Pastor Beth Straw pointed out that the flooding has actually enabled the St. James congregation to live out its mission, by enabling the congregation to get outside its walls and into the community, building stronger relationships with the people who live in the neighborhood surrounding the church. St. James has a makeshift “Hospitality Center” in the front yard where area residents can come for bottled water, masks, flood buckets, gloves, first aid kits, homemade cookies and brownies and just about anything else! Across the first tent, there is a banner that says: “Swimming Together” along with the God’s words: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a future with hope!” (Beulah Potter, a member of St. James and mother of UMC pastor Marlene Brown, shared this particular verse with Pastor Beth when Beth visited her in the hospital last week. Beulah’s house was later destroyed by the flood, and she passed away from cancer on Thursday morning. Her last legacy, however, was the proclamation of God’s presence and promise to the neighborhood in which she lived and which she loved.) St. James is proclaiming this promise of a future with hope in both word and deed. Even as they empty the contents of their own building, members are moving through the streets of the neighborhood, praying with people, distributing water and other needed supplies, and listening to stories.
They are beacons of hope!
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