Dear friends of the Center,

May greets us still bathed in the light of Easter, the light of the Risen Jesus.  This is an “Alleluia!” season affirming that God is always doing something new among us. As we move toward Pentecost on May 24, we pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit who invites us once again to live as people of the Resurrection – hopeful, reconciled, and open to the transforming work of God.  On the first Pentecost, the disciple went out – reminding us that faith is not meant to remain private or passive. Faith is meant to be lived, shared, and carried into the complexities of everyday life.

That conviction is why the CIC exists. The CIC is a place where faith engages the real questions you are faced with in the workplace, in the marketplace, and in our wider society. This is a space for thoughtful formation, courageous conversations, and encounters that strengthen both belief and belonging. Your generous support ensures that this kind of meaningful engagement continues to be available in West Michigan and reaches well beyond it.

In that spirit, I am happy to announce the featured speaker for this year’s Gallagher Talk. On October 8, we will welcome Robert Bordone, a senior fellow at Harvard Law School and coauthor of Conflict Resilience, for a presentation titled “When Conversations Get Hard: Disagreeing without Losing Relationships.”

In a polarized culture, learning how to remain connected across differences is not optional; it is essential for discipleship and mission. This topic speaks directly to the CIC’s vision of forming people who can bring faith, reason, and charity into the public square and into their most important relationships.

Your monthly giving makes these moments of formation and dialogue possible. It sustains programming that invites people to think deeply, listen carefully, and live their faith with confidence and grace.

Thank you for investing in a mission that helps faith take root in real life – and for accompanying this work with your prayers. As we pray for a renewed outpouring of the Spirit this Pentecost, may we be strengthened together for the work to which God calls us – the courage to witness, wisdom to listen, and love to build up the Body of Christ in our time.

Peace and all good.