April 26, 2026 – "Native American Ministries Sunday" – Rev. Tweedy Navarrete

Native American Ministries Sunday

April 26th marks the 4th Sunday of Easter. This week, we have a special guest preacher Rev. Tweedy Navarrete "Native American Ministries Sunday".

Notes from the Bench

Today, we celebrate Native American Ministries Sunday, honoring the rich heritage, faith, and musical voices of Indigenous communities. We are grateful to welcome guest pastor Tweedy Navarrete, whose presence deepens this observance.

Our gathering hymn, Amazing Grace, is sung in English, Cherokee, and Navajo—a beautiful reminder of the universality of grace across cultures. Our sending hymn, Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works, drawn from an Ojibwe text, celebrates God’s presence in creation and invites us to respond with reverence and praise. It is one of the earliest examples of Christian hymnody from Indigenous North American culture.

Our music today features Connor Chee, a Navajo composer and pianist from Arizona whose work reflects his cultural roots while blending classical and Indigenous expression. The offertory, Hózhó, centers on a Navajo concept often translated as “balance and beauty,” reflecting harmony and right relationship with all things. As Chee writes, it is “the state of harmony that binds all things together in the universe.” The music mirrors this journey, moving through moments of imbalance before returning to wholeness. The postlude, Coyotes, captures the playful and spirited character of these iconic Southwestern animals.

May today’s music and worship guide us toward hózhó—walking in beauty, harmony, and peace.

Worship Service will also include the hymns Amazing Grace, Blest Be the Tie That Binds, and Many and Great, O God.

Come join us at 9:00 a.m. as we Worship Together this Sunday. We hope something in this music and message uplifts and strengthens your spirit. You are always welcome here.

📺 Watch the full service here: Link

📖 Download the bulletin: Link