Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you for being one of the 100 or so folks who open the Gram on a regular basis. It means a lot to us. You remind us that we are not alone in this work, that it's not about us . . . that it is about US, about you and me and she and he, all doing our parts. Speaking of US, we ask you to set Saturday, October 18th aside. That's when we'll be hosting another workshop by Br. Don Bisson, an inspiring speaker who crisscrosses the country giving workshops on a variety of topics that blend Christian Spirituality with Jungian psychology. Click here to read more about Don and the kinds of stuff he likes to talk about. You might even want to drop us a line suggesting a topic for the October 18th workshop.  | |
Dawn Schoonmaker puts final touches on the BikeNewburgh "booth" as they get ready for their Broadway debut on Saturday.
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In other news, Ecclesiacs Dawn and John Schoonmaker took BikeNewburgh to Broadway on Saturday. Their mission is to break down barriers and build community by fixing brakes, flat tires and other such stuff. Want to know more? Click here to drop them a note. Moving right along . . . we invite you to check out the note about our plans to explore the Challenge of Jesus (at left), and, below, read about our need for help at Hope, and Steve's reflection on the journey. Beyond that, we ask you to forward this Gram to a friend and like us on Facebook. |
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Many hands help many souls
 We need your help! We're beginning the next phase of work on the Hope Center, this time we'll be focusing on the big frame building (left in the photo below). We need to fix the roof, repair/replace gutters and down spouts, clean, prep and paint rooms, and rebuild the kitchen and dining room for use by those of us who will live here. Those folks include women and men on fixed incomes, those with good incomes, and folks in between . . . all of whom will be responsible to one another, for one another, and for the place in which we live. If you've got some light carpentry skills, like to clean and prep and paint, have
an appreciation for demolition therapy, drop us a line or give us a call at 845-391-8890. We need your help! Actually, now that we think of it - mindful of next Sunday's gospel reading ( John 14:1-14), our Father's House has many dwelling places. One might be right for you!  |
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On the road with Yolanda . . . and you
Folks drive by with their car windows rolled down and their amps turned up; firetrucks rush past with their sirens wailing; friends stop by to drop off food, and others offer a "hello" as they walk through our Sunday afternoon sidewalk service.
This week, it was Yolanda who stopped by during worship to ask for a couple of dollars so she could buy a Mother's Day gift for someone. A brief conversation and two dollars later, Y olanda was on her way. "I'm sorry I always seem to be coming or going . . . Some day, I'll stay for the service," she said as she headed toward Broadway. Those of us who had gathered continued our conversation about Good Shepherd Jesus and how, even when we hear his voice, we sometimes continue off in another direction . . . I wonder what Yolanda sees when she encounters us on the street or drops in at Our House (For that matter, I wonder what others see.). In the context of next Sunday's reading - John 14:1-14 - I hope that Yolanda sees that there's a place for her, that we can somehow reflect the truth that God's house has many rooms and one of them has her name on it. I hope that, as frail as we are, we can show her where we're going, that we're on a journey that welcomes all who would join us. I hope that, if we cannot show her God, we can at least share with her the love and acceptance we have come to know in our Divine Parent.
I like the Spiritual Journey sign you see in the photo. What I like most about it is the asterisked note: It's more fun with friends. Indeed, it may be impossible to become that Human being fully alive without others, others who show us the way through their example and by helping us to see ourselves more clearly. On this day, I am thankful to Yolanda . . . and to you for journeying with me.
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