Christmas with the Homeless

Christmas with the Homeless, Phoenix, AZ (December 24, 2017)

This morning, David and I went to conduct a chapel service at the Lodestar Day Resource Center. We were greeted by the various staff who helped us access the chapel in the St. Vincent de Paul building. The chapel seats about 50 worshippers is built in a triangle that focus the attender's eyes on the alter which is a very large Pieta statute.  

At about 8:45 David and I went to invite guests of the campus (the shelter on the campus provides bedding for about 400 people). Most of the residents were in the dayroom because it was a cool 47 degrees. David likes to sing so he asked various people what their favorite Christmas carol was. He didn’t get much response. He did sing Jingle Bells as he walked around. We talked to several folks and invited them to attend Christmas service in the chapel.

We ended up with 9 people of whom 6 stayed for the entire service. We started about 9:10 and David lead various Christmas Carols and invited interaction from the worshippers. One of the women worshippers recited John 1:1-12 without blinking her eyes. David asked the meaning of Christmas and several worshippers immediately went to the Cross not to the manger. “Jesus died for my sins.” I spoke about how God came into the world to identify with humanity. We ended with a participatory prayer time where each person uttered a prayer (e.g. “I need a place to live” and we shared the response, “Lord, hear our prayer.” After prayer, David lead us in the Lord’s prayer and Silent Night.

I feel like I had the best Christmas ever!