God has created us so we do small things with great love.
I believe in that great love, that comes, or should come, from our heart, should start at home: with my family, my neighbours across the street, those right next door.
And this love should then reach everyone.
-- Mother Theresa
When asked about the Greatest Commandment, Jesus replied,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments."
(Matt 22:37-40)
Learning to do this together at home home and as we walk along the road.
(We have much to learn)
VISION...............................
- Love. Fellowship. Action. Study. Advocacy. Worship. Networking.
- We're trying to learn (it's difficult!) to love God, each other, and our neighbour.
- It came out of Deut 6:4-9 (Hence Route 6:4) & Mark 12:28-32
WHAT GOES DOWN ................
- Monthly Potluck/Study Nights
- Advocacy in our churches
- Ongoing projects in the community (see below)
- (Maybe the ultimate goal is for these last two, 'church' & community, to become one, eh?)
VOLUNTEER LINKS:
DEUTERONOMY 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (TNIV)
MARK 12:28-33
When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus said, "'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Study Links
RAY VANDERLAAN on Deut 6
Close to Home
- Helping Hands Street Mission
- Matthew 25 House
- MISSION SERVICES (Leading, Caring, Renewing in our City)
- Wesley Urban Ministries
- Micah House Refugee Service
- Sophia House
- Prison Fellowship
- TRUE CITY (Churches together for the good of the City)
- CITY KIDZ (To Inspire, Instill, and Impact vulnerable Children)
- VOLUNTEER HAMILTON (lists non-profit organizations where you can serve)
- TACKELING POVERTY IN HAMILTON (The Community comes together to find solutions)
- Hamilton Low Income Map
- Hamilton Unemployment Rate Map
- Hamilton Female Lone-Parent Families Map
OPPORTUNITIES ENROUTE:
1) THE CLOTHING ROOM
- This is a clothing bank that on Wentworth St. North - FREE clothes to those in need!
- Ongoing opportunities to sort clothes downstairs and interact with clients upstairs...
- Donations also accepted.
2) ADVOCACY in your church/workplace
- Don't be too overwhelmed - we're in this together! Start by asking God to open your eyes. Discuss, pray, study, ask questions, go places you haven't gone before.
- Organize a Study Group to learn about our global community (Or join ours! Right now we're looking into the Beatitudes)
- Speak at your workplace or church about community needs. Help people connect with opportunities! See link list above for some ideas.
- Organize a food or clothing drive through your workplace or church.
- Organize a monthly "Essentials" drive. (E.g.: Jan is toothpaste month! Necessities are socks, shampoo, baby food, razors, toothbrushes, deoderant, blankets, etc.)
- Make your church or workplace a drop-off depot. E.g.: bin to collect grocery bags (much needed @ food bank).
- Email routesixfour@gmail.com for more ideas or if you'd like help as an advocate.
3) WORD 4 THE STREET coffeehouse
- This used to take place quarterly in partnership with Mission Services. Stay tuned. If it starts again we'll let you know!
- Purpose: to raise awareness about poverty in Hamilton, to highlight local musicians, to network and meet people of all different experiences, and hopefully to raise some funds for outreach organizations
- Check out www.mission-services.com and www.frwy.ca.
PRAYER
- Love for God and our Neighbour!
Email routesixfour@gmail.com to share prayer requests.
COMMITMENT
We committed together to: learning Love for God and our neighbour (with the understanding that our neighbours are not just friends, families, or even people we feel comfortable with), Praying for each other (ongoing), Trust (through truth and relationship, accountability and confidentiality), and to Value each person where they are
LOVE
Agapē (Gk. αγάπη ), is one of several Greek words meaning love. ... Many have thought that this word represents divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, thoughtful love. …The term was used by the early Christians to refer to the special love for God and God's love for humanity, as well as the self-sacrificing love they believed all should have for each other. Agape …has been defined as an intentional response to promote well-being when responding to that which has generated ill-being (Thomas Jay Oord).
For a broader definition, see www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape
Michelangelo's Pieta
Christ's love for us bridged the gap between God & humanity (Phil 2).
Do not be afraid of loving to the point of sacrifice, until it hurts. Jesus' love for us led him to his death. -- Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa's Pieta
"We should serve the poor like they were Jesus. We should serve the poor because they are Jesus."
Your Pieta
Who can you clasp in your arms - as though you're clasping Jesus?
And who will you allow to clasp you?
NEED A STUDY BOOK?
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence: http://www.practicegodspresence.com/brotherlawrence/index.html
Calendar
EMAIL US
Hey, we'd love to hear from you - RSVPs, questions, comments, challenges, updates, insights about God, stories about your "on the road" experiences, ideas about church, community and "mission" (what are they, exactly?), faith dialogues, poetry and limericks, theological queries, theories about life, the universe and everything, social action links... oh yeah, all we ask is that you keep it clean, constructive, and be your insane self.
Post a comment on the CONTACT section (above) or send us an old-fashioned email at routesixfour@gmail.com .
No comments:
Post a Comment