On the fringe of Washington Park near the Cranston/Providence line stands a brick building. For many years this building has been the center of activity. Primarily, in its beginnings, it was used for worship. Then expanded into a social and meeting gathering space. In later years, there was a preschool and daycare here. If you were to drive by on a Monday, late Friday, Saturday or Sunday afternoon you would get the sense that it is just brick and mortar. The former Washington Park United Methodist Church now know as The Open Table of Christ UMC is anything but just brick and mortar. It is more like a web. With tentacles, connections and activity moving from one circle to another. Almost like static energy. So why then is it not visible ? How come it looks like any other extended building built from the 1950`s ?
Timing is everything as the saying goes. If you wonder whats going on there you have to look. A drive by is not gonna amount to anything. This morning there were 30 people in the building, at one point or another. A delivery of Food from RI Community Food Bank and We Share Hope are gonna help us feed well over three hundred families in the next two days from zip codes 02905 and 02907. 20 of those 30 people were loading , unloading, stacking and sorting all the food in prep for the next two days distribution. The other ten were doing maintenance, and getting the Open Closet Economy Shop ready for its big fashion show later this week. The exterior brick and mortar are hiding the activities going on inside. If you do not open the door and come inside you cannot look. Project Outreach on Wednesday and Thursday from approximately 8am until 12 noon over 180 people on each day, will come for food for their families. Not to mention the shopping going on in the economy shop or receiving free health care from Clinica Esperanza. During this time the Community Stewards are assisting all in whatever capacity is needed.
Often times people are looking for a worthwhile cause to donate their financial resources or their time.They are looking for a way to contribute or give back to the community. They look and they seek. Are you seeking? Do you want to help financially or with your time? We need people from everywhere to make these programs be as viable for those we serve as possible. No matter how large or small all are needed. The brick and mortar may not be appealing, but I guarantee, the experience you will witness from within would be one not quickly forgotten. If you seek here, you will find.
On Saturdays over 65 kids are in and out of our lower level in the community gym playing basketball. At one time years ago, it was one of the most thriving and talked about youth leagues in town. Over the years it lost its way. Eventually lack of interest in basketball took hold and the gym became a storage area for food. Now after a rehab, it is being brought back to some of the former prominence it used to have. Kids from all over, and all age groups, are enjoying using the space again. The kids look, seek and find. I hope some adults will too. We even have two adult groups that play at night.
The second Wednesday's of the month there is a white meal truck in the parking lot. The Mobil Loaves and Fishes crew will be putting food and small items to bring to the homeless at designated shelters. This is a way for us to reach out, outside the brick and mortar building that we launch our activities from. Being active in the community, outside our doors. More volunteers are needed and welcomed.
It is our hope that all the works of the Open Table of Christ are seen as a viable asset to the community at large. It is also our hope, that if you need a place of worship we are here for you. While we are steadfast in our beliefs, we welcome all. Our worshipping body is from more than four different continents and several different languages. We are as diverse as God`s people are. Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. . This is where we look, seek, and find common ground. Knowing that we are all children of God, and all of God`s children are welcomed in this brick and mortar building. The Open Table of Christ UMC has stood up publicly when necessary for acts of social justice and primarily in cases of oppression. We are a diverse group who have many strong ties to social justice causes that have a direct impact in our local community.
If you look, we are here. If you seek, we are here. Most importantly if you find, we are here. Inside and out of that brick and mortar building in Washington Park, Providence, RI. So, once again if you look we are here , in Providence, if you seek ,we are here at 1520 Broad Street across from McDonald's, and if you find we are blessed and grateful.
EOJ
3/20/2012
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