The Gift of Food and Friendship at the Laytner House

Greetings!

Thank you all so very much for ministering to the Laytner House residents.

I feel one of the most caring and meaningful service opportunities is preparing food and breaking bread together. In this very personal, yet basic function, we share who we are, our stories and are given the grace to learn about ourselves. It is so much more than simply food, it is food made with love for those individuals who have not felt loved or cared about.

As you all know, those at Laytner house are medically fragile. Hopefully, with 90 days of support, they can become strong enough to move onto transitional housing. A good handful have moved onto Multifaith housing, and are doing extremely well! A few will be receiving their permanent housing vouchers in early January. For that we are thankful!

Unfortunately, sometimes residents do not recover. Please keep in your prayers the family of Kelee, who died last week at a nursing facility. She had been at the house between long stays in the hospital for about six months, so some of you may have had the chance to meet her.

It is your caring spirits that help the residents feel cared about and important. Know that what you do is a true labor of God’s love.

Christmas blessings to you all!
Peace,

Stephanie Pietras
Care Team Coordinator
Multifaith Works

Last night, HS Rock had the joy of our monthly visit to Plymouth on Stewart and the Simons Apartments.

Normally, we go and bring a treat of some baked goods and play the ever loved, ever favorite, Bingo.

But last night, through the generosity of the Missions department, we were able to provide 45-50 people with a steaming hot bowl (or two) of Chili with trimmings followed by some dessert and of course, Bingo.

It was, and always is such a joy to partner with PHG during 2009 and we look forward to 2010. The tenants of both residences are always so excited to see us every month and welcome us with such friendship and joy. In fact, one of our high schoolers calls our visit the "highlight of the month".

This partnership between the ROCK and PHG is life giving, and we are so thankful for it. It is amazing how God works and establishes relationships between the two groups.

I'll finish with a statement that sums up last night 'O62 - BINGO!!!!!!!!"

Nicola Davidson
Rock Worship Intern

Student from Warm Family School for the Blind Graduates

Our family has supported student Nguyen Viet Trong at the MATA
(Warm Family School for the Blind) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for
several years now. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS! Nguyen Viet Trong
graduated this year from Pedagogy University with a grade A Plus.

He decided to stay at MATA to teach elementary students and help all MATA members in their studying. He has moved forward from
receiving and using a gift well to giving a gift to others who also
experience visual impairment. I am thankful to God for Nguyen's
faithful heart.

The new student we will support is 26 years old in her first year of
school at the Warm Family School. My prayer for her is the development of strong living skills, vocational and educational skills; to live independently and become a part of the greater community around her, and to know how much God loves and cares for her.

Linda Fowler

Update on The Straley House, a teen emergency shelter

Some of us will prepare and deliver our last meal of 2009 for the Straley House next Tuesday night, Dec. 15. In addition to a home cooked meal we will also deliver Christmas gifts of thermal coffee mugs and hot chocolate. I’m currently planning our dinners for 2010 and need some more volunteers.

For those of you not familiar with the Straley House, they are part of a larger organization called Youth Care, which provides shelter, social services, education and much more to homeless teens and young adults. The Straley House is located in the Ravenna Park area of Seattle and houses approx. 12 young adults aged 18-21. They are a part of a program that Youth Care started in the Spring called Catalyst. Catalyst provides emergency housing and programs that help homeless young adults stabilize, set goals and transition towards independence and permanent housing.

M.I.P.C. volunteers have been delivering home-cooked meals each month since last March.

Feel free to contact me for more information and/or sign up to deliver a meal for a month in 2010. Currently, I have several months open.

Blessings,

Elaine Bolger, bolger8166@comcast.net

Our Abundance Can Supply What Another Needs

Abundance Sunday Team Leader, Elizabeth Nichol reports that from January through October 2009, MIPC has provided World Relief with 1800 vouchers for a value of $9,000 to help their clients.

What Our Congregation Can Learn About Power and Privilege

Tali Hairston, Director of the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation at Seattle Pacific University, was back in class on Sunday, 12/6, teaching about power and privilege in the Christian Education class called Pressing Issues of Our Time. Below are a couple of key points he made as he addressed what he would like our congregation to know about poverty and privilege.

Tali described poverty as not just the lack of economic resources, but the lack of family or community support as well. Some people may have plenty of economic resources, but lack a family or community to support them. These people are also poor.

As we become aware of our privilege, our awareness should create a willingness to be advocates for those who are left out. Being ashamed of our privilege is not helpful because it is debilitating. Instead, we should find ways to empower those who are “under-privileged.” This is the work of a congregation like ours as we seek to be agents of reconciliation in the world. Or, put more simply, to be a follower of Jesus.

It is right to lament that things are the way they are in the world, its injustice to those who have no power or voice or community. It is right to lament the things that break God’s heart. And out of our lament may come a love for all people, a desire for them to lead a full and whole life, which is what God wants for them as well. And out of that love, will come action that leads to empowerment.