A good day between the rain drops

I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles.
I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame.
At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,”
says the Lord.  

                                                                               Zephaniah 3:19-20             

Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Logistics

  • Served: ~96

  • Last week's leaders: Ruth, ChiChi, Bryan,

  • Next week's leaders: Crystal, Geoff, Kenny, Ruth

Looking Ahead

  • Next weekend we will be joined by VOX Hartford for City Serve

Service

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John
and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,
they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

                                                                             Acts 4:13

One of The Street Church’s founding principles is that anyone who has had an encounter with Jesus and is living with Him in an active, vibrant faith, has a testimony given to them by God that is for the people of God.

We do not hold a public Bible Study at Street Church on Saturday, we preach the Gospel, and the Gospel was given to every man, woman and child. Of course we do not preach anything contrary to Scripture, don’t get all twisted up! An old friend had a ministry he founded named “Free People Free People”…. that is what we do.

It was a great day downtown in between the rain drops. Ruth and I loaded up the van and I was and am grateful for the partnership and right-hand-of-fellowship that VOX Church has with The Street Church Collective.

My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love.
This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.

1 John 3:18

Ruth and Chi Chi led the service, both of color, both women, one from Haiti, another with East African decent, both women, both educated but neither seminary trained, and both women put forth the Gospel of Jesus. Chi Chi shared her message of her deepening relationship with Jesus, giving practical advice on reading Scripture for disciplehisp and intimacy with God. She encouraged folks to pick up a copy of the Bible and the 30 Days bible guide we offer and many asked for resources and help. Like Gusto said to Remy “anyone can cook”, God says to us “anyone can read the Bible”…

Communion was lovey and the line long and lunch went out without a hitch. Please consider making soup, chili, rice and beans, Mac-n-cheese, whatever once in awhile. It is really appreciated! Lots of easy recipes online and you can signup on our website.

It was like “old home day” with one couple who have been gone for a year in NC coming back. Unfortunately, things did not work out for them and they are still struggling but they knew this was a family to come to in the process. Both were baptized here and their faith remains their anchor. Many came by who have been away, and admittedly I was a bit sidetracked every time I saw a face I had missed. This was true for volunteers as well. Steph Remo and her daughter showed up “without signing up” which is always fine. She was an anchor years ago before COVID and then God gave her a vision to go back to school for nursing which she did. “Things sure have changed and gotten bigger!”…. but she still learned names of people remembering what we are about. We are not trying to be the biggest or flashiest thing in the city. We are a part of what God is doing and our part is loving people out of shame and disgrace and helping them feel human and beautiful.

It was a very good day.

Bryan

From the Community Churches

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Rushika, Anna, Mary and I headed off to Farmington Station with church in a box and Jesus in our hearts. Rushika stayed a few steps back (she is sneaky, that one!) and got this shot of what I feel each and every time we walk into one of our community churches… it’s mobile church but it all fits into crates and gets loaded up onto a beach cart… and the “A-Team” rolls in to bring “a dose of The Ghost!”.

It was a packed house thanks to a great staff and people still hungry for God. They were just wrapping up morning exercise so I jumped in while the team set up Church. While we were singing, a new friend, Sylvia, rolled in from the courtyard in her wheelchair:

“I like your singing, can you yodel?”

(you know, like every pastor gets asked during service)

“why I can fake it, but no, not really”.

…and she began to sing and sure enough after a few bars she ripped right into yodeling… another first in our services! I asked her where she learned to yodel and she said her father used to bring home record albums and she would listen to them and practice. So there you go, welcome to Yodel Church.

Blessings,

Bryan

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield

The Farmington Station Community Church

The River Ridge Community Church

The 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

"Hey, could you give us a hand today?"

“But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

                                                                              Mark 6:37

We see a progression often at Street Church that goes like this;

You walk by and look…then you walk by and look and stop for a coffee and snack and keep walking….then you stop by and look, stop for coffee and snack and stay for service and lunch and gifts… do all of the above and then start to read scripture… then we give you a task and you are family.

Case in point is little miss bunny ears in the photo.


Last Week’s Update…stay connected!

Logistics

  • Served: ~90

Service

It was a beautiful and HOT day today. We had our friends from the Chinese American Baptist Church provide a lot of the food, and help out at U-Haul. It's a joy and blessing to be with them and their families every 3rd Saturday of the month. 

We had a BIG crowd downtown consisting of familiar and new people. Our circle to start the day almost took up the entire plaza. Bryan led us today; we had Katherine, Stephen, Will, and Ed each take a reading. I gave a message about the importance of not skipping over Silent/Holy Saturday and sitting in the darkness, stillness, and despair between Jesus' death and resurrection. The Good News is that God did not abandon Jesus in the grave, and neither will He to you. 

We had a great time of prayer and communion. We continued to pray for the Earthquake victims in Myanmar, and we had our friend from that country help with communion. Everyone hung out for lunch, and many life-giving conversations were had.

From the Community Churches

Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

Psalm 71:9

Busy week with the Brookdale Community Church, West Hartford Health and Rehab Community Church, and Farmington Station Community Church.

One of the ladies decided she wanted to come up and sing along with the team. I don’t know who came up quicker, her, or the director who brought her walker up with her! We shared our Good Friday Stations of the Cross with our friends many of whom grew up praying the stations but could no longer get to a service.

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield

The Farmington Station Community Church

The Gables Community Church

The River Ridge Community Church

The 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

Easter at Street Church

Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

John 19:41-42

As we enter into Easter Week, we want to be intentional about experiencing all of the pain, suffering, heartache, compassion and ultimately joy that Jesus went through in His final days on Earth. Those on the leadership team will be attending services on Thursday and Friday, and we encourage you to do the same. Message us if you’d like any recommendations.

As for Saturday, we will be holding our usual service on the front steps of City Hall. While we will certainly celebrate the resurrection, we don’t want to get too far ahead and rush to it. As Bryan’s pastor in seminary said: “Don’t rush to Easter. Let your people sit alone in the tomb with dead Jesus.”

And so we will. The Saturday before Easter was the darkest day the universe has ever experienced. It’s the only day Jesus never was. Join us as we build upon the crescendo of Easter Week, and transition from the world’s darkest day to its brightest day.

-Kenny


Last Week’s Update…stay connected!


Logistics

  • Served: ~70

  • Last week's leaders: Crystal, Geoff, Chi Chi, Br Bensen, Bryan

  • Next week's leaders: Kenny, Bryan

  • Next week's preacher: Kenny

Gifts

  • Last week's: Hygiene 

  • Next week's: Underwear

Looking Ahead

Miscellaneous  

  • Our new sound system is here. The speakers look huge compared to the old ones, well, because they are bigger but are really easy to use, and pair as well as the mic.

Service (from Bryan)

I wasn't an "official lead" this week but wanted to help out Crystal and let Geoff focus on the message. WIntonbury Church served with us as part of their "go week" where they focused on Mission. They had packed all the lunches and loaded the entire van in something like 30 minutes....but rain was in the forecast, and since we had extra time, we unloaded the boxes and covered them in plastic bags to keep them dry. There was a huge team so it went quick and it saved Geoff, Crystal and I an hour our wiping out all the crates when we unloaded. Of course, Geoff rebuked the rain in the name of Jesus so it only rained a bit early! 


Downtown, the team set up quickly and jumped right in. Both of the speakers gave their last valiant attempt. They served us well. Crystal did a great job pulling the team together and encouraging the readers and offering a bit of insight after the Scripture was read. Geoff started off a little scattered (his words) with the wind blowing his bible and making him loose his place, but once he got down to preaching, it flowed with the power that comes from a man who has been with Jesus. 

Two young first time folks from Wintonbury helped hand out communion and the line was long again. A number of people during the closing circle remarked how the prayer sheets really helped encourage people to pray with a focus, and how each person read and was active. 

One of the families from 180 Life Church came down with Chicken Stew, not soup, and he was amazed that he went through all of it. He brought "to go" containers not thinking he would run out! Our friend from Myanmar was sharing videos of back home after the earthquake and he was unusually despondent.  Pray for him.

As we were wrapping up, a young man approached me and showered me with thanks and blessings for what we do with authentic love, and tears began to streak his face. I called him aside along with Br Benson and as he shared we prayed the Holy Spirit fell HARD on him with refreshment. We we were through, two new first time folks were waiting and asked me if I could pray for them and I simply asked Jonathon to pray over them..." I don't pray as good as you" he said, and I told him I asked him to pray, not pray good... and the Spirit of God came upon him in force, so much so that the two other men were weeping. 

An amazing day,

-b

FROM THE COMMUNITY CHURCHES

There was a new receptionist at the front desk and our monthly visit did not make it into the community calendar, nevertheless, we made our way upstairs only to find the walls empty of everything even room numbers. The residents were all in one room as the community room was being painted too... and the memory care coordinator was surprised to see us.

We all crowded into a room and I stood between the two and Andrea, Eileen, Mary and I sang Gospel and our friends joined along in worship.

There was joy. SO much joy today. Nothing can keep back the joy of the Lord

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale

The Community Church at Brookdale/Chatfield

The Clairbridge Community Church @ Brookdale/Chatfield

The Farmington Station Community Church

The Gables Community Church

The River Ridge Community Church

The 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