Ecclesia Ministries of Newburgh

I've mentioned the ministry of pastor Steve Ruelke and his work with Ecclesia Ministries, a new church start to the homeless population in Newburgh, NY. Steve sent an update of the ministry on Ash Wednesday. With his permission I am glad to share it with you.

Greetings!

A joyous Ash Wednesday to you . . if Ash Wednesdays are supposed to be joyous?! If not, then joy to you anyway!

A quick update from this end of the world where we keep putting off a more formal communique.

We're about to get our building permit for the Ann Street project which means we can begin work . . .which we've already done - the third floor demolition is just about done - plaster, lath, trim, some sheet rock . . down and out by Saturday thanks to volunteers Ruth Ruelke, Wayne Birch, Kevin Fitzpatrick, John Wenz who've joined me in logging 45 hours of this very therapeutic work. We've bundled lath, shoveled plaster into five-gallon buckets and carted about three tons of stuff to the dump thanks to George Kenna, his assistant Margarito and their trusty pickup . . . By the end of the day on Saturday, we'll be done with that floor . . . only three more to go . . . So it's not too late to get in on the fun - we've got tyvek coveralls, respirators, gloves, goggles waiting for you. We figure we've got about $140,000 earmarked for the project, about half of what's needed if we contract out all the work, so volunteers - and dough - are crucial . . . Oh! And get this - we've asked NYSERDA (NYS Energy Research and Development Agency) to foot the bill for technical assistance so we can make the building - Ecclesia House is the latest name - as energy efficient as possible . . maybe even solar hot water . . . perhaps the first homeless joint in the state to do such stuff . . .

God's grace flows like a veritable river, i tell ya.

Safe Haven has been a huge success since we opened Nov. 1. the 3 pm to 9 pm 7-day operation has taken on a life of its own. We host 20 to 30 guests each day giving a hand to folks who need to navigate the social services world or connect with detox or find family or get medical attention or simple engage in caring conversation. Thanks to our friends at Holy Cross Monastery, we've got a home movie theater set up and show movies on the big screen each Monday [english] and Thursday [spanish] . . . building community, making a difference. . . . When the center closes, it has been doubling as a place where a homeless woman spends the night and last night we hosted a dispossessed mom and her two-year-old who had no place to go. . .

thanks to the financial support of the Cadet Chapel at West Point, we've been able to cover the cost of prescription drugs for a couple of our friends, and we've been able to move one of the Pats from 91 Ann Street [where living conditions have been less than okay for several years] to the Cornerstone Residence just up the street where she has a brand new studio apartment in a place with 24-hour security, a library and support services . . . We'll be doing more stuff with the cadets and other parishioners in the coming months ranging from work crews to outreach . . . How did West Point get involved? I got a call from Maj. Timothy Mallard, senior protestant chaplain, who had somehow heard about us and our work . . . So far, the Chapel has done two dedicated offerings totaling around $5,500 . . . Grace is the only explanation that works for me. . . Amazing.

Speaking of Amazing . . . there's the story of Donnell who we met two or three years ago. . . he spent most of that time either on the street or in jail before getting into a VA rehab and completely changing his life. He had lost everything, including his wife who divorced him about ten years ago . . . the miracle is that this past September, Donnell and Cheryl were remarried on their anniversary here at the house in what has become our meditation garden/barbeque pit/wedding chapel . . . we'll tell you more if we ever get around to doing a newsletter . . .

Then there's the story of Ruth's magic flute and a woman named Sugar who'd been tricking and drugging here in the Burgh for 25 years . . . and how she's been clean and sober for five months and now goes by her real name - Marguerite . . .an incredible witness to courage, determination . . and amazing grace . . .

There's more, of course, and we'll share it with you somehow . . . perhaps, because you will come and see what is happening here . . . .

May the grace of the One who has created all, the One in whom we all live and move and have our being, bless you abundantly.

Steve concluded his email with this observation. "Let me get this straight - We worship a homeless man on Sunday and turn our backs on him on Monday. . . . What's that about?"

Please keep Ecclesia Ministries in your prayers. To learn more about their work go to their website http://www.ecclesia-newburgh.org/.

Blessings,

Rick Cowles