What Winning Looks Like

News and Updates

August 21, 2026

ECHO - Engaging Community & Haywood St.

Tuesday, August 25th

10:00 a.m. in Room 1

All are welcome to join this team interested in cultivating a culture of awareness and involvement thoughout Asheville. Help us spread the word and dream up new ways to live into Haywood St.'s mission: Relationship, above all else.

ECHO in action: Christopher Holt leads a

fresco tour in July.

Golf for Awareness

Registration Open

We are gearing up for the 11th annual Golf for Awareness and looking forward to another wonderful event. We hope you'll consider joining us. Lots of sponsorship opportunities are available too.

Haywood Street Congregation supports voting yes on bonds for open space and affordable housing for Buncombe County on November 3. Click the link below to learn more.

Learn More

Downtown Welcome Table Wish List

Because we are continuing to serve the Wednesday meal outside, there are some items we use regularly to contribute to an atmosphere of welcome and abundance. We just updated the Downtown Welcome Table wish list - if you'd like to make an impact by helping with these purchases, click the link below.

Wish List Link

Haywood Street Congregation has been selected as a participating nonprofit in Biltmore's Birdies for Charity. Check out the link below to learn about this opportunity to support Haywood Street. When you donate, you have the chance to guess the number of birdies in the upcoming Biltmore Championship Asheville to win the Ultimate Biltmore Experience.

Participating charities will receive 100% of every donation collected for their organization, as well as a portion of funds from a bonus pool of $50,000 provided by Biltmore Championship Asheville.

Learn More

Community Events

The Community Clean Up sponsored by the Continuum of Care has been rescheduled and will now take place on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. If you would like to sign up to participate with a group from Haywood St., email Jenny.

Getting to Know One Another

Over the past few months, new staff positions have been created to aid in carrying out Haywood St.'s mission. Beginning today and in subsequent newsletters, we will be sharing a bit about these roles and the people who have filled them.

Laura B.:

Hospitality and Formation Lead

Laura B. has transitioned from her role as Companion Coordinator to Hospitality & Formation Lead. With this position, Laura joins the team of Haywood St. pastors. Her focus is on the overall culture of companionship at Haywood Street Congregation through modeling relationship, leadership, communication, and formation opportunities.

Laura B. has been involved with Haywood St. since 2011 when she was a camp staff member for Cross Connection. Since that first summer fifteen years ago, Haywood St. has been a part of her life in one way or another.

From Laura: “I had no idea what to expect when first invited to be a part of relationships here in Asheville on the corner of Clingman Ave. and Haywood Street. And although there were so many unknowns, after a quick phone interview and brief conversation with the ED at Cross Connection, there was one thing my body felt: I wanted to experience it. In whichever season: camp coordinator, congregant, staff; companionship (the warm, good feeling of togetherness) at Haywood Street Congregation has offered me many gifts in life, most importantly being the reminder to love and be loved. May we all receive the invitation to congregate together for a meal and fellowship, knowing the simple yes to the holy presence of being, is more than enough.”

Introducing Syd N.:

Hospitality & Companion Steward

We are pleased to share that Syd N. has joined the Haywood Street staff as Hospitality & Companion Steward. In this role, she helps the Downtown Welcome Table run smoothly by working alongside Jinnia and companions for prep on Tuesday and the Table on Wednesday.

From Syd:

"I grew up in Waynesville, and lived in Asheville on the weekends. I’ve been wandering around this city for as long as I can remember. I’ve spent most of my working career in restaurants as well as doing non profit work. This has been the perfect blend of my work experience, as well as my love for the community that has formed in this pocket of Asheville. I’m so happy to be here!"

Haywood Street Highlights

Monica and Debbe helpinging out with Tuesday prep this week.

Hattchett and Syd making sure we are good to go with tents over serving tables on Wednesday.

With all the changes that construction brings, it is comforting to remember that which hasn't changed - like Maggie's wholehearted invitation for free hugs. Here she is with Laura K.

Wayne and Lovey welcoming everyone on campus Wednesday.

Weekly Ministry Opportunities at Haywood Street:

Tuesday Prayer Group: 12:30 p.m. Gather for a time of contemplative prayer at Respite's Brevard Rd location. Contact Seth for more information.

Tuesday Book Study: Join us at 1:00 p.m. in the Community Room of Lady Gloria Ridge. Contact Laura B. for more information.

Wednesday Welcome Visits: New to Haywood St. or haven't been in awhile? Meet at the host table outside the sanctuary at 9:00 or 11:00 a.m. for a tour and welcome visit.

Wednesday Downtown Welcome Table: Join us for lunch between 10:00-12:00 or help with clean-up from 1:00-3:00. Click here for the DWT sign up.

Art Ministry: Due to construction, Art in the Alley can be found either in Room 4 or outside depending on the weather and other programming.

Haywood Street Salon: Open each Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Healing Through Harm Reduction: Wednesday at 12:30 in Room 1

Wednesday Worship: 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Holy Groundskeepers: Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. Meet in the church parking lot.

Weekly Sermons

Read the weekly sermons on our website here.

~Preaching Schedule~

August 26

Pastor Brian

September 2

Pastor Seth

September 9

Sheneika Smith

September 16

Pastor Brian

Fresco Viewing Hours:

Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 2 pm (with the exception of during our worship service, which is 12:30 pm every Wednesday).

Contact April if you would like to make an appointment to see the Fresco outside of those hours.

Shout out to Deep Time's latest cohort for joining us this week at the table and to help with clean up. From serving their coffee on Wednesdays to partnering with their team members, we are grateful to be in relationship with Deep Time.

SERMON

What Winning Looks Like

Pastor Jody

Ephesians 6:10-20

You may be surprised to learn that I was a cheerleader in high school. Of course that was over 40 years ago. Cheerleading then was much different that it is today. I had a big mouth, lots of energy and I could do a cartwheel. Back in the day, that’s all you had to do. None of this competitive gymnastic stuff, just a lot of yelling and jumping around. It was fun. You got to stand up in front of the crowd and get them fired up.

I know we didn't really affect the outcome of the game, but it sure felt like we did. We’d have them all on their feet, cheering in unison. I say go...You say fight....go....fight....go...fight...

The game was great but I especially loved the pep rallies. Everybody was feeling good. A little anxious about the big game. It was our job as cheerleaders to pump up the crowd, to get folks excited about the game, to boost the players confidence, to encourage them so they could take their place on the court feeling like winners!

Our scripture for today sounds like a pep rally to me. The author is encouraging the reader, boosting them up. Getting them ready to face their challenger. Truthfully these verses have always made me a little nervous. I couldn’t really pinpoint the reason, but they did.

As we hear these verses from Ephesians 6, I want us to ponder, what is the author’s intent?

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A witness to include the most excluded, Haywood Street not only welcomes every child of God–especially beloved siblings 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.