Whose Child Are You?

News and Updates

July 7, 2023

Companion Orientation this Monday, July 10th

The next companion orientation will be this Monday, July 10th, 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!

Fresco Speaker Series Tuesday, July 18th

Please join us for the fourth installment of the Fresco Speaker Series. On Tuesday, July 18th at 1:00 pm in the Sanctuary, we will be in conversation with McKenzie Dilliingham and Eva Hook.

Our conversation will be centered around how their experiences at Haywood Street have influenced their desire to advocate for deeply affordable housing.

McKenzie has been a congregant and guest musician with Haywood Street for several years. She also serves as Chair of Haywood Street Community Development, Haywood Street's sister non-profit devoted to building deeply affordable housing in Asheville.

Eva is depicted in the Fresco helping to carry the table. She grew up at Haywood Street, serving as a companion in many areas - most often in the kitchen on Sunday mornings. She just completed her first year as an undergraduate at George Washington University, majoring in Human Services & Social Justice with a minor in Public Policy.

Registration Opens July 15th

Join us for a fun-filled day of "scramble" golf that welcomes all golfers - from novice to scratch!

Proceeds benefit the Downtown Welcome Table, Respite, and other ministries of Haywood Street.

Individuals and teams are welcome!

Habitat for Humanity Workday July 20th

The next Habitat for Humanity work is Thursday, July 20th. We'll meet in the Haywood Street parking lot around 7:30 and carpool to the work site together.

If you have any questions, reach out to Pastor Seth at seth@haywoodstreet.org.

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

Jeanette with visitors, Sarah and Anne, from Mission Hospital. We always enjoy it when community partners come by for a tour. They were happy to join our companion and their hospital colleague, Jeanette!

We had so much fun at Wednesday's Cookout! Thank you to all who showed up to celebrate and help make the cookout possible!

More from Wednesday's cookout.

Weekly Ministry Opportunities:

Worship:

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

Tuesday Prayer Group: 12:00 in Room 6. Gather for a time of communal prayer.

Thursday Card Making:10:00 am in the dining room. Gather together to make cards for our community and friends in prison or in the hospital.

Grief Support Group: Tuesdays from 11 am-12 pm in the community room. We’ll strive towards healing together through relationship with each other.

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.

Click Here

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.

REFLECTION

Whose Child Are You?

by Heather Deifell

A friend invited my sister and me to check out Haywood Street after hearing of our global adventures and desire for a diverse, "out-of-the-box," faith community. He thought it might just be what we were looking for. The food was still being served soup kitchen-style back then and the line wrapped around the dining room. Brian said something controversial in the service which brought about some lively discussion from the eclectic mix of people who had all kinds of opinions. We ended with the inclusive question, "Whose child are you?" and in spite of the difference, we all responded "God's child!" I found my faith family.

Through the last 13+ years of life's rollercoaster, Haywood St. has kept me grounded. Some people think I'm crazy to bring my 9-year-old daughter, Iona, while some encourage her shy engagement. Connecting with people by showing unconditional love is a theme for any time you spend at Haywood St. and everyone knows that whether you're a companion, friend, supporter or staff... the young, the elders, the widows, the refuges, the addicts, and even the animals. Why wouldn't I want Iona to know and understand that kind of love mixed in with all the holy chaos... especially because of that mix?

She’s seen fights, heard lots of foul language, and been served communion by someone under some influence. She’s also been allowed to run around the sanctuary during services, play under the alter, sing in the kids' choir, and help with prayers and the offering. When asked, Iona said she loves that everything is free at Haywood Street for everyone and that anyone is accepted, even kids being loud in the service. She knows she can’t fix everyone’s problems or struggles, but she can try to bring a smile to their hearts…and wouldn’t have it any other way.

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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.