Serve Together Sunday – May 30th

Jesus looked at him and loved him.
“One thing you lack,” he said.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21

I CONSIDER MY LIFE FULL. Relationships, challenges, opportunities, experiences, existential questions, dilemmas, struggles, successes, failures, etc. Perhaps you consider your life full, too. We keep calendars with little room in the margins.

But left to my own preoccupations, there would be something important I would LACK. It is related to what Jesus says to a wealthy young man, a profound encounter described by Mark and Luke. I imagine I am a lot like this person. Without the encouragement of my faith community, my church, and the steady WORD which anchors my thoughts and feelings through life, I would also lack something significant.

What is it? What would I lack? It is something the Holy Spirit imparts, by calling me, through the network of relationships I have in the church, and the rhythms we keep together in ministry. Thank you, Emmaus Road, for being willing to keep SERVE TOGETHER SUNDAYS going. Thank you for keeping our neighbors on my radar, neighbors who are often invisible, or condemned for their messy presence, or disturbing behavior, in our public spaces.  I have awareness, and I have accountability, to offer resources to people who need them.

NO ZOOM CHURCH TOMMORROW

But, see below…..

SERVE TOGETHER SUNDAY

May 30th! Same as per usual; drop off’s at church from 10:30-Noon.

Recently, Christina Smith provided this list, which includes some newer options, on behalf of Aurora Commons:

“Thank you for your faithful support of our neighbors at the Commons. Here is a list of our ongoing wants/needs:

• men’s clothing and shoes
• undergarments and socks (preferably new) – we do have some funding to purchase socks and underwear but not enough to meet the demand. Also, our bras are supplied through donations.
• individual serving, shelf stable soft snacks and drinks – we are purchasing food for the burritos and sandwiches we serve but rely on donations for additional snacks and beverages to serve our neighbors. Due to COVID limiting us from inviting neighbors inside to access the kitchen, these snacks are helpful.
• outdoor gear – tents, tarps, blankets and/or sleeping bags
• purses filled with a journal or notebook, gel pens, 1-2 makeup items, a note reminding our neighbors that they are loved – this was an idea that originated from a donation put together by a mother & daughter. We distributed the purses to women visiting our S.H.E. Clinic and they were a hit. One of our donations volunteers has continued to put together purses filled with these types of items received but the demand will outpace our supply.

BEYOND SUNDAY

• Four separate Small Groups meet via ZOOM on a regular basis – “Guys Group”; “Group With No Name”; “Crown Hill Group”; “POD-19”; email office@emmausroad.net for info
• New Horizons Dinner – sponsored every first Wednesday; email office@emmausroad.net for info.