Every Easter we have a sunrise service at the Sellwood Faith Community. We gather at the Sellwood Riverfront Park where we sing, read scripture, and engage in some sort of activity that reminds us Christ is risen.

This year as we were gathered we welcomed into our midst a young woman who was homeless and struggling in that moment with fairly significant trauma and a residual mental health issue. I was once again so incredibly touched as members of our community welcomed in this person and invited her to join us. Radical Christian hospitality was being lived out under my nose. It was not me as the pastor or Jeff as one of the paid leaders who reached out. It was the people of this community who truly live out belief in the love of Jesus.

As the young woman hesitated to join in it was clear that she was overwhelmed. I followed the modeling of our community and reached out to her in love. She and I stepped away from the gathering and chatted for a little while. My time as a chaplain at the state psychiatric hospital helped me to see that she needed some immediate intervention. Someone from the gathering looked up the mental health crisis line and I called them. After speaking with the staff they determined that we needed medical services and a response team. While we were waiting for help to arrive the community returned to worship and they began to sing a song with lots of hallelujahs. As we sat together on the bench just up from where the community was gathered the young woman turned to me, crying, and said “you have the most beautiful family.” I told her that I couldn’t agree more.

A few minutes later the firetruck, ambulance, and two police cars arrived. After the young woman was attended to and packed up in the ambulance we ended worship and went on our ways to celebrate Easter. I have no way of knowing what will become of the young woman. All I can do is hope.  All I can do is be thankful that we were there and that in her time of distress she heard beautiful singing, she was greeted with love, and she was able to get the medical help she needed.

-Eilidh

Image source: https://lintvkoin.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/generic-ambulance-amr-c-042713.jpg