Much joy to you this day! It's been a rather soggy and cool Sunday in Collegeville, Minnesota where I've spent the last three days with a dozen other folks at a writing workshop hosted by the Collegeville Institute. We'll all be heading home on Tuesday.
   I'm thankful to the folks here at the Institute for their incredible hospitality and kindness and to the Lilly Foundation for making it all possible.
   I'm also thankful to Ruth for shouldering my share of the load while I've been out here . . . Here's what she has to say about goings on in the Burgh:

We here at the Hope Center have enjoyed a wonderful week of mild weather . . . John is in hospital with high spirits, talking about doing some traveling when he gets out, and spending more time with family . . . he is so glad for Ecclesia and the love shown to everyone even though we might not like what they do . . . We are grateful this week to have had donations of food items from Holy Cross Monastery and from Sarah Gardner,       Verne Bell and others which made it possible for us to feed the hungry for the past eight days, a consequence of the Salvation  Army, Grace United Methodist and Hudson Valley Christian Church, putting their dinner programs on vacation for the month. . . Thanks to Bryan and Phil who have helped me in the kitchen and thanks to Lindsey, Jim, and CJ who have joined the crew that keeps Our House open during the nite . . .

   Phew! That's a lot . . . And, what's great about the news is all the folks named and many unnamed who are part of the community we call Hope, all participating, all doing what they can to create something beautiful, something called community.

   As we told you last time around, one of the suggestions we received was that we post a wish list of supplies we can use. The list would come in handy when organizing an "Our House Stuff" drive with your church, school, or scout troop. Here's the list: sugar, creamer, decaf coffee and tea, paper hot beverage cups, toilet paper, paper towels, bleach, white socks, deodorant, soap, body lotion, tooth paste, razors, wash cloths. Sample sizes are perfect and so are those little soaps, shampoos and lotions you get when you stay at a hotel or motel . . . 

    You know what else you can do? You can pray for all of us, for Hope, for Our House, and for those who bless us with their presence. It doesn't have to be anything fancy . . . just hold the community close to your heart and send love.