I want to thank all those who responded to our February 2024 Have a Heart Campaign, raising funds for the Brunswick Street Mission. Our Local Outreach Committee brought this to our attention as they were concerned for those living rough in our city. The Brunswick Street Mission, staff, and volunteers, work hard to provide supplies and support to persons living rough. Together, these funds will make a difference.
Yesterday, the Local Outreach Committee received this (see below) video, thanking us for our offering. The thank you came in response to the Brunswick Street Mission receiving $8,000 from Bethany’s Have a Heart Campaign. Bethany's Local Outreach Committee greatly appreciates the generosity of our congregation and invites folks to watch the video to learn how the funds we raised are being used to serve our fellow Haligonians who living in poverty:
One of the changes that COVID brought to my life that I most lament is the lack of participation on Sunday nights at Brunswick Street United Church from those who are sleeping rough or living at the Metro Turning Point, located behind the church on Barrington Street. I came to serve BSUC in September 2011, in large part because the small congregation wanted continuity in relationship with a minister. After the church and the Mission were split, AST students served the church for a year at a time. But for me to come there the timing of worship had to change, from morning to evening. That meant one or two persons, who had no fixed address, would join us in the circle every Sunday night. Our sacred circle of 12-15 benefitted from this participation, often this new arrival would share an intimate story of God’s sustaining presence in their life.
Human nature dictates when something is not available for 2-3 years the awareness of same becomes largely forgotten. Between 2011-2020 there were always new faces in our circle, since we worship as 12 in a circle, we see all faces, stories. Now, we are largely the same 7-10 people. Although it is only a loss of 5 people, going from 12 to 7 is significant, especially because there is no new voice-face to represent Christ who comes as a stranger (Road to Emmaus). Time will tell how we will live with this new reality. Still the intimacy and sharing of our stories of faith is unique in worship experiences. We listen for the Spirit…