Curated by the Pastor
Matthew 22:37-40 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
A Call to Love
Summary: Bishop Megan Traquair urges the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California to respond with compassion and action in support of immigrant families, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to love, prayer, and service in the face of uncertainty and fear.
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Dear People of God,
Each day, I hear stories from migrants and their loved ones about the fear and uncertainty they face—worries of separation, displacement, and potential violence. Their distress calls us to respond with compassion and love.
Our commitment to care for others is deeply rooted in Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, and especially in Jesus' command to love our neighbors. Alongside Matthew’s teaching, we are reminded of this call in Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; and James 2:8.
The Episcopal Church has a long history of welcoming and serving immigrant families. Throughout generations, people seeking refuge have contributed to our communities, enriching our lives and culture. We recognize that we, too, are a nation of immigrants, bound together in our shared humanity.
Within the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, we remain committed to supporting all our neighbors through tangible acts of mercy, such as:
· Providing food, childcare, education, and resources to help families understand their rights.
· Offering a safe and welcoming space for those who feel displaced and afraid.
· Upholding our spiritual responsibility to pray for those in need and for our leaders.
As followers of Christ, we are called to live out our faith in action:
· We are a people of prayer—lifting up those in need and our leaders every Sunday.
· We are growing in Christ—allowing God to cultivate love and kindness in our hearts.
· We are welcoming—offering sanctuary and refuge to those in distress.
· We listen deeply—providing comfort and companionship to those who feel alone.
· We walk together—supporting one another in times of hardship, just as Christ walks with us.
· We persist in love—praying and serving with steadfast dedication.
This is how we love our neighbor.
As challenges arise—whether in our places of worship or in support systems for aid programs—we are committed to equipping ourselves with knowledge. We will soon be organizing educational sessions with experts to help us understand our rights and responsibilities in this work. More details will follow as these opportunities take shape.
Despite the difficulties ahead, we remain guided by our mission: to love our neighbors as Christ loves us.
"I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and grounded in love."—Ephesians 3:16-17
In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Megan M. Traquair
Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
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