Wherever Two or Three are Gathered

Janet walks the streets of a run-down neighborhood of Cincinnati every Sunday after worshipping at Church of Our Savior.  Why?  Because she's been there.  Sunday was her 13th anniversary of being clean and sober.  Her journey has been a long one and she understands what people who still live on the streets are experiencing.  Accompanied by the Rev. Paula Jackson, Janet greeted people warmly and gave out sandwiches as Mother Paula handed out Sunday's scripture readings and a reflection by the Presiding Bishop about 9/11, and offered to pray in small groups.  "What are you thankful for today?" she would ask.  "Anything you want to pray about?"  A group of teenagers trying to look tough accepted the offer, as did several others.

I posed the question, "What makes this church?"  Without hesitation, Mother Paula responded, "Did you hear what the man said when we pulled up? 'Here's church'.  We gather, we pray, we share a meal -- that's church."

Our Savior Street Church has been active since 1998, helping define the parish as a community that is not satisfied with sitting in one place, waiting for people to come through the doors. They have moved around the city, searching out the homeless and marginalized, taking Christ's love to the streets.  Unlike many street ministries, they don't pressure anyone to pray.  They give out sandwiches first, then they ask about prayers, respecting the answer they receive.  One of the teenagers we met didn't want to pray at first, but when his friends said "OK" he joined in.  Afterwards he said, "Whoa, that prayer got to me.  Give me one of those" (referring to the scripture readings and reflection).  Is walking the streets with sandwiches and the offer of prayer church?  We need to remember Jesus' words, "Whenever two or three are gathered in my Name, I am in the midst of them"