Church of the Reconciler invites people to truly come as they are and so our worship is both lively and messy. Such messiness is a side effect of a place that is known to offer an unreserved welcome to anyone and everyone.
I’ve received this gift of encountering Jesus through serving at Church of the Reconciler. Sometimes I hear Jesus speak through a joyful expression spoken in the midst of unimaginably difficult circumstances or a prayer that’s shaped by the sort of faith that moves mountains. I’ve seen Jesus through hands raised in worship, surrendered fully to God and smiling because, despite everything, hope persists. I’ve witnessed Jesus through listening to the hard won wisdom of my brothers and sisters facing homelessness or poverty. I’ve met Jesus through shared meals, laughter, and tears.
Art is specific to moments in time. No art explains a whole community or even a whole person, but strives to give insight into particular events and feelings. The first poem, titled
The purpose is to remind people, Avery explains, “of their worth and value when they come into this space, and that's because we hear stories all the time about the lines they have to stand in, the hoops they have to jump through, and the suspicious looks they get when they go to different places.”
In my conversation with Avery she points out that, “Nationwide - lack of documents is cited as the number one reason for prolonged homelessness.” Without these documents, it’s like “you're a ghost”, she says. Avery is convinced, “If we really want people to rejoin society then we ought to be willing to say - Look how difficult it is to be able to do that and take steps to make it easier.” Community on the Rise was started to do just that. The pastors and leaders at Church of the Reconciler recognized the need for a dedicated ID service and gave Avery the space to start Community on the Rise in 2020.
Every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the library of The Church of the Reconciler, a circle of chairs becomes something more than furniture. It becomes a place of belonging. A place where men and women who have weathered some of life’s hardest storms gather to reflect and remind themselves that they are more than their circumstances.
