Hello! Buongiorno! (that’s hello in Italian)

Keep in touch!

SPECIAL NOTE AND CALL FOR HELP FOR FOUR WEEKS!

BRYAN (ME) IS SCHEDULED FOR A HERNIA OPERATION ON NOVEMBER FOURTH AND I CAN’T LIFT ANYTHING OVER TEN POUNDS UNTIL NOVEMBER 21ST. WE ARE IN NEED OF HELP LOADING AND UNLOADING THE VAN FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. WE LOAD UP AT 10 AM AND UNLOAD AREON 2/2:30. THE TASK WILL TAKE 3—45 MINUTES. PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL FOR THE DATES YOU ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP. MY SURGEON AND MY WIFE THANK YOU.


Hey Family!

There was curbside voting so we had to shuffle a bit but God is always good!
Logistics
Served: 100
Last week's leaders: Ruth, Bryan
Next week's leaders: Kenny
Next week's preacher: Kenny

Gifts
Last week's: Snack bags
Next week's: big ol’ bags of candy!


Service:

(from Bryan)

The running joke with the leadership family is that if you have control issues Street Church will help you abandon all that!


Will, the general manager at the Uhaul where we rent took the day to come and serve with us again as paying for the van rental. The team at Uhaul are huge fans of Street Church. Will and I loaded up in no time last we had a bigger truck.. and he drove us downtown with time to spare. He had invited another employee to join him who has been having some difficulties. “It will be really good for you, it makes you feel so good”… as it turned out he also used to work at ChikfilA so he caught up with the owner and fellow employees. We are thankful God provides for us in unique ways!


We arrived downtown to see that our normal spot and parking places were taken up with curbside voting. The poll workers know us and our work and were very gracious. We moved over onto the grass where we usually set up corn hole. It provided a very intimate space.


I always marvel at who is moved to come with us to spread the love of Jesus. Salesmen and nurses, social workers and laborers, homeschool moms, retirees….


We set up our tables amid the trees on the grass so close to each other that you could feel the body warm and hear the laughter. We had some sound system kerfuffles but that’s to be expected. Ruth did a fine job leading us through the readings and doing her best keeping things moving in our ad-hoc space. Days like these remind me that we are truly a short-term mission-tent-revival every week…. and it seems the Lord likes to toss a few things our way to keep us on our toes in humility.


I preached on community… our favorite, and Micheal walked up to me right in the middle of speaking and smiled and gave me his usual hug…. one of our kids handed out communion with typical tween flair. I’m sure Jesus was giggling as much as she was. One of our board members made it down to be with us. Natalie has gone through many life-changing health issues and her faith and love have simply grown stronger.


The lunch line was hectic on our end but peaceful on the recieving end. It’s rare we have a problem. The closing circle summed it up when we asked where folks encountered the Presence of God…”people just really wanted to be here today. It was so peaceful”.  Amen and thank you Jesus. His Presence is Peace.


You will keep in perfect peace
   those whose minds are steadfast,
   because they trust in you.


Trust in the Lord forever,
   for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.


He humbles those who dwell on high,
   he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
   and casts it down to the dust.


Feet trample it down—
   the feet of the oppressed,
   the footsteps of the poor.

Isaiah 26:3-6

Peace,

Bryan


--Prayer Requests/Praises

  1. Pray for Malaree and her pain

  2. Pray for pregnant Trinity, sleeping outside. She did not make it back this week.

  3. Pray for Eric who is still in transition

  4. Pray for the Unity of the Churches and the Nation.

  5. Pray for an end to the war in Ukraine

  6. pray for the elderly who are afraid they will not be able to heat their homes   




The Street Church Collective Community

Community Church Updates

Lovely service with our friends at Farmington Station. We were join by a large crowd including visiting family and one-on-one personal aids…. the family is always thankful to be “in church” with their loved ones again. It has brought many to tears, including myself… in sickness and in health lived out is powerful.

My Italian tailor friend was with us as always, dressed to the 9’s. I always great him with a rousing  “Buongiorno”! with a huge smile and arms wide. I had a dear friend in high school who was an exchange student from Italy who taught me a lot about being Italian… and I love trying to develop a natural sounding accent and how to greet people properly in their own tongue. Here is what a travel blogger has to say about this…

“knowing how to say hello in Italian isn’t just about memorizing words. It’s about reading the room, understanding relationships, and respecting a culture where greetings carry genuine weight.

Here’s something that surprised me when I first started traveling to Italy: greetings aren’t just social pleasantries there. They’re a form of respect. Skip them, and you’ve essentially told someone they’re invisible.

Walk into any shop in Italy without acknowledging the owner? Rude. Pass a neighbor in your apartment building’s stairwell silently? Practically hostile. Italians greet everyone—the barista, the bus driver, the random person sharing their elevator. According to Italiano Bello, this practice stems from Italy’s historically tight-knit community structures, where acknowledging others reinforced social bonds and mutual respect.

This cultural context matters because it explains why Italians care how you greet them, not just whether you do.”

Love matters. 

Ciao! Ti voglio bene!

The Street Church Collective Community

Arden Court Community Church

Brookdale/Chatfield Community Church

Compass  Community Church @ Farmington Station

Clairebridge Community Church @ Brookdale/ChatfieldS

Farmington Station Community Church

River Ridge Community Church

The Street Church, City Hall Hartford

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY

SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.

SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS  

Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford

visit our website thestreetchurch.org to learn more

or feel free to contact us at

admin@thestreetchurch.org

Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org

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The Street Church
108 Whitman Ave
West Hartford, CT 06107-1754

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PhDs and GEDs together

Hey Family! (From Bryan)

Beautiful day downtown, a bit cold, but hearts were warm
Logistics
Served: 100
Last week's leaders: Bryan, Ciera
Next week's leaders: K & K (Kenny and Kelsey)
Next week's preacher: Kenny

Gifts
Last week's: Hygiene
Next week's: Snack Bags

Service:

(from Bryan)

Super-fun day downtown. Ciera and I started off loading up the van with our friends from the Chinese American Baptist Church. Just so much JOY in the Lord in these folks that it drips out all over us. A quick note on our Ciera.. she is defending her PhD thesis early next month. Pray the Lord is with her after all her hard work!


We got downtown and set up was quick and easy as we had a number of folks and those downtown just jump in. We have moved over to hot chocolate for the season and we have purchased 1,600 pairs of hand warmers, 400 hats, 400 pairs of wool socks and 400 pairs of gloves. We will be handing out one hat, one pair of gloves, and one pair of wool socks to all 100 of our friends once per month for the cold season. Hats and gloves are easy enough for me to loose. When you are in a shelter they get picked up easily. Please pray about offsetting our winter expenses.


It was a very peaceful day. The coffee and hot chocolate team were great. Please pray for our Malaree who usually helps. She has chronic back pain from a sexual assault years ago and she is trying to get pain management. You have not seen her pain patch she often wears while she stands there smiling and handing out coffee.


Ciera did a great job leading us. She is “new to us” in a role as leader after it was just obvious she has a heart for Jesus and the City. She is the outreach cordinator at VOX’s Hartford campus. Her passion for the New City is contagious.


We met Trinity, who was brought by friends. She is a younger woman, sleeping outside with the six month old child in her womb. We gave her resources and a tent along with warm clothes we keep with us for emergencies like this. I was out of sleeping bags but I purchased 20 this week so we can give her and her baby one when we see her.


I preached on the Gospel reading that had come up in the Church Lectionary page on Jesus’ teaching when the church and the government tried to trap him. “is it right to pay taxes”…. we are called to be obedient and live as witnesses. The coin had Cesear’s name and title on it, it did not belong to God…. ‘give to Caesar his own stuff, give to God what belongs to him…” that, of course, is our entire lives.


I made the call for repentance and Jose came forward in we baptized him, gave him his bible and “next steps book” and prayed.


Lunch was lovely and the conversations were deep and meaningful. We continued to gather names and phone numbers and pictures of our friends so we can keep track of them. It’s our church directory, and they feel at home.

Peace,

Bryan


--Prayer Requests/Praises

  1. Pray for Malaree

  2. Pray for pregnant Trinity, sleeping outside

  3. The Lord to provide for our financial needs and for folks to cover the warm clothing

  4. Pray for the Unity of the Churches and the Nation.

  5. Pray for an end to the war in Ukraine

  6. pray for the elderly who are afraid they will not be able to heat their homes   


From The Community Churches


Great Day at West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation Center. The “rehabilitation” is not addiction recovery services, but post-surgical rehabilitation. There are permanent residents too whom I’ve know for years. It is a gift to be able to be their pastor and to be able to preach to and encourage those passing through.


The recreaton supervisor is a great guy and loves these folks genuinely. He sets up for all the things to give folks some joy and change in a life on monotony and I have found myself setting up church in front of many backdrops… haunted houses, beach scenes (my personal favorite), winter wonderlands, etc.


I’m always reminded of how the Gospel is for everyone at all places and at all times. I preached on loving your neighbor well, and we sang and took communion, all of us, from many different church backgrounds.


This table is prepared for all to come, and sickness and aging brings humanity together in a way that many never would find themselves in.

love to all

b



The Street Church Collective Community

Arden Court Community Church

Brookdale/Chatfield Community Church

Compass  Community Church @ Farmington Station

Clairebridge Community Church @ Brookdale/ChatfieldS

Farmington Station Community Church

River Ridge Community Church

The Street Church, City Hall Hartford

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY

SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.

SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS  

Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford

visit our website thestreetchurch.org to learn more

or feel free to contact us at

admin@thestreetchurch.org

Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org

If you’d prefer to not receive these emails, please click “Unsubscribe” below.

 

The Street Church
108 Whitman Ave
West Hartford, CT 06107-1754

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We Mourn With Those Who Mourn

Dear Family,

We had noticed that Latoya had not been with us for a couple of weeks, and heard that she had perhaps passed. Last week we learned that she had indeed died suddenly. I will miss her walking up to me with hands out looking for help opening her communion cup. She never had to say a word. She loved Jesus as much as her smile filled the world with joy.

…. always sweet, kind and respectful. I will miss seeing her smile- Ruth

…she kind and cheerful. I always felt the joy of the Lord in her, never the burdens of life that could have entangled her-Deb

…an extremely lovely person and valued member of Street Church. She would come each week with a huge smile and ask everyone how they were doing.

I always enjoyed opening up her communion packets for her, and chuckled when she would come back for seconds. She was such a beautiful soul, undoubtably full of the Spirit, and I will miss her dearly. I’m thankful she found a home in our service for a few hours every Saturday -Kenny

Into your hands, O merciful Savior,

we commend your servant Latoya.  

Acknowledge, we humbly ask you,

a sheep of your own fold,

a lamb of your own flock,

a sinner of your own redeeming.

Receive her into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

                                                                                    Amen.

Special Notice for this weekend!

This weekend is the Hartford Marathon. The course does not directly affect us but traffic around the city is diverted.  Here is the link to help you get around.

Go to Hartfordmarathon.com for traffic information.

Last Week’s Update

Logistics

  • Served: 80

  • Last week's leaders:  Bryan

  • Next week's leaders: (K)2

  • Next week's preacher: Kenny

  • Coffee Handoff: Bryan

  • Coffee materials: Bryan

Gifts

  • Last week's: socks

  • Next week's: Hygiene Kits and baked goods

Looking Ahead

  • We will have a homeschool coop joining us downtown with home baked treats this weekend.

  • This weekend is the marathon

Service

I love the fall weather we get treated to at Street Church, such. gift!

I loaded up solo at storage and headed to downtown. I realized that the 18th marks thirteen years that I have been at ministry downtown, starting off with Church at the Pond at Bushnell then transitioning to Street Church. Really, don’t blink.

I got downtown to Edward, Rebecca, Benson, Liz, Ed, and Lorenzo. It was just a really smooth day. No problems, beautiful day. No rain, no killer wind, no screaming.

Rocky came down with Carmen and let us know that it seems as if she will not be going to Puerto Rico with family which is good and bad with her dementia.

The School of Social Work came by with leftovers. It’s nice that they always think of us. The service was small. Nice weather seems to do that at times. We have not seen Charlie, Robert, or Randall  for a few weeks now. Please keep them all in prayer.

Remember Draven, aka “Tank”, a very tall young man who came to faith at Street Church a year ago. He was back in the hospital again after a mental health episode. He had stopped taking his meds which is very common with complex diagnosis. Praise God he always seems to get himself help. I really do have some big love for this big kid. So kind.

The space right in front of me was taken up by a man named Jose this week. He was tranfixed and hung on every word God spoke to him and after the service approached me looking for a church to connect with.

“I’m in a sober house and have 90 days (clean).

I need to find a church, can you help me?

I want to keep this new life”

These are always my favorite conversations! There is so much JOY in the fact that simply because we are present on the street the lost and wayward are sent to us by God. They are welcomed and loved, given dignity and underwear. It’s simply the best.

The day was just sweet, like a ripe apple made by God himself. Laughter and friendship abound in this church.

b


--Prayer Requests/Praises

  1. Pray for Jose to walk out his faith.

  2. The Lord to provide for our financial needs and for folks to cover the weekend food.  

  3. Pray for the Unity of the Churches and the Nation.  

The Street Church Collective Community

Community Church Updates and Kingdom Encouragement

We had a wonderful service at Arden Court. Miss Ellen had a birthday so we gave her a VERY ROWDY group sing. Mary and Eileen were both with me and they bring such love and fun with them. They pass out communion together and I play and sing over everyone. As we were leaving the new director asked how long we had been at this facility… I told her not quite a full year yet.

“Really, you all seem to know everyone so well”

“We love deeply, and the bond of Christ makes this place a family”

The Street Church Collective Community

Arden Court Community Church

Brookdale/Chatfield Community Church

Compass  Community Church @ Farmington Station

Clairebridge Community Church @ Brookdale/ChatfieldS

Farmington Station Community Church

River Ridge Community Church

The Street Church, City Hall Hartford

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY

SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.

SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS  

Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford

visit our website thestreetchurch.org to learn more

or feel free to contact us at

admin@thestreetchurch.org

Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org

All in Love

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Hey Family,

It was a pretty great day downtown yesterday (9/19). Notes below.

Logistics

Served: 80

Last week's leaders: Kenny

Next week's leaders: Ciara, Bryan

Next week's preacher: Bryan

Gifts

Last week's: Underwear  

Next week's: Snack Packs

Looking Ahead

There is homeschool coop in Avon that will me making homemade baked goods for us and will join downtown to serve. Next month Miss Porter’s School will collecting socks for us for “socktober”

Service:

(from Kenny)

We had a nice start of the day. My fiancee Kelsey made her return to Street Church after several months, which I always enjoy (and thankfully she does too). We loaded up the truck pretty quickly and then packed 100 lunches, with the help of Bryan after he came to drop off some items for the day.

We got downtown and had a large contingent waiting for us. UConn Cru is back for their monthly visits, and around 15 of them came down which is always so sweet. We also had a nice crew from Wintonbury lead by our faithful friends the Cupits who made and packed all of the lunches.

Setting up was easy with that many people. It felt like a day full of hope and energy. One of our long-time friends, Jess, joined us. She has a very tough story that she's currently living through. Bryan talked to her for a few minutes and learned that today was her first day out of her house in 4 months due to depression. She felt God nudging her to return to Street Church. She quickly started crying, and Bryan called Eric and Kelsey over to minister and be with her. They stayed with her the entire service to help her feel God's love.

Renardo led us as our MC, and we were blessed with readings by Ed, Bernard, Derek, and Al. I gave a message on Jonah 4 - God's generous love, especially to those we don't think deserve it. It was a message I needed to hear myself.

During service, a clearly “altered” and agitated woman started roaming the fringes of the gathering, yelling and being disruptive. She was removing her clothing and yelling profanities at Bryan (who was just there in the crowd and had asked her to leave). Liz stepped in as well and made sure nothing further happened. We ended up calling 911 on her as she was walking away since she was banging on parked car windows and clearly not in control of herself. She had left before the police arrived and Bryan had spoken with the security in the library to keep an eye on her. As is always the case, God was with us and all ended well.

There was one other smaller disruption but it was deescalated quickly and the day was smooth,

Otherwise though, it was a beautiful day of ministering to those whom God put in front of us. I'm always thankful for all the people at Street Church, and can't wait to return again.

Blessings,

Kenny


--Prayer Requests/Praises

  1. Pray for Ruth as she is taking the month to listen to God

  2. This is suicide awareness month. This is very close to a number of us. Pray for our friends struggling with self-harm.

  3. Pray for the Unity of the Churches and the Nation.  

The Street Church Collective Community

Community Church Updates and

Kingdom Encouragement

Great service last week at The Farmington Station Community Church. My friends Mary and Elieen who minister with me were away and boy it sure is different! I felt like the old “one armed paper hanger”…. do people still say that?

Anyway, we had a very likely time in song and then transitioned to the readings and the message on the parable of the two sons who were asked to go and work their father’s field.

I always ham up the readings with these friends and I honestly really enjoy preaching this way. K.I.S.S….. keep it simple, stupid! One woman was popping off some “off color” remarks and we just let them slide, and my friend “the Italian Tailor” walked by looking as if he was sitting in his shop in the West End of Hartford…. jacket, tie, fedora, pocket scarf…. and I smiled and gave him a rousing “buongiorno”! and he clapped my hands and went on and on in Italian and I simply smiled and muttered a few noises and to all the world we were two old friends talking about our wives….

but we weren’t because I don’t speak Italian and I know his wife had to move out but he does not know it. It felt odd early on entering into my friends fantasy worlds, but now it just feels like love

The Street Church Collective Community

Arden Court Community Church

Brookdale/Chatfield Community Church

Compass  Community Church @ Farmington Station

Clairebridge Community Church @ Brookdale/ChatfieldS

Farmington Station Community Church

River Ridge Community Church

The Street Church, City Hall Hartford

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY

SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.

SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS  

Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford

visit our website thestreetchurch.org to learn more

or feel free to contact us at

admin@thestreetchurch.org

Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org

A Beautiful Day

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

(From Geoff)

Hey Fam,

Beautiful day downtown Saturday.

As days are getting shorter enjoy this long weekend as summer comes to an end. I am looking forward to the crisp fall air and the first signs of winter

Logistics

  • Served: 90 - 100

  • Last week's leaders: Geoffrey

  • Next week's leaders: Bryan,

  • Next week's preacher: Bryan

Gifts

  • Last week's: Sunglasses

  • Next week's: Hygiene

Miscellaneous  Valley Brook Community Church is supplying lunches and will be down to help next week.

Service

Ciara met Emerson and myself at the U-Haul office and already had them working on the van. As we began to load, Big Sam came in right behind. Loading was quick as everything we needed was all set to go: lunches packed, coolers filled, carts and giveaways all stacked neatly by the door, thank you Bryan! Arriving at Chick-fil-A again Ciara was ahead of us and already had them working on the order. Coffee, Ice tea and Ice as Sam ran over to Aldi’s for cream as I had forgotten it at home.

Arriving downtown Ciara again ahead of us was gathering up a small group: Leonardo, Bernard, Ed, Jennifer Huff, Hollywood, and Jennifer with her son Micah. Set up went smoothly with the A-team everyone well versed in their roles. Leonardo, who I have only met a few times but never really had much interaction with, was eager to get to work jumping in unloading the van and organizing. It was beautiful just watching the team work together like a well oiled machine.

While Bernard helped pass out the readings he noticed one was out of  Ps 119  and asked if he could read it, then Ed stepped in and went first, after Bernard read, Latoya stepped forward and volunteered hesitantly I stepped over to her as I held the mic and the paper for her she read beautifully out of Romans “whoever loves others has fulfilled the law”. Then I think it was Vincent that finished out of Matt 18. To be honest, I was so touched by Latoya reading I don’t remember much after that but I was surprised I had more volunteers than verses. I believe that speaks to the comfort level we have allowed the Spirit to create in this place.

I spoke on the love and sacrifice of Christ “Where there is love there is self sacrifice, where there is self sacrifice there is suffering, love will always lead to pleasure and joy, sorrow and pain” but for the joy that was set before him Christ endured the pain and suffering for us.

With a few minor disturbances and some disrespectful individuals it was good to have Sam there, I don’t know what it is about him but people just seem to act a little better when he’s near by :)

Ciara and Sam returned to U-Haul and the unloading was quick and easy.

I count it a privilege to work with Sam, Ciara, Emerson and all those that out of love sacrifice for the joy of serving .

Prayer Requests/Praises

  1. Pray for Ruth

  2. This is suicide awareness month. This is very close to a number of us. Pray for our friends struggling with self-harm.

  3. Pray for the Unity of the Churches and the Nation.

The Street Church Collective Community

Community Church Updates and Kingdom Encouragement

We had two wonderful services since last Thursday at Brookdale Chatfield and River Ridge Community Churches. Both of these services serve the memory care units. These people have helped us get a deeper grasp of God’s one-way covenantal love. Most people understand covenants are two way agreements (see the Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 12:1-3) but man never could keep the full promise, hence the Cross. But God can and does keep his promise to never leave us, abandon us, forsake us… even when we are deep in the caverns of dementia. God’s love simply cannot die.

I was also able to connect with our friend Ola who had just graduated from Moody Bible Institute. I first met Ola when she was a high school senior in Poland about to embark on her journey through seminary. You may recall she preached at Street Church two summers ago. She is headed back to her beloved Europe with a fiery passion to bring souls to Christ.

I also received an update from Oleg and the other Ukrainian Chaplins from my first trip. They are on the front line ministering to the Defenders with food for the body and the soul. The war still drags on since February of 2022. Pray for them. I will return, Lord willing, in October.

The Street Church Collective Community

Arden Court Community Church

Brookdale/Chatfield Community Church

Compass Community Church @ Farmington Station

Clairebridge Community Church @ Brookdale/ChatfieldS

Farmington Station Community Church

River Ridge Community Church

The Street Church, City Hall Hartford

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church

GIVE HERE TO SUPPORT US FINANCIALLY

SIGN UP HERE TO HELP SERVE.

SIGN UP HERE, TO PROVIDE FOOD DONATIONS  

Help Us Load Up @ 10am 164 South Street in West Hartford

visit our website thestreetchurch.org to learn more

or feel free to contact us at

admin@thestreetchurch.org

Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org