News and Updates

December 22, 2023

Christmas Eve Service

We hope you'll join us for worship this Sunday for our Christmas service at 11:00 a.m. And be sure to let the kids know that Santa will be making an appearance!

Building Closed on Monday, December 25th

Haywood Street Community Development is Hiring!

As we move forward with permitting and plans to break ground in January/February, we are now ready to hire a full-time Director of Housing.

The Director of Housing provides a critical bridge between Haywood Street Congregation (HSC) and Haywood Street Community Development (HSCD). This person serves as the primary staff liaison for HSCD. They support the HSCD board in performing its core functions and oversee all aspects of the organization’s housing development work. Scope includes providing oversight for current projects while cultivating new opportunities to develop affordable housing designed with dignity and built for belonging.

Learn more and apply HERE.

A Gift to Yourself

Give a gift to yourself by way of tax-savings. Haywood Street accepts gifts of stock, which can help reduce Capital Gains. You may also be able to reduce the amount of taxes you pay by donating a portion of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

Please ask your financial advisor how charitable giving can reduce your taxes while supporting Haywood Street’s work and mission. You can also contact Executive Director Laura, for more information.

WNC Faith Communities’ Dec. 19th Day of Action For A Ceasefire Agenda

Faith leaders from Circle of Mercy, Haywood Street Congregation, Jubilee Community, and Habibi Village gathered alongside  Palestinian-American and Mennonite Christian speakers and Jewish community members. Nearly 60 people organized outside of the courthouse in Hendersonville for prayer, song, and testimony. A ceasefire resolution was given to a staffer in Rep. Chuck Edwards' office.

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

There are few people in Asheville with more style than Robbie. He credits his sense of fashion with his history as an actor and a poet. He certainly brightened a dreary Sunday here at Haywood St. this week.

Jason shared a holiday celebration drawing he created while resting in the sanctuary: Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s.

Grateful for another fun and successful Christmas Meal togtether!

We had a special "Jam Band" worship service on Wednesday, featuring some of Haywood Street's talented musicians!

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 Art Ministry: 8:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Join us for a time of fellowship, prayer, and art-making.

Thursday Card Making: 10:00 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 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 [email protected].

SERMON

Forgive and Not Forget

By Pastor Seth

The corners of his mouth turn upward into a slight smile as he gazes down upon the lifeless body of Stephen, a disciple of the so-called Christ. With morose satisfaction, Saul steps over stone after bloody stone used to murder this man by a mob rallied in rage, on his way to drag other messianic sympathizers out from their homes and commit them to prison. Eventually departing Jerusalem on assignment to snuff out more adherents to this spreading movement, Saul is confronted with a blinding light as the voice of Jesus asks why Saul is persecuting him. Dumbfounded and without sight, Saul’s companions guide him to Damascus, where he spends three days in darkness, alone in the corner of a dusty room.

Enter Ananias — a man tasked by God to go and tend to the one responsible for the terrorizing of his spiritual siblings. In reading this passage from the book of Acts, I invite us to reflect on what helps Saul see again.

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.