In Our Church

At Greenbelt Community Church United Church of Christ, we have a rhythm and flow from month to month, but some of our most enriching times together are the special events and activities in the community. Here is a sampling of photos and news articles.

Women's Retreat
April 4-6, 2025

We joined together at the CCCA Conference Center on a damp and cool spring weekend to pray, laugh, rest, and reflect.

We returned to the Retreat Center run by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at Bethany Beach. A little misty cool weather did not deter us from walking over to the beach (including some who checked out the sunrise). Two of our group drove up to Rehoboth Beach on Saturday to participate in the “Hands Off” protest. When they returned they gave us a great report of the energy and enthusiasm of folks standing up for those who the policies of this administration have impacted.

Our overall “theme” was around the idea of “Yearnings”, using as a resource a book by that name written by Rabbi Irwin Kula. We shared conversation around Yearning for meaning, creativity, happiness, and transformation. On Friday night, we heard the words and music of an anthem sung during Advent. The lyrics are by Susan Bentall Boersma, and music by Craig Courtney. The words are fitting for the times in which we find ourselves. There is a yearning deep within us for the kind of world shown to us in Christ.

There is a yearning in hearts that in the darkness hide and in the shadow of death abide, a yearning for tomorrow.

There is a yearning, a yearning for the promised One, the Firstborn of creation.

There is a yearning for the Lord who visited His own, and by His death for sin atoned, to bring to us salvation.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel within our hearts, the yearning.

There is a yearning that fills the hearts of those who wait the day of His appearing.

There is a yearning when all our sorrows are erased, and we shall see the One who placed within our hearts the yearning.

Emmanuel, Emmanuel within our hearts, the yearning.

Small Acts of Kindness: An Interfaith Discussion Panel
February 3, 2025

Can performing acts of kindness help build community? Can those acts help one find peace, which is especially important in current times?

An interfaith panel discussed acts of kindness and such questions from the viewpoint of three faith traditions and a “religious – none” at an event jointly sponsored by the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights and Greenbelt Community Church on Monday, February 3. Rabbi Saul Oresky of Mishkan Torah represented Judaism, Dr. Hema Sidhu spoke for the Sikh faith, and Reverend Clara Young of Greenbelt Community Church explained the viewpoint of the Protestant Christian tradition. YaYa, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary who defines her philosophy as spiritual seeking, represented the religiously unaffiliated “nones.”

The discussion was lively and insightful, mostly due to the humorous yet thought-provoking moderation of the discussion by David Alexander, a member of the Community Church and Toastmasters. About 80 people from the community attended.

The discussion began with each panelist explaining their philosophy or faith perspective concerning small acts of kindness intended to make the world a better place. There was much consensus among the panelists’ views: a small act of kindness can effect a big change in the world; kindness is a sign of faith; to be kind is to see the humanity of another; and kindness is the most important virtue a person might possess. Rabbi Oresky summed up the discussion with “To be human is to be kind to each other.”

Another topic the panel discussed was how to interact kindly with people who see the world in a much different way. Dr. Sidhu explained that in the Sikh belief, all are part of the “oneness” of humanity, and that we are all from the same source. YaYa stated that we must reserve any judgement of others for God. As a practical approach, Reverend Young suggested that one choose to listen to others and search for common ground.

Alexander broached the topic of how one might be motivated to perform small acts of kindness when the recipient is anonymous or absent, using the example of returning a store’s shopping cart from the parking lot. Panelists’ thoughts concluded that such acts may increase mindfulness, and that acting in faith is counter-cultural.

The discussion concluded after questions from the audience about how best to teach children to act in kindness, and the role empathy for others plays in performing acts of kindness. Reverend Young summarized the basis of acting kindly as simply loving one’s neighbor as oneself.

GATe recorded the discussion for future viewing on its site.

by Carol Griffith