A lost soul finds hope

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Hey all,

Cold day downtown for sure! It was mixed weather but full of joy!.

Logistics

• Served: 75ish

• Last week's leaders: Bryan

• Next week's leaders: Kenny, Ruth

Gifts

• Last week's: Socks, hats, first aid bags

• Next week's: VOX Kits for City Serve

Looking Ahead

• VOX will be with us for City Serve Day

Service

Hey Family!  (from Bryan)

Thanks to Kenny and Ruth for drying all the bins out last week! I loaded solo but was expecting that, it keeps me thankful for the ability to do so. I made hot chocolate  because it was so cold, and brought hats and dry socks. They were all greatly appreciated!  

I pulled up downtown to find Ciera and Chris from VOX was there with her, along with Tinesha (first timer), Mike, Liz, Rebecca, Benson, Malaree,  and a few others. We kept one tent down  due to 45mph wind gusts We served coffee under the tree behind where we normally serve lunch, and lunch was served next to the van as expected to serve out of it with rain.

Ciara, Bernard, Rebecca read as we stood around them. It is a sight to see people so engrossed in the Word of God while others are scurrying about.

There were a few words tossed around between two  guys who were not having a good day. I asked one leave and he did out of respect for us. The other guy wasn’t having much it so instead of escalating the situation I began praying and sure enough he just picked up his things and left.  

I preached from   on living in unity, peace through intentionally seeking personal holiness and striving to be of one mind in Christ.  I had a hard time at the end with a horrific "tickle" in my throat and could barely get words.  I croaked out the message and Benson helped me out and handed out communion with Liz. It was a great reminder of who The Messenger really is.

The food went out smoothly after we got the blob of people into a line. Some friends delivered some pizza from Domino’s. But not enough for the whole crowd. his was a bit of a challenge as there was not enough for everyone. I had to try and get it out to those who were with us from the start and were cold who hadn't been waiting in the library. This is were discipleship gets real gritty.   Pray for these moments.

I helped Tinesha hand out hats and socks and she gave me a bit of her story…She is a new believer and a first-time volunteer who had heard about Street Church from a friend. She has lived this life… a vet who suffered from PTSD and ended up homeless for a while. She was overwhelmed by the love of God in this space.  I asked her at one point if she would pray for a man we had met and she shuffled and smiled and prayed.  After she was finished praying she shared she does “not pray well”.... you know how the rest of those conversations go with me :) I love helping apprentice people into disciples o Jesus here.

and then there was the last one...

I noticed a man shuffling toward us with his head down and not dressed for the weather. He had on a teeshirt, jean shorts, and a thin hospital blanket.

I walked up to him and said hello and asked his name and if he had been in the hospital recently.   I gave him a poncho and helped him get into it which was like trying to dress a cat with all the wind…

He told me his name was “D….” and he was brought to the hospital last night.

"I'm not judging, just asking. Was it an overdose?"

... and he quietly mumbled "suicide"

and the space got very Holy.

"I'm glad you are still here” I told hi.

"You're the only one”  he responded

And then he simply  melted into me and I fully embraced him and he put his head my chest and wept and I just held him until he was finished. Two adult men, on the sidewalk, covered in God-Breath, in a universe that had stood still.

He said he was ok today and had a plan but needed clothes so Ciera and Rebecca helped him out. He stuck around for lunch.

That was the day.  

God's presence over and in us.

We were able to feed and clothe and preach and loved a man back into life.

And we loaded up, there was another last, last one.  A “newer” regular asked me where our Sunday Church met. He is seeking after God whom he does not know yet.  He wanted to get deeper….  and he also asked if I knew where there was a AA meeting met

.... so I got him connected with the VOX crew for church on Sunday and  Benson helped him begin his journey toward sobriety.

it was a good day. A very good day indeed.

Peace,

Bryan

Community Church updates!

I am so thankful for my good friend, Mary. She is a recent retiree and is spending her time volunteering as a hospice chaplin and with me in the nursing assisted living facilities. While I am on vacation in a couple of weeks she and Eileen will be leading a couple of services. These are two women of deep prayer.

Mary and I have been encouraged by the Lord to pray more fervently and with power for these community churches and the Holy Spirit is answering.

We had a packed house of perhaps twenty at one point and Mary and I were walking around the room after my sermon praying anointed prayers over our friends and hearing and seeing wonderful things. Just then one of the workers was passing by the door and walked into the Community Room where we meet and loudly  said “Hey, why is it so quiet in here!?!?! Everyone laughed…. “we are having church”

Several staff joined us for communion and I was able to tell them I was thankful to be able to care for their spiritual needs. The new director was in her office with a closed door but told me later she had gotten goosebumps and was brushed by God and had to peak out her door so see what was going on.

There is revival in the camp people. Seek Jesus with others who are satisfied with nothing but him now.

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

The Big Compelling of God

I have been involved in “vocational ministry” for thirty four years or so now. I was ordained a priest in Tobora, Tanzania 18 years ago….me, a white kid from West Hartford who grew up out of church, angry, abused, drinking and taking drugs before I was even in high school… This passage from perhaps THE classic devotional came to in the very first year of my ministry and it has guided me ever since. I give it to you.

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem. — Luke 18:31

Jerusalem stands in the life of Our Lord as the place where He reached the climax of His Father’s will. “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” That was the one dominating interest all through our Lord’s life, and the things He met with on the way, joy or sorrow, success or failure, never deterred Him from His purpose. “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”

The great thing to remember is that we go up to Jerusalem to fulfil God’s purpose, not our own. Naturally, our ambitions are our own; in the Christian life we have no aim of our own. There is so much said to-day about our decisions for Christ, our determination to be Christians, our decisions for this and that, but in the New Testament it is the aspect of God’s compelling that is brought out.

“Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you.”

We are not taken up into conscious agreement with God’s purpose, we are taken up into God’s purpose without any consciousness at all. We have no conception of what God is aiming at, and as we go on it gets more and more vague. God’s aim looks like missing the mark because we are too short-sighted to see what He is aiming at. At the beginning of the Christian life we have our own ideas as to what God’s purpose is — “I am meant to go here or there”; “God has called me to do this special work”; and we go and do the thing, and still the big compelling of God remains. The work we do is of no account, it is so much scaffolding compared with the big compelling of God. “He took unto Him the twelve,” He takes us all the time. There is more than we have got at as yet.

                                      Oswald Chambers-My Utmost for His Highest

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Logistics

• Served: 86

• Last week's leaders: Ruth, Bryan

• Next week's leaders: Kenny, Ruth

Gifts

• Last week's: Socks

• Next week's: Hygiene

Looking Ahead

• Lunches were packed and loading was light. The Chinese Baptist Church had the full Yang family so lunches were packed for next week.

Service

I prayed hard all week for the service for peace. Randall did not show up and there were no  distrupitons but there is one man of color who stalks after lunches waiting for seconds and his body language throws off an aggressive spirit. Krisha was having a slightly difficult time as he could not understand what the man was trying to say to him. The whole line was peaceful, no "mrs wonderful", perhaps I prayed her off?

I got down to Uhaul an hour early and there was no line and the system didn't freeze so I was out of the office shortly after 9. I had nothing to do so I slowly loaded half the van when Ruth and the Yang's showed up with Jen's parents. They finished packing and made lunches for next week. I gave the parents hats as it was their second time and told them we would get giving envelopes to them.

We got downtown early and I caught up with folks. I will say it often that I was simply doing a modified Street Church in Ukraine! We did not pass out food and we could not stick around for fear of being hit by drones but the reaching the lost and vulnerable with the costly love of Jesus was palpable.

Ruth led the service and had to leave early to attend a wedding (fair excuse!), but Ed was with us and he does a fantastic job of set up and breakdown and explaining what to do. His voice, height, and passion for the mission and Jesus are beautiful. Curtis was with us so I passed off the loading, Mommy Maria covered the food along with "Rev Kev" from River of Life Fellowship", Hollywood Liz was on Coffee, Micheal helped with the hand sanitizer and the young girl (forget her name) who comes with her mom and always hugs me asked if she could hand out communion.

It seems as if there was an organized scooter ride with a few hundred riders and cars with painful sound systems that went down main a couple of times. It was impossible to preach over so we had to wait and since it happened a few times I simply called folks in close and  we could hear through the speakers. Ed read and we felt the Spirit in the words so praise and clapping arouse from the crowd and the Spirit fell on Ed! It was exhilarating! Al read too and two other and I unfortunately forgot.

I shared on my trip and tried to preach on the sending of the apostles and the noise made a mess but it seems as if God spoke. Then the noise.... just.... stopped as we broke into prayer circles, lots of them, deep in prayer. We had communion and lunch and it was a great day. As we were wrapping up a woman named Tracy showed up very quietly. Curtis asked if she was ok and the tears came thick and slow. She admitted she blacked out Friday night and woke up in the hospital being taken there  by the police. I lived that story. She lost her keys and phones and needed a ride to her car. Cheryl talked to her and drove her.

a beautiful end to a beautiful day

b

Community Church updates!

No, Hannah did not just begin to crawl, but we did have to say “good bye” to our beloved sister, Brianna, who just moved on from her position at West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation. She was truly committed to the residents and Jesus and will be missed dearly by all.

Life changes when your kids can move! … Staff turnover is high in nursing homes making it difficult to maintain consistency. Please pray for her and for Paul, the new director, and Mary and I as we continue to worship Jesus with our friends.

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

Back from Ukraine and Jesus in Hartford

Loving God and Neighbor in a foreign land

To keep it short, I am back alive and we only had to run out of the van once and take cover as a drone flew overhead and anti-drone fire erupted. We met up with a team that has done almost 300 runs since the war began. We had six distribution sites; two in cities at refugee centers, one at an at-risk youth center for refugees and families, and three in villages. The format was very familiar… we pulled in, I preached, we handed out food or hygiene, bibles, tracks, and animal keychains. I mugged it up everywhere because joy during a war heals. The little fuzzy animals made grown men smile more than the food. In the end we handed out over 420 food kits, perhaps close to 100 accepted the over of Jesus, and they felt seen. I was handed a water bottle full of home made birch beer, which is really sweetened birch sap. It is a traditional drink in the country. It said to me I am a welcomed person and not a stranger. Thank you for sending me.

Bryan

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Hey Fam,

God held the rain until just after we were done (as He usually does). It was a good day.

Logistics

• Served: 80

• Last week's leaders: Kenny,

• Next week's leaders: Ruth, Bryan

• Next week's preacher: Bryan

Gifts

• Last week's: underwear

• Next week's: socks

Looking Ahead

• Thank you Wintonbury Church for providing the food!

Service (From Kenny)

Kelsey and I got to UHaul, picked up the truck, had a nice chat with our friends Will and Brendan, and loaded up the fan. Olivia from Wintonbrury dropped off all of the sandwiches which her life group made last night. She also brought chips, cookies, fruit, and granola. Wenda came by a little later with some water and granola as well. Thanks to Bryan for doing a lot of the legwork ahead of time! It made it easy. And thanks to Lisa for making and dropping off the coffee and creamer.

We got downtown at 11:30 . As we set up, it became quickly apparent that we had no sugar . Wenda and Kim went out, got some, and saved the day! Thankfully we didn't have too many people waiting.

We got into service a bit later than usual due to the coffee holdup (people refused to get any with no sugar ha), which was fine. Ed, JD, Kristie, Dustin gave readings and did great. The first reading from Acts talked about Paul calling out that the Greeks had a statue to "The Unknown God." I thought that was a good jumping off point for the message. So I asked the question "Do you know God?" The other readings actually flowed smoothly into forming the narrative of "Do you know God -> What does knowing God look like -> How do we know God -> What is the result of knowing God." I'm thankful for the Spirit's discernment throughout it all.

We had a good time of prayer and communion. During that time, Randall was a difficult day with his mental health. (a reminder) Mental Health is a disease and we need to understand how to respond to those suffering. An episode is not the time to try and engage it will only exacerbate the situation.

As the lunch line started, Ms. Wonderful was at the front (as always). She was very directly telling two people who tried to cut in front of her that the line was behind her. One of the ladies was saying something in tongues and said she was waiting in the library. I told her that's fine, we have enough for everyone, but these people were waiting here so you can go wait in line. She and Ms. Wonderful starting going back and forth and the unknown lady called her a name. I said that's enough and escorted her out, but not before she kept yelling at her stuff like "I curse the demons in you" and "I pray Jesus' blood over you." I just kept showing her the way out. (there will be times like this in any food distribution at any pantry. This is where we need to learn how to “help without hurting”)

So there were a few moments of confliction but overall it was okay. One guy Kenneth (he was the guy who yelled at Randall later) came up asking for prayer to be clean from alcohol. I asked if he wanted to go to detox and he said yes. I brought him to Benson. Benson said he would help him after service, and Kenneth said he would wait until the end of service to go, but he ran off sometime during the lunch section. I pray he finds the help he's looking for.

We finished well. It was a good day.

Blessings,

-Kenny

Community Church updates!

There were no meetings last week as I was away, but I was at River Ridge in Avon this week. I learned that two of the longtime residents had died while I was away. This is the second longest running community church and have been here for just over ten years and have walked with many of the residents as they transition from independent living to death.. This is the ultimate scope of the art of soul care; to prepare souls for death. Both of these women were full of the Spirit and of Faith and died with no regrets from what I knew. Join me in prayer for the family of Sylvia (bottom photo). I helped her after he husband died and knew them both well. Pray also for the family of Mary, who died peacefully in her sleep after 88 years of a life well lived. Pray also for me, Mary, and Elieen as we grieve the loss of our friends but not like the Gentiles do, without hope. It is hard to show up one day and find your friends are no longer at the table with you. Thankfully they are at the Table with Master of the Banquet.

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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108 Whitman Ave
West Hartford, CT 06107-1754

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Because of Jesus

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

A fairly light newsletter this week. One thing I (Kenny) am always struck by is how folks keep showing up to Street Church each week, no matter the weather, the leader, the preacher, or other commitments. The people I see in this picture are all people I’ve grown to know and love, whose hearts are so wrapped up in Jesus that it’s hard NOT to see Him in them.

They, and everyone who continues to show up, does it for only one reason whether they know it or not: Jesus. Last week Bryan was out as he prepared for his trip to Ukraine, so Geoff took the reins to lead, not knowing who would show up downtown. But he knew Jesus was going to be there, and that was more than enough. On top of that, he was greeted by an All-Star team to be there with him (every week we have one of those ). Here’s a brief summary from him below.

I’ll be there this week, and I can’t wait for how Jesus will show up and show out. Hope to see you there!

From Geoff:

It was good. Emerson and I loaded the van. She was a great help. Ed, Benson, Curtis, Chi chi, all were present, Chantelle brought boxes and boxes of pastries. Curtis helped with the readings, Jennifer preached on Our loving Father who is "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious" Exodus 34:6.

It began to rain off and on lightly then heavier as we were just wrapping up. Emerson and Brian Colón came back to U-Haul and held unpack.

2nd of the month attendance was relatively light.

Community Church updates!

Today we drive a few hours towards the latest drone strikes. I walked to the market last night with a friend who is Ukrainian and living in Poland. I am free to ask him questions and he is  free to given me honest answers. It is a good friendship.

What is it like?

This is new warfare.

Drones strike random places at random times.

People have stopped living in constant fear in most of the countries and life goes on.

I can attest to that.

Today, we enter a region where the Russians have and are targeting schools. Yesterday they hit a kindergarten. We will distribute hundreds of packages of food and hygiene products to war-homeless people. There are pastors, and a military Chaplin, s small business owner with me who work for a non-profit that started the week the war began.

It is all very familiar to me, except the war is here.

I will share the Gospel four times today at the distribution sites. Sometimes outside, sometimes in a building, numbers will vary…

But the message will not.

I would appreciate your prayers that i may be clear and strong and loving and kind

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart”

                                                                        Psalm 91:4

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

Everyone is Welcome

“would you pray for me please?”

Our newest church was welcomed with open arms..

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 

Romans 15:7

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Hey Family,

It got cold again last week! Welcome to New England fake Spring

Logistics

Served: 85

Last week's leaders: Bryan, Deb, Bensen, and the Culpit Family and special appearance by Kenny and Kelsey

Next week's leaders: Kenny

Next week's preacher:Bryan

Gifts

Last week’s: Hygiene bags

Next week's: Snack Bags

Looking Ahead

CrU will be with us on the 28th with lunches

Miscellaneous

Food sign-ups for February, March, and beyond are here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040849A5AC2AA6F58-street#/

Service

The day started off with TC Cupit and his boys at storage with their Trail Life troop. For those who have never heard of Trail Life, it is a Christian-based ministry along the lines of Boy Scouts but with a strong emphasis on the faith and discipleship. Aiden, TC’s eldest son, was responsible for the organization of the food and packing did a fantastic job. Our truck was loaded with an hour to spare so the team they brought packed up the snack bags for next week.

We arrived downtown and more Trail Life folks showed up, including a man who served with me as a volunteer youth leader almost twenty years ago! He was there with his teenage son and I was so excited to see the line of faith being passed along that it took the sting out of just how old I am getting.

The Spirit fell as soon as the truck doors opened and everyone pitched in. I stood and watched it all until a woman named Gloria approached me and said she wanted to get help getting clean from a crack addiction. I praised God for his invitation at new life for her and Brother Benson and I prayed over her then he gave her information on next steps.

We had a speaker problem and a mic problem off the bat so we knew it was going to be a great day. We rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, not our PA. Folks stepped it up as the read the Scriptures and the crowd had to lean in and listen. I preached on spiritual blindness and judgment on the church who claim to see using John 9:1-41.

I love watching everyone engaged with the readings and actively participating. I ended with a call for those who had gotten “spiritual cataracts” and wanted eyes to see Jesus in all his truth as well as there shortfalls….

Two people came up.

One, an older woman of color who wanted freedom from addiction

The other, a young white male who is getting baptized in a couple of weeks who was moved to give his life to Jesus and could not wait…. Jesus always ruins the plans of men and women!

As I had called everyone in to pray over them I simply called folks to turn and pray with those around them like I do and which they did.

We gathered up for communion and Kenny and my old friend served together and I felt all like a proud parent. The soup was welcomed as it was cold, as well as the lunches and snack packs. Folks stuck around drinking coffee and hot chocolate, we helped out people with clothes and underwear who were in need, especially one man just released from prison…..

Crystal was back along with his now spouse. For those of you who don’t know Crystal we met him some time ago when he came into our group homeless and hurting. He is trans and wants to be be referred to as “they, them” but early on I told him we use names not pronouns and it is really hard to not slip. When you are doing Gospel Ministry you attract those whom the Gospel is for. Many churches as good as they are try to attract church members. The “Crystals” in the world are very complicated and will cost you dearly by association. So it was with Jesus and all those who came to him.

On a sad closing note, our dear Maria, aka “Mommy” who sits behind the lunch table and hands out food each week called me yesterday letting me know her sister had died and she was traveling to Puerto Rico for the funeral. Please keep her and everyone in your prayers for comfort and traveling mercies.

love you all,

b

Community Church Updates

This past week I arrived at West Hartford Health and Rehabilitation like I always do on the third Tuesday of the month to find that they had forgotten it was the third Tuesday of the month and were engaged in some Saint Patrick’s Day shenanigans… and since I am always up for shenanigans but never buffoonery I just jumped right in and commandeered some local apparel as any good missionary does to enculturate.

I had brought the readings for the Feast Day of Patrick and had planned on sharing his story… and no one really knew it. No, he was not Irish, he was dragged there as a slave at first but escaped and went back… no he did not drink green beer or eat green bagels nor even green eggs and ham. He did lead the pagan king to Christ and led the nation to Jesus.

We had so much fun loving God and wearing our hats that made our head sweat that my Jewish friend only remembered she was Jewish just before he lips clamped down on communion….

It was my first sighting of a Puerto Rican Leprechaun… yes, they really do exist!

The Street Church Collective communities

Arden Court Community Church (Farmington)

Brookdale Chatfield Community Church (West Hartford)

Harbour Community Church (West Hartford)

Farmington Station Community Church-memory care Farmington)

Farmington Station Community Church-independent living  (Farmington)

River Ridge Community Church (Avon)

The Street Church (Hartford)

West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church (West Hartford)

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

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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