Dear Five O' Clock Friends,
Every time I pull into the parking lot of St. Martin's Hospitality Center-the day shelter for the homeless where I work-I see words from the Gospel of Matthew emblazoned on the front of the building. To those who follow God's call to care for the lowly Jesus says,
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
On Sundays, as I'm pulling out of the parking lot, I often find myself looking over my shoulder-looking back at the people standing outside the shelter, seeing them in the shadow of the Gospel.
"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
On Sundays, as I'm pulling out of the parking lot, I often find myself looking over my shoulder-looking back at the people standing outside the shelter, seeing them in the shadow of the Gospel.
The people in my rear-view mirror getting ready to head off to the day and to the night. Some are headed back to their apartment. Others follow the migration route from St. Martin's to Noonday to the Breezeway to Albuquerque Rescue Mission to the places they camp for the night. All depend on the hospitality of St. Martin's-a hot meal, a worship service where they are the ones to welcome housed outsiders, and friends glad to share a cup of coffee and a little conversation.
Every other month, on the second Sunday, my church homes meet: On that Sunday, St. Michael's provides the meal at St. Martin's and the people serving join the people served in worship. My heart swells with pride. St. Michael's and St. Martin's joining together at the table. I look around and start to dream. "What if Live at Five were here with us?"
Every other month, on the second Sunday, my church homes meet: On that Sunday, St. Michael's provides the meal at St. Martin's and the people serving join the people served in worship. My heart swells with pride. St. Michael's and St. Martin's joining together at the table. I look around and start to dream. "What if Live at Five were here with us?"
Teresa of Avila once wrote,
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
At its most recent meeting, our Live at Five Council explored the ways in which we might live more fully into the fullness of church. We talked about the centrality of the meal both in our Episcopal tradition and in New Mexican tradition. And we talked about being the Body of Christ. We talked about how both St. Martin's and the Food Pantry embodied our values and the values of New Mexican heritage.
Beginning this Sunday, we'll be putting a food basket at the base of the altar. When you come in the church, bring your gift of food up to the altar.
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
At its most recent meeting, our Live at Five Council explored the ways in which we might live more fully into the fullness of church. We talked about the centrality of the meal both in our Episcopal tradition and in New Mexican tradition. And we talked about being the Body of Christ. We talked about how both St. Martin's and the Food Pantry embodied our values and the values of New Mexican heritage.
Beginning this Sunday, we'll be putting a food basket at the base of the altar. When you come in the church, bring your gift of food up to the altar.
Both this Sunday and next Sunday, you'll have a chance to sign up for the next St. Michael's Sunday at St. Martin's-June 9. But if you're busy June 9, don't worry. We'll be serving again on Sunday, August 11. So mark your calendar. And look for ways that we together can live more fully as Christ's body in this world.
Glad to be in this work together.
Susan+
Lead Priest, Live at Five
sahcdsp@yahoo.com
505-842-1607
Glad to be in this work together.
Susan+
Lead Priest, Live at Five
sahcdsp@yahoo.com
505-842-1607
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