I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU CLOTHED ME

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…Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison? Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Matthew 25:34-45 NIV

On March 23 of this year, Deaconess Darlene DiDominick, Executive Director of The Center-Philadelphia at Arch Street United Methodist Church, challenged the United Women in Faith to live out these scripture verses. The UWF developed plans for a summer mission project serving the unhoused in Center City Philadelphia, called Project Arch Street Service. Over the summer, St. John’s, you have accomplished the following:

• Sent three Tuesday morning mission teams of women to volunteer at Arch Street (the third team left on a 7:26 am SEPTA train this morning)
• Collected 31 boxes of books for the Center’s library and to give out to guests
• Collected over 40 bags of clothing for their Clothes Closet
• Prepared and delivered 50 sack lunches on July 7
• Provided gifts through the Center’s Amazon Wish List
• Provided cash donations from UWF and the congregation’s communion offering for May
• Sent a mission team to serve a hot Sunday dinner to100 guests
• With the help of our Vacation Bible School children, delivered 155 soap sacks on August 18

Now, the question is “What next?” We might look to Matthew 25:14-30, the verses  preceding those cited above, the Parable of the Bags of Gold, for an answer. This parable has a master leaving town after giving a servant 5 bags of gold, another 2 bags, and a third, one bag. The first two servants double the initial amount of gold and are commended as good and faithful servants. They are given more responsibility as a result.   The third servant buried his gold; upon returning it to his master, he is banished. Like the first two servants in Matthew, the successes of Project Arch Street Service could mean that we can also be considered good and faithful servants.

So, our task now is to use the Project Arch Street Service success to take greater responsibilities toward having a greater impact. Jesus used the Bags of Gold parable to show what it means to be his servant. God gives us natural abilities, skills, resources, money – such assets are things to invest like the servants in the parable. The reward of a greater impact on others will be a stronger relationship with our Savior.

Prayer: Thank you for the opportunity to help others in Center City. Help us to discern what next steps will bring us closer to You. Amen.

                                                                                                                                                       Carol Rice