PROPHETS OF HOPE

A Ministry of Presence

May, 2024

Prophets of Hope meets the 4th Thursday of the month @6 pm in the Fireside Lounge.

Next Meeting:

May 23, 2024

Prophet Minutes and News

We are going into our third year of providing clothing/hygiene bags to indigent women leaving the jail. Altogether we have provided over 150 bags. Patty, Kathy, Julie and Natalie are going to take over the project. Bev will continue to be responsible for asking for donations to support this project. Currently the need is for more hygiene products so Bev will reach out to our sister faith communities plus make an announcement at Peace. We need the following in hotel sizes: shampoo, lotion, conditioner, toothpaste, combs, and lip balm (Chapstick). Bev will put out a basket at Peace.

The faith/meditation services are going well in the jails. Stew and Peter are getting regular attendees for their Spanish program. We discussed a variety of ways to lead these programs in addition to Bible study: Meditation, reading poetry, singing, spiritual direction, origami, and zentangles. We agreed there are many ways we can share God's presence.

Bev spoke at the Center for Spiritual Living and they gave a donation of $1000 for our jail ministry. Also, a number of folks signed up to receive our POH newsletter.

The lobby ministry is going well and Jane indicates folks are wanting to add a second Saturday. Jane explained that the reason we changed from Sunday to Saturday is because that is when she is available.

At this point Jane is setting up and taking down everything. She has purchased two new lightweight tables to make it easier to transport. Jane encourages folks to sign up on the googledoc. Bev will add the lobby schedule to the jail and Blaine Street doc.

The one page Resource Guide for families of loved ones who are incarcerated is now in the jail lobby. Jane and Natalie shared that they handed them out to folks when they were there. The Resource Guide is now on the NAMI website, and has been given to the district attorney's Victim Services office and the public defender's office. The public defender indicated they would be putting it on their website as well.

The population at juvenile hall continues to decrease. Currently there are 6 youth housed there. As a result juvenile hall is doing some renovations such as creating a library, putting in new flooring and purchasing better mattresses for the youth. This summer they are planning to break ground for a gym (they currently do not have a gym or adequate recreational space). This has been on the books for over 15 years but due to environmental issues is only now getting the go ahead. They also will be building out the kitchen with access to a large garden project. Hopefully this may mean we will be bringing our youth back from Sonoma to be closer to their homes and community.

Jail and Court Resources

PRAYERS

Loving God, we are in over our heads. The situations are overwhelming. Take over, take over all the way. Fill us with your empowered presence. We give all of this to you. Thank you for being here and enfolding us at this very moment with your light and love. Amen

Prayers of strength, patience, wisdom and courage for our friend Stew in navigating this new chapter in his life.

Continued prayers for Steven who is in hospice care.

Prayers for Rosie who left a program after a week.

Prayers of thanksgiving for positive outcomes to recent tests

Prayers for Jacki who is pregnant.

Prayers for Cory who is visiting her Building for Generations program in Tanzania. Prayers for Joaquin while his mother is out of the country.

Prayers of healing for Cary who is back in the main jail.

Prayers for the women who are incarcerated for the 35th, 52nd, and 15th time due to being unsheltered and suffering from mental illness.

Prayers for Linda's brother who is having biopsies on his lung.

Continued prayers for Mary who has over 12 months of sobriety, will be receiving SSDI this month, and is housed.

Continued prayers for Oscar as he navigates his mental illness.

Prayers of thanksgiving for Diego's graduation from high school and his acceptance in the Rising Scholar program.

Prayers of comfort and strength for the families of youth who are incarcerated.

God of Joy, thank you for the gift of a good laugh. Like music and love, it speaks all languages and has a healing power all its own.

Help us to remember there is nothing life-giving about being gloomy. Let our trust in you and our belief in your care be so complete that our joy will be the sure sign of your presence in this world that needs you so much.

Amen