The Marginal Writings Community

10/04/2024

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAtpfj5xNcm/?igsh=MTFvamJmY2F6NG9taA==

03/31/2024

Morning peeps! Happy Easter. Remember you walk in Grace, so give yourself a break today. You are loved, and you matter to God in ways you can’t even imagine!

03/31/2021

02/08/2021

Haywood Street is thrilled to announce the addition of another Associate Pastor! Please give Jody Halstead a warm welcome. Here is her opening reflection to the community:

I have heard more than one person describe 2020 as a dumpster fire, just a big ole smoldering, smoky mess. And so many of us would agree. As I write this, I am sitting in a drive through Covid 19 testing line. It is December 21. The first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. I am listening to the Beatles sing, “Here Comes the Sun.” It’s alright.

About a month ago I offered a sermon on the parable of the talents from Matthew 25. The landowner gave the stewards talents; to one he gave 5 talents, to another 3 and to another 1. The one who received one talent buried it. He didn't do anything. The gracious landowner gave him a gift and he wasted it. Oftentimes when I write sermons I am keenly aware that I am preaching to myself. The word speaks to me through my time of study and preparation. For this passage I was overwhelmed by the question, that while I love what I do and I love the people with whom I serve, am I wasting what God has given me? Am I playing it safe?

We all learned things about ourselves during Covid. I learned that without Haywood Street, l am unbalanced, off-kilter, quite frankly, a little lost. I learned that even though I am serving with people I love dearly, I still feel somewhat like a stranger, like I am in a foreign place.

The Sunday that I preached this sermon, I received a message from Brian asking if we could talk. Was I interested in serving at Haywood Street as an associate minister? I almost laughed out loud! He could have just as easily asked me if I was interested in living into my deepest calling? Was I interested in serving at Haywood Street? Jody, do you want to come home?

This is the shortest day of the year. Tomorrow the sun shines longer. Here comes the sun and it's alright. It is better than all right. It is good, very good. I am coming home.

Even dumpster fires give off light and warmth.

02/01/2021

One of the often-asked questions by folks visiting Haywood Street is “When and how did ya’ll start?”

Here’s the abbreviated, but straight-to-the-heart-of-it answer...

We began in 2009 in the soup line, under the bridge, staying overnight at the shelter, and loitering downtown with our ear bent towards the crack of poverty, listening for the voice of Jesus among the disinherited. And what He said was “Offer me a congregation of absurd grace, a meal of scandalous abundance, a kingdom glance of heaven and earth.”

We look forward to offering campus tours and Welcome Visits again soon. In the meantime, please feel invited to explore our website (haywoodstreet.org) and reach out to Brook ([email protected]) if you’d like to learn more about the home of Holy Chaos.
#828

12/23/2020

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved, Edward Smith.

If you know Haywood Street, you know Edward. Through the organ and through his voice, Edward filled the entire space of our sanctuary, almost every single service, and was the living soundtrack to our weddings, memorials, and the celebrations in between.

We are short on words today, many of us a bit lost in our loss. We intend to share photos, videos and reflections in the coming days. For now, our prayers are with the Haywood Street staff, Edward’s family, and everyone who has been touched by our dear friend’s miraculous life.

Go in peace, Edward. We love you.

09/19/2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFS9i-kFeuY/?igshid=cezur1mijsah

09/16/2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFLaakBly0B/?igshid=1i3vkwwv2gttk

09/15/2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFI0zaxllrh/?igshid=1wkcand6n9gts

08/08/2019