HOME Community: December 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Reflection on Community MEMBERS

As I was praying this morning, I was thinking of all of you and desiring to be together as many of us were on retreat. As I prayed, I was struck that we are forming community and that community is made up of community MEMBERS (I know - it's a shocking discovery!!!). I was convicted that I need to be a better community member - to this HOME Community, to my family, to John, to my neighbors, friends, etc. As I strive to be a better community member by praying, growing in virtue, being hospitable, serving... the community improves. As we are apart physically, may we pray for each other, connect and grow closer, and also strive to be better members of the communities we are physically apart of (Jackson, WI - Friends of the Orphans - Creighton - Univ. of North Dakota - THE Apartment - 6:8 - our families, Churches, and friends).

Praying for all of you!!!

Sarah <><

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

HOME sweet HOME

Hello friends and community-discerning members!

For those of you who could make it to the HOME retreat we had the past few days, it was a tremendous joy to spend time with all of you and a very fruitful weekend in continuing discernment of the community life. Thank you so much for sharing!

John, Sarah, Eric and I were discussing the Facebook page and how effective it is for sharing our thoughts, reflections, or just anything we'd like to share with our HOME-ly friends. I pose a new suggestion: and please do respond or at least give a "I think this is really dumb" or "Hey, that's neat." so we can give this thing a whirl.

After making an executive decision that this is the route we'll go, let's start sharing prayer requests, one-liner reflections, statements of gratitude or acknowledgement of another member, basically anything that will keep us more connected while we are very physically disconnected.

Also, it's real easy to make every member an administrator so we don't have to have just one email address allowed to post on here. If you're interested, please respond to this with your email address and I'll set it up so we can get started.

Praying for each of you! Merry belated Christmas and happy early new year!

Peace,
Kelsey

Who We Are

Our daily lives are structured around practicing the works of mercy as found in Jesus' teachings. We are committed to regularly feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, visiting the prisoner and the sick in the name of Jesus.

As followers of Jesus we understand our lives to be centered in God's Grace. HOME strives to be a "school" for Grace in all its dimensions, working constantly to undo poverty, racism and violence.

All of these can be summed up as the struggle to connect with the God of life. We pray that HOME be a space where all of us - the broken - can come to learn and relearn the ways of Jesus; a place to struggle together for God's call of love, mercy, peace and justice. A place we can all cal HOME.

What do we do

"What we do is not nearly as important as who we are -

and how much we give is not nearly as important

as how much love is in the giving."

- Shane Claiborne

A large portion of our community's common work is the work of 6:8:

6:8 is striving to Transform Communities by Making Service Personal through Intentional Community. We offer many opportunities, especially in Sauk Prairie, WI to serve. Here are some of our Programs:

Sauk Prairie Against Hunger - Feeding People Locally and Globally. We work with the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry and the Sauk Prairie School District Locally and Feed My Starving Children for meals to aid Globally. We are motivated by our love of Christ and His Children and His command to feed Him through the hungry.

Called & Gifted - God has gifted each of us and called us to share these gifts with those around us. 6:8 presents a one-day workshop twice a year and offers follow-up for those interested in discerning their charisms, or Spiritual Gifts. Not a personality inventory, this program, developed by the Catherine of Sienna Institute, discerns how God works in and through a person to make Himself known in the world. If we are working in our charisms, we will be effective AND not be burned out because it is the Spirit working through our gifts. 6:8 encourages volunteers to participate in this program whenever possible as it helps us make service more personal.

Community Garden - Located at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Prairie du Sac, our Community Garden grows food for those who plant, weed, and/or harvest to enjoy. We have set times for volunteers to come and we teach about planting, maintaining, and harvesting food from a Garden. Anyone who helps with the garden has the opportunity to share in the produce. Extras go to community meals/groups and the Sauk Prairie Food Pantry.

The Pines - 6:8 builds relationships with those in need of company by assisting at a weekly activity hour (Tuesdays 3:30-4:30) at The Pines Nursing Home in Prairie du Sac. Volunteers spend time with residents and help residents with active games, art projects, playing cards or games, and more.

MadCAAP High School Mission Trip - 6:8 takes 50 High Schoolers to Mississippi each summer to build a house for a family in need with MadCAAP, a local organization in Madison County Mississippi. Pre-trip Meetings, evening activities in Mississippi, and post-trip follow-up connect the students to local service opportunities in Sauk Prairie.

Feed My Sheep - 6:8 partners with Churches in the Madison Area to raise money and package 100,000 meals at the Catholic Multicultural Center each Lent (early Spring). The food is a vitamin and mineral mix, dried veggies, soy, and rice, through Kids Against Hunger. Half of the meals stay in the Madison/Sauk area and the other half go to a school in Nicaragua.

Fire on the River - 6:8 coordinates Sauk Prairie’s 4th of July celebration on the Saturday closest to the 4th. Fire on the River is a full-day family-friendly event that highlights the best of Sauk Prairie and invites participants into the creative process. Fire up your appetite with Flavors of Sauk Prairie; Fire up your imagination through the Art Corner; Fire up your pallet at the Beer and Wine Tasting; Fire up your ears at the live stage; and then enjoy the Fireworks to wrap up the night!

Silver Cord - Students at Sauk Prairie High School can register and submit their volunteer hours. Students who submit 160 or more hours throughout High School receive a Silver Cord to wear at Graduation. 6:8 gives out one $500 Scholarship each year to a Silver Cord recipient.

Men’s Discipleship Group - F.A.T. (Faithful, Available & Teachable) Men meet weekly to read Scripture, pray, talk, and hang out together as they grow in their role as Disciples and relationship with God.

Women’s Bible Study - A group of women who meet the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month (10:30-11:30am) to grow together as Sisters in Christ by praying, reading the Bible, and sharing life together.

HOME Community

Friday, December 30, 2011

Reflection on Community MEMBERS

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

HOME sweet HOME

HOME

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