Breaking Bread, August 2025

PSWR Disciples, 

May the peace of God be with you.

As I travel the region, I often wish for you to journey with me and see what I see across our geographical territory. Here are some photos from these past few days highlighting a place or two of where I have been and where others are doing amazing ministry on your and our behalf. 

Mark Anderson, President, National Benevolent Association and I were able to visit Faith Christian Church: Safe House and its’ “Seeds of Faith Garden.” Last year, it was established by the youth and young adults. It was great to see the realization of their efforts, fresh, and harvested vegetables for the neighbors. (July 2025).

In response to the immigration raids, arrests, and deportations. We (clergy and I) have been at Prayer Vigils and Marches in and all around the LA County surrounding areas. More local information can be found on CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, LA Voice, and Church Wide on Justice and Advocacy, Disciples Legal Counsel, Congregational Solidarity - Obra Hispana and Immigrant and Refugee Response - Week of Compassion.

In celebration of the first graduating class of the Convencion Hispana del Pacifico – Bi-Lingual Certificate and Diploma of Ministry Education (National City, CA, and Online). I was able to witness the tears of the students filled with pride over their accomplishments.

We are grateful for some of the youth from First Christian Church – North Hollywood, their Pastor and Youth Director who as part of a mission trip were able to help improve Loch Leven Camp and Retreat Center’s Inspiration Point and Campbell Lodge (August 2025). If you’re PSWR Disciples congregation is interested in doing something similar, please contact Gustavo, our Loch Leven Camp and Retreat Center site manager for more detail at lochleven@uccr.org. 

In celebration with Harbor Christian Church that is launching a new ministry – Living Coast Ministry and the completion of a renovated space where students in a weeklong residential program can learn about an ecological spirituality and more. harborchristianchurch.com/living-coast-ministry  

These are all treasures in clay jars (earthen vessels) the apostle Paul writes about (2 Corinthians 4). Where are you seeing unbreakable hope around you? 

Pray Always. Speak Out on behalf of the Voiceless. Do the difficult work of common good. 

Blessings,
Richie

Breaking Bread, July 2025

“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.” Proverbs 31:8 CEB

PSWR Disciples,

May the peace of God be with you.

We begin by returning to the place we wrote about in our last article (May 2025). The rotunda of the US Capitol, where a monument stands in honor of the women’s suffrage movement.  It was not on my planned schedule and growing list of things to do. But we were called to stand there, in this same space, and in solidarity. We served as a witness for those who risked themselves using their voices in prayers on behalf of the voiceless, those who are being deported, and the countless lives whose futures are at stake because of our nation’s newest budget cuts. In this struggle, we are not alone, nor the faithful in that space were not alone. Several notable leaders, pastors, and I were all there doing our best to ensure safety, and the exercising of their rights to use voices in prayers, until it was no longer permissible to do so. Prayer is powerful in all places! I hope you won’t mind my not listing the names of all who were there with some intention. (I did not ask those involved for permission to be listed in this article). Also, I would like to propose that you, we, and all people of common good were there. In prayers we are united, and much more.

Over the past few weeks, much has happened, and so many across the life of our wider church have expressed care, support and prayers for our PSWR clergy, congregations, and communities. Our region joined together with the Office of General Minister and President in directing two pastoral letters to the wider church. One expressing concern for the Los Angeles and Surrounding Areas and the other in care for Downey Memorial Christian Church, its Senior Pastor, Rev. Tanya Lopez and family. We continue/d in these concerns and prayers as more stories from our neighbors emerge (past and present) that tell of more raids and deportations that spur on constant fears and traumas. These are inhumane and terrible actions that will not have the last word in our society or on our church grounds.

While you may not be able to travel and personally stand in solidarity with others before a monument over 2,600 miles away. You and we are joined together with so many others when you pray with your voice and feet. The challenges our cities, and communities are facing have come to our very doorsteps. The good news is that I have witnessed PSWR clergy and congregations, marching, speaking out, praying at community vigils, caring for their neighbors with groceries and providing for the most basic of needs, demonstrating love for our most vulnerable. I propose these are opportunities for you to do the same. An advocate invited her community to do the following (paraphrased), if there is nothing but one thing you can do – don’t look away – look at those around and in front of you eye to eye and see the treasure of life God has made this neighbor to be. Offer a prayer and let them know they are not alone (no están solo). After all, we are a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

Please enjoy the listings and pictures that highlight our PSWR presence, ministry, and service at the General Assembly – Beyond – Memphis, TN (July 2025). We were honored to represent you and the beauty that is the PSWR.

Pray Always. Speak Out on behalf of the Voiceless. Do the difficult work of common good.

Blessings,
Richie

A Pastoral Letter Concerning Los Angeles and the Surrounding Areas

Beloved Disciples,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our hearts are heavy this week as we watch the events unfolding in Los Angeles and surrounding cities. Across the area, we have heard the righteous cries of peaceful protesters echoing through the streets—lamenting injustice, demanding accountability, and lifting up a vision of beloved community where all can flourish in safety and dignity.

We’ve heard stories from local pastors of helicopters hovering over neighborhoods, a local labor leader arrested and detained, and communities coming together for the greater good. Disciple ministers are providing pastoral care on the streets, marching, and caring for their communities to de-escalate the desires of a few who wish to direct their pain in a violent fashion. They’ve joined other religious leaders in calling for the community to cry out in dignity, peace, and nonviolent resistance rooted in hope.

And now, once again, the streets are filled not only with voices calling for justice, but also with the presence of militarized force—National Guard troops and the threat of federal intervention, introduced not to listen, but to silence. As people of faith, we must ask: What does the Lord require of us now?

We must not look away.
We must not fall silent.
We must not grow weary in doing what is right.

As Disciples of Christ, we affirm that every person bears the image of God. We proclaim that peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice. And we remember that Jesus himself turned toward the hurting, stood with the marginalized, and spoke truth in the face of empire.

So, what are we called to do?

We are called to stand with those who protest peacefully—not because protest is comfortable, but because it is holy. Because in a world where people are still killed, detained, and disregarded because of the color of their skin or the zip code of their birth, protest is often the only voice justice has left.

We are called to be peacemakers—not peacekeepers. There is a difference. Peacekeepers maintain the status quo. Peacemakers disrupt systems of violence and oppression to bring about something new. Jesus did not come to preserve what was; he came to turn the world upside down so that God’s justice could be made real.

We are called to pray—but not only to pray. Prayer is essential. But our prayer must become movement. Our movement must be rooted in love. And our love must be courageous enough to take a stand.

Let us show up for our siblings in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, and in every place where voices are being stifled and fear is being used to drown out truth. Let us use our pulpits, our platforms, our presence in the streets, and our power in the public square to say: This is not who we are. And this is not what God calls us to be.

To our congregations in Los Angeles: we see you. We are praying with you and for you. And we pledge to stand alongside you in the ongoing work of justice, healing, and transformation.

To Disciples within and beyond the Pacific Southwest Region: thank you for your support, care, and prayers.

May the Spirit guide us with courage.
May Christ be our example and strength.
And may we never forget: Love is still the most powerful force in the world.

Moving towards wholeness together,

Rev. Terri Hord Owens
General Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada

Rev. Richie Sanchez
Regional Minister and President
Pacific Southwest Region

Breaking Bread, May 2025

“Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” Luke 18: 1 NRSVUE

PSWR Disciples,

May the peace of God be with you.

This past week, Mother’s day was celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico. It can be a joy filled, bittersweet, and difficult or challenging time for some of us. While my mother has been at rest from this life for more than a decade. I still celebrate and honor all Mothers, biological, spiritual, and the many figures who may hold this significant role. In the rotunda of the US Capitol sits a monument that honors the founders of the women’s suffrage movement. It allows us not to forget the many struggles and sacrifices of those generations of women before us in order that we might enjoy a better life. Among many efforts, there were actions of civil disobedience to accomplish and realize radical change to the Constitution. We draw strength from these women, the many who have followed, and have held this kind of meaning for our daily lives. 

Last month, we learned of the arrest of Bishop William J. Barber, II for praying in the rotunda of the US Capitol in front of that same monument that honors the founders of the women’s suffrage movement. Two weeks ago, the same has occurred to Rev. Dr. Alvin Jackson (he preached our PSWR MLK, Jr. Celebration, January 31, 2021) and others in that same space. An email penned on April 29, 2025, by Bishop William J. Barber, II and Jonathan Wilson – Hartgrove called for all people of good will to “…arrest the attention of the nation.” These Disciples’ notable leaders and ministers are offering prayers. In my humble opinion, they were commemorating and drawing attention to the strength of our past, the resolve, and our democracy. They are standing in the gap and raising lawmakers’ consciousness for the poor in our nation’s budgeting process. While they were standing before a monument over 2,600 miles away. It resonates and is in solidarity with the same challenges we are facing here at our very doorsteps.

We are reminded of the parable of the Widow and Unjust Judge, the Disciples learned from Jesus “to pray always and not lose heart” and concluded with a question “will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18: 1 – 8 NRSV) Let us embody our faith and be unafraid of these difficult times and circumstances. Our work and ministry with neighbors and people of all good will is important, and paramount. Let us continue living as significant communities, and figures for all people that deserve nurture, guidance, and support.

You can learn more about their work and how we can help on https://breachrepairers.org and sign up for their newsletter. Too, just announced is a churchwide study on the book the Faith We Affirm by Ronald Osborn find more information and a place register at disciples.org/office-of-the-general-minister-and-president/the-faith-we-affirm-churchwide-study/

Pray Always and Don’t Lose Heart!

Blessings,
Richie

Breaking Bread, April 2025

In this Lenten season, we encounter greater uncertainties in our world, countless challenges, distress, and grief to process. Our society is witnessing its most marginalized, and our sibling’s experiencing deep affliction, and unrest. I hope we can agree, everyone deserves safety, dignity, and justice.  According to Laurence Hull Stookey (paraphrasing), during Lent we are to think carefully about “our human condition, and the transforming power God offers will apply to the needs of all.”[1]

These days of spiritual journeying should help us to discover, rediscover, and question moral crisis. Whether they are found in our own lives, around us and / or in our country (USA) which seemingly pervades. We should confront these and turn away from their paths which lead to destruction. With this in spirit, and mind, a colleague in ministry is helping lead and support his congregation through Lent with a careful eye on the beatitudes.

I have been reflecting on, and praying with the same, particularly Matthew’s frame, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt. 5:4 NRSV). Eugene M. Boring reminds us that the beatitudes were based on Isaiah 61:1-11. Its community were found in deep lament over the desolation of the city. So… God’s people are very familiar with difficult times, mourning and lamenting. He also says, the “grammatical form of the verb “shall be comforted” …points to an eschatological future.”[2] This is the Good News. What I pray we can hold and embrace that we are free to mourn, and lament, advocate, respond, and work to rebuild / repair what has been broken. Yes! There is a tension between our pain and promise. But there is so much we can still do to change circumstances whether in our own lives and of those around us and beyond with the help of God and each other. I hope we can continue to believe and share that God continues to offer all of us and this world transforming power.

Blessings,
Richie

[1] Stookey, Laurence Hull. Calendar: Christ's Time for the Church. New York: HarperCollins, 1996, pg. 81

[2] Boring, M. Eugene. "The Gospel of Matthew." The New Interpreter's Bible, vol. 8, edited by Leander E. Keck, Abingdon Press, 1994, pp. 179.