Introduction
SHELTER
simple
accessible
secure and safe
affordable
relaxing – no chaos
close to amenities
Sanctuary enveloped in
grace and love
a place to be
in community
be content – attitude, makes
a difference
We live and move and have
our
being in God
We are travelers moving
through to our real home
With God. ---Mary
If only shelter was this for
everyone! We pray and have hope for a day when all have shelter and shelter
that is home. Advent devotions and thoughts have been written by members of the
congregation and compiled into 11 devotions by Pastor Kimber. The devotions are
to help us reflect on the theme of shelter and home. The theme was chosen by
church council as the congregation considers transforming the church property,
plans including some form of housing. Housing and shelter are in the news every
day and all levels of government are including housing strategies in their
platforms.
Theology professor Brian
Walsh (University of Toronto) writes, “The deeper your understanding of home
the more profound your analysis of homelessness and the more creative your
proposals for homemaking.” Our hope is that reflecting on shelter and home will
grow our understanding and our compassion for people’s needs related to shelter;
that reflection will spark ideas, advocacy, and actions to address homelessness
(physical, spiritual, and emotional) in our neighbourhoods.
In our neighbourhoods there
is a variety of housing. Sometimes terms are misused creating confused
conversations. A great resource with definitions, charts, and graphs is:
What is
affordable housing in Ontario? - Open Council
Housing is placed along a
continuum.
Low-income housing includes:
the homeless (street/tent), emergency shelters, short-term supportive housing, transitional
housing, social housing, long-term supportive housing, subsidized rental
housing and affordable rental housing.
Moderate-income housing is affordable
home ownership and market rental housing.
High-income housing is market
rental housing and market home ownership.
Affordable housing –
in Canada, affordable housing is shelter that costs less than 30% of gross
(before-tax) household income. The rent or home price that is affordable varies
from one household to the next because wages/income for each household is
different. What is the same is the need for housing that is affordable by
everyone. How much of your income is spent on meeting your housing needs?
Let us inhabit Advent, with
hearts being open doors of welcome and hospitality, let us build shelter of all
varieties, so that at Christmas Christ may find a home that is more than a
stable.
Where did Jesus find
shelter?
By all accounts he was
homeless
during his ministry
Homes were opened to him,
meals were provided, a bed
to sleep.
If Jesus were here today
would he be sleeping in a tent?
How would we respond to
someone “of no fixed address”
relying on the kindness and
hospitality
of friends and strangers. ---Carolyn
Holy God,
as you have accompanied your
people through times of captivity, wilderness, and exile, shelter and sustain
all those who flee persecution, oppression, warfare, violence, hunger, and
poverty. Open our hearts and homes, our gates and doors, so that they find
safety, peace, and welcome --- a place to live in freedom and without fear;
through Jesus Christ, our refuge and hope. Amen.
(pg.
51 All Creation Sings)
Nice project
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