stranger
We’re among the many who appreciate First Presbyterian Church of Monterey as a peaceful rest stop https://bikemonterey.org/rest-stop-tip-jay-bartow-memorial-garden-monterey.html (and more).
Last Sunday, an unhoused man was found resting in the church courtyard during Sunday service. Read about the response of the congregation. As Pastor Mark Peake wrote in the church newsletter, "It was the gospel lived in real time.”
#MontereyCounty #church #PresbyterianChurchUSA #Christian #WhatWouldJesusDo #homeless #stranger
![Excerpt from First Presbyterian Church of Monterey's 18 Nov 2025 newsletter reads as follows. Names have been redacted.
"In the middle of all the normal rhythms of worship & coffee hour, we discovered a homeless gentleman asleep in our courtyard. He was cold, unwell & clearly in need….Before I could even finish assessing the situation, [a member] stepped forward without a moment of hesitation. He cleaned the space around the man & treated him with the dignity that reflects the heart of Christ. Right behind him was [another member], who quietly gathered food & whatever comfort he could offer. He helped the man get settled in Fellowship Hall so he could rest safely & regain a bit of strength out of the rain.
[Two more members] offered to drive to a motel & secure a room for the night. They did so with calm kindness, making sure everything was arranged so this man would not be left uncared for. And while all of this was happening, many of you [gave what money] you could. The total came to just over $600, enough to cover his motel stay & immediate needs. Anything left over will replenish our Deacons' benevolence fund, so the next person in crisis will not be turned away.
I stood there watching all of this unfold & felt my eyes well up. Not because it was dramatic or planned, but because it was simple, instinctive compassion. It was the gospel lived in real time. No fanfare, no spotlight, just quiet love offered to a stranger because that is what we believe God asks of us."](/proxy/post_attachment/178001/d67f18a191.jpg "Excerpt from First Presbyterian Church of Monterey's 18 Nov 2025 newsletter reads as follows. Names have been redacted.
\"In the middle of all the normal rhythms of worship & coffee hour, we discovered a homeless gentleman asleep in our courtyard. He was cold, unwell & clearly in need….Before I could even finish assessing the situation, [a member] stepped forward without a moment of hesitation. He cleaned the space around the man & treated him with the dignity that reflects the heart of Christ. Right behind him was [another member], who quietly gathered food & whatever comfort he could offer. He helped the man get settled in Fellowship Hall so he could rest safely & regain a bit of strength out of the rain.
[Two more members] offered to drive to a motel & secure a room for the night. They did so with calm kindness, making sure everything was arranged so this man would not be left uncared for. And while all of this was happening, many of you [gave what money] you could. The total came to just over $600, enough to cover his motel stay & immediate needs. Anything left over will replenish our Deacons' benevolence fund, so the next person in crisis will not be turned away.
I stood there watching all of this unfold & felt my eyes well up. Not because it was dramatic or planned, but because it was simple, instinctive compassion. It was the gospel lived in real time. No fanfare, no spotlight, just quiet love offered to a stranger because that is what we believe God asks of us.\"")
Who is the stranger? Stan Stewart continues to delve into why he chose to record a cover song from centuries ago.
#Stranger #HumanBeing
https://muz4now.com/2025/the-stranger-in-wayfaring-unmasked/