In the first sermon of the “Primary Words” sermon series, Rev. Sara Ewing-Merrill introduces the community practice of “gather,” exploring how physically coming together in shared spaces is essential to human connection and serves as a powerful form of resistance against forces that seek to isolate people. Drawing on Jesus’s image of a mother hen gathering her chicks, the sermon emphasizes that gathering across differences builds solidarity, creates transformation, and reminds us that we are not alone in facing the challenges of our time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​