November 18, 2025
Dear Friends in Christ,
Our church has a seasonal banner that we display in late fall. It says: “Give Thanks.” A few years ago, when we created the banner, I thought it was a simple and inspiring message. But this year, the message felt jarring. At the time, federal ICE agents were conducting Operation Midway Blitz on the streets of Wilmette. They were looking for individuals who fit a certain racial profile, and they abducted people who either live or work in Wilmette and beyond. We do not know how many people have been taken from their families in this secretive, unaccountable operation.
Looking at our banner, I wondered how the community might interpret the message to “give thanks.” Would our neighbors, especially those targeted by ICE, believe we are indifferent to their suffering? Would they think we encourage gratitude for masked agents who have brought terror rather than safety to our streets?
These concerns led me to take action. Several local clergy colleagues and I submitted public comments to the Village Board advocating for immigrant dignity and safety. I attended a “Know Your Rights” training through the Wilmette Public Library. I also joined over 300 people in a nonviolent, multifaith demonstration at the Broadview facility, standing in solidarity with those whose voices have been silenced.
I am grateful for how our community has responded. The Village of Wilmette adopted an ordinance promoting dignity, safety, and equal treatment for all persons. Operation Midway Blitz has moved on from our area, at least for now. Earlier this year, Trinity Wilmette hosted six well-attended community conversations on immigration, creating space for learning, dialogue, and compassionate action.
Some may wonder whether these concerns are appropriate for a Thanksgiving letter. I believe that being thankful does not require us to ignore suffering or injustice. It calls us to name both what we cherish and what remains at stake.
As people of faith seeking to live faithfully in these times, we can give thanks for various gifts, including our faith in God, whose love crosses every human boundary and embraces the stranger, the vulnerable, and the marginalized; our church’s witness that promotes the love of neighbor and encourages conversation about difficult questions; and the democratic processes of our civil society that allow citizens to participate in shaping the character of our communities.
These blessings remind us what kind of world we are called to build. In times of moral crisis, gratitude and justice are not opposites but companions. We give thanks for the good we have known, and we work to ensure that good extends to everyone.
Your Thank Offering is one way to express grateful support for God’s ongoing work in our lives, our church, and the world. It sustains ministries of welcome, justice, and mercy that we are called to embody.
May this Thanksgiving season deepen our gratitude for all we have received and strengthen our commitment to ensuring that dignity, justice, and compassion define our common life.
Grateful in Christ,
~Brian
