Dear Govans Family,
Many of us grew up with the sentiment, “Well, that’s just the way things are.” Without realizing it, that phrase trained our unconscious minds to numb out, accept cruelty and injustice as normal, and stay silent. It forced us into hiding and fractured our sense of self. In the end, it resigned our society to the fatalistic lie that nothing can ever truly change.
We gather in worship this Sunday contemplating Matthew 22:1–14, a story that confronts that very lie. In the parable, a king throws a coercive wedding banquet in the shadow of burning cities, demanding that everyone put on the royal uniform and smile for the throne. But one guest refuses to wear the required robe. In his quiet, nonviolent defiance, he shatters the illusion of forced normalcy, boldly proclaiming that the way things are is never the way things have to be. Join us as we pause, breathe together, and discover how God meets us in honest vulnerability to cultivate real compassion and peace.
Mark Your Calendars: Two Upcoming Sundays of Heritage & Covenant
- Reformation & Heritage Sunday with Bagpipes (Sunday, October 25): We celebrate Reformation Sunday and mark Heritage Sunday. In keeping with a cherished Govans tradition, we will celebrate the Scottish roots of our Presbyterian heritage and St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, with bagpipes in worship. What better way to give thanks for our shared roots than by bringing our annual per capita gift of $45 per member to worship that morning? Per capita supports the vital work of our presbytery, synod, and General Assembly, connecting Govans directly to the wider Presbyterian family that has shaped who we are. Please bring your gift as an offering of gratitude for those who came before us and for the church we share today.
- Service of Installation (Sunday, November 8, at 3:00 PM): The Presbytery of Baltimore will gather at Govans Presbyterian Church to install me as your pastor. In this sacred service, the congregation, the wider church, and I make covenant promises to one another before God. Please join us as witnesses and celebrate this joyful milestone in our shared life!
I am looking forward to worshipping with you on Sunday. Whether in person or online, we will be connected as one family through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mooi Loop,
Dries