As we move into a new year we are confronted with the sobering reality that our nation faces a number of “enemies” today that challenge our commitments to live on the basis of love, compassion, and justice. The Covid-19 virus continues to represent a formidable enemy to our nation’s health, our economy, and our communities of faith. Cyberattacks on our government and businesses reveal we still have international enemies intent on destroying our institutions. White supremacists squaring off against Black Lives Matter protesters in the streets of our cities often look like domestic enemies. Our recent Presidential election has made us more aware of America’s ideological and political divide that has set citizens against citizens and neighbors against neighbors. The resentments and contempt within partisan conflicts over gaining and maintaining political power now threaten to undermine our democratic form of shared government and the common good of all. In the up-coming service, Rev. Lou Snead will invite us to explore how we can collectively and individually address today’s spiritual challenge of loving our enemies and resisting the forces of hatred in order to restore our national unity and respect for our neighbors who oppose our values and our politics.