Everybody knows your name.......

"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name."

Remember those lyrics? Cheers was about a bar where people hung out, talked about nothing and knew they were welcomed.

Not much different than REACH drop-in center was. Was because as of July 5th it was closed as the drop-in center for homeless, and those that had no place to go during the day. A place where they were known, by name. Where their troubles were not unusual. A place they were welcomed and looked for.

Isn't that what we all long for, what we as human's need. We join gyms, clubs, the Y. We attend churches, meetings, stop at favorite bars and restaurants. We look for places that we are welcomed, known and are known by our name.

The only thing that separates us from a group of people that may include the newly separated from abusive partners, recently released from prison, former foster children who have “aged out” of the foster care system, returning veterans, the unemployed, the addicted, the disillusioned, the lost, the delusional and the desperate is a safe place to stay during the day.

There by the grace of God...............

Just Grace; for today

Our church is struggling with the need to help those that are homeless, thru the REACH program (google it and you won't find supportive articles in the local newspapers), helping them to find housing, providing counseling for the families, a single case worker helps to navigate the the local and state forms for assistance along with parental counseling -to keep children (not at physical risk) with the family. Or simply with food for the day, "give us this day our daily bread" (How many of us have food enough JUST for today ? ) We host this program in our church, because of the Pa state budget fiasco they are struggling both with finances for operation and to meet those needs ( only 2 workers verses over 20 families served this year and countless day to day visitors in need). Our struggle is not with; Should we help them?" the answer is - We do it because it is the right thing to do. there is no other church in our city that provides the services that we have. Our struggle is with those that prey upon those seeking help or those that know of the church and its program and exploit it for their own purposes, using the address to elude consequences of their actions, the location for illegal transactions- believing they are "invisible" to city workers, residents and authorities. They are not.
How do we still maintain our mission of living, and serving Christ's love in our community while discouraging or removing the elements that, by their mere presence, conflict with city and legal authority, putting at risk those who need the services and those that worship at St Stephens. Splitting mauls are wonderful tools - if you are working with wood-
but not with sentient beings. Perhaps there is no clear cut absolute answer - just grace, for today.