http://judyabl.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/tuesdays-child-has-far-to-go-the-tuesday-ministry/
They came. They came to our Tuesday Ministry, July 2,2013, in the flash
flood,thunder and lightening type of summer rain we are having here in Fort
Myers, Florida. They came by foot, by bike and by bus. Only Roger has a car and
he brought two others. Almost everyone was dripping wet. We gave out shirts and
towels. Lauretta opened her heavy backpack and gave out mangos from her tree to
everyone. The mangos were exquisite and she was applauded. Chris settled her 3
month old baby and two year old in. Little Carl was given a big new truck and he
moved it around the circle. Kathleen, 70, wiped her face and silver hair with a
towel and sat by her favorite person, Mr. Gary who welcomed her warmly.
Some came because they were hungry and Ellen McNally the local Call to Action
President and her husband Jack,85, brought a tantalizing homemade Lasagna with
garlic bread that cooked in the oven awaiting presentation with a delicious
green salad and deserts. Call To Action is a progressive Catholic group with
chapters throughout the United States and they support women priests. On our
Ministry Tuesdays they make this a literal form of support by bringing and
serving the food prepared by themselves and other CTA members. They are an
important part of our Good Shepherd Ministries, served by two Roman Catholic
women priests, myself, Judy Lee, and co-pastor Judy Beaumont. Ellen and Jack are
a part of the family that gathers on Tuesdays. They were with us in 2007 when we
joined a ministry of the Lamb of God Lutheran Episcopal church in feeding the
hungry and homeless on Saturday nights in a local park. They were with us in
2008 when we drew up to a hundred and fifty people on our Friday night Church in
the Park. They were with us in late 2009 when we purchased the house that we
turned into a church and a transitional shelter for homeless people. And they
remain with us now as we continue the feeding traditions on Tuesdays and Sunday
after church. No one needs come to church to be fed, the hot food is served
after the church service and all are welcome to any part of the afternoon. They
also can get food from our food pantry at those times. They are among the over
70 homeless people we have now gotten into affordable housing and assisted in
getting incomes. And they are the newly homeless or unemployed or living on low
fixed incomes who seek our support. They come to minister to each other. Those
with homes bring those without homes and resources to be helped.
They come because we are family to those who have no families and friends to
those who have no friends. They come because they are hungry for affiliation and
acceptance and love and a place to have fellowship and thank God together as
much as for food and a host of social and spiritual services. Most love coming
to the worship and discussion of the day’s Scriptures that takes place before
the meal.Our group meeting is lively and animated. People were were shunned and
scorned by others now lead the group.
Today’s Scriptures were the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers in Genesis
49 and of Jesus telling his followers not to be afraid and to trust God’s love
as God knows when a tiny bird falls and how many hairs you have on your head.
Joking about his shaved head, Mr. G. led the discussion of forgiveness sharing
that for the first time he was able to ask a family member for forgiveness. He
said it was easier for him to forgive than to ask for forgiveness. But a weight
was lifted off of his chest. This resonated with many as they shared stories of
forgiving and being forgiven. Lauretta tied the two Scriptures together as she
said “I know the love God has for me because of this church. When I came to the
church when it was in the park, I was out of my head. I needed forgiveness from
so many for the things I did. I disrupted everything. No one wanted to come near
me. I was thrown out of every other church and was so hungry. This church
welcomed me as I was and cared for me as if I was a little sparrow with broken
wings. The pastors and all of you who were there loved me back to health. I
could not accept my mental illness and would not take my medicine. But through
your love today I am happy to take my meds, I have a lovely home and am reunited
with my family,and most of all you are my family. That’s why I bring you fruits
and honey and things all the time.” Everyone applauded her and the meeting went
on.
After the meeting I spoke with Chris who is newly housed with her two babies.
We agreed to help her pay her electricity deposit or she would lose this
precious housing. This is not something we do often as the line then goes around
the block.But we could not see her lose this precious housing. She was also
delighted at the gifts of clothing for her children and herself and her
developmentally slow older brother. As I held the tiny baby who already wheezed
with asthma I thought of those sparrows and prayed.
Judy Lee,ARCWP
No comments:
Post a Comment