May the Christ who walks on wounded feet
walk with you on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands
stretch out your hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart
open your hearts to love.
May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,
and may everyone you meet
see the face of Christ in you. Voices United 349
Our household is watching and listening with considerable interest as announcements are released regarding The Bridge Hub in Belleville. The creation of a location to offer a range of services to those who are unhoused or otherwise living on the margins of society is good news for this community but the road has involved some twists and turns. The building purchased for this purpose was in greater need of renovations than first thought so the Fall of 2025 is now the target for opening.
During the past few years the meal ministry created by the Bridge St. United Church in the downtown has grown, as it did during my time as lead minister with the congregation. Since my departure the programs expanded and a partnership was formed with the John Howard Society. The number of people needing assistance and services in Belleville has grown exponentially, as it has in so many communities across the country. This has become an issue downtown with a rise in vandalism and crime, along with pop-up encampments. Some people avoid the stretch of Bridge St. where the church is located because it is an intimidating gauntlet.
On Sunday morning I picked up surplus baking products from Metro to deliver to Bridge St. UC. The day before Ruth and I packed our Subaru Outback to the roof with generous donations from both Cobbs Bread and Metro. As I carried in the first boxes on Sunday a guest waiting in the cold rain asked what I had and I told him bread. He wondered if I had any fish to go with it. When I acknowledged his "loaves and fishes" quip we both laughed. I spoke with others as I brought in the boxes and they were remarkably cheerful given their circumstances and the weather.
As I left the two door-keepers began letting people in with registry clipboard in hand. One of them greeted each person by name and I felt a rise of emotion. These folk are human beings with emotions, with names, and they deserve to be respected and loved.
I've written before about "front door congregations" and "side door congregations" and the reality that the two often don't meet. Ruth is a weekly volunteer with the meal program and wonders what will be lost when it shifts away from Bridge St. UC, even as she sees the toll it is taking on the building. The majority of services will move to a temporary location as of the end of March, less than two weeks away.
We'll see in the days and months ahead.
1 comment:
I apologize for inadvertently deleting your thoughtful and compassionate response, Roger. It was swept away in the midst of deleting an avalanche of spam. I'm sure you see it all in the courtroom and as you say it is a reminder of the failure of our society to address basic human needs.
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