Dearly Beloved,
As we hit the mid-point of our week, I'm curious: how have you practiced stillness this week? How have you chosen to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)? I have practiced stillness by meditating several mornings, delved into scripture (Psalm 84) with our Tuesday morning Lectio group (you're always welcome to join -- no experience necessary!), delighted in creation with a drive up to Carter Lake, and had conversations with a number of you. In each of these times, I have sought to cultivate stillness, quiet, and listening that I may know God present and steadfast.
On Sunday, I talked about how when we practice stillness, quiet, and listening, we are more likely to encounter God in creation, in other people and in ourselves. I shared about a neighbor who needed assistance to whom I was able to open my home. An update: she has accessed additional services and is safe and resourced. Thanks to everyone who inquired after her and offered additional assistance. We do have an emergency fund, and you can always earmark a donation for that emergency fund which I can access to assist others who may find themselves in a situation like Cora's friend's mom.
One of the practical ways that I shared that we can live into God's call to love one another and to support the most vulnerable of our neighbors and siblings is to join our siblings at First Christian Church in supporting the proposed 24/7 Community Resource Center that would be housed in the First Christian Church building at 2000 N Lincoln Avenue.
There has been much discussion about this at the city and community level, much of it negative. I would invite you to consider Christ's call (echoing the Hebrew prophets before him) to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and reintegrate those whom society has rejected. Jesus taught about this and consistently modeled what this looks like in his own life and ministry. I would invite each of us to recall Jesus' words in Matthew 25:40 “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”
Please read the open letter from our neighbor, friend, and beloved brother Pastor Michael Stein (pastor of First Christian Church) -- I have included his letter at the bottom of this Midweek Message. There's also a great 4 1/2 minute video that centers the discernment and reflection done by First Christian Church around the possibility of this Resource Center and what a 24/7 Resource Center means for the community. I encourage you to watch it!
If you want to be part of this larger conversation, you can attend a meeting today Wednesday Aug. 21 from 6:00 to 7:30 at Duane Webster Park [shelter 2] 401 W 13 St. organized by Amanda Waddell, editor of The Loveland Voice. Or Next Wed. Aug, 28 at 6:00 at First Christian Church, 2,000 N Lincoln. Next week's meeting will include presentations from Sandra Wright [manager of Homeward Alliance] and Leah Johnson [chair of the Loveland Homeless Task Force] and will include a time for questions and comments from those attending.
In addition to being in prayer about this, you can sign a petition HERE in support of this project, letting our City Counselors know that we, people of faith, believe this is a good thing for our wider community and an essential way for us to live love here in our beloved city of Loveland.
I'm grateful to get to join with our siblings and friends at First Christian Church to embody Jesus' message of love and living into the prophet's call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
With love, hope and gratitude,
Thandiwe
August 4, 2024
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE LOVELAND FAITH COMMUNITY
From Rev. Michael Stein, First Christian Church
My Fellow People of Faith:
As Lead Pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I write asking for your explicit support of the Homelessness Resource Center our congregation is engaged in establishing with other secular and religious partners on our property at 2000 North Lincoln Avenue. In our 145th year of ministry in Loveland, we find ourselves adapting to changing times while remaining faithful to our historic principles. 48 years ago, we sold over 6 acres of our property to the Housing Authority, helping to establish affordable housing for the residents of Silver Leaf Apartments. The proceeds from that sale in turn enabled us to partner with Habitat for Humanity in building additional affordable housing.
Over the past 2 years we have realized that our remaining property no longer matches the mission to which God calls us. We have prayerfully sought an opportunity to convert it to more faithful purpose, and we believe those prayers have been answered in the Homelessness Resource Center project. Jesus commanded us to love and care for our neighbor, and through the project we will help care for the most vulnerable among them – just as we did nearly 5 decades ago.
With our partners, we have hosted public meetings to inform and to gain input from our nearby neighbors. In these sessions and elsewhere we have heard both overwhelming support and ardent opposition. Together we have taken to heart the legitimate concerns about neighborhood impact, revising the plans for the property accordingly. Even so, much of the continuing opposition is expressed in misinformation geared toward eliciting fear.
In the Christian tradition and our scriptures, we hear around 365 times a variation of the message, “be not afraid”; other faith traditions share similar warnings about not succumbing to the power of fear. Likewise, nearly every religious tradition includes the duty of followers to care for the poor and the vulnerable. I believe this is an opportunity for individual believers and for houses of worship to publicly live out who we say we are; to join the coalition of private, charitable, and governmental interests centering on a real solution to the painful presence of homelessness in our community. While the voices of fear seek to remove people experiencing homelessness to other communities, the proposed center seeks to address root causes and to provide assistance in a path to permanent housing and sustainable living.
A parable from Luke’s Gospel has become so well known that the term “Good Samaritan” has been added to secular language and even the law. Jesus tells the story in response to those who seek a loophole in his command to love our neighbor, as they ask, “but who is my neighbor?” Their question expresses their hope to be justified in excluding some people as not “really” neighbors. The voices of fear now take a similar path, describing the majority of the homeless as coming from somewhere else – not “really” our neighbors and therefore not worthy of our care. Just as Jesus in his time doesn’t let them off the hook, I invite Christians and people of all faith traditions to help our neighbors (and ourselves) to overcome the temptation to consider persons created in God’s image to be “other”.
Your support is welcome in many forms. Begin with prayer as your tradition directs. Take the opportunity in worship and other forums to counter misinformation with fact. The best source of information for the project may be found online at www.homewardalliance.org/hwa/loveland-lead-agency.
Remind followers of the best of our faith teachings that emphasize love and charity, especially to the poor. Financial support will also be graciously accepted soon with commencement of a capital campaign.
We also invite community members of all faith positions (including none) to join us at First Christian Church on Saturday September 7, from 10am to noon, for a gathering to support the Resource Center project.
Reverend Michael Stein
First Christian Church LoveDisciples
michael@lovedisciples.org
