You’ve seen the jar in the sanctuary. Many of you have dropped baggies of change, dollar bills… sometimes even written checks and dropped them in the jar. 

We refer to this as “Change for Good”…. and over the years it has gone to different purposes outside of our sanctuary walls. 

Since I have been here, the change from this jar has gone to what we call the “Open Hands Fund.” It has been used to help support neighbors by providing gift cards for gas and groceries, bus passes and occasionally helping with a utility payment. Always the money is given in gift card or through direct payment to services needed (for example, directly to a landlord or PGE on a neighbor’s behalf.)

We have told some of these stories before and now, but in the last few weeks, the needs of our neighbors have arisen in our hearts, prayers, anxieties and quite literally with increased phone calls for support and requests for assistance through partners like Mill Park Elementary and beyond.

Though the state of Oregon was able to fully fund SNAP benefits for November, food insecurity and the future economic situations for neighbors on the edge continues to be an anxiety and an unknown. Additionally, we have seen increased requests for assistance with power bills and rent payments from Mill Park families who are afraid to go out to work because of ICE raids in the area. Pastor Sara is already seeing personal requests in her “home” life as a neighbor and friend in Milwaukie from families whose primary wage earner has been detained without due process. We might hear all these stories and feel helpless. Like the problem is so big that we can’t even begin to find an answer. 

Beloveds, I think SOME of the answer… at least for now… is CHANGE FOR GOOD. The Open Hands Fund has been particularly low in funds lately, yet it is the most tangible way I as your pastor can respond to neighbors in need. It is a quiet, sometimes invisible way that we are building relationship and safety in our neighborhood. And it is a small thing aside from prayer that you can contribute towards in these times of crisis and heightened fear and inequality. I have certainly been receiving more requests for help! So… if you have a little something; some change in your pocket, a couple extra bills in your wallet… consider dropping them in the change for good jar at church. OR… you can donate directly to the Open Hands fund online. Just check “Evangelism and Outreach” from the Vanco landing page and that money goes directly into the Open Hands fund!

Incidentally, I caught wind this week of a “viral” story of a lady calling churches as a “test case”. She called a bunch of different churches, asking for a can of baby formula and then reported her success/failure rate of receiving such assistance on TikTok. She of course, is actually childless and did not need the formula but was instead intent on creating some social commentary on whether churches “actually care.” The commentary on the internet has been wild… and some of it negating the capacities and safeguards of smaller churches like ours against fraud, fishing and financial mismanagement. I’ll admit… my keyboard warrior hackles got raised! BUT… I started to think and dwell in our capacity to be kind and to do good in our community and shifted my energies here instead. To telling you a story of ways that we CAN say an immediate, clear and safe YES to our neighbors in need.

One of the commentaries on this viral incident has actually been about highlighting how our economic structure cannot and probably should not rely on the good will of churches to prop everything up and “save” people.  I have mixed feelings, but on the whole I tend to agree. We don’t have that capacity to save everyone. But we can do some good in the world. And in our neighborhood. And we ARE doing good. So thank you. For whatever you’re able to give in addition to your regular offering to help boost this fund that helps us be a relief to our neighbors. 

Much Peace, 
Pastor Sara