The woman helping give out a squirt of hand sanitizer during communion was baptized just last week. She lives down the street in an apartment but like many others who have found their way to us lately she was drawn in by witnessing Jesus on display.
You can tell when it sticks. They come right back…. and when you do, you are just another member of the Family of God so you get to help serve the Banquet.
Patricia is so thankful to be here.
Last Week’s Update…stay connected!
Hey Fam,
First Saturday of 2026 and Street Church was beautiful!
Logistics
Served: ~90
Last week's leaders: Bryan, Kenny, Geoff
Next week's leaders: Bryan
Next week's preacher: Bryan
Gifts
Last week's: Hats and gloves
Next week's: Hygiene
Looking Ahead
Please sign up for January and February lunch dates here:
Service
It was a great day to be with God's people as always. Kelsey, Bryan and I packed up the van. Bryan did a great job prepping the storage unit the day before so it was an easy load. We were able to talk to Will at U-Haul for about 20 minutes which was a blessing as he's been going through a bit of a hard time as U-Haul manager; he had to fire a lot of people and is now working a ton (77 hours last week). There was nobody in line waiting to pickup a truck as we were talking to him - which never happens - so it was clearly a divine appointment.
We got downtown and had a small but mighty team join us. Ed, Brendan, and Benson - trusty weekly servants - showed up, as did our Puerto Rican grandmas, Maria and Carmen! We hadn't seen either of them in a while. It was very pleasant to have them both back with us. Patricia and Chrissy, both of whom were baptized last week, joined us again as well.
We had a lovely time of fellowship and catching up with folks. Geoff opened us up in prayer as Evelyn, Ed, Ben, and Brendan gave great readings, while I was blessed to give a message on Ephesians 1 about how God chose all of us and adopted us, regardless of our past, present and future actions, because of what Jesus did for us. It was well received.
We gathered in groups afterwards and prayed for our nation which was much needed. Before communion, Brendan stepped up and shared that we wanted to get baptized. He lives across the street and has been coming every week for a few months now, bringing some Powerade drinks leftover from his job. It was the 32nd anniversary of his mother's passing, and he had his mom's Bible with him yesterday. He was moved by the occasion and by the Spirit to give His life fully over to Christ. Praise God!
We shared a time of communion together, ate lunch, and gave out hats and gloves to help keep our friends warm. As we were packing up, a young man named Juan stopped by. He was brought by a friend. He works for a local roofing contractor and had been kicked out of his uncle's house. He's living in his car so he was looking for things to keep warm. He had a kind spirit about him, and was thankful for the food and sleeping back we could give him. I pray he comes back next week.
[added by Bryan]
As we were packing up, we noticed there was a police truck and ambulance in front of the public library. This is a normal gathering place for the homeless and when there is “fire and a bus” out front, I will go over and check to see if it is one of our folks and if I can be of help. It turned out to be a regular who had been with us a that day, and had an “episode” of mental health and when approached asked to have help at the hospital. I knew the ambulance driver from earlier calls but not the officer, but he knows us and that the person had been with us. You are all making this city a livable community. You are beautiful.
May God bless you this week.
Kenny
From the Community Churches
It was busier last week than expected at the Community Churches. One of our regular dates fell on New Years Day and most days are the same to our friends in memory care I went in for the service. The staff were grateful as always as regularity is a grounding force with most of our friends… one new friend sat in the front row and when we were finished she thanked me profusely for showing up, explain that she was just visiting and she was from Germany. We were both very excited to hear me share a little German I had learned from old neighbors… just enough to make a person feel welcomed and not an outsider.
Then two days later I was called in by staff for a couple of pastoral visits with residents on hospice. So many of the elderly have been outside of church community for so long not because their faith slid, but they can no longer drive, or are incontinant and have a difficult time, or can’t see well or hear so they slowly disappear and are seldom seen by pastors. One person had been a Sunday school teacher forever and their spouse was now going to a Jehovah’s Witness Bible Study just for company. I prayed deep prayer over one in the bed and the other standing up and tears were all around. The next room had a similar story of church walking away, but they had been deeply devout too and was an avid singer… a catholic and loved the Beatles so I sang their favorite song “Let it Be” over them… and the largest smile crept across his face, lips moving, and he tried his best to sit up and sing with me…
These are very Holy and thin spaces.
I am thankful I have been asked to enter in.
Peace,
Bryan
Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield -memory care (West Hartford)
Community Church @ Brookdale Chatfield-independent living (West Hartford
Farmington Station Community Church (Farmington)
The Gables (Farmington)
River Ridge Community Church (Avon)
West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church (West Hartford)
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108 Whitman Ave
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