Good People Doing Good Things: Session Four
This past Sunday, the Good People Doing Good Things series featured Laura Van Tosh, John Malcomson and Daniel Hatchett, who is part of The People’s Breakfast crew you see each Sunday morning in the kitchen. Our theme for the day was “the good news is protection and care for the vulnerable.”
We began reflecting on what the good news is. Answers were “we’re all the good news,” “the sacred value of each person and identity as a sacred child of God,” “we are all worthy of love, respect and safety,” “we can inspire each other to help and serve each other,” “we’re still here, we have each other,” “good news is rising up in spite of what is going on in the world.” Daniel shared about how the People’s Breakfast serves over 100 meals each Sunday morning to people in need of food in the U District. Laura shared about how she sees good news in local political leaders who take seriously calls to action on behalf of those living on the margins of society. When invited to share who our panelists found inspirational or who had an effect on their own activism and work, they named people in the church, family members, and spiritual leaders: Martin Luther King, Jr., Thich Nat Hanh, the Sisters of Mercy, Project Home. Daniel shared that a personal inspiration for him was Rachel Corrie, from his hometown of Olympia, and that the breakfast program was modeled after the Black Panthers’ breakfast program. He said sometimes you “can’t be scared, just go do” the good work.
Laura shared about her local, national and global work with mental health advocacy with the Mental Health Policy Roundtable and the Global Mental Health Partnership. She also talked about how she was part of making peer mentorship a widespread method for working with folks experiencing mental health crises. John shared about his work as a hospital chaplain in a trauma-1 hospital, meeting people where they are and being present when someone is having a difficult time. Daniel shared about the practice of patience and grace that he grounds himself in when meeting folks who live outside and offering them food. All our panelists agreed that it was important to remember vulnerable times in their own lives and use that empathy to propel them forward in how they treat others. They also shared that grace and patience are always aspirational, we can always try to treat people as we would like to be treated.
When asked how each person saw the church in the work of protection and care for the vulnerable, the panelists shared different answers. Daniel shared about how the hospitality of the church and staff for the People’s Breakfast is helping him (and others) change their perception of what churches can offer as a force for good in the world. Laura and John reflected on the staying power of the church, in this location for 115 years, and how in different eras the church has sought to do justice by our neighbors. All our panelists reflected that it is important to have humility (individual and institutional) and realize that we still can learn and adapt to the present moment. Laura encouraged all who were gathered to keep curiosity in the Crisis Care Clinic (set to open in late 2027 at the former Polyclinic location across Harvard Ave from the church). Pastor Anita shared that SFBC will have a chance to talk with the King County office that will be overseeing the Crisis Care Center on May 3. This is just one opportunity that the church has to practice grace, patience and neighborliness.
Join us the next two Sundays (3/22 and 3/29) to hear more from our church members and friends about how we can embody good news in the world.