News and Updates

September 1, 2023

Building Closed this Monday, September 4th



Happy Labor Day! Here's a reminder that the building will be closed this Monday for the holiday. We'll be open again on Tuesday!

Booth at Chow Chow

Check out Haywood Street's booth at Chow Chow on September 8-10. We'll be set up in the Nonprofit tent at the entrance to the festival.

The event will take place in Pack Square!

Learn more about Chow Chow HERE.

Masking Up

Due to an increase in Covid cases, we are asking that folks wear masks while in the building to minimize the risk of spread within our community. If you have cold/flu symptoms, please stay home. 

There are masks available at each entrance and ask anyone who comes indoors to wear a mask until/unless they are seated at a table for breakfast or lunch. 

Thank you for your care!

Story Circle Beginning Soon

Haywood Street is convinced that one of the things lacking in our society is the opportunity for connection with others. Knowing that transparency, proximity, and vulnerability are necessary for relationships to grow, Haywood Street is partnering with the local non-profit SeekHealing, as we start up our Story Circle once more.

Having a complimentary mission to Haywood Street, SeekHealing is a grassroots “social health” project to facilitate experiences of meaningful human connection between neighbors." In this aspect, they will provide training opportunities for folks who are interested in facilitating the Story Circle at Haywood Street.

The next in-person training opportunity will be September 9-10 at SeekHealing's Asheville location. Sign up HERE, or reach out to Lead Storyteller, Melanee, at melanee@haywoodstreet.org.

Furthermore, if you'd like to support the start-up of this ministry in other ways, please contact our Director of Development, Lorili, at lorili@haywoodstreet.org.

Thank you, Luella's BBQ and 828 Pizza!

As part of our partnership program, Chefs @ at the Downtown Welcome Table, Luella's and 828 Pizza joined us on Wednesday and prepared the meal. We're so grateful for our partners!

Companion Orientation On Monday, September 11th

The next companion orientation will be Monday, September 11th at 5:00. We'll meet in the sanctuary. Please invite your friends and family to join if they are interested in becoming a companion!

Patio Progress

On Thursday, the crew was here to install the new serving window for the patio. Once the patio is finished, we'll have outdoor seating available with table servers!

On-going opportunities to participate at the Welcome Table:

• Have a meal! - Join us on Sunday or Wednesday to enjoy a meal with our community!

• Dining Room Clean Up - As always, clean up is one of the places that we need companion support. We promise to make it fun! On Sundays, we need companions from 10:00-12:00, and on Wednesdays from 12:00-2:00

• Kitchen Clean-Up - On Sundays from 10:00-12:00 and Wednesdays from 12:00-2:00, we would love for a couple of companions to help us clean up the kitchen and help serve the folks who come in during that time for a meal. You can sign up for this role on the sign-up sheet below!

Haywood Street in Photos

Wednesday's meal by Luella's and 828 Pizza!

The serving window is in, and the ground is being laid!

We're in the last phase of the bathroom renovation! New tile floor, granite counters, and fresh paint--everyone who walks through these doors is deserving of quality and beauty!

NC Stage was at Haywood Street on Tuesday, performing "Antigone." Having them here to offer their talents to our community was such a gift. Thank you, all, for what you do!

Weekly Ministry Opportunities:

Worship:

Sundays at 11:00 and Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary

Tuesday Haywood Street Holy Ground Keepers:

8:30 a.m. in the parking lot. Walk the grounds of the church campus and our local neighborhood, cleaning up along the way.

Tuesday Prayer Group: 12:30 p.m. in Room 6. Gather for a time of communal prayer.

Wednesday Card Making: 8:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Gather together to make cards for our community and friends in prison or in the hospital. 

Weekly Sermons

Read each week's sermon and previous sermons on the stories and sermons page of the website.

Community Resources

Click below to see a list of places in the community to donate and find clothes, and when recovery meetings are held.

Fresco Viewing Hours:

Sundays 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Monday-Thursday 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

By appointment, contact April at april@haywoodstreet.org.

SERMON

The Treasure of Salvation

By Pastor Jody

Shackled together with leg irons, they scrambled across a field of tobacco, diving down into the leafy plants every 3rd or 4th row in order to avoid the watchful eye of the mounted armed guard.  

Our unlikely heroes are determined to escape. They are literally bound together – chained together- in their quest for a great treasure. 1.2 million dollars buried in a valley. A valley that is scheduled to be flooded in 4 days as part of the great rural electrification plan of the 1930s. Liberating themselves from the work farm prison in Mississippi, Delmar, Pete, and Everett begin their quest for their treasure.

Early on their journey, this trio encounters a prophet- a blind Oracle:

And though the road 

may wind, and yea, your hearts grow 

weary, still shall ye foller the 

way, even unto your salvation.

He tells them they will not find the treasure they seek but they will find another treasure that will lead them to their salvation. Salvation was not the treasure the travelers set out for in O Brother Where Art Thou. Or was it? 

We read in Matthew that after Jesus was baptized and returned from his trial in the wilderness he began his public ministry. He began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”The Kingdom has come near. Jesus travels all about the area and continues to make that proclamation and backs it up with acts of healing and love and grace. Repent the kingdom has come near. Change your direction, change your thinking. The kingdom is here.

In our scripture today Jesus talks first to a large crowd and then only to his disciples. He offers parables about the kingdom of heaven: 

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure.

The kingdom of heaven is like a net.

We are given all sorts of clues about the nature of the kingdom of God. All sorts of clues about the treasure we are seeking. Today, as we hear these verses, I want us to consider:

How will you know the treasure when you find it?

Continue reading...

A witness to include the most excluded, Haywood Street not only welcomes every child of God–especially sisters and brothers of every mental illness and physical disability, addiction and diagnosis, living condition and employment status, gender identity and sexual orientation, class, color, and creed–but we celebrate your presence, certain that the kingdom of God is coming closer because you are here.