human being is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). To truly see another person is to see God’s own handiwork, God’s own likeness, shining through. And yet, too often in our national life we hear words and see actions that deny that sacred truth. Speech that demeans, rhetoric that divides, and gestures that dismiss human dignity have become painfully familiar.
As people of faith, we cannot turn away from this. The Letter of James cautions us: “With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). Jesus himself taught us another way: to love one another as he has loved us, to recognize in every neighbor someone who is loved by God.
In times when voices of contempt seem loudest, we are called to respond not in kind, but with prayer, compassion, and steadfast witness. The Spirit moves us to stand together in hope, proclaiming with our presence that love is stronger than hatred, that dignity is stronger than insult, that God’s vision for the world cannot be undone by human cruelty.
This October, our congregation has the opportunity to join with more than a dozen other faith communities across Lower Merion and Haverford Townships in a series of weekly vigils. Each Tuesday evening from 5:00–6:00 PM, we will gather at a different congregation to begin with prayer, stand in silent witness along a nearby roadway, and return to prayer at the close. Our presence, side by side with neighbors of many traditions, will be a living testimony to God’s unshakable love for every person.
Schedule of Vigils:
October 7: Zion Baptist Church, Ardmore (with St. Mary’s Episcopal Church)
October 14: Bethel AME Church, Ardmore
October 21: Old Haverford Friends Meeting, Havertown (with Congregation Or Zarua)
October 28: Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Parish, Bryn Mawr
Friends, I invite you to come, to pray, and to stand together. These vigils are not about politics. They are about reclaiming our shared humanity, lifting up our neighbors, and reminding ourselves that we are one in the image of our Creator.
In Christ’s peace and hope,
Pastor Laura
Read the October Chimes HERE.