Cherith Brook Lent 2010

Cherith Brook
Practicing God’s Mercy & Gospel Resistance
Catholic Worker
By the Finger of God
by Eric Garbison
I won’t soon that she was trying, but moving scene a young so important to me.
forget the screams of her mouth was burning. boy, whose contorted If a sacrament is
pain and cries for help as Impatient, the palsied body and face encountering God’s
the red liquid melted paramedic grabbed Red’s etched with starvation, grace in earthly actions
down her face. Last fall a forehead harshly, pulling was crying out. In a mo- and things, then the story
friend of mine was pep- her hair as she tried to ment one of the sisters of Jesus highlights the
per sprayed. I was run- get the bottle of eye rinse was there. Tenderly she sacrament of physical
ning late for our commu- closer. “You’re hurting massaged his chest. Then touch. The Gospels tell
nity meal, when I caught me!” Red sobbed. This she ran her hands gently us that “moved with
a glimpse of her out of struggle went on several around his head and compassion Jesus
the corner of my eye. times—spitting, yelling, through his hair. At an touched…” Jesus
“Red” was leaning up hair pulling, sobbing. instance his face relaxed, touched the blind, the So Elijah did according to the word of the Lord; he
against a building with Eventually her street his body calmed and a lame and the sick. Jesus went and lived by the Cherith Brook...and the ravens
her hands covering her toughness kicked in and sudden smile fixed itself touched the leper, the brought him bread…
face. Her screaming Red swore violently at across his sunken cheeks. “sinner”, women—each I Kings 17
pierced through the the paramedic. Flailing No doubt the boy needed considered socially and
rolled-up windows and her arms, she ordered the medical attention. But he religiously unclean in his needles pricking their to preside over wounded
booming radio. I quickly paramedic to stop. The was receiving something day. Parents brought skin. When homeless- lives in these difficult
pulled over. torturous spray didn’t equally life giving— a their children to Jesus, ness puts them in con- moments.
The experience mask the mistreatment. loving touch. hoping he would touch stant public scrutiny “We must do
was surreal. The im- In some basic By the same them. When the disciples some experience such small things with great
mense amount of physi- way, I guess, the para- token, the holiness of tried to shoo them away, gestures as an invasion
cal suffering it caused medic was helping. She human contacts becomes Jesus called them back love.” Mother Teresa
of the privacy they fight
her stands out. Pepper was trying to rinse Red's real to me when I recall saying, “Let these little said, “ Its not how much
to retain. Others have
spray is simply that—a eyes of the fiery spray my own experiences of children come to me, been so violated by sex- we do, but how much
spray derived from the without getting it on her- deep loneliness. A sim- Don't block them! For ual exploitation and sa- love we put into doing it.
oils of cayenne, chilies self; She was “doing her ple embrace can remind the Kingdom of God dism they don’t know And its not how much
and habanera. I tried to job.” But it was clear that me of my belonging. A belongs to them.” Jesus who to trust. we give, but how much
calm her as she flailed she didn’t care. Her kind touch on the shoul- touched his enemies, But human inti-
around from the tempo- touch was as injurious as der or clasping of hands healing the ear of the love we put into giving.
macy cannot be aban- To God there is nothing
rary blindness and burn- the intense burning of the might be all it takes to man who had come to doned out of fear of be-
ing. She spit out her den- spray; a hurt to Red's journey toward restora- arrest him. small. The moment we
ing misunderstood. We
tures as she gasped for person. Eventually it was tion when I have experi- All of this are all called to this give it to God it becomes
air (it temporarily para- not welcomed. This is a enced isolation from serves to highlight the priesthood, to serve this infinite.” Rubbing some-
lyzes the larynx causing lesson we have learned community or family. power in human touch. sacrament of God’s pres- one’s back, caressing
the person to feel they repeatedly from street In another way, “Fellow humanity is a ence. "If it is by the fin- their hair, holding some-
are choking). I tried to folk: some of the greatest the holiness of human sacrament of our encoun- ger of God that I caste
hold her hand and speak suffering is not the cold contact becomes evident ter with God” wrote one’s hand just that extra
out demons," Jesus said minute or two, looking
to her in a calming voice. and hunger, but the loss when I consider times I Timothy Gorringe. This after healing a demon
I really didn’t know what of dignity, especially have stubbornly with- sacrament necessitates a straight into their eyes—
possessed mute, “then
else to do. when doled out by those drawn it. At moments of refusal to let go of some- the kingdom of God has these are small things,
Also etched in who are supposed to frustration, disappoint- one’s humanity, and a come to you." Jesus but when shared, the
my memory is the re- help. ment or anger, I guard refusal to lose sight of transforms human touch eternity of God’s love
sponse of the paramed- That same night myself from the contact our own. into a sign of the break- breaks into the now.
ics. The few minutes we we were in the middle of with others. A hug or Not all touch is ing in of
waited seemed an eter- our study of the saints in handshake is stubbornly welcome though. Many God’s
nity. And I was relieved our lives (each of us has withheld. My body pos- of our street guests and reign. And
to see them pull up. But been inspired by the faith ture is closed. It is telling friends have been han- we are all
my anxiety was met with of ordinary people striv- how, in these moments, dled in angry, aggressive potential
their indifference. They ing in holiness). Nick emotional sores make us and abusive ways. Some vehicles of
were in no hurry to re- was showing a video on feel physically bruised experience touch as a that reign.
lieve Red's pain. “Stop Mother Teresa. In spar- and to offer a tangible great discomfort, a We must
that spitting,” one para- tan rooms, filled with gesture of welcome takes physical pain in their trust that
medic yelled. “I won’t cots, the Missionaries of such effort. These frail- fractured emotions. I God’s
help you unless you stop Charity were tending the ties and failings of mine have heard folks with Spirit em-
spitting.” Between sobs, needs of the starving and are why our practice of schizophrenia describe a powers us
Red could only answer dying of Calcutta. In one foot washing has become pat on the shoulder as Henri & Eric Garbison
Cherith Brook Lent 2010

Reflections About Hope & Trust Welcome 2ew

Both of these
mysterious gifts of the
Holy Spirit are alive in
all of us and in all crea-
tion. What does the mys-
tery of hope look like for
me as I walk and pray
and laugh and cry
through my day?
I believe and
hope to be-
lieve more
and trust
that Christ
walks closer
than each of
our heart-
beat and the
infinite
heart-beat of
God in all
Cherith Brook community members on retreat.
creation.
In reflection in
prayer I am surrounded
by joyous visions and
pain filled visions. This
brings me to a deeper
hope and trust in our
infinite loving Christ
who also breathed,
walked and sowed vi-
by Steve Sherridan
sions of God as he Together with
prayed and wept and all creation we can hope
healed and loved people more, love more, cry
who were poor, sick and more, trust more, sing
outcasts. more, be healed more.
Jesus gave the Jesus said to pray with-
poor more than just heal- out ceasing, to pray al-
ing and food. Jesus gave ways, to love always, to
them his loving presence. be the first to ask for
Jesus gave them hope. forgiveness and to re-
member
Christ is
with us.
We and all
creation
journey
this life of
joy and
death and
pain in
God’s
time. We
Jesus gave them trust. and all creation will be
Every hour of every day I given God’s glorious and
am called to love, to mysterious resurrection.
hope, to trust, and to
Today, now, tomorrow, I
walk and to pray with want to live in God’s
friends who come to take hope more and to trust
showers at Cherith God more.
Brook. To realize my
spirit is broken also.
Arrivals!
Our new cat DJ takes a nap.
Building a chicken coop has
been a spring project!
We should have eggs soon!
House needs
Sandwich Meat (no bologna)
Sandwich Bags
Mayonnaise
Sliced Cheese
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Bananas & Oranges
Coffee, Sugar, Creamer
Vinegar (gallon size for cleaning)
Baking Soda
Dish Soap
Toilet Paper
Milk, Eggs, Butter
Black Beans
Salt & Pepper Shakers
Folding Tables
(standard rectangular size)
Clear Plastic Restaurant Cups
Water Pitchers
Industrial Refrigerator
When possible, please call us at least a day
ahead of time to schedule the best time to
make your delivery of donations. Thanks!

A Song About Peace

by Josh Armfield Shower needs
Tennis Shoes (men’s & women’s)
Capo 2
C Am F C
Jeans & Belts
Peace, Peace in our homes and in our streets. (esp. men’s sizes 32-36)
C Am F C
Peace in our schools and in the way we teach . Summer Shirts & Shorts
C Am F C Men’s Underwear
Peace in the food we grow and we eat.
C F C (esp. size 32-38)
Peace, we pray for Peace. Music is enjoyed around the campfire on retreat. Women’s Panties (esp. 4-7)
C Em F C Bras
Peace will make us whole again.
Shampoo & Conditioner
C Em F C
Peace will bring us together as friends. (large bottles)
C Am F C
With Peace there’s no need to judge or defend. Deodorant &Razors
C F C Tube Socks
Peace, we pray for peace.
Shoes & Foot Powder
Toothpaste & Brushes
Love…Love we live by love
Tampons & Pads
Joy…Joy we sing for Joy Ibuprofen & Tylenol
Forgive…Forgive because he forgave… Laundry Soap (he)
Forgiveness will make us whole again…
Bus Passes & Stamps
Haircutting Scissors
Forgive because he forgave.
Josh, Izabelle & Diana entertain us on MLK Day.
 Cherith Brook Lent 2010

Freedom from nukes – possible! with community action

by Jane Stoever, PeaceWorks Kansas City

We take our
sorrow for the world’s
suffering and, in commu-
nity, work to secure a
world free from nukes. A
joyful journey!
Yes, we know
Kansas Citians build and
procure parts for nuclear
weapons, such as tritium
containers and fusing.
This work proceeds at
Bannister and Troost in
the Kansas City Plant,
operated by Honeywell
for the National Nuclear
Security Administration.
Yes, the facility
is riddled with contami-
nants and needs to be
closed and cleaned up.
No, we don’t
want a new plant to re-
place the current plant.
We repeatedly voiced
our objections to the City
Council, but it voted 11-
1 on Feb. 4 to approve
the development plan for
a new plant at Botts
Road and Missouri High-
way 150.
With that vote,
the city pledged up to
$10 million for highway
innovations for the plant
and local enterprises. A
city commission will
hold the title to the land
for the new NNSA plant,
and funding for construc-
tion (estimated at $705
million) and infrastruc-
ture improvements ($45
million) will proceed
through sale of bonds by
Oppenheimer & Co.
Most construction and
operation costs will
never appear on a con-
gressional budget.
The new KC
Plant will be the first of
three sites for dramati-
cally expanding the U.S.
nuclear arsenal. The
other two sites, which
produce explosive radio-
active materials, are Los
Alamos National Labora-
tory in New Mexico ment). Ironically, these the Nuclear Non-
(plutonium pit produc- expansions are getting Proliferation Treaty this
tion) and Oak Ridge, the green light while the May.
Tenn. (uranium enrich- UN prepares to review Many of us
working for a nuke-free,
livable, green world take
heart from pacifist Doro-
thy Day, cofounder of
the Catholic Worker
movement in 1933.
In December
1945, the Associated
Press said it was hoped
but not known that the
bombing of Hiroshima
killed 318,000 Japanese.
In the January 1946 issue
of The Catholic Worker,
Day strenuously ob-
jected, “It is to be hoped
they are vaporized, our
Japanese brothers – scat-
tered, men, women and
babies, to the four winds,
over the seven seas. Per-
haps we will breathe
their dust into our nos-
trils, feel them in the fog
of New York on our
Brother Louis Rodeman from Holy Family
faces, feel them in the
Catholic Worker protests at the plant.
rain on the hills of
Easton (Pa.). … Our
Lord Himself has already
pronounced judgment on
the atomic bomb. When
James and John wished
to call down fire from
heaven on their enemies,
Jesus said, ‘You know
not of what spirit you
are. The Son of Man
came not to destroy souls
but to save.’ He said
also, ‘What you do unto
the least of these my
brethren, you do unto
me.’”
Thank you,
Dorothy. Thank you,
Cherith Brook and all
your friends. You point
the way to peace.
We invite everyone to
attend our planning ses-
sions for national gather-
ings in KC this summer
to seek a nuke-free world
and close the KC Plant.
For more information
call 913-206-4088.

Talking Over the Back Fence

by Susan Lagergren, Cherith Brook Volunteer

My journey to
Cherith Brook began in
the summer of 2007 due
to downsizing at the
company where I had
worked. Some employ-
ees were offered posi-
tions in other cities but a
number of us were of-
fered early retirement
due to our time and ser-
vice with the company. I
was over elated!
One evening I
was talking with my
neighbor over the back
fence and she asked what
I would be doing with
my time. I had thought
selfishly about possibly
taking tap lessons on a
whim, or maybe I could
go on a trip somewhere I
had always wanted to go
but never felt I had time
(or the money and still
don’t!). Maybe I will just
be pampered and get a
massage once a week
and learn yoga. I could
even go out and train my
dogs every day! My
mind went on with limit-
less possibilities as my
husband said “You will
be so bored you will
want to get a job after six
months.” I assured him
that would not be the
case. As I shared with
my neighbor, the Lord
had so blessed me all of
my life with a good job
and a family that has
been well provided for.
I said Jesus has given me
so much, maybe it is
time to give back to Him.
I had met Jesus on my
terms for years, now it
would be on His
terms! Christ took me
very seriously and
grabbed hold of the
reins!
The year of
2008, I spent most of my
time doing family duties
with a sick father. Then
my husband had a stroke.
But the Lord was leading could go for a shower? community meals. We through His world, one
me to where He wanted But what a great place to were both enthralled of love and peace and
me to be throughout that find out about! Larry with this Catholic hospitality and joy shar-
year. I would like to stated it was down be- Worker house of hospi- ing. Jesus has opened not
think He was networking hind a barbershop named tality, the people and only a door to serve Him
for me. I was able to “Friendly’s” at 12th and their way of living and but a way to serve His
meet several integral Benton. The hunt was their sharing in their Own. Of all the things in
people that year that had on! The only barbershop community. Interest was life that I have done, I
contacts to reach out to I could find was called peaked, so we had to go am finding that it is only
both the mentally ill and Friedly’s at that location back. with God’s leading that I
the homeless for Christ. so I gave him a call. able to be fulfilled
And along came “Yea, the shower place is ~~ through Him. As we at
Larry. My homeless
friend, Larry, has a cor-
right behind me.” Off
Brent and I went on a
Why do I Cherith Brook nourish
our many friends with
ner in my neighborhood
so I started giving bags
mission to find this place
and visit City Union
come back food, protection from the
elements for a short time,
of essentials and goodies Mission to see if there time and and provide showers and
to him or any other was anything else we clean clothing they are
homeless person I met. could put in our bags that again? nourishing us with their
Brent, my friend, taught would be of value to the love and friendship. And
me what to put in the people living on the ~~ any friendship based in
bags and how to shop for Street. And along came Why do I come Jesus is also based in His
them. When I ran across Eric. He explained the back time and again? I Love. It truly brings me
Larry one morning and I concept of Cherith Brook have gotten to know and joy to be able to share
asked how he was doing to Brent and me and all care about my new with all who enter
he said “Great! I had a the different things they friends, the Cherith Cherith Brook’s door. I
shower this morning!” do for their community: Brook residents and their only pray that each time
This really took me by sack lunches on Friday Guests, I cling to the I see each person, I see
surprise! Where was evenings, showers and hope that we can make a them with Jesus’ eyes
there a place anyone meals in the mornings, difference for Christ and and His love.
His children in our trek
Cherith Brook Lent 2010
WHAT THE CATHOLIC WORKER BELIEVES: PERSONALISM
EASY ESSAY
Feeding the Poor at
a Sacrifice
In the first centuries
of Christianity the hun-
gry were fed at a per-
sonal sacrifice, the na-
ked were clothed at a
personal sacrifice, the
homeless were shel-
tered at a personal sac-
rifice.
And because the poor
were fed, clothed and
sheltered at a personal
sacrifice, the pagans
used to say about the
Christians “See how
they love each other.”
In our own day the
poor are no longer
fed, clothed and shel-
tered at a personal sac-
rifice, but at the ex-
pense of the taxpayers.
And because the poor
are no longer fed,
clothed and sheltered
the pagans say about
the Christians “See
how they pass the
buck.”
There is a line
from one of Peter
Maurin’s Easy Essays
that explains the title of
this article well. “The
Catholic Worker believes
in the personal obligation
of looking after the needs
our brother.” I couldn’t
have said it better; how-
ever, understanding what
this means for our lives
is a more difficult task.
If we take a
look at the Final Judg-
ment passage found in
Matthew 25, we read
those recognizable
words, “I was hungry
and you gave me some-
thing to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me some-
thing to drink, I was a
stranger and you invited
me in, I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I
was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison
and you came to visit
me.” In this passage, it is
revealed to us that we are
indeed our brother’s
keeper—and that there
are certain ramifications
if we neglect this com-
mand. If we look at each
individual phrase, we
notice something else as
well. Every single state-
ment in Matthew 25 per-
tains to services that re-
quire the gift of time. We
cannot feed someone
who is hungry without
taking the time to either
cook or buy the food that
will fill our hungry
brother’s and sister’s
stomachs. It is also im-
portant to note that there
are no middlemen listed
in this passage. The
verse doesn’t read, “I
was hungry and you gave
to the United Way.” I
mean the United Way no
harm, but am raising the
point that too often we
see practicing the works
of mercy through the
lens of the dollar. We
freely give from our
pocketbooks but let other
priorities prevent us from
giving the gift of time
talked about in Matthew.
~~
Living at the
Catholic
Worker
doesn’t
necessarily
mean that we
have it
figured out
either.
~~
Living at the
Catholic Worker doesn’t
necessarily mean that we
have this figured out
either. Although we try
to offer hospitality daily
through a shower, some
clothes, or a simple
meal; this task can be
done without any love
by Nick Pickrell
and care. These tasks,
just like any other, can
be stripped of personal-
ism and then be found
wearing the robe of bu-
reaucracy.
There is a man
who panhandles in our
neighborhood named
Bob. He sleeps most
nights in a tent nearby.
On one particular eve-
ning the temperature was
predicted to dip well
below zero degrees, so
we opened our home to
him for the night. We
2ick rides his bike to pick up weekly grocery donations.
listened to him play gui-
tar and tell stories. Then
he began to speak about
how he would rather
sleep outside than at a
local homeless shelter.
The reason, he said, is
that he doesn’t feel safe
or trusted there. “There’s
too much red tape.”
The homeless
shelter Bob was referring
to is a rather large estab-
lishment—a one-stop
shop kind of place. They
do a beautiful thing by
offering temporary shel-
ter to hundreds of people
every night. However,
because of the mass
amount of people need-
ing care, lines form.
Lines form and people
have to continue to line
up for each service they
need. Because of all
these lines there are rules
and policies in place in
order to keep things run-
ning smoothly. The
downside to all of this is
that it can be very easy to
never know anyone
whom you are serving—
which serves to perpetu-
ate the dehumanization
of our friends who ex-
perience life on the
streets. These people, our
brothers and sisters, end
up being treated like a
herd of cattle.
The shelter,
however, is not the only
place susceptible to this
dehumanizing, imper-
sonal way. Even at
Cherith Brook we battle
our own inclinations to
treat this life of hospital-
ity and community like a
job—clocking in at nine
and clocking out at five.
This happens despite us
committing to remain
small so we can truly
know our brothers and
sisters. Thankfully, our
guests who come in for
showers each day teach
us the way to practice the
gentle personalism Peter There is another
Maurin talks about. This interesting common
teaching comes in unex- thread to all of these sto-
pected ways, and if we ries. All of these dis-
are not attuned to it, plays of personalism
these moments will pass involved a person doing
us by. something more—
Our friend something different—
Crystal is someone we than the usual. Even
visit with regularly when though we offer people a
we are spending time on shower, a meal and some
the streets of the North- clothes, it is the “little
east. We usually hand things” that show our
out sack lunches and chat love for our guests.
a bit, but this time a vol- These small acts of
unteer of ours offered thoughtfulness tear down
Crystal a tube of chap the social, economic, and
stick after noticing her racial barriers that have
cracked lips. Crystal’s been erected in our land,
face lit up with delight and give birth to things
after receiving this unex- like family and comrad-
pected gift. There are ery.
also a number of our
friends from the streets ~~
who come to Cherith
Brook faithfully every
It is never the
morning to sit and relax,
but last week the whole
shelter, never
room exploded with song the program
and laughter when Luis
played La Bamba on the that restores
guitar.
All of these humanity.
stories—Bob and the
shelter, Crystal and the
~~
It is never the shelter,
chap stick, Luis and La
never the program that
Bamba—have something
restores humanity. It is
in common. All of these
stories involve the unex-
the individual caring for
the individual that re-
pected. Crystal never
asked for the chap stick,
stores all of our human-
ity and creates commu-
Bob didn’t ask to stay at
our place and Luis was-
nity.
When we prac-
n’t told to play La
tice personalism we no
Bamba. All of these acts
of kindness burst forth
longer treat people as
objects to be prosely-
because a person loved
another person so much
tized. We no longer
make people our own
that they were compelled
to contribute to their
“fixer upper” projects.
We no longer ask, “Am I
well-being. Another
my brother’s keeper?” as
word for this is thought-
fulness. It is no different
Cain did. Instead, we
open our homes to one
than a child drawing
something and giving it
another, sing songs for
one another, and give out
to their parents; no dif-
ferent than a husband
tubes of chap stick. We
say, “Peace to you,
attending a concert he
brother. Peace to you,
may not enjoy because
sister,” as we throw our
he knows his wife loves
arms around our friends
the band; no different
who are the poor among
than a family who stays
us. And by doing so,
day and night by a loved
maybe we will again
one’s bedside when he or
hear people say of the
she is ill. All of these
Christian, “See how they
things involve love, time,
love each other.”
family and sacrifice.
Cherith Brook Lent 2010
Cherith Brook Lent 2010

MELLOW YELLOW
by Josh Armfield

won’t see us drinking life that comes to flour- we are going to produce. are a part of it. In doing
bottled water around ish within it constitutes The mess that surrounds this we also create mean-
here. the first kind of commu- us, then, must be under- ingful work that needs to
“Grey Water” is nity.” We must see that stood not just as a prob- be done on the land, giv-
just one example of how we are responsible for lem in itself but as a ing people purpose.
we are trying to be con- what we put into our symptom of a greater and Our actions and
scious of our impact on water cycle and this wa- graver problem: the cen- our intentions here reach
the world. More impor- ter cycle reaches all over tralization of our econ- around the world. So at
tantly at Cherith Brook the world. omy, the gathering of the Cherith Brook we try to
we try hard to remember We must begin productive property and practice a ‘return to the
that we are stewards of to re-learn what it means power into fewer and land’ in the way that we
God’s green earth. We to live off the land. We fewer hands, and the choose to live, under-
try to remember that the cannot solve the prob- consequent destruction, standing that we are re-
choices that we make lems of pollution by sim- everywhere, of the local sponsible for the waste
here on 12th street not ply “going green”, which economies of household, that we create. After all,
only affect the land that has become just another neighborhood, and com- the ravens didn’t bring
we live on, but they also means of marketing to a munity.” Elijah food wrapped in
affect the world, espe- consumer economy. The plastic from the super-
cially concerning water. waste that pollutes our ~~ market. It is for these
During Peter Maurin’s
life he constantly called
streams is not going to
go away just by recy-
Living off the reasons we flush our
toilets with “Grey Wa-
FLOW: For the Love of Water is a documentary by
for a ‘return to the land’. cling or by buying or-
ganic produce. Instead it
land means ter”, we harvest the rain
water that falls on our
Irena Salina about the growing privatization of the ~~ is a much deeper solution understand- roofs into barrels for
world's dwindling fresh water supply with a focus
on politics, pollution, human rights, and the Much of our which demands a change
in lifestyle. We must see ing the
garden and cleaning use,
we grow food on our
emergence of a domineering world water cartel.
problems to- that the economic system
that is in place is as de- economy that lawn rather than mow it,
we compost, we ride
Here at Cherith control of water sources, day have to structive a pollutant as already exists bicycles, we hang our
Brook I rarely flush the bottle the water up, and anything. Wendell Berry clothes up to dry, we
toilet and I’ve grown make millions. do with the criticizes the industriali- in the home. don’t have air condition-
accustomed to telling (According to CBS zation of food and water ing, we use real plates
myself, “If it’s yellow, news, water is now a fact that most by saying, “We have ~~ and napkins not dispos-
let it mellow”. But don’t
worry, it’s not as bad as
$400 billion dollar indus-
try; the third largest be-
Westerners made a social ideal of
minimal involvement in
Living off the land
means understanding the
able, and so on. None-
theless, we continue to
it sounds. For as long as
I have lived here we
hind electricity and oil.)
So not only has industri-
are no longer the growing and cooking economy that already trust that God is provid-
of food. This is one of exists in the home. It ing for our needs.
have practiced a tech- alization reduced the connected to the dearest ‘liberations’ means depending on one “Then God saw
nique called “Grey Wa- clean water supply, but of our affluence. Never- another, the land, and everything that God had
ter”. Instead of flushing those still existing clean the land. theless, the more depend- God rather than on out- made, and indeed it was
the toilet, we collect the water sources are being ent we become on the very good.”
water that we use when privatized so that clean ~~ industries of eating and
side markets. It means
caring for the land be- ~Genesis 1:31
taking a shower in a water is no longer avail- Much of our problems drinking, the more waste cause we need it and we
bucket and use that to able to the public except today have to do with the
flush the toilet. This is for a price. In Bolivia, fact that most Westerners
just one way that we South America’s poorest are no longer connected
have learned to cut back country, a third of the to the land. The pollution
on our water use. We do people do not have ac- of our watershed does
this not just to save cess to clean drinking not cross most people’s
money on our water bill, water. In 2000, the water minds because, nowa-
but more so because we supply in Bolivia became days, water comes from
are aware that our ac- privatized and peasants, a faucet. Poet and Natu-
tions in our own home mostly Quechua Indians, ralist, Gary Snyder says,
affect communities on found that the water they “The water cycle in-
the other side of the had owned for centuries cludes our springs and
world. As waste pours was no longer theirs. wells, our Sierra snow
into the world’s streams Because they were not pack, our irrigation ca-
and rivers, Industrializa- able to afford the price of nals, our car wash, and
tion has caused many clean water, most were the spring salmon run.
communities around the forced to drink water It’s the spring peeper in
globe to no longer have from sources that were the pond and the acorn
access to clean drinking known to be contami- woodpecker chattering in
water. Thus water has nated. Meanwhile, the a snag. The watershed is
become a profitable re- average American uses beyond the dichotomies
source, and corporations 150 gallons of water per of orderly/disorderly, for
are beginning to take day. Needless to say, you its forms are free, but
somehow inevitable. The We harvest rain water from our roofs for garden and cleaning use.
 Cherith Brook Lent 2010

HOUSE 2OTES Vision of Hope

by Jodi Garbison by Brian Hoover

Praise God! We
have started a new year
together! Part of our
yearly practice is to con-
sider and renew our
covenant to God and to
each other as we strive to
live out our discipleship
here at Cherith Brook.
We covenant together,
not just for the challenge
to see if we can “make
it”, but because we truly
believe that what we are
signing on for is good.
For the last
three months we have
been discerning our
covenant together for
this next year. We have
reflected on the previous
year together, spent time
in prayer, gone on retreat
and had many discus-
sions. Through this dis-
cernment process we
realized that very little of
our weekly schedule is
devoted to time together.
One among us summed it
up this way: “We are
really good at spending
time with ‘aunts’,
‘uncles’, ‘second cous-
ins’ and whoever comes
to the door, but we strug-
gle to spend time with
the immediate family”. If
every meal feels like a
family reunion, espe-
cially one that we host,
we rarely have the op-
portunity to connect with
one another on a more
personal level. We are
potentially missing the
chance to share burdens
and to get to know each
other better. Because of
this and because we want
to create the opportunity
for intimacy and deeper
dependency on one an-
other, we are paring back
on some of the many
things that make us feel
splintered and cause us
to work alone. We are
trying to create space so
our commitment to com-
munal living and nurtur-
ing each other is as im-
portant as offering hospi-
tality to Christ who
comes in the guise of a
stranger. It is hard to
pare back. It is hard to
say ‘no’ to something
that has been integral to
the community thus far.
However, a ‘yes’ to too
much is in essence a ‘no’
to meeting the needs of
the 10 of us who have
committed to this par-
ticular place for this spe-
cific time.
We are excited
to see how this works.
We hope this covenant
proves to be more than a
test of endurance but
rather a guide to a year
rich in intimacy and
growth. We pray it will
be full of glimpses of
God’s beloved commu-
nity because we receive
mercy and extend grace
more deeply. Like the
Diana & Jodi Garbison
Lenten journey, we hope
it to be more than just
“forty days of penance”
but life transforming.
Below you will find a
copy of the covenant we
are committing to this
year. Pray for us as we
try to live faithfully.
Thank you for the ways
you have been faithful to
us through various ways
of support – friendship,
prayer, donations and
volunteering!
You came to see
me in my darkest hour;
You appeared as a bright
light and spoke with
power.
I had lost faith
and worried the whole
day; Because of a few
simple words the judge
had to say.
I was alone and
scared of what they
might do; I prayed the
whole time and needed to
hear from you.
I hoped to be
freed and released from
this time; But for reasons
unknown this day wasn’t
mine.
So I lay on my
bunk back in my room; I
really needed to pray
and it had to be soon.
I asked, “Dear
Lord, What could have
gone wrong? I faced it
like you said and tried to
be strong.”
So as I knelt
and began to pray; You
spoke my name and I
didn’t know what to say.
Then you ap-
peared in a bright light;
I reached for my Bible
and held it tight.
You said, “My
dear son, why do you
worry so? I was there
with you; I never let go.”
I’ve given you
freedom; just look within
and see. Love, faith,
hope. Yes it all comes
from me.
So as the tears
began to cease, I lay
awake hours later with a
new sense of peace.
So now as I
pray each and every day,
I look for the light and
I’ll know what to say.
Brian’s mother, Belinda
Clevenger, submitted
this after the death of
Brian’s wife, Diana. She
thanks Cherith Brook for
their love & support.

Covenant for 2010 ~ Cherith Brook Catholic Worker

Josh Armfield, Sarah Cool, Eric Garbison, Jodi Garbison,
Nick Pickrell, Steve Sheridan, Micah Waters
1. We commit to a life of discipleship, following Jesus, cross bearing, acting on our reflections and reflecting on our actions. “If any want to become my followers, let them deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
2. We commit our daily lives to practicing hospitality: Listening for the knock and looking for the face of Jesus in stranger and friend, while receiving from them God’s welcome
of us. “When you did it to the least of these my sisters and brothers, you did it to me.”
3. We commit our daily lives to pursing the nonviolence of God’s Shalom embodied in Jesus’ life, teachings, death and resurrection. We will pursue the peace struggle with our-
selves, each other, and our enemies, in our neighborhood, our city, our country and our world. “Love your enemies...Overcome evil with good.”
4. We commit to the journey of forgiveness in all relationships, striving toward reconciliation in ways that recognize the differences in each person. “Be kind to one another, ten-
der-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
5. We commit to common living. “All who believed were together and had all things in common…”

• We will play and celebrate together;

• We will share in the work of the house;
• We will eat together at agreed upon times.
• We will worship together.
• We will practice a weekly prayer rhythm and encourage personal prayer, reflection and solitude.
• We will live locally, present to our neighborhood and community.
• We will make decisions by consensus, striving for full agreement.
• We will practice Sabbath rhythms—creating space for rest, prayer, solitude and reflection.
• We will hold our finances and resources in common.
• We will work 20 hours our less outside the community.

6. We commit to prayerful discernment: listening to God and to each other, listening to scripture and trusting in the presence of the Spirit in our lives.
7. We commit to being servants of creation, caring for the earth and her resources, reducing our dependence on technology, rejecting the busyness of modern city life, and return-
ing to the garden of God’s intentions. “And God saw that it was good…very good.”
8. We commit to living at a personal economic sacrifice: trusting daily for God’s provision, sharing freely and living simply. There are many ways of resisting the idolatries of
capitalism. Communal living is the way we are called. “Give us this day our daily bread.”
9. In summary, we commit to shaping our lifestyles around Jesus and his manifesto in the Sermon on the Mount, living in expectation of his return.
Cherith Brook Lent 2010

Cherith Brook
Catholic Worker

3308 E. 12th Street

Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-8047
cherithbrookkcmo@yahoo.com
www.cherithbrookkc.blogspot.com

Our Schedule Who Are We?

SHOWERS M, T, TH, F 8am-2oon Community—Cherith Brook is a residential Christian community committed to
PRAYERS M, W, F 6:30-7am sharing table fellowship with strangers, and all our resources with one an-
COMMU2ITY MEAL TH 5-7pm other. We have found our inspiration from the early church, the Church of the
FRIDAY NIGHT SHARING 1st, 3rd & 5th FRI 2-5 pm Savior, and the Catholic Worker.
GARDE2 WORK 2nd & 4th FRI 2-5pm
SACRAMENTS Monthly, 2nd SUN 6:30 pm Mercy—Our daily lives are structured around practicing the works of mercy as
WOME2’S DAY Monthly, Last WED 11:30am-2pm found in Jesus’ teachings. We are committed to regularly feeding the hungry,
HAIRCUTS Monthly, 2nd SAT 9-11am clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, visit-
GROUP WORKDAY Monthly, 2nd SAT 9am-1pm ing the prisoner and the sick in the name of Jesus.

Peacemaking—As followers of Jesus, we understand our lives to be centered in

God’s Shalom. Cherith Brook strives to be a “school” for peacemaking in all

Upcoming Events its dimensions: political, communal, and personal, working constantly to
undo poverty, racism and militarism.

April 23—26 MW CW Resistance Retreat @ Chicago, IL
The Cost of War & Occupation: At Home & Abroad
These three orbs can be summed up as the struggle to connect with the God
of life. We pray that Cherith Brook is a space where all of us—the bro-
ken—can come to learn and relearn the ways of Jesus; a place to struggle
together for God’s call of love, mercy, peace and justice.

May 7 @ 7pm Clarification Meeting

Worship as Warfare, Dr. Rodney Reeves

July 12—25 Closed for work projects & vacations

Please let us know if you would like to help with
projects during this time.