November 2017 - E-Newsletter
Celebrating 2 Years at St. John!
We are excited to have been at St. John the Evangelist for two years and to celebrate we are hosting a brunch for you and the guests!

The details: there will be 50 seats for supporters and 50 seats for guests. Tickets are $40 and will buy you and a homeless guest a ticket.

Date: January 27 at 11 AM
Listening Posts
By John Brett

When Saint Francis listened to the wolf of Gubbio and discovered her hunger, when he listened to Gubbio’s citizens and uncovered their fear, his listening provided an opening for transformation, transformation both individual and collective. One of the central ways that Gubbio creates community and provides care for its guests is through offering such a listening ear. Long a place where guests might speak with a chaplain, Gubbio has begun to explore the possibility of expanding the ways in which we accompany our guests in the spirit of Saint Francis.

A sister organization in the Tenderloin has inspired this exploration through a new initiative. Karolyn Stenlund, who has served as a chaplain at Gubbio, and the Rev. Barbara F. Meyers, both spiritual directors, write:

“People who live on the streets or who are otherwise vulnerable are often ignored with few chances to share their sacred stories. To address this need [we] will soon start a pilot project sponsored by the Faithful Fools Street Ministry which will involve creating a space where vulnerable and marginalized people can come and be listened to for free without judgment. We will be using volunteer-oriented models designed by the widely-known international organization Sidewalk Talk and the Listening Post organization in Anchorage, Alaska.

This service will initially begin on Thursday afternoons at the city park on the corner of Hyde and Turk in the Tenderloin district in San Francisco, and will cohabit that space and work with the St. Francis Living Room organization. This project will begin on Thursday, October 19 and will continue as a pilot project for 6 months.”

Gubbio applauds this new effort, and invites you to consider if you might have time during your weekdays to offer a listening presence in our sanctuaries. We are preparing to offer a simple training, both online through Sidewalk Talk and in-person, for those motivated to serve at “listening posts” at Gubbio. If you might like to volunteer as a listener, please contact volunteer@thegubbioproject.org, and we will work to match your schedule to spaces available.
Mailing Party
We need your help! On November 24th starting at 9:00 AM (until 2:00 PM) we are having our mailing party for Gubbio's Winter Newsletter.

We are looking for those who want to volunteer a few hours of their time to help us prepare and get our Winter Newsletters out! We invite you and your family to participate, all are welcome.If you are interested, please email drakem@thegubbioproject.org .
Volunteer Spotlight: Four Corner Friday, Las Beatrices
We would like to take some time to highlight two special volunteers of Four Corner Friday. Four Corner Friday happens across the Tenderloin on every first Friday. It began as a way to take back the street corners from drug dealers in our neighborhood and form a sense of community with the non-profits in the area.

Beatrice and Beatrice (her daughter) have been helping with Four Corner Friday for years, treating the guests not only with cookies, but smiles and warm hearts. Thank you Las Beatrices for your love and compassion!
From Albert Camus

I can understand you, but I cease to agree when you try to base your life on despair, maintaining that everything is equally pointless, and withdraw behind your disgust. For despair is a feeling and not a permanent condition. You cannot stay in despair. And feelings must give way to a clear view of things.

You say: “Besides, what is to be done? And what can I do:” But the question doesn’t start by presenting itself like that. You still believe in the individual because you can feel what is worthwhile both in those around you and in yourself.

There is something for you to do, have no doubt about it. Everyone of us has at our disposal a certain zone of influence, which we owe as much to our defects as our talents. But whichever is the case, this zone is there and can be immediately used.

(Nov, 1939 on the heels of the Nazi invasion of Poland)
Upcoming Events

Thanksgiving Curbside Donation Drive - November 18 - November 23
Location: 121 Golden Gate Avenue

NARCAN Training - Monday, November 20 from 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: St. Boniface. Please contact admin@thegubbioproject.org for more information

Please consider supporting The Gubbio Project either through volunteering or donations! We appreciate your generosity and support for this wonderful project.
133 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
The Gubbio Project | 415.861.5848 |  Contact Us  |  thegubbioproject.org