And by "this", I mean the people that are doing the ministry and offering the shelter. With more of that, perhaps there'd be less of the problem, the need . . .
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
My church serves as a homeless shelter at night from October-March. We have volunteers who stay all night, whole families at times. I wonder why more churches don't do things like this.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
A lot of our churches do the overnight/overflow shelter thing, also, which is necessary and good.
It's the opening of the sanctuary during the day while the religioso's continue on with services (mass, weddings, funerals) and allow the homeless to continue sleeping in the pews, and have set up some other services as well, that I really like.
It's more of that "living into" the message of Matthew 25: 35-40 during the everyday that is so neglected - in the common everyday.
There's a Lutheran group in Tacoma on the Hilltop area that takes indigent people into their homes and works with them in a family-style setting, helping them get on their feet that way. That fascinates me, too . . .
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Do you know what church that is? I really do like the idea of the homeless being there during the day; we almost never have daytime services though. I would love to take someone in need into our home, but it would take a miracle to convince my husband. (Although he is finally going to church with us, that's a small start.)
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Dang if I remember, dpr - it's a Lutheran outreach on Hilltop . . . let me drop a line to a social justice ministry coordinator I know and see if she can get me the info. I'm out of town tomorrow through Friday, so be patient with me!
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Hey dpr - my contact believes it is Faith Lutheran.
Hope that helps!
Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
Shan, thanks for posting this! It's great to know, and I'll definitely check it out when I go home. sorta makes me proud to be San Franciscan, even though I'm not Catholic.
Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :
Cool! I don't know when I'll be up to taking something else on but it sounds lie a minsitry I'd like to support.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Given the number of churches we have in our little neck of the woods, there should be absolutely NO ONE without shelter.
I used to be a member of an organization called "Associated Ministries" - then I simply ran out of time. I wonder if it is time to rejoin and prod a bit . . . they call themselves "Interfaith Works" now, and seem to be more visible and strong . . .
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