“…but I do understand this. Jesus taught me to love my neighbor, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, care for the widow and orphan. Nothing anybody does can prevent me from doing that. So that’s what I am going to continue to try to do. Show up for those around me. Care for their needs. Through that kindness and generosity, those small acts of love are actually big acts of defiance towards the hatred and violence we see today”
…… written from a man a God I deeply admire. Let’s all strive to live like Jesus.
A Reminder about Cold Weather Protocol
Again this Weekend.
We will gather downtown unless we experience extreme weather with temperatures below 0 (zero) degrees and severe snow. If it is below 15 degrees we will operate a modified service as outlined below
We will offer hot drinks and a snack (granola bar etc)
We will offer bagged lunches
We will distribute service readings and communion
We will offer hot soup
We will not encourage folks to linger too long and will plan on staying one hour.
Last Week’s Update…stay connected!
Hey Family!
Street Church was beautiful… and a bit snowy!
Logistics
Served: 100ish
Last week's leaders: Bryan, Jody, VOX
Next week's leaders: Kenny
Next week's preacher: Kenny
Gifts
Last week’s: Stuff
Next week's: nada. 5th week and TOO COLD
Looking Ahead
Please sign up for January and February lunch dates here:
Service
Not the day we had planned! Nobody would leave!
Jody met me at storage and we had extra time to sort coats, clothes, and blankets after we loaded. We handed out jackets to folks who needed. The blankets never made it out of the truck.
Jody and I were greeted by Charlie and William, our two most faithful. A huge crowd from CrU joined us including my daughter. I can’t tell you the joy of seeing my kid and her community. They crushed it!
While I was briefing the students, one of our regular ladies was cussing it out at a female officer. It seems someone accused her of something in the library and they were trying to figure it out. The officer pulled me aside to get her baseline. I would never expect this but you know our people. More police showed and left but not after we gave them all handwarmers. The lady stayed with us and was calm…. It was a bit difficult leading that circle!
We set up the coffee station with snacks and the lunch table. A table for communion and the cross, one speaker on a stand, and a bin of hats, a bin of wool socks, and a box of gloves…. And hand warmers and reflective emergency blankets.
We didn’t have a service because it was too cold to safely keep people outside, but freely distributed what we had and served drinks while waiting for sandwiches and soup. It was Ciera’s (from VOX) birthday so we gathered around and prayed over her. A church was walking by with hats and coats and a large container of soup! They asked if they could serve the soup so we all feasted and we connected with the pastors…. Faith Revolution Church in East Hartford….
They Rocky The Buss Driver drove the bus past, blasting her horn and yelling out the window while other regulars waved out the windows. “Headphones Chris” showed up, and even Carmin in this weather! Manny who came up for prayer last week and was deeply moved came back, and Patricia has her streak going…
We didn’t set up chairs hoping that folks would grab lunch and go but no such luck. They just stuck around and sang and danced. As Geoff mentioned at the close the worship was sweet today. It really was.
As we were wrapping up we couldn’t wipe the tables because the wipes froze but that was fine because the coffee froze on the table anyway.
…my wife called me over to talk to a guy who owns the company selling “Obama phones” asking about us. He’s a local guy and gives lots back and asked if he could help folks out with phones…
A Jamaican guy rode his bike up and motioned me over;
“Where is that Indian woman who prays up a storm? I wanted to thank her, she healed me. And she prayed for work for me and that’s why I haven’t been back for almost two years. I work on Saturdays but I woke up today and rode my bike down here because I wanted to say thank you.
Police thanking us,
Bus drivers praising us
Phone companies,
churches…
and then there was this exchange.
Two guys walked past trying to hand out tracts.
I asked them what church they were with and they said some place in Bolton but they come to Hartford twice a month to “preach the Gospel”… “we are usually up there by the bus stop”
“Oh, you are the guys with the signs calling people to repent!”
“Yeah, that’s us”
“Huh. Nobody listens you, that’s why they are here. Jesus didn’t come to judge but to save. You never invite people into his love”
…and we talked, or they talked rather about sin and hell and judgment all while wearing a “Jesus saves” tee shirt over his coat..
We closed the day in our circle, it was massive because of our friends from CrU. We were in 8 degree weather for over two hours in crazy cold weather and no one complained. We smiled and loved and danced and talked.
A very good day indeed
From the Community Churches
No picture this week, so I wanted to share this one of a perfect avocado I had last week! Why? Let me tell you why! You never know what you are going to get once you open your avocado up…. same thing with memory care ministry for sure! But truth be told, it is always just what we are supposed to find…
We had two services last week, neither of which I could get a picture of… we met at Brookdale Chatfield and had a lovely time with the Independent Living Community, and then served at Farmington Station with the memory care. One friend keep singing loudly with a huge smile, raising her hand and glowing in worship… most of which in words only decipherable by herself. So I sang softly and she sang quiet with me so that others could join the worship… and we all feasted on communion with open hearts and lips…
I was asked to bring an Ash Wednesday Service to Arden Court to start of Lent as well as starting a Gospel Hour Sing of the Independent Living Community at Farmington Station.
The Street Church Collective
Arden Court Community Church (Farmington)
Brookdale Chatfield Community Church (West Hartford)
Farmington Station Community Church (Farmington)
Farmington Station Gospel Hour (Farmington)
Harbour Community Church (West Hartford)
River Ridge Community Church (Avon)
The Street Church (Hartford)
West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church (West Hartford)
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Bryan
Street Church Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
(860) 578-2961 TEXT ONLY
bryan@thestreetchurch.org