Following Through...

Therefore, we resolve to begin exploring 

the possibility of establishing 

a Clothes Closet at Providence Presbyterian Church.

 

In beginning to write our confession together at our first meeting, we wrote the above.  Let's begin to think in earnest on this big dream for ministry to the poor.  Let's follow through.

 

Here are some things we need to consider and discuss at our meeting next Tuesday at 7pm at Providence Presbyterian Church.  Please prayerfully consider these questions:

• Do we want this to be a Presbyterian Women ministry?  Or will we propose this as an idea for our church's Mission Outreach Evangelism committee?
• How will the ministry be run?  When will the clothes closet be open?  What are the rules for use of the clothes closet?  Where would we like to house the clothes closet?
• Staffing is necessary for intake and sorting of donations, operating the closet, and getting the word out.  How will we recruit for these positions?
• Is there a budget need for this new ministry? 

Here are a few links to clothes closet ministries already in existence.  Click on each link and take a look... what do you like about each and what might we do differently?

• Village Presbyterian Church Food Pantry and Clothes Closet 
• Calvary Memorial Church Emergency Clothes Closet 
• Our Savior's Lutheran Church Women's Clothes Closet
• Crossroads Christian Church Clothes Closet 

What amazing women of faith you are!  Praising God for each of you today!

PS - Don't forget to spend time in Lesson Two of our study book, "Greatly Honored Are the Mourners!" before next Tuesday night!

 

Pay Attention to the Ones Whom You Honor

Margaret Aymer, author of our Horizons Bible study, "Confessing the Beatitudes," offers some advice in this video:  Pay attention to the ones whom you honor;  be aware.  Are you honoring a certain celebrity?  Are you honoring those of high rank or status?  Are you honoring the well-dressed, the well-heeled, the well-fed?

Or do you believe, confess, that we are to greatly honor those totally dependent on others for provision?  Do you believe, confess, that we are to honor those poor in spirit, those whose inner resources have been depleted? 


Pay attention.  Be aware.  Who is important to God's heart, and how does that change how you act in the world?

Blessed are the poor...

Last week we came together for our first Gathering@The Well.  It was a special time away from the noise of the everyday... a time to begin our nine-lesson journey into the Beatitudes. 

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 

Luke 6:20, 24

Rev. Martha Goodman presented our first lesson, bringing to life the words of the verse.

"blessed" = "makarios" in the Greek

can mean, "honorable" or "greatly honored"

it's not about God honoring the poor,

but more about the poor 

being thought of as greatly honored by the community;

it's about how we treat one another

"poor" = "ptochoi" in the Greek

meaning the truly destitute, not the working poor

those unable to pull themselves out of debt or poverty

those, at the time Jesus spoke the Beatitudes, taxed beyond their ability to earn

 "rich" = "plousioi" in the Greek

meaning the affluent,

those so rich they do not have to work

Because of what we experienced in our study, Martha helped us formulate the beginning of our group confession, our shared truth, our inspiration for action:

The destitute are to be greatly honored.

We believe that we need to do more 

because poverty is real in Virginia Beach.  

God blesses us so that we can bless others.  

The purpose of having anything is to share it.  

The destitute need our help.  

Through no fault of their own, they are unable to help themselves.  

We believe there are myths and misunderstandings 

which work against the poor, 

perpetuate the divide between rich and poor, 

and keep us blind.  

Therefore, we resolve to begin exploring 

the possibility of establishing 

a Clothes Closet at Providence Presbyterian Church.

Think about our time together and our shared confession above.  How will this confession change your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ?  How can we begin to make the possibility of a Clothes Closet a reality?