by Olivia Bradley

Working at First Congregational United Church of Christ was the highlight of my semester. My position was the Just Peace Intern which relates to the covenant the church made to the national Just Peace movement that focuses on connecting with the community, learning about the connection between faith and advocacy, and working to alleviate injustice in the community and nationally. Before starting my internship I had recently declared my Social Work major, and this opportunity gave me a hands on experience of working with an organization and helped me learn more about community organizing. From my first day at the church I felt so welcomed by everyone, and the support from Pastor Sarah and the Just Peace team was amazing. Through Adult Education and worship each Sunday I was able to get to know the congregation and learn about their dedication to outreach.

Since this was the second semester First Congregational has had a Just Peace intern, I had the ability to be creative with the projects I worked on and could help establish practices that will continue in the future. I got to share about my trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, help organize an immigration vigil for a teen who was killed at the Southern border, and attend the annual meeting which resulted in the passing of the WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, Engaged) covenant which is concerned with raising awareness for mental health. One of the biggest projects of the semester, and something I really enjoyed, was creating an educational Bible study during Lent about immigration that was then discussed in small groups.

We had plans for the remainder of the semester that included connecting with the organization Faith in Indiana, organizing a Break the Silence Sunday which creates an open conversation about sexual violence, and a trip to Washington D.C for a national Eumenical Advocacy Days conference. While it was difficult to see these plans postponed or cancelled because of COVID-19, it has shown me the importance of flexibility and also the perseverance of the church as we continue online worship. This internship helped me connect with the community, explore my passions, and was a valuable experience for my education. Thank you First Congregational for the support and opportunity!