Habitat for Humanity and the DeLos Santos family

Concepcion De Los Santos was confined to a wheelchair since his two daughters were in grade school.  Since then he and his family have adapted their lives to meet his needs.  His eldest daughter, Glorialyz, and wife, Ileana, earned nursing certificates and can now assist Concepcion and support the family.  Concepcion does many of the family chores and supervises projects he can no longer carry out himself.

For five years the family waited for the landlord to make their apartment handicap accessible.  They were disappointed when their landlord constructed a ramp for the wrong apartment then refused to acknowledge the mistake and wouldn't allow them to move to the apartment with the newly built ramp.

So, for the first time Habitat for Humanity constructed a handicap accessible house.  In their new home the De Los Santos family can now adapt to their physical surroundings because they can now carry on as productive members of the community.  We have "made it!" says Glorialyz.

A Story of Grace and Mercy

by Deborah Little Wyman, priest for street ministry, Ecclesia ministries - Common Cathedral on the Boston Common

My ordination to the priesthood was not approved for a year and a half because "we aren't sure that street ministry is priesthood."  This was a long and difficult stretch. My attention was so focused on my survival that I hadn't given much thought to how I could exercise my priesthood in this strange disorderly setting.  Two months after my ordination, it was the morning of Christmas Eve.  I woke up knowing I needed to celebrate communion in South Station where I had been spending parts of days. In winter, that's where my people were.  I called my life long and sympathetic friend, Ann, to express my terror and excitement about the vision.  All I knew was I needed a prayer book, bread, grape juice, the Christmas gospel story, and a lot more confidence than I felt.  "You can't do that without chicken soup, can you?" were Ann's first words.  

The next thing I knew, we were meeting at 4 pm under the Arrivals and Departures Board and she was bringing not only soup but Boomer, the dog.  I had more confidence in Boomer's ability to create a safe sacred place in all that holiday crush than in anything we could offer.  But within a half hour, we were ten in a circle of chairs, huddled so we could hear each other.  I asked one of the men to read the gospel and then I sat listening to our hearts beating and waiting for guidance about what to do next. I heard a man across the circle take in a smoker's breath.  "My name is Joseph," he said.  "I wish I had been so kind to my wife when she took off with my friend."  He was weeping, and soon each one was sharing something that told me they were all completely present in the Christmas story.

I felt one of the greatest lessons about why Jesus sends us to the poor to learn about God. Folks who have nothing have God.  All the layers of complexity that we consider necessities in fact put distance between us and God.  I had no idea of creating an outdoor church that day, but I knew who the preachers were.  A year later we would be nearly 100 outdoors under the trees across from the Episcopal cathedral with Bishop Tom Shaw baptizing, confirming and celebrating our Eucharist.  Our folks would name our street church "common cathedral".  

Emily Dickinson

"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard-
And sore must be the storm-
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm-

I've heard it in the chillest land-
And on the strangest Sea-
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb-of Me.

Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.  People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.  

Ministrations to the Sick (from the Book of Common Prayer)

In the Morning

This is another day, O Lord.  I know not what it will bring forth, but
make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be.
If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
And if I am to do nothing let me do it gallantly.
Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus.

Amen

Prayer Composed by Haiti Mission Team After Monday's First Mobile Clinic

Blessed be God, Ruler of the Universe, who has brought us all together in this place
Grant us clear sight, compassion, patience, strength, courage, and openness
So that we may give, persevere and do your will in this place
Through partnership with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters
To the glory of your name.

Amen

St Lukes San Lucas Blessing of the Renovation in Chelsea

On Saturday, February 21^st, between 7:30 am and 1 pm, many of us joined Father Edgar’s St Luke’s San Lucas’ community in Chelsea to celebrate the just completed beautiful kitchen, food pantry and parish hall renovations.  Many of us joined Father Edgar's parish in a special ceremonial blessing of the renovation led by Bishop Alan Gates. 

   

Chris Berns and Ralph Engstrom were the breakfast chefs under the fearless leadership of Claudia Bell and her husband Chip, with a hard working supporting team of Stephanie Terry, Betsy Walsh, and Linda Brown, serving over 70 guests. Then Carol Hollingshead, Barbara DeWolf, Celia Ceruolo, Kate Reynolds and Chris Joseph stepped up to help serve a roast beef lunch with butternut squash ravioli coated in a delicious butter, garlic and parmesan sauce, with julienned vegetables and rich chocolate frosted chocolate brownies or brown sugar crumble coffee cake for dessert serving over 100 guests.  In between breakfast and lunch, Bishop Gates led our partnering communities, in a beautiful worship service bringing us all together in mission.   

On Thursday March 12^th all are invited to gather at Epiphany to paint bowls to help the Chelsea Bowls organization raise both money and awareness in the fight to end hunger.    The local organization, Chelsea Hunger Network, is holding their event on April 25^th where the ceramic bowls will be displayed then given away.   The money raised will go directly to food pantries and community kitchens in Chelsea including St Lukes.  We hope you will join us on March 12^th at Epiphany from 7:30 – 9 pm for wine, conversation and painting!