PROPHETS OF HOPE

A Ministry of Presence

March, 2024

Prophets of Hope meets the 4th Thursday of the month @6 pm in the Fireside Lounge.

Next Meeting:

March 28, 2024

Prophet Minutes and News

Thank you to Azra for sharing her journey with the book and program Wholeality. Azra worked in the Santa Clara County Jail for many years sharing this model with the inmates. She has now received the next level of facilitator training and we are grateful she is part of our jail ministry team.

While Jane could not be with us at the meeting she did share with Bev that the jail lobby ministry that Raneta founded will continue on (as a result of Raneta’s upcoming move to Idaho.) Jane has done a great job recruiting folks and they will begin in March. For now they will go in the second Saturday of the month from 8:30 to 12:30. If you are interested in volunteering please give Jane a call at (831) 252-9247.

A men’s Spanish faith service in the jail is now being offered. Stew and Peter are leading this service which was going to be just once a month. They had such a wonderful response in February that in March they will provide two services a month.

We are always looking for new folks to join our ministry. Please reach out if you would like to learn about this vibrant ministry.

We continue to provide clothing and hygiene backpacks for indigent women who are being released from jail. Patty is exploring the idea of taking over the leadership of this project. Stay tuned.

The Center for Spirit Living’s pastor, Rev. Eli has asked the Prophets of Hope ministry team to come and share what we are all doing. They will take up an offering for our ministry. We have not set a date as yet.

Kathy, Carol and Bev are nearing the finish line with the resource guide for families of incarcerated loved ones. They have shared it with Hugh McCormick who created the Jail 101 Guide for NAMI. Once he gives his approval we will move forward to having it available on the NAMI website, and other websites. Carol also created a Prophets of Hope email address ([email protected]). This is basically for folks who have questions regarding the resource guide. We might put it on the Peace website as well.

Bev reminded folks to sign up for April and May for Main Jail and Blaine. She’ll send out the google docs for jail, Blaine and lobby ministries.

PRAYERS

Grandmother God stretch your loving arms around each and every one of us who need your gentle touch of reassurance this day. Amen

Prayers for Santos as he embarks on a journey outside of prison.

Prayers of thanksgiving for Derek who was sentenced to probation and not to prison. Prayers for clarity as he navigates this next chapter of his life.

Prayers for Andrew who reoffended and is now in Santa Clara County Jail. Prayers of comfort and support for his family.

Prayers of healing and comfort for Paloma and her family.

Prayers for clarity and patience for Jazper as he enters a sober living program.

Prayers for Atiq and his family and his supporters.

Prayers of thanksgiving for the Rising Scholar program at Cabrillo which provides support and opportunities for system-impacted students.

Prayers for AG who struggles with the limited opportunities for healing in his current circumstances.

Prayers of thanksgiving for Jane who is continuing the jail lobby ministry.

Prayers of support and love for Raneta as she prepares to move to Idaho to be close to her daughter and grandson.

THANK YOU

POH receive a note from the county jail staff thanking us for providing jerky and composition books for 320 inmates during the holidays.

We also received a number of handwritten thank you notes from the youth at juvenile hall. I will bring them to our next meeting so you can read them. Here is a sampling:

"Hi people of PeaceUnited Church. I'm writing this letter to you to show you my appreciation for the Switch you guys donated to us here at the hall.

It makes it better to be here because I get to look forward to playing it. It makes everyone happy and gives us a fun time.

Here's a little about me. Im 14 years of age, Im from Santa Cruz, C.A. I love sports and video games so I was happy to find out we got a switch." B

"Hello, My name is M and I enjoy writing music and poetry. I also enjoy playing video games a lot on the outs. It is really cool to play them again after being locked up for a bit. I really appreciate it and know everyone else in here does too."

Im righting this letter to thank you all for the Nintendo switch. I haven't had to much growing up so its really cool to be abel to get something like this in here it is one of the few things I have to look forward to the way my life was and has been ive had to grow up pretty fast so I aint have to much of a childhood and this honestly makes me feel like a kid again even tho I'm 17. So thank you all very much.

I have been thinking of the old saying, you can't take it with you. It made me wonder. If you can't take your possessions with you, is there anything that you can take?

I began a suitcase list of a few of the things you can take with you

You can take the lasting respect of all those you blessed.

You can take their enduring love.

You can take the memory of every moment that made you glad to be alive.

You can have the satisfaction of knowing you did your best.

You can carry the hopes of a hundred hearts with you.

You can take joy.

In the end, who you are is what you take.

~RevBev