From Don Fornoff, Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness:
Easter week introspection can and often does produce new fruit. For me, as the writer of this blog, I wasn’t asked to do it. I just thought it was a good idea to communicate on a weekly or near-weekly basis with the congregants in all our Diocesan parishes. And you guessed it, because I brought it up, I am now doing this. Gladly, I might add. But I hadn’t realized why! Also, we, as individuals on the task force, have never been asked why we do this. So, as part of my meditations, I have been thinking through this. As task force members, all of us have some background in some aspect of serving the unhoused. Maybe we’ll ask the question when we next meet on April 20.
My thoughts about why came about because of various readings- all of them with Jesus in mind. I read that theologian Henri Nouwen suggests we don’t have to live our lives as Jesus did but rather to live our lives as authentically as Jesus lived his. I’m just a regular parishioner- so I can’t say or suggest how you should live. But I do say the words from Compline every night before bed: “Guide me waking Lord and guard me sleeping; that awake I can watch with Christ.” I often substitute ‘walk with Christ.’ Cherished actions.
I also read that Bishop Curry often reminds us that evangelism is about building a better world. Doing that through writing this piece means reporting what our Homelessness Taskforce wants us all to do. I suspect most of us serve because we want to build a better world. The motivation comes from faith in what we learn week by week as stewards of Christ. Hopefully, my thoughts in this column will also help showcase the reasons why.
For the rest of the year, I want to highlight what parishes are doing in their locales. As I look through the list compiled by various members of the task force, especially Jean Swift of Sedro Wooley, I can see that there are many ways to deal with local needs. All are necessary to address poverty, which lies at the heart of being unhoused. Some can cope with their individual situations, but many cannot and are overwhelmed and become homeless. What is important is to know that we are their neighbors and must attempt to help them get back on their feet. I want to find out how your faith moves you to do what you do.
What we do ranges from making and delivering safety pouches by St. Hugh of Lincoln in Allyn; St. Paul Bremerton supporting teen shelter and feeding 150-200 homeless every Saturday; St. Hilda/St. Patrick Edmonds serves the food pantry, has a sock box and provides camping supplies; St. John Gig Harbor has manna bags and supports safe parking at the Lutheran church; St. Mary Lakewood gives out food, bus passes, hygiene kits, safety pouches and wants to start a garden; St. Thomas Medina is part of Congregations for the Homeless-Eastside, hosting the month of October with sleeping accommodations, meals, laundry and showers. That gets us to the M’s. We’ll continue on next week.
This has been the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it. Blessings to all,
Don Fornoff, Member Bishop’s Taskforce on Homelessness
