by Terry Jaurena
I’m grateful for the small band of brothers and sisters who gathered one Saturday morning recently on our church lawn. We made a bit of a mess as we potted pansies into peat pots and placed them in blue handled gift bags along with some cuties, some chocolate eggs, an Easter Week invitation post card and a small message (tract) about the Hope of Easter.
Then off we went in groups of two or three in search of open doors among the new urban dwellers in the Mural District. Skip Lynn and I got some great exercise and met some lovely folks. We met a puppy and his new family. We met the father of a one year old, just finishing a diaper change. We met a mom and her son just before, or maybe it was after, a scooter ride and walk. We gave them blue gift bags and invited them to visit our church, told them we were praying for them and glad to have them as neighbors.
I don’t know what fruit will come from those blue bags, but it was a great way to invest a Saturday morning. I trust God for the fruit.
That was my experience. I’ll let others share theirs as well …
Richard, Kim and Scott Lee: “Saturday, March 21 was a glorious day for the Urban Invitation Walk. With our 150 packed and decorated bags, we set out in 3 groups to distribute the gifts to neighborhood condo and apartment units, as well as homes. The highlight of the morning was greeting people and the special conversations enjoyed throughout the neighborhoods. Come join us on our next walk! You will be blessed!”
Al and Margie Nunez: “What a pleasant thing it was to walk for Easter! We gathered at church on a Saturday morning to join other FPC friends to prepare and deliver our “Welcome” bags to a number of downtown apartments.
Our group was fortunate to have Charlene Henry among us, for she is a resident of one of the new apartment buildings, City View, on Van Ness and Inyoe Avenue, and we were able to gain access to the otherwise secure building. We rang each door bell, and everyone who responded was pleasant, friendly and receptive. On one floor, we spoke to a mother of three young children who was quite surprised to receive our little gift bag and showed great interest in bringing her children to church. We hope she will!
All to whom we spoke and gave bags seemed blessed by our small gesture, as we surely were in visiting them. We pray most of all that through it Jesus touched them and called them to Him not only for Easter but for life.”