"Mutual Aid Network", A Way to Care for and Receive Care from the St. Julian's Community:
Easter greetings to you and yours! As I mentioned during the service on Sunday, I’m excited to announce the start of a new ministry at St. Julian’s: A Mutual Aid Network. A mutual aid network is simply a tool that helps members and friends of our community connect their needs for tangible assistance with others who want to help meet those needs. So, under the leadership of the Rev. Demery Bader-Saye, our wonderful outreach committee has developed a user-friendly Google Doc that will help us better facilitate that sort of connection with one another.
You can access the link here: St. J's Mutual Aid Network.
At the beginning of the document, Demery shared a quote from Acts 2 that reads:
"Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:43-47)
This passage talks about the spirit of community that pervaded the earliest church, a Spirit of mutual love, concern, and care. And it was this mutual love and care that the writer of Acts identified as one of the hallmarks of the movement of the Holy Spirit! We know that that same Spirit of love and care flows through St. Julian’s with ferocity. So we hope that this will be a tool that helps us simply know how best to express that love and care for each other in small but significant ways as we weather this season together.
Here are some notes and instructions (Please note the fuller instructions on the document itself):
1. We’d like to try this ministry as a “small experiment” for two weeks to see if this resonates with our community and facilitates the goal of helping us help each other.
2. This does not replace the usual avenues for pastoral care or emergency assistance from our clergy (e.g. rent/utility assistance, emergency food access, need for spiritual/emotional care). Please continue to feel free to speak to Miles or me for these concerns.
3. In the document you can list either a “need” or an “offer.” For example, “need: 3 boxes of tissue,” or “offer: going to HEB on Thursday, can pick up groceries”.
4. Please only share this link with known members or friends of St. Julian’s and avoid sharing the link on Facebook or other social media. This document is not intended to meet large-scale needs in the wider community, but instead is a way to stay more connected with each other. We also want to protect the security of those who utilize this resource.
5. Please follow all recommended social-distancing and safety protocols related to COVID-19 and only participate in ways that feel safe and comfortable for you and your family.
6. Our community will do our best to fulfill needs listed on the document and a member of the Outreach Committee will be monitoring the document each week. However, it may not always be possible to fulfill each listed “need.”
We invite you to participate, as you feel led, as we continue striving to “love all well” at St. Julian’s. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
With love and care,
Jonathan+, Demery+, and the Outreach Committee
St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church