This weekend our servers, Penny, Greg, Kris, Tom, Terry, and Neal served lunch to about 125 of our brothers and sisters who are residents of the St Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter on Apple Street. Their act of love continues a tradition of serving monthly meals to our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness, a tradition that has lasted for almost 40 years. We often cite Matthew 25 verse 35 as the reason for our service: “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,”
Many at Christ Church know about the relationship between us and the place of St Vincent de Paul. But what about the person of St Vincent de Paul? Who is this guy? This guy was a 17th-century French priest who translated Jesus’ call in the Gospels to love and serve those less fortunate than ourselves by treating them as our brothers and sisters. St. Vincent spelled out Jesus’ radical vision for the people of his time saying:
“You will find out that Charity (love) is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, a terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see and the uglier and dirtier they will be, and the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.”
The “more love” for the poor cited by St. Vincent is brought to life by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a faith-based nonprofit that has embraced the Dayton community in a network of charity for over 75 years. Their ministries and services are constantly adapting to the changing needs of our community, but one thing that never changes is their dedication to love and service. St. Vincent de Paul is the most essential part of our community’s safety net for the homeless and impoverished: they stand between them and almost unimaginable consequences, and they stand behind them as they struggle to reclaim their lives. They provide emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, food, clothing, and household items, as well as guidance to leading a self-sustaining life. Without their work – and their respect, dedication, compassion and effectiveness – thousands of lives would be impacted; many would be lost.
We at Christ Church are so blessed to be in a relationship with them and you can deepen that relationship by making a gift today that will give our brothers and sisters hope, food, clothing, shelter, and support to renew their lives.
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