Category: Outreach

Feeding the poor~

9/7/2014

This afternoon I’ve agreed to assist the youth group at church in making meals for some of our older members who can use a little help. This goes along with my commitment to visit those in the church who can’t get out and about.

I also want the young people to get a sense of what it’s like for someone who has given up driving, who is now cut off from easy visits to the supermarket. Of course, it’s not just a question of transportation. If someone gives them a ride to the store, it takes a great deal of energy to purchase the ingredients for even a simple tuna casserole: they have to make a list, remember to take it with them, make the purchases, bring them into the house, and put them away before the cooking even begins. This can be a big ordeal as people get older. And what about the men, who, into their eighties all at once have to start cooking and being the person in the kitchen?

Leading a simple life is complex. What might be a simple task for some of us, is incredibly complex for others. Jesus tells us to feed the poor, but he’s not just talking about those with no money. There are people right in our midst who are poor in energy and capabilities.

July 26th, 2014

7/26/2014

Yesterday while wandering around Boston, I came The Boston Irish Famine Memorial. The plaque, which succinctly claimed who and why these people immigrated, and, most importantly, that they are now citizens of Boston, is surrounded by two statues and a few benches. A lovely spot amongst old Boston and near the site of the killing of five colonists by British regulars on March 5, 1770--known to us today as the Boston Massacre.

     I wonder when we will feel called create a permanent remembrance of the children from Latin America who are fleeing here from their own famine? Maybe it will be in Boston.

     I continue to 'pray the news'.

Welcoming the stranger, the children~

7/24/2014

What about all the children, all the children around the world? Praying the news always, has to include them. The children effected by the bombing of the aircraft over the Ukraine; the children in the Middle East; the children coming across the borders in the U.S.

     This from my denomination, the United Church of Christ.

"The National Officers of the United Church of Christ and the Council of Conference Ministers — the leaders of the denomination’s regional conferences — share this pastoral letter addressing the tens of thousands of young refugees fleeing Central and Latin America and seeking safety in the United States. In a unified voice, UCC leaders declare their support for these children that are leaving their homelands out of fear. This is a unique moment that tests the church’s commitment for justice and peace .

"Recognizing that the influx of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America requires a robust humanitarian and advocacy response, UCC leaders call on all settings of the church to “care for the stranger in our midst."

http://www.ucc.org/news/pastoral-letter-child-refugee-07232014.html

     This heartfelt situation forces me to confront my beliefs, particularly as a Christian. Of course I welcome the stranger, of course, in the abstract I can say that. But truth be told, I do it better in theory than in practice. I don’t often allow discomfort and upheaval to come through my front door, through the border of my home. Saying that I don’t know how to welcome the stranger can be an excuse to nothing. And then there are all the political, practical ramifications. Can we really care for the children that have already come across? Will our caring encourage more to step over the border? Will we be able to care for ‘too many’? What about the children born into poverty in this country? When I ask those questions it becomes clear to me that welcoming these children calls for a paradigm shift in the way we distribute wealth and services in this country.

    All of this, however, has to be beside the point for me. Why? Because I have opted out of delving into the politics of the news, and of voicing an opinion of what leaders should do. I have chosen to apolitical. Instead, I have chosen to be prayerful, to see life through a God lens, to listen and take heed to what Jesus said,

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40

Samaritan or Levite?

12/13/2013

I haven’t seen the lady in red, as I call her, since that first encounter a couple of days ago on my walk. I keep looking and praying for her. Although I felt okay about my response, I have been wondering where I am on the good Samaritan continuum—somewhere in the middle, not able to claim priest or Levite nor good Samaritan status.

Regardless, Jesus’ parable give me much to ponder. I definitely had some excellent reasons not to get involved with the woman, but I didn’t cross to the other side, either; I didn’t ignore her. I had some acceptable Samaritan tendencies, but I didn’t take her to to the inn. My involvement was a smile and prayer, which is to me is mighty powerful. But was it enough all by itself? The answer is, “Yes and No.”
This story isn’t over for me.

Three small white wooden crosses~

5/2/2013

To the best of my recollection this is the first time that my two blogs have shared the same entry. But today is the day for a new first. Today there is no seam between my cottage by the sea and my prayer diary.

In my last blog I wrote about the open-air memorial on Copley Square to the victims of the Boston bombing. When I was there, it felt that it had sprung up from the heart of every visitor and that that love continued to tend it day after day.

     I now have some more information about this phenomenon. I quote from the First Parish of Sudbury Unitarian Universalist 327 Concord Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776 newsletter. The words are those of Interim Minister Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris.

(For the full text of John Millspaugh’s reflection go to http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/285333.shtml)

       “The Rev. John Millspaugh was on Boylston Street recently. He writes, In front of a shuttered storefront, three small white wooden crosses stood with elegant simplicity, each bearing the name and picture of one of the three victims who died on April 15. . .adorned with ribbons and paper hearts, mementos and religious figurines . . . Because the police’s physical investigation was drawing to a close and Boylston Street would soon reopen, DPW workers were relocating the objects from the impromptu shrine to a larger one in Copley Square. At first, we passersby simply watched the DPW men as they loaded . . . items into their white van. Gradually . . . we flowed past barricades to help them with their holy labor. . . Both spectators and DPW workers seemed hesitant to remove the three wooden crosses standing alone on the granite sidewalk.

      “The DPW official in charge, noticing the clergy garb John was wearing from a Standing on the Side of Love rally supporting immigration reform earlier that day, asked him to say a few words before the crosses were loaded and the shrine dissolved completely. John’s prayer ended with, “May we all be the rebuilders.” John continues.

     “One of the DPW workers spoke softly to the official, who then turned to me and asked if I would carry Martin Richard’s cross to the van . . . I can’t describe the feelings that surged in me as I lifted the memorial to this 8-year-old boy. Sorrow, humility, and reverence for the sacred privilege come close. The destruction of that day cannot be undone. But it can be answered. Already we are busying ourselves with healing. . . There is much to do on a symbolic level. I’m beginning to ask myself how to move beyond the symbolic. I’ll be searching for ways to answer the destructive acts of these two individuals with actions grounded in my own highest values. I’ll be looking for ways that we, together, might re-consecrate sacred ground.

In the midst of our joy and our sorrow may we be (re)builders of the future.

In faith,

Tracey

(For the full text of John’s reflection go to http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/285333.shtml)”

Overwhelming gratitude~

4/4/2013

This morning I woke up with overwhelming gratitude for this beautiful sunrise, for family and friends, health, life possibilities, for all the grace in my life. I try to do something every day for someone else. Up here at the cottage it is often just an email, but I can hear my mom telling tell me that is good enough for the moment. I still think of her during her last days, doing what was good enough for the moment, smiling at people as they walked by her wheelchair.

Praying for the world~

3/21/2013

It seems reasonable to say that prayer people believe that it is important to pray for the world—world peace, an end to violence, saving environment—those big issues that are on the nightly news. Lately I’ve been praying more seriously for them instead of limiting my prayer for individuals and situations that I am intimately involved with. And lest I forget to do so, I’m reminded every Sunday in church at the conclusion of joys and concerns when Terry asks for prayers for ‘peace in the world, peace in our families and peace in our hearts.’ It’s become a sacred part of the service.

I don’t believe that I have to be an expert on current events in order to pray for the world. Not that I’m against being informed, but immersing myself in the news fills me with judgments that detract from my prayer. After all, prayer is about ‘Thy will be done’ not about what the government should do. God’s will is love, which is the context for my prayer for non-violence, for caring for the poor and for the environment, and for world peace. I’m praying that we can come closer to ‘Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.’

Christmas caroling~

12/21/2011

Christmas is coming. If you’re not certain, go and sing Christmas carols at your local nursing home facilities. That where many of us from church found ourselves gathered for the past two evenings. Although we went to sing to a particular church member, the cheer immediately spread out to all who were living together in their current home away from home--most with memories more vivid than the routine of their every day activities.

These women and men, many of whom have limited mobility and fading memories, immediately joined the singing. The Christmas carols that they had learned as children and had sung throughout the years came forth from deep within them. In fact, many knew the words better than we did. Who knows what they were remembering or perhaps missing? Maybe they didn’t even know.

Memories can be both bitter and sweet, but the smiles and singing that came forth from these folks was the Christ’s message of the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4.7).

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.7