Welcome to Hope in Action
July 1, 2020
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A Note From Kathy MacKrell
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Last week’s Summer Acts of Service project had us making dog toys and blankets along with purchasing food for our four-legged friends. Thanks to everyone who served our friends at the Loudoun County Animal Services.
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Loudoun Hunger Relief (LHR) serves families and children in Loudoun County who are food insecure. They supply perishable and non-perishable food items directly to those in need. During the COVID-19 crisis, LHR is supplying tens of thousands of pounds of emergency preparedness food to help families shelter in place, as well as continuing their regular food distributions each week.
Loudoun Hunger Relief also provides diapers and hygiene items and when the Crossroads SERVE Team reached out to LHR, they said they needed diapers and feminine care products.
Because of your generous giving to the Easter Offering, Crossroads is able to provide Loudoun Hunger Relief with 1,680 diapers and 720 feminine care products. It is a blessing to be able to serve our community in this way!
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Summer Acts of Service
This week’s Summer Acts of Service features those experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. In 2019, there were over 6,500 people experiencing homelessness. The main cause of homelessness is not drugs or alcohol; it is the lack of affordable housing. 30% of DC adults experiencing homelessness are employed. Men. Women. Families. Seniors. Veterans. The mentally ill. The face of homelessness is not what you might imagine. With DC’s low wages and soaring cost of living, one job loss or medical issue could be the difference of having shelter or not.
Crossroads has had a long history of serving those on the margins in DC. Prior to the COVID crisis, on the first and third Sunday of each month, Crossroads has served bag lunches to our brothers and sisters in Franklin Park. This simple act of love and kindness has been going on for over 16 years. Many of you have served by preparing
sandwiches, donating food items, or traveling downtown.
This week’s Act of Service involves donating items that will be used to make hygiene
kits and distributed at the Downtown Day Services Center. A complete list of items that
can be donated are: Socks, Shampoo, Soap, Facial Wipes, Sunscreen, Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Deodorant.
Click here for an Amazon wish list
that has been created for your convenience or you can shop locally and drop off the items at Crossroads Entrance 1 by 4pm on Friday, July 3rd.
Before you serve with action, begin by going through the reflection questions that can be found
here
. We go inward to reflect and then we go outward to serve.
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Systemic Racism—Let’s get Woke
By Jan Wilson
1619. Four hundred one years ago, Africans were kidnapped, marched to the coast, and put in slave ships for a months long journey to build up what would become the United States. Significant numbers died, and more would die in their first three years in slavery. That unbelievable cruelty began our long and complicated relationship and attitudes that are still too evident today. This June, the United Methodist Church reiterated that racism is a sin and in a service of lamentation, confession, and commitment to dismantle racism, admitted we haven’t done enough, and will do better. We’re finally seeing, in our hearts and souls, what racism really does.
In these last few months, I think a lot of us have finally started to see the scope of the issues our black and brown neighbors have been dealing with, and the injustice of it. We are woke, as our African American neighbors have taught us…. finally, we are woke. My heart is broken, and I see more clearly. What I see, and I hope you agree, is that as neighbors we have not learned and done enough. I would say Amen to the church’s vow; the problem is bigger than we saw, and we need to be bigger in our efforts to seek justice. We need to get woke!
Most would bristle at being called racist; we don’t feel or act racist. We consider everyone to be God’s child and everyone should be treated equally. We’ve learned that from Jesus; we don’t value one group of people over another. However, I think what we have missed is that while we may not be individually racist, we are part of a country where systemic racism is prevalent. I hope you will not bristle but listen. Listen to history, listen to your neighbor, and learn. I’d like to explore just a few of the examples of systemic racism to give a glimpse of what our black and brown neighbors live with. I hope you’ll take this as a jumping off point to learn more and let it sink deep into your heart.
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The Color of Compromise: An Ongoing Conversation
Join us for 10 weekly online sessions (Wednesdays through August 19 from 7:00-8:30pm) featuring large group presentation and small group conversation focused on the history and legacy of racial injustice in our nation and the church. Through listening, learning, and sharing in conversation, we will reflect on both the painful reality of racism and meaningful steps toward greater levels of justice and reconciliation.
Pastor Jim Melson leads this weekly series based on the book
The Color of Compromise
by Jamar Tisby who is an African American speaker, theologian, writer and president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective. The book is a challenging and insightful resource to help all of us learn and grow in the call of Jesus to racial justice and reconciliation.
If you can't attend each week, you can watch a recording of the teaching at your convenience.
To listen to the previous weekly sessions and to sign up for the ongoing conversation, click
here
.
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Taking Care of the Community
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Mask Makers Needed
Due to Governor Northam's requirement that masks be worn in public indoor settings, we are in need of more sewers! We will provide you with mask making kits. These kits include instructions, pre-cut material and elastic. All you need to do is sew! If you are interested, you can contact
Jill Hughes
.
Jill also has created a Facebook page under the name
Emmaline's Treasures
to share information.
A limited number of masks are now available for pick up at Crossroads. Please email
Kathy MacKrell
and we will get a mask to you for free or a small donation for those who are able. Masks are also available outside Crossroads’ Entrance 1, weekdays from 10:30am-1:30pm.
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Crossroads Native Plant Garden
Crossroads will be featuring native plants in bloom in our native garden. The garden is flourishing and contains many pollinator plants that provide vital nutrients that keep insects alive and sustain them throughout the year. They also provide a safe habitat that is free from chemicals to help support the pollinator populations. If you live in the area, you are encouraged to check it out on your next nature walk or drive by. Click
here
for more information on native plants for Northern Virginia. You can also contact Crossroads' Native Plant Specialist,
BJ Lecrone
. Native plants can be purchased online at
Watermark Nursery
in Hamilton, Virginia.
For information on planting a vegetable garden and why pollinator gardens are important check out the following links:
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Featured plant for this week
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Loudoun County Health & Human Services has provided a comprehensive list of resources available to those in need. The link is
here
.
Contact the Loudoun County Information and Referral (I&R) program to get connected to vital health and human services information and resources in Loudoun County. The link is
here
.
Some vital resources are highlighted below.
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COVID-19 Limited Rent Assistance
Loudoun County government has established a limited rent assistance program for Loudoun County households economically impacted by COVID-19. Check
this link
for details.
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Feed our neighbors
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), in participation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program, is planning to continue to support families during the current COVID-19 pandemic by providing breakfast and lunch to all children 18 years of age and under through the month of August.
Meal service will be provided at 28 current walk-up sites and bus stops. (For a list of the bus stops, click
here
.) Pick-up meal service is available between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays at the following 28 locations (On Thursday, July 2, LCPS will give out meals for both Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3.) click
here
for the complete list of locations.
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Additional Loudoun County resources are available for anyone in need of food.
Please take advantage of the following organizations:
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Unemployment and Employment Resources
Loudoun Workforce Resource Center provides i
nformation about unemployment benefits or other work-related topics. Click
here
for their website.
Crossroads Jobs is a non profit experienced in advising candidates who have challenges in securing employment. Counseling is available in English and Spanish. They will also assist those who need help filing for unemployment. All services are free. Click
here
for their website.
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- Sunday message: Watch here or on the GOTGo app
- GOTGo App - Download from your app store by searching Crossroads GOTGo
- Daily Texts - Text crossroads to 41411 to receive inspirational texts each day
- Daily Scripture, Prayer and Morning Focus - Sign up here
- Spiritual Practices: Find them here
- Prayer Requests: Submit them here
- Imagine Well Being - Find online groups here
- Small Groups: Find online groups here
- Facebook - facebook.com/crossroadsnova
- Instagram - instagram.com/crossroadsnova
- Website - crossroadsnova.org
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