Mtr Taylor Devine

Dear friend,

This week I received a hand-written note to the Parish from a parent at Rio Vista Elementary School, just half a mile from here. It started with a difficult story, a move from homelessness into housing and employment, a medical setback, and the brink of homelessness again. I held my breath as I read, thinking this was going to be one of those requests that weighs on you because you know you have to say “no.” But when I got to the end of the letter, I smiled because I was wrong-instead it was a thank you note for the way in which Saint Philip’s has said “yes.” This mother and her child for now have secure housing because of the Children’s Christmas Project. The Principal at Rio Vista, who knows the family and the medical setback, was able to stop an eviction from occurring for one of her students, saving him from another interruption in school, and giving this mother a moment to catch her breath. A recent meeting with that same Principal revealed that this is not the only situation like this this year, the more than $3000 given to Rio Vista this year has already stopped three evictions. Thank you for saying “yes” to relationship, to trusting and supporting those closest to families on the margins, and yes to God’s call to be neighbors in this place.

'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.' (Mark 12:28-31)

In Christ,
Mtr. Taylor