News and Updates

March 31, 2023

Palm Sunday Service April 2nd


We hope you join us this Sunday for our Palm Sunday at 11:00 am!


Pastor Jody will be leading the conversational homily as we remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and prepare for the events that follow.

A "Thank you" to A Seat at the Table Host Chefs and Sponsors

Much gratitude to these partner chefs, who hosted a very special event for the benefit of the Downtown Welcome Table this week. From L to R: Travis Schultz and Ashley Capps (New Stock Pantry), Trevor Payne (Tall Johns), J. Chong (J. Chong Eats), Eric Morris (Cultura), John Fleer (Rhubarb-not pictured).


Also the business partners who sponsored the event, which raised more than $200,000 to help ensure that there is "A Seat at the Table" for everyone at the Downtown Welcome Table!

Respite Meal Train


Every night of the week Respite is in need of dinner for our friends staying there. We'd love to have December accounted for throughout the week of Christmas.


If you would like to sign up you can do so here.

Last Call for Lambs and Hams


This is the last call for donations of lambs and hams for Easter! You can make a donation by clicking here. Or, if you have any questions, reach out to Lorili at lorili@haywoodsteet.org.

Buncombe County Public Health Here April 5th


The Public Health Mobile Team will be back at Haywood Street on Wednesday, April 5, 10 am-2 pm.


The vaccines included will be COVID, Flu, MPOX, Hep A & B, Tetanus, and Shingles. The team will also work with folks to connect them to other county resources and clinical services. 

Haywood Street Respite in Impact Health News


The Respite was recently featured in the Impact Health Newsletter, covering our partnership with the Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program.


Read the full article here!

Downtown Welcome Table


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!

Easter Sunday coming up on April 9th


Join us on Easter, April 9th, to recognize and celebrate Resurrection Sunday.


To start the morning, we'll gather for a Sunrise Service at 7:00 am in front of the sanctuary. After this brief service, all are invited to join us for breakfast at the Welcome Table anytime between 8:30 and 10:30.


Following breakfast, we hope you'll join us in the sanctuary at 11:00 for the Easter service.

Haywood Street in Photos

Little Abby and Mom enjoying the banana pudding on Wednesday!

Hayesville First UMC was the first group of the year to do work in the garden. Thank you for visiting us!

Pastor Brian spending some time with the Leadership Asheville Class.

Weekly Ministry Opportunities:


Worship:

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


Tuesday Prayer Group:12:00 in the sanctuary. 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.

Sign Up

Weekly Sermon


You can read this week's sermon by Pastor Brian and previous sermons by visiting our website's Stories & Sermons page.

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 9-12 

Monday-Thursday 10-2


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

SACRED ENCOUNTERS

Biblical Hospitality


By BrotherJohn Huebner, Franciscan Friar


I remember reading once that hospitality involves warmth, respect, and even protection. The Bible is clear that hospitality should be the same regardless of if the person is a friend or a total stranger. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews writes in chapter 13, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." There is no better place to see this kind of hospitality in action than on a Wednesday at the Welcome Table. 

I have been amazed at the diversity of individuals that I have encountered at our Wednesday Welcome Table. Listening to a person's story is an integral part of my ministry as a Franciscan Friar. A specific conversation on a Wednesday in the fall will always stand out in my mind and was a moment of deep reflection for me. 

 

Taking a break from washing dishes, I walked into the dining room looking for an empty seat to eat my lunch and enjoy the company of another person. The place was packed with one seat open near the window. I sat down across from a young man who was already enjoying his lunch. The young man said, "Please sit-down Brother, it's not every day that I get to eat with a Franciscan Friar." I was actually surprised he knew I was a Franciscan and knew to refer to me as a friar. He was wearing a Chicago Cubs baseball cap. I told him that I grew up in the Midwest and as a kid was a big Chicago Cubs fan. I mentioned that it is not a typical baseball cap to be seen in North Carolina. He proceeded to tell me that he also grew up in the Midwest. He then slowly took off his baseball cap, glancing around him. It was then that I noticed that he was wearing a kippah. A kippah is a prayer skullcap worn by faithful Jewish males. Orthodox Jewish males wear the kippah at all times during the waking day. This kippah was of many beautiful colors and looked handmade. I commented on his beautiful kippah, and he said that he was surprised that I knew the name of it. He proceeded to tell me that his kippah was made by his grandmother for his bar mitzvah. (A bar mitzvah is a religious ceremony for a Jewish male who has reached the age of 13 and is regarded as ready to observe religious precepts of the Jewish faith.) He then told me that he and a friend were traveling across the country on foot. 

 

He continued to share that he loves meeting so many diverse people on his travels. He said some people have been so kind and hospitable. He said that there have also been some not-so-positive experiences. If it's discovered that he is Jewish, he said some people are really prejudiced and some even try to convert him to Christianity. It was then that I realized why he slowly took off his baseball cap and looked around to see who might notice him. I told him that I was so saddened by the actions of some individuals. We spent the rest of the lunch talking about the Chicago Cubs and enjoying our lunch together.

 

As I drove home that day, I kept thinking about this young man and his journey. He seemed hesitant to take off his baseball cap knowing this would expose his true identity as a faithful Orthodox Jew. I thought of ways to make sure that I would always respect the life of each person that I encounter during my day. When I arrived home, I looked up what Mother Teresa said about hospitality. I am always inspired by her comments and actions. Mother Teresa once said, "We are to treat all people as children of God. They are our brothers and sisters. We show great respect to them. Our work is to encourage all people, Christians as well as non-Christians, to do works of love. Every work of love done with a full heart brings people closer to God."  

 

As we strive to be a Welcome Table to all individuals, may we also strive to respect the life and journey of each person we encounter daily. Help us Lord to spread your love in ways so that each person may feel warmth, respected, and even protected.  

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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.