The Way Home: Ending Chronic Homelessness in DC
ADVOCACY TO PREVENT AND END HOMELESSNESS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Recently, the Free Inquiry Class learned about the challenges and solutions of the looming eviction crisis. Guest Speaker Sherry Trafford described how Miriam’s Kitchen’s (MK) is working on ending chronic homelessness and advocating for homelessness prevention programs through its The Way Home Campaign.
In addition to calling for the DC government to invest funds to end chronic homelessness for 2,761 individuals and 432 families through the provision of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH), the campaign calls for investments in low-income housing and large-scale rent relief.
A Word from Laura: Ash Wednesday Preparation
Each year, Lent is a time when we are invited to commit to renewal in our lives and in our world. Our liturgical calendar, regardless of whether we worship in person or virtually, begins with Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday at Western has always been different from Sunday worship. A small group, mostly from the Foggy Bottom community, gathers for scripture reading, prayer, a few hymns and the imposition of ashes.
Last year we continued the tradition begun with Rev. John Molina-Moore of observing Ash Wednesday with our Presbyterian kindred from Northminster. This year, their current pastor Dr. Gay Byron contacted me to see if we might be interested in continuing this tradition. I was glad she asked and that Western’s session concurred.
Session Notes
Your Session sat for its regular monthly meeting this week (by Zoom, of course).
Session meetings begin and end with prayer. This time, the closing prayer was Brian Doyle’s "Prayer in Celebration of Brief Things, for Example, Church Services." It was apropos – our meeting was unusually short.
A Contemporary Bible Study: Feb 21 - Mar 28
Western will use this resource from PC(USA) publisher Westminster John Knox Press for reading and study. Author Cheri L. Mills shares portions of the narratives of formerly enslaved individuals in conversation with biblical passages as a basis for a Lenten journey that refuses to deny the truth of lived experiences.
A Word from Laura: What’s Your Name Story
Greetings, Western Family! Thanks to all of you who participated in the annual congregational meeting last week. It was one of those meetings where we did more listening to a smaller group of people talk than sharing – an easier format for a large group on Zoom.
This week, though, we’re going to practice the unity in community a little differently! Deacons, the intercultural group, and others have been talking about how we grow our connections as a community – even more challenging given that we are worshiping using Zoom and still not able to meet together in person.
An Introduction to the 2021 Annual Meeting
Our annual congregation meetings in January are quintessentially Presbyterian. There is fellowship, a budget presentation and abundant desserts. This year, the fellowship is virtual and you’re on your own for dessert. And this time, we have some perspectives about the budget that take us beyond the numbers.
Basically, here’s the situation. When the Western congregation received our building in the IMF transaction 25 years ago, we also inherited the obligation to keep the property in good repair. It’s an expensive proposition, on the order of $300,000 a year (for maintenance, repairs, utilities, insurance and capital replacements).