Lent Cb Newsletter April 2009

Practicing God ‘s Mercy & Gospel Resistance

Vol. 3 No. 2 Lent 2009

Cherith Brook Looking Inward

by Laura Cornett

In the bathroom mirror, I saw big blue and started to chat with the other volunteers. eyes staring back at me with bubbling tears, I sat by watching, absorbed in my thoughts. So Elijah did according to the word of the Lord; he went and lived by the Cherith the beginnings of wrinkles, and crazy curly, There was something about this woman, I brown hair. I poked, probed, and stretched was captivated by her. Her essence carried Brook...and the ravens brought him bread… I Kings 17 my skin, trying to manipulate my tear a light. I thought she was beautiful, why is stained face. I did this assuming it would she homeless? will that we love others; without love sidetrack my mind from the pain I felt in “Where do you go to church,” she asked, nothing else matters. You are an enmy chest. bringing me out of my thoughts. abler, take my Bible. Open it right now, Abruptly, I stopped, a thought crossed “I don’t go to church.” I answered. ask God what you need, right now my mind. Why have I become this and open it.” person? I did, not knowing a message After some introspection, the anwas waiting. I flipped to John, chapswer is an easy one. Only moments ter 8, Women Who Followed Jesus. before the bathroom pity party, I had She gave me her lifeline. She gave argued with a man with whom I share a me her Bible. beautiful child. He is an alcoholic; “I think this will help me,” I Something I have known, but didn’t said, giving her a hug. “Thank you. want to admit because then I would be You are truly a beautiful woman.” responsible for the hurt I try to hide “Thank you and you have from the mirror. But all secrets of helped me,” she said with tears in shame were about to be exposed by an her eyes. unexpected person. The story in John 8 is about a Two days after shoving my feelings Laura works out some of the kinks for one of our friends. sinful woman who washed Jesus’ down deep inside me, telling myself I feet with her tears and anointed would get to them someday, I was hurrying “How do you meet with Jesus?” she them with oil. The Pharisee told Jesus to the door of Cherith Brook’s shower room asked me. he could not be the son of God if he let a with my massage stuff. A warm, sweet Thrown off by this question, I sat down sinful beast touch him and Jesus replied, breeze was blowing a petite woman’s sandy across from her and said, “I write.” “I tell you, her sins-and they are manybrown hair across her gentle looking face. She looked at me, her soft blue eyes have been forgiven, so she has shown The woman sat in the sun, basking in its piercing through. I knew she saw me. She me much love. But a person who is forrays, reading her Bible. She wore a pastel saw me beyond the image in the mirror. given little shows only little love.” pink blouse, a pair of light colored blue We started talking. She shared with me The woman from outside was the jeans, and clean, white tennis shoes. about how her life was destroyed by crack mirror I needed to see Christ’s love As I was bustling along trying not to cocaine and her husband was in prison. within me and to stop hiding from my drop anything, she looked up at me with Then she looked at me again with her own fears. soft blues eyes. piercing stare. I look into the mirror now, as a “Good Morning,” she said with a direct “I have been clean for a couple of woman who follows Christ and I know I tone of confidence. “Is that an instrument?” months and I could not have done it without am not defined by my sins or others. I “No,” I said. “It is a massage chair.” Christ’s love,” she said. “I know that only I remember wondering, was she a volun- through him I can be healed. What is your know the Holy Spirit washes me clean. teer for the women’s day or was she home- story?” Like the ones who have hurt me, I was less.? I couldn’t tell. The first thing to pop into my mind was also created from the love of Jesus. I A small space in the back corner of the my question, how have I become this perhave forgiven, I am forgiven, and I am store front was the massage oasis. I sat up son? I told her about my daughter’s father washed clean. my massage chair, waiting for the women and how I am angry at him, because of his guests to arrive. The small woman from addiction. outside came in and was excited about “And what is your part,” she asked me. Laura Cornett is a student at Park Univergetting her hair cut. She sat down to eat “Did you try to change him? It is God’s sity. She offers massages on Women’s Day.

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Jesus Was Hungry As we enter this season of Lent, I am newly struck by the reading of Matthew 4:1-11. In this passage Jesus entered the desert willingly, knowingly. He knew he was going to be tempted by the devil. He was going to be tempted, the Spirit of God led him there. It was time without food. It was a time of solitude and prayer for Jesus. This was a time of preparation for the sacrifice at hand. When we participate in a Lenten fast, we do so willingly. We do so for a specific time, fully aware of an ending time. We enter in to a time of going “without” with the luxury of knowing we will soon go “with.” We enter hoping and praying that the space created would be used by God for change. When I read this passage this season, I was caught by the phrase ‘Jesus was hungry.’ Everyday we offer showers to folks who are homeless or near homeless and we encounter Jesus who is hungry – maybe tired and discouraged – but definitely hungry. It seems odd to go without voluntarily when so many of our friends go without on a regular basis. Some go without basic provision of food, clothing, shelter, adequate healthcare, living wage (or no wage), respect and dignity. It reminds

me of a Peter Maurin quote about trying to create space where it’s easier for people to be good. It’s hard to “do good” if you are struggling for survival. It’s hard to make good choices when basic needs aren’t met. Jesus was more vulnerable because he was hungry, more susceptible because he understood the pangs of hunger. Being tempted with the satisfaction that food would bring or gratification power would supply would have different meaning if Jesus hadn’t been hungry. Our homeless friends know what it’s like to be vulnerable and susceptible and go without. We are all faced with daily decisions but people who go without food, clothing and shelter are forced to make decisions that may compromise or call into question the meaning of “good”. A time set aside for prayer and fasting deepens our faith and helps us remember from whom our “bread”, our sustenance comes. To go without helps us appreciate when we go with. To go without causes us to take pause from the expectation and thoughtlessness of consumerism. To go without helps us to reorient our minds and our

by Jodi Garbison bodies. We are a needy, captive audience to hear what God is saying or teaching us. To go without causes us to think about our pursuits and hopefully, retrains us to temper our desires for instant gratification. It reminds us that we are sustained by more than that which feels good or numbs out, but by that which God sees as good, as life-giving – physically AND spiritually. My prayer this Lenten season is for all to have basic needs met, for space to be made in our hearts for God to transform our minds, and for all to have not only enough but a little extra to share in order that we might not be vulnerable and susceptible but “good.”

Jodi Garbison and her daughter, Diana, building bird houses together.

Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities Rock Out & Reach Out … 4/18, bene-

Join Our Extended

fit concert to promote justice & sustainability at Crosstown Station, 15th & McGee KCMO, doors open at 8pm.

Community

Midwest Catholic Worker Retreat

cook meals, sort donations,

… 4/24-27, in Stockton, Illinois.

host showers, cut hair,

Chalk Walk … 4/25-26, Concourse

launder clothing, garden,

Park, Historic Northeast KCMO.

electrical work, simple carpentry,

Women’s Day … 4/29, 11:30am.

assemble sack dinners,

What special talent will you offer?

redo kitchen cabinets,

Holy Family Art & Talent Night … 5/1, Holy Family House, 912 East 31st Street KCMO, 7pm. (Please contact Cherith Brook for more details on any of these events.)

mail newsletter, clean house, We are so thankful for volunteers, like Sue Heller & Nicole Browning, who provide meals, help in the clothing closet, and with showers.

general maintenance, fencing, tuck pointing, trim work, & more...

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How Can She Sing? by Chris Brennan Homiak

Happy 1st Birthday!

how can she sing? the city is threatening to condemn her house, the house she has pieced together from scraps and lived in for the last ten years. how can she sing? they are without papers in a foreign land. how can she sing? she cannot afford medicine for her son’s epilepsy, nor technology to help him hear all he cannot see. she has no husband nor children who can work. how can she sing? last week their telephone service was cut off. how can she sing?

Our friend Marah celebrates her 1st Birthday, surrounded by family & friends!

the immigration judge in texas is asking to see the woman who cut the umbilical cord over twenty years ago to prove the son was born an American. how can she sing? the powerful remain in their thrones, the rich remain full, and so often she is sent away empty. how can she sing? despairing, she shared: “Si tengo café, no tengo azucar. Si tengo azucar, no tengo café!” how can she sing? her favorite (and most financially helpful) social worker is moving away. how can she sing? again and again, she says “esperamos”: we are waiting, we are hoping. how can she sing? when I greet her, “Como esta?” she always replies, “Bien, gracias a Dios!” how can she sing? in the middle of a meeting about their future seemingly barren of hope, she breaks into song, raises her hands, and sings of her trust in God.

House Needs Sandwich Meat (no bologna) Sandwich Bags Mayonnaise Sliced Cheese Peanut Butter & Jelly Bananas & Oranges Coffee, Sugar, Creamer Vinegar (gallon size for cleaning) Baking Soda Dish & Laundry Soap (high efficiency)

Toilet Paper Milk, Eggs, Butter Black Beans & Brown Rice Canning Jars (for summer produce)

Summer Clothing Gardening Tools Wood Scraps

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Christ Always Has A Room

by Charles Carney

~ Reflections on Opening Our Home to Persons without Homes ~ (Note: To protect privacy, we did not

use actual names of any person depicted in this story.) Don was sleeping (if you want to call it that) on the front porch of the Holy Family Catholic Worker House in Kansas City, MO in the middle of winter. Mike, a man who worshipped with us at Sunday liturgy, was living in an abandoned apartment building with no heat or water. John was on the verge of having to live in his car. Vernon, a veteran addicted to crack, was living on the street. Alan lived in a hotel for the first week of each month, then moved to the street until he got his next monthly disability check. Arthur lived in a church shelter. What do all these men have in common? They all left their makeshift dwellings and lived in an open room in our home --- some for just a few months, others for more than a year or two. Roll the tape back to November of 2004. When my spouse, Donna, and I were looking to buy a home in Kansas City, KS we decided to take the following words of Dorothy Day seriously: “… every home should have a Christ room in it, so that hospitality may be practiced. The coat that hangs in the closet belongs to the poor. If your brother or sister is hungry, it is your responsibility.” In her writings Dorothy routinely referred to the fact that her different hosts in the cities that she visited harbored Christ rooms. Dorothy believed that putting all the responsibility of caring for the poor into the hands of government allowed Christians to shirk their responsibility to the poor and to gospel values. The bureaucratization of poverty depersonalized it and pushed it away. Dorothy envisioned a society where a majority of Christians harbored a Christ room in their home and where homelessness

chose to leave our home when we tried to talk to him about his drug addiction. We have no set rules in our home, except no drinking or drugs. Everyone But just the other day I ran into him at in our community brings what they can. the Veteran‘s Administration. He has Some have provided food. Others have been clean and sober now for months and has found meaningful work at the brought their considerable fix-it skills V.A. He will be moving into his own to save us from huge plumbing and apartment in a week. He was very carpentry bills, while others have used warm and friendly to me. Mike stayed the sweat of their brow to keep our out of trouble from the law but was yard looking presentable. Some have eventually arrested on an old warrant cooked tasty meals, while others have taken their skills into the community to and went back to prison. But we stay in serve at drop-in centers and overnight- touch with him and we intend to help shelters. We only ask each person to do him re-integrate into the community upon his release in July of 2010. He what God has put before them. If that says that we were “the only real fammeans they must spend a good part of ily” he ever had. Arthur has gone from their time going to outpatient rehab classes and attending 12 step meetings, volunteer to a paid employee at the drop-in center and plans to rent his own then so be it. But in the spirit of the Catholic Worker, it is important to note place soon. that no one “owes us” anything. The After four years, I find myself getting gift that they bring to our home is away from the fear based questions and instead marveling at the richness of themselves. having lived in community with these When making this decision to open men who I can now call “brother.” Christ rooms, I had great trepidation. Have there been blow-ups and stresses What happens if it doesn’t work out? Will we be safe? Will we be drained of and conflicts? The answer of course is our energy and emotion? Will we burn yes, but not any more than in any other community I’ve lived in. out? Will it detract from our quality was simply non-existent.

time as a couple and from our overall relationship? We have seen the vision of Dorothy Day (whose picture hangs in our dining room) at work in our home. I know, as a social worker that when persons with severe mental illness find housing, they have a 50 % greater chance of recovery from their illness. Duh! It isn‘t rocket science that when people have a safe, loving place, they feel better. Dorothy Day knew all too well the healing power of loving community. While there are no fairy tale endings, Dorothy‘s vision has transpired. We remain friends with most of our former community members. Mike and John found income-based housing in the community and both still come back to our place for Holiday meals. Vernon

I have dropped many of the stereotypes I have held about homeless people. Instead, in the messiness of community, I have been forced to confront my own dysfunction. Most importantly, I’ve been challenged to a more radical acceptance of myself and others. Slowly, I learn about the “gentle personalism” that Dorothy talked about. “And since it all depends on each one of us (not the government), that means we must try to have a Christ Room in our homes where we can shelter others.” -- Dorothy Day “Open your homes to the homeless poor.” -- Acts of the Apostles Charles Carney & his wife, Donna, are long time friends of Cherith Brook.

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Learning Trust Great news: we have finalized our Trust! You will soon find it on our BlogSpot. It states as our purpose, “to support a residential Christian community of hospitality, nonviolent peacemaking and discipleship and to… provide a location… for the community to incarnate this common mission of Christian discipleship, servant hood and resistance and provide sanctuary to the marginalized, the oppressed, the poor and suffering.” This means the bank account, two community vehicles and eventually both buildings will be owned by the Trust, not any individual. We have simply formalized what we have been practicing these past few years.

Dorothy Day once wrote, “Christ commanded His followers to perform what Christians have come to call the Works of Mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick and prisoner, and burying the dead. Surely a simple program for direct action, and one enjoined on all of us.” It is that simple.

by Eric Garbison and "instruments of Justice," that in Christ we have been called to walk in newness of life. Resurrection living comes after baptism, our first and most important death. A recent quote I heard sums it up nicely, "Saints are the sinners who go on trying." Thanks again for your support. Those of us who live here do not get an income. We work outside the community to provide for our personal needs. We depend on your personal sacrifices to help us. What we are given, we try to give away freely to those in need.

Those of you who have given money, clothing, food, work, skills, Why a Trust? In Acts, Luke time, welcome and joy, the evangelist reports of early have also taken someChristians that they “were tothing with you when you gether and had all things in comleft: a word of blessing, a mon.” Our Trust is an expression powerful conversation, a of learning through common livprayer, a moment of ing the radical and transforming A recent Monday Night Community Meal at the house. clarity, more joy. God nature of the gospel. Not an easy has a way of blurring the lines between lesson for sure in an individualistic sociWe believe every shower signals giver and receiver. So we thank all of you ety. the power and mystery of the Holy Spirit who have freely offered up these many Luke also reports that these followers and baptismal waters. Even if you are not gifts for others. “would sell their possessions and distrib- dependent on our showers and clean ute the proceeds-to all, as any had need.” clothes, by offering yourself to others you This Trust expresses our belief that folalso walk away refreshed by baptism, belowing Christ is a call to live at a personal cause you have been true to yours. sacrifice. When we do so, God provides Our decision is also a clear refor the needs of all and reverses inequalifusal to participate in the Military Industies in our world. trial Complex that requires our money to Many of you have participated in this pay for war and its preparation. It has been process in a variety of ways—prayer, said that “Wars will cease when we refuse advice, time, financial giving. Several of to pay for them.” Some of you have said you have given us gifts and small no being tax deductible helps you defer to interest loans for the storefront totaling charity monies that would otherwise go to $61K. We are still in need of $15K in war. We have not taken away that choice order to pay off the lender. Then the from you. We just won’t wrap it up in a building can be deeded to the Trust. system approved by the war makers themPlease call us if you are interested in selves. lending us some portion of what remains, The money given here will go to interest free. daily welcoming the stranger, the marginalThis was also a decision against regis- ized, the broken. It will also go toward Henri, Eric & Diana Garbison recently tering as a nonprofit. As we studied, participating today in God’s future peaceconstructed the birdhouse pictured above. debated and prayed about becoming a able reign by training people that the fool501c(3), the questions began to change ishness of cross-bearing is more powerful Our Garden Needs: for us: Are there Biblical reasons we than “wisdom” of bearing arms. Any act of should become nonprofit? Why has the violence is a rejection of hospitality, the church become so dependent on this sys- two cannot be separated. Our daily failures Bird Feeders, Baths & Houses tem? How does it affect her message, remind us that only God can be so imparShovels, Trowels & Hoes ministry, witness, commitments? These tial. Yet in Romans 6, Paul reminds us that questions we offer back to you. Baptismal living means we are "servants" Seeds, Plants, Bulbs, Etc.

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My Resignation Letter Over the past few months, I’ve grown workers are being exploited, more of the earth is being raped of resources, more and more weary of many things more is being hoarded, more are going I’ve grown up being surrounded by. to bed starving, more is being thrown After a few certain events transpired away, and more is being dumped in the today I have decided to take action. I hereby am officially resigning from the poor’s backyard. No longer are we content with the natural beauty of the following things. world as our television, we want the I am officially resigning from hate. Relationships gone awry, people killing latest and greatest gadget which steal us away from the things that have lastpeople, and people practicing dominaing beauty--God's good creation. We tion through that double edged sword are meant to be together for real, not known as the tongue. These are the just online. We are meant to be alone things that surround us. We live and practice these things and these things are no good. In the beginning, God chose to make man and woman in God's image. That means we ALL bear that image (regardless of whether or not we've come running into Jesus' arms). By destroying one another, whether it be through verbal or physical means, we are severely tainting that image. In turn it has tarnished our image of God. If we were all to encourage, support, live, laugh, cry, and lay down our lives for one another just think of how much more clear our picture of God would be. What is even more beautiful is that God gives us glimpses of what it would look like if/when we all practice that profound sacrificial love Jesus displayed for us. In God's kingHenri Garbison & Nick Pickrell lead music at dom war will be studied no more, poverty will be eliminated, the worship during our winter retreat at a farm in tears and pain of this present life Harrisonville. will be wiped away, and we will live together as brothers and sisters--no from time to time, not always within a cell phone's reach. We are meant be one dominating another. Instead, we irrevocably linked to the least of these, will all submit to one another readily not leaving empty rooms while others and will be participants in the sharing sleep on the streets. We are meant to of the most profound love imaginlive in the present, not thinking two able....the love of a good God who is overjoyed that God’s children have appointments ahead. finally come home. What we really need is to get back to I am officially resigning from conthe practice of contentment and simple sumption (which has become synonyjoy. Play ball with someone, draw on mous with the American Dream). I sidewalks, jump rope, hug your parhave begun to see that our collective ents, climb trees, and swim in lakes. pursuit of "more" has taken its toll on Eat as a family and cherish the moour world. Greed has taken over. ments you get to spend with them, then Goods are becoming cheaper, more thank God for the time you were able

by Nick Pickrell to spend with them after they have passed on. Be at peace and then exhume it to all you meet. I am officially resigning from my own pursuits. Too long have I bought into the idea that I need to get ahead in this world. It stands contrary to everything Jesus lived. Growing up in a culture that promotes overtime, busyness, and individualism (do this and rise above your neighbor) has taken its toll on me. The allure of money and fame is strong, but the cost required to achieve those is great. Relationships move from genuine to strategic, good intentions turn into manipulation, and contentment gives way to an unquenchable drive. I always keep coming back to Jesus, who did not consider equality with God something to grasped, and so humbled himself and became a servant. He served and God exalted him. He brought many different people together and left behind an incredible family that is inclusive--crossing socioeconomic, ethnic, and gender lines. I have felt led little by little towards living life of solidarity with the poor because there is a unique opportunity to experience God in that place. God's heart throughout the scripture has been with the poor and oppressed and if our salvation is to be worked out together, then we get the privilege of being liberated together as well--from addiction, oppression, and poverty. I am officially resigning from intellectualism. The pursuit of knowledge and truth is healthy, but can be easily perverted. Too quickly debates become heated. Too quickly we pounce on one another in an effort to prove we are right. Too quickly we assemble to discuss lofty concepts without any intent of action. History has proven that the privileged class in any given society usually ends up hoarding knowledge (see Letter, continued on page 9) Nick Pickrell is one of Cherith Brook’s newest Community Members.

House Notes by Sarah Cool

As I write this, we are entering the Season of Lent. Typically, as most of us are aware, the Season of Lent is a time of looking back on previous actions and contemplating ways to make right those things we may not have done in the most Christ-like manner. The 40 day period of time before Easter, the resurrection of our Christ, gives pause to reflect and renew our resolve to become better followers of His mandates. Some may choose to rededicate themselves to being even more faithful servants, as they have always intended to be. I also see this as a time of renewal and anticipation here at Cherith Brook. We are doing just that in many ways. Quite visibly, we are preparing our gardens, in anticipation of a bigger and better growing season than we had last year. In hopes of feeding our friends from the neighborhood more nutritious meals, we calculate what will be planted where, how much, and when. We each choose a plot to oversee, a certain task to manage, a way to include folks who want to help us with the planting, the tending, and the eventual joy of harvest. We’ve looked back on what we did well last year, and what we can improve on this year. We’re following God’s mandate in this way by taking better care of the land God’s given for us, and for the provisions God’s allowing us to co-create with God. In the coming weeks, during our Agenda Meetings, community members will physically walk through and around all of our spaces in an attempt to re-vision what God intends for our work here at Cherith Brook. This is another way we are using the Season of Lent as a time of renewal. Our morning showers and meals, a concrete renewal of sorts for our friends, available to folks four days a week, have grown over time so that we’re nearly always at capacity. In the time allotted, we can usually offer about 20 showers and generally feed as many as present themselves each morning, sometimes 40 or 50 folks altogether. The same is true for our Thursday night meals, which have reached as many as 60 in recent weeks. We’ve also begun handing out sack dinners and toiletries on the streets on Friday afternoons again. We easily gave away over 30 dinners in less than an hour this past week. So as you can imagine, our time, space and resources are stretched, but not too thin; just stretched. And so, we plan a re-visioning walk to discover what God has in store next for Cherith Brook. Speaking of community members, you may have heard that we accepted a couple of Interns

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several months ago, during the winter months. These two late twenty-somethings came to us with the idea of learning from Cherith Brook for a few months and then venturing out on their own, to start their own house of hospitality somewhere else in the city. It appears that, for the moment anyway, God had other plans for Nick Pickrell and Micah Waters, as they have now committed to Cherith Brook for at least a full year. They are not only learning from us, we are learning from them. Nick’s sense of humor is infectious. Micah’s calm insightful words are always welcomed. Their energetic circle of friends have now become our friends too. It is a joy to see them all in action in the showers, on the street, during prayers, and playing with our children in the community. God has richly blessed us through Nick’s and Micah’s presence, renewing our energy and commitments in many ways.

Shower Needs Men’s Jeans (esp. size 32-36)

T-Shirts Underwear (esp. size 32-38)

Women’s panties (esp. 4-7)

Shampoo & Conditioner (large bottles)

Razors Deodorant As it happens, this year Lent begins on FebTube Socks ruary 25. How coincidental, or not, is it that we will also begin to offer a monthly Women’s Foot Powder Day for our female friends in the neighborhood. Although still in the planning stages, we hope Shoes to offer a variety of services that we believe Toothpaste & brushes they may enjoy, and not have ready access to, such as haircuts, manicures, pedicures, masTampons sages, a good meal surrounded by supportive Ibuprofen women, and more. That we begin this effort with the first day of Lent is providential, I think. And yet another way we continue to deepen our commitment to this place and this community is that by May we will finally begin to live our lives together by operating fully under a common purse model, sharing ALL of our monetary resources with one another. Something we’ve discussed and discerned for a long time is finally coming to fruition. We have yet many details to work out, but we are all certain that we feel absolutely called to this way of common life. It truly feels that during this Season of Lent at Cherith Brook, many things are being born anew: our garden, our spaces, a new day of service specifically for women, and common purse living. We invite you to participate with us in whatever aspect of our work to which God is calling you. We hope that you’ll use this Season of Lent to re-view, revision, re-commit yourself to the life God calls you to lead. Early this year, Cherith Brook rejoiced in the birth of our newest extended community member, Adeena Niamh Tabor Bila, the beautiful granddaughter of Community Member Steve Sheridan. Steve plans a trip to visit Adeeena in the near future, and will certainly have more photos and lots of stories to share!

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Through Our Lens

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Letter, continued (Letter, continued from page 6) over those who are oppressed. People end up getting abused and exploited, usually without any means of defending themselves. Instead of hoarding, why not share ALL we have-possessions, knowledge, and time--with one another. After all, love holds all the commandments together...and how loving is it to speak down to people or pass laws that end up hurting the hungry, the homeless, or the immigrant? With all of that taken care of now, here is a brief list of what I’d like to define my life. - to be someone who is present to each person he meets -to be someone who treats each relationship and moment as a cherished gift from God - to be someone who speaks life and allows it to be spoken to me. - to be someone who is devoted to the kind of family God talks about in Gal. 3:28 - to be someone who is devoted to tending to God's creation. - to be someone who is deeply connected with the poor and oppressed. - to be someone who LIVES (fully) and does this or that (emphasis on LIVES).

True Fasting

by Nick Pickrell

Lessons

by Becky Eis

The unfortunate thing is that I am a forgetful person. I get angry with people. I get caught up in the busyness of life. I question this calling God has put on me. I have insecurities. So, in order to continue down this long road that leads to life I desperately need encouragement. We all do. It truly is a difficult thing to put our collective humanity before the individual. It is much easier to veg out on the sofa and watch what we want to watch, eat what we want to eat, and do what we want to do. The harder and more rewarding thing is to get outside and learn to "love those our instincts say reject."

I have been volunteering regularly at Cherith Brook on Monday mornings for the last year, helping with the shower time. In the beginning, I’ll admit I was pretty intimidated, awkward, and yes, maybe a little uncomfortable. I have learned so much about the people at Cherith Brook – both those who are a full-time part of the community, and the special people we serve. But most of all, I have learned something about myself.

Micah Waters, James Gillespie, & Nick Pickrell having some fun during showers.

Over the last couple of months, God has softened my heart towards this person, and my anger has subsided. I’ll admit it still rises up at times, but I remind myself that he is an addict, and that addictions can really have a strong hold on people, and I must love him and show him the same compassion as I would a stranger.

by Sarah Cool

I have always associated the fasting referred to during the Season of Lent with the elimination of a bit of food for a short time. One might choose to avoid a particular food which might normally craved, such as chocolate or coffee, for a period of 40 days.

Over the past couple of years, I have really been struggling to show love and compassion to someone in my family who struggles with addiction issues. My husband and I tried to support him by giving him a place to stay, giving him money, food, etc., and we were rewarded with lies, deceit, and a thankless attitude. I was DONE with him. After spending some time at Cherith Brook, I started asking myself: Why am I so willing to show love, support and compassion to people I don’t even know, when my heart is so hard towards this person I have known for over 25 years? How can I see Christ all around at Cherith Brook, but not see Christ in him? When I am at Cherith Brook, I hope I am reflecting the love of Jesus Christ to everyone there, but I began to feel like a fraud!

Becky Eis is a faithful Monday shower volunteer from Knox Presbyterian Church in Overland Park.

However, as we’ve recently been studying at Cherith Brook in Isaiah 58, God actually has a very different sort of fasting in mind. God mandates that true fasting is to stop taking advantage of employees, to stop bickering amongst ourselves, to stop fighting with fists and weapons, to loose the chains of injustice, to untie the ropes that hold our enemies captive, to set the exploited free, to break every restraint we hold against one another. God’s mandates include sharing food with the hungry, providing shelter to those who have none, to clothe the naked. God commands that we quit pointing fingers and talking maliciously, to expend our time, resources and energy on behalf of the hungry, and to satisfy the needs of the demoralized. When we choose to follow God’s word, God promises that we will be like well-watered gardens, like springs whose waters never fail, we will be called Repairers of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. He declares that we will find our joy in the Lord, we will ride on the heights of the land! This is the sort of everyday true fasting that we strive to do at Cherith Brook. Come, join us!

Cherith Brook

PRSRT STD ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

3308 E. 12th St. Kansas City, MO 64127

US POSTAGE PAID KANSAS CITY MO

(816) 241-8047 [email protected] www.cherithbrookkc.blogspot.com

Midwest Catholic Worker Retreat (4/24-4/27) will expose a private military company, Blackwater, that trains more than 40,000 people a year at tactical training facilities, with its newest near Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

Weekly Schedule 2nd SUNDAY SARCRAMENT

SUN

6:30 pm

SHOWERS

M, T, TH, F

8am-Noon

PRAYERS

M, W, F

6:30am

COMMUNITY MEAL

TH

5-7pm

FR

2-5pm

FRIDAY NIGHT SHARING OR GARDEN WORK (Call for details: 816-241-8047)

Jesus said to her,

Who are we? Community—Cherith Brook is a residential Christian community committed to sharing table fellowship with strangers, and all our resources with one another. We have found our inspiration from the early church, the Church of the Savior, and the Catholic Worker. Mercy—Our daily lives are structured around practicing the works of mercy as found in Jesus’ teachings. We are committed to regularly feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, visiting the prisoner and the sick in the name of Jesus.

“I am the resurrection Peacemaking—As followers of Jesus, we understand our

and the life. S/he who believes in me will

live, even though s/he

dies; and whoever lives

and believes in me will never die.”

John 11:25-26

lives to be centered in God’s Shalom. Cherith Brook strives to be a “school” for peacemaking in all its dimensions: political, communal, and personal, working constantly to undo poverty, racism and militarism.

These three orbs can be summed up as the struggle to connect with the God of life. We pray that Cherith Brook is a space where all of us—the broken—can come to learn and relearn the ways of Jesus; a place to struggle together for God’s call of love, mercy, peace and justice.