In the winter, it is a time of staying inside more….perhaps more inside oneself as well. How do you center yourself in Christ each day as changes evolve quicker than our brains, spirit, and hearts can process? Is there something you do physically, mentally, or spiritually or someone you talk to or see that grounds you?
Sometimes for me it is taking the small steps in moving forward in a grounded fashion…reading a daily meditation, being grateful for cutting our morning fruit bowl and hearing from my sister as she drives to work. Sometimes it is helping to move our intentions as a church body forward in concrete ways. In this regard, I would like to share a few of the steps we have taken.
First, the Council fully supported Pastor’s request of using his raise of $3,500 to support Ascentria Care Alliance. Ascentria Care Alliance suffered recent budget cuts and are in the midst of trying to find home sharing for refugee families. (See the email below from Jillian Decker, Director of Development, Ascentria Care Alliance for more details).
Secondly, Scott Carson was a guest at our last Council meeting. He proposed that he would be responsible for caring for the lawn this summer and reach out to other members for help. The Council decided to accept Scott’s proposal for this year. Thank you Scott and for the Property Task Force who is working on creating a viable team who can care for our property. We will keep the money designated for lawn care under the Property Line, should other needs develop this year.
Thirdly, the Task Force for our Mission Outreach Project has been formed and they have already met once. The Task Force comprises of Leslie Carsen, VJ Strehl, and Jo Whiting.
Philippians 3:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
It feels good to move forward. Sometimes we do not know where we are specifically going but we know our energies are directed for the common good.
Peace,
Erlinde Beliveau
Email from Jillian Decker:
Hi Erlinde,
It was wonderful to speak with you last week! Thank you for your interest in volunteering with refugees. Here is a quick word about the home share support we are looking for as well. I have also added my colleague Juli Pruden from the NH office who is the best contact for other volunteer opportunities.
The idea of Home Sharing is to provide temporary housing to UN-designated refugee families while Ascentria works to secure permanent housing. It is especially important at this time as we are unable to house families in hotel for much longer without access to our normal funding sources.
How It Works: Hosts: House can be shared with host or standalone, they just need enough rooms to accommodate, usually 2-3 rooms per family. Background Checks: All household members will pass a Sterling background check administrated by Ascentria. Safety Inspection: A case manager will assess the home for suitability. Family Matching: We’ll work with you to match a family based on space and needs. Ongoing Support: Each family has a dedicated case manager for assistance and to find them a long-term housing placement. Financial Responsibility: Hosts are not expected to cover costs; families receive state assistance for food and can contribute to utilities as well. We prioritize building independence. I hope this is helpful!
Jillian Decker Director of Development Development Team Ascentria Care Alliance 11 Shattuck St Worcester MA 01605