Sewing Machines, Bathrooms & the Homeless

Sewing machines, bathrooms, and the homeless – these are the objects, places, and people where God’s kingdom is being encountered. The sewing machine refers to the generosity and care of donations and gifts given to fire survivors reflecting our continual care and concern for walking with them on the long road back to their homes. I am increasingly trying to pinpoint particular needs and working with others, both staff and laity, in ensuring that no one is forgotten or ignored. There is still much work to be done but the donation of a very nice sewing machine by a member of another church is one more reason to recognize and celebrate God’s faithfulness expressed through His church which extends beyond our congregation. Bathrooms are equally exciting. These refer to the new M-4 project in response to People’s Self-Help Housing which has asked the four Montecito churches to fund and refurbish bathrooms at a mobile home park in Carpinteria. The project has received an immense amount of enthusiasm and energy from two meetings and we now seek to gather community support from our individual churches in terms of helpers who can build as well as those who could offer hospitality to workers as well as those within the park. I am obviously new to working with M-4 but have been so impressed with the care, concern and spiritual maturity of all of those involved – such an ecumenical move of the Spirit bears much of the good fruits of God’s kingdom. Finally, the issue of homelessness refers to my recent participation in CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic justice) – this is a faith based group which seeks to respond to the needs of those marginalized by economic inequities in the Santa Barbara area. I recently attended a symposium on homelessness involving city councilwoman Helene Schneider and am seeking to represent our church as one of many who hunger for enabling structural changes for justice within our city on this difficult issue.