Join us as we paint the world!

 

We will be pushing a paintbrush around on Friday mornings from 10:30  

till around 12 with our fearless leader Dana as we explore our world with a  

different view.  There are very few items needed for this class. You can learn  

what you need to bring by joining us. All are welcome. Come and give it a try.  

No experience needed. We will post some of our paintings in the newsletter as we start our quest to see the world through water....color.    

 

 Some of the class at the first session last Friday. 

 

Santa Maria Urban Ministry

Our next trip to Santa Maria Urban Ministries will be   

on Saturday January 19th,    

led by Janet Thorsrud & Ann Little.  

   

Please call Janet at (408) 281-0628,

or Ann at (408) 226-9763, if you can help.  

Also, give a call, if you'd like a ride.  

 

Address: 778 Almaden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110  

 

Volunteering at Village House - Two Perspectives

I'm not sure what I expected when I said I'd go with Dcn. Robin to ECA to help with the Village House Warming Shelter last Sunday - I only knew I'd spend 2 hours with some medically fragile homeless women.  What a pleasant surprise it turned out to be! We arrived and found a room with 5 women, two of them from ECA and three others. There is always one person from the host church to act as leader and answer questions about the facility and make sure supplies are available.  The room was fully supplied.

There was a variety of food and drink, a place to rest, books to read, and supplies to keep the women as busy as they wanted to be. The ladies could come and go as they wished as they went about the business of everyday living. They could make a sandwich if they wanted.  During the week they meet with their dedicated social worker for help and guidance as they go out to look for a job and a place to live. There was a place to rest or sleep if they were feeling ill.

We sat around a round table; two ECA ladies (one was the host lady) one of the homeless ladies, Dcn. Robin and me.  We were surrounded by tables with books, jig-saw puzzles, yarn and knitting needles, and crochet hooks. One lady picked up some red yarn and knitting needles, pulled up a chair beside me and begin working. She was learning to knit! God must have put me there because it was something I could help her with! Dcn. Robin talked to a lady who could not read.  Since she was a grandmother and had been in the USA since she was 8, we were surprised. As we left we began trying to think of ways that reading classes could be added to the program.

I have sometimes wondered how there can be so many people with so many needs in a place where so much help is available.  Were they just lazy, did they like being part of the "problem" instead of being part of the solution? I think I got a small taste of who these people are and they are not who I thought they were.  I thank Dcn. Robin for giving me the gift of a more realistic understanding.

by Frances Steitz

 

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

As Frances said, she and I were surprised that someone had been in the USA since she was 8 and was unable to read and write.  What happened in her childhood that stunted her education, that caused her to fall between the cracks? We don't know. However, statistics and studies show that having an education, and more importantly, being "kindergarten ready" upon entering kindergarten, are key components to minimize and eliminate joblessness and homelessness.  Is this a need in St Stephen's neighborhood that we could help with?

And as Frances learned, these women are not homeless due to their own laziness.  Some people want to link homelessness and laziness together, but studies show that laziness is not a (major) cause of homelessness.  Consider if you had little education. You likely will only have minimum wage jobs, living paycheck to paycheck. One "blip" in life can mean you need to choose between paying for the "blip" (like an illness, or a major car repair) vs. a home and food.  There you are, missing rent payments and out on the street. Generally, it's a life "catastrophe" which puts many people on the streets. No one is immune from life's catastrophes.

Village House makes a difference.  One of the volunteers Frances and I met was a Village House client last year.  Now she has a job in the QA dept. testing video games, a job she enjoys. She is also a member of ECA now, and was recently received into the Episcopal Church.  I can see the difference in her countenance from last year - her eyes light up and there is joy in her face.

Village House will be at ECA through February 4.  I encourage all of you to sign up for a 2 hr shift.  This is a great program in which we can be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus out in our world.  See below to sign up!

by Dcn. Robin

 

Diversity Sensitivity Training

(for all congregation leaders)

The diocese is hosting a Diversity Sensitivity Training event at St. Timothy's in  

Mountain View on Feb 23, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  This one day training will  

meet the requirements for "anti-racism" training for all lay licenses and for local  

parish leaders (vestry, etc. . .). Pre-registration is required by Feb 15th.  Email  

Joanna Shreve at jrshreve@aol.com

line; include your full name and church affiliation in the email. A $20 donation  

will graciously be received on the day of the event to cover cost of materials and  

lunch.