One of the beautiful things about our utterly outward facing model of ministry is the chance it gives us to see everything we do through the lens of ‘being sanctuary’ in the world. Understanding ourselves as having left the building to follow Jesus into the city square gives us a framework and a ‘place’ in which to be Christian that is boundary-less and delightfully expansive!
We are being sanctuary by building partnerships with neighborhood business owners to build community through a West Medford Halloween Block Party. We are being sanctuary by showing up at the Mystic River Celebration with a tent and the Big Picture Banner Art Project and telling the story of the men and women of Outdoor Church. We are being sanctuary by supporting Medford Overcoming Addictions and offering prayer to the addicts and alcoholics at the Kickball Tournament. We are being sanctuary by sending volunteers to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and the Outdoor Church in Cambridge.
We are also being sanctuary, when fueled by our faith, we go from our homes and our church and act as Jesus’ hands and feet in our individual lives—with colleagues in our work, with strangers in the street, with friends in our neighborhood and at table with our families. It is inspiring to celebrate the many ways some of us are called to be sanctuary through the love and care we share in our relationships and as volunteers. Some have been called to love and serve as their vocation—and this is both inspiring and humbling! In her vocation, Kathy Williams serves as an advocate for ex-offenders, and she has given our congregation the chance to share a small kindness with two of her clients, for whom this tiny little gift has meant the world. Below are two simple “Thank You” notes from those clients—who have shared their gratitude with us. 
But it is we who are grateful—for Kathy’s witness and work and for the chance to live out our call to follow Jesus, for as he said, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” Thank you God for the grace to be your sanctuary.
