Hats and scarves and mittens, oh my.

Here in Minnesota, its been unseasonably warm. Much more like you would have pictured how October weather should have been. So imagine this, we were really grateful for the beautiful weather, but it seemed a little early perhaps handing out what we had decided the offering to be for the month: socks, scarves, gloves and hats. Much of the offering came from the Bishop’s Walkabouts–a week long road trip with 5 candidates for the next Bishop of Minnesota. All around the Diocese, people brought gifts for people they would not meet. We had quite an offering, people were generous indeed. In total we collected:

• 29 scarves
• 83 hats
• 71 pairs of gloves
• 69 pairs of socks
  
• a bunch of hygene kits (travel size toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoos, conditioners, lotion, etc.)
  

So on November 8th, we gathered (there were about 20 of us, including the 8 or so awesome kids), drank apple cider, and reflected on what we would be distributing to our neighbors. We headed down to Sallys (The Savation Army, just outside in Tramp Camp) and gave away what we had. The kids had brought some of their own personal candy stash, and gave it away walking up and down the sidewalk, looking up and saying to folks “trick or treat” and reached their small hands up and out to give them a snicker bar or piece of licorice. Hardened faces melted, and the so did we.

Sunday, Crazy Sunday

So…Second Sunday in October was a bit overwhelming.

Never have we been met with such intensity. My memory of Sunday will be people pouring out of the shelter, some yelling for scarves, others for gloves. If ever you wonder…there is such a great need for these simple, simple things.

Our goal: next month to have enough pairs of socks, hats, scarves, and knit gloves that no one – no one – has to walk away disappointed.

The Bishop Search Committee is asking folks to bring an item – a hat, gloves, scarf, or pair of socks – to one of the walkabout events.

Here’s how this works…

So, Second Sunday is this cool and simple thing we do.

Check the needs list. Check it out and see what you have to offer. It doesn’t need to be much – a few loaves of bread, some meat, some socks, maybe just some travel shampoos from your latest trip.

You show up at Gethsemane at 2:30. There are no formal invitations, no insider’s group. Its just whoever shows up (always good people), we eat, talk for a while, generally spend time getting to know each other.

An appointed someone shares a bit of a a reflection–a song, poem, piece of Scripture–whatever feels meaningful. We all take a moment to take that in, maybe share a bit of our own perspective and experience.

Then, we lay out all that we have to offer and package it up.

After that, we head out – usually either over to the  Salvation Army, which serves adults, or the Drake Hotel, which serves families, to distribute our offering.

Along the way, in the midst of all this gathering and sharing and laughing and considering, we seem to find a way to name God among us and to bless our lives and the lives of others with grace.

Join us. We like and need people, just like you.