Reunion, Again

"Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4: 17-18, The Message

Three "generations" of Dwellers: Alison, 08-09; Steph 07-08; and Kenna 09-10

Reunions can be exciting, strange, encouraging, and discouraging all at once. We come back together for a time, just a time, and reconnect, share stories, see how much we've grown, (or haven't). But really, earthly reunions are just small glimpses of the true re-unification that God promises to us all, if we devote our lives and trust to God.

The second half of May brought Alison, Mary, Sara, & Steph, our Dwellers from last year, back to visit Hollywood. From what they told me, all of these feelings were present at one point during their stays. It was a reunion, in that they got to reconnect with one another, the neighborhood families and children and the place they called home for a full year. It was also a chance to meet Alex, Wendy, Curtis, Kenna, & Will, our current Dwellers. Reconnecting and making new connections.

And it was, no doubt, painful and complicated to depart from Hollywood once again, reminding us that the best we can do with reunions are long weekends, or sometimes full weeks. But last night, as Mary, Sara, & Steph cooked dinner for everyone, I heard hope in the laughter and the joy of the evening. I caught an image of heaven: the ultimate reunion, with God and one another. I caught myself doing something I rarely find space to do: imagining all of us as the eternal beings that we are. It's so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day struggles, wishing for relief, wishing to "move on." But every once in a while, moments happen that seem frozen in time, just sitting there and glowing. Joking, storytelling, making fun of one another, and breaking bread together seemed, to me, like a slice of eternity.

It allowed for a reunion within my heart and a reminder of why this work, why reaching out in fellowship, love, and service, is so very important. Indeed, it is what we were created to do.

Blessings and peace,

Matthew

Gathering Together

"I'll bring you back home—a great family gathering! You'll be famous and honored all over the world. You'll see it with your own eyes— all those painful partings turned into reunions! God's Promise." - Zephaniah 3:20, The Message

Last night, our former Hollywood City Dwellers hosted a dinner for our current Dwellers. Shelton and Kristina traveled from far across the country for the reunion, and it was a joyful occasion!

Earlier this week, Stephanie, Sara, Mary, and Alison began the process of testifying the amazing ways they've seen the face of God this year in Hollywood. The First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood hosted our presentation for the Missions Committee. Even for those of us who knew of the trials and triumphs that the Dwellers have experienced thus far, it was profoundly moving and encouraging to hear the stories told in a continuous fashion, to feel the moving of God's spirit through the telling.

DOOR Hollywood Board members and I shared the story of the transition from the Hollywood Urban Project into DOOR Hollywood, as well as the many ways people can become involved in this ministry, both near and far. Most importantly, keep us in your prayers. The work our Dwellers are doing is hard and quite emotionally taxing, so please pray for their strength and that they continually find ways to encourage each other in their work. We also could always use the financial support of those willing to sponsor our Dwellers, covering the food and housing costs that are necessary to keep the mission afloat from year to year. Within the realm of short-term missions (Discover), please consider traveling to Hollywood with your church, synagogue, college group, or school, and let us host you towards finding new hope and new opportunities to see the face of God here through service.

If you're in Hollywood already, there's plenty of ways to volunteer in whatever capacity you can. Swing on by 5846 Gregory this Sunday for the kick-off of the garden project!

Next week, we are hosting a group of young volunteers from Arizona. They will be learning of the many faces of homelessness and how it's edifying for all involved to focus on building relationships centered on mutual recognition of dignity and respect.

May any painful partings you have recently sustained turn into the hope of a joyful reunion this week!

Matthew