The local laundromat was Linda’s chapel. It was where she first shared a prayer concern that had been weighing heavily on her mind — and on her family’s heart — to say nothing of their budget.
At the time, Linda was dealing with stage 4 cancer.
She confessed to the pastor and volunteers from the Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, who were gathered around Linda and her daughter, “Since I got sick, my washer and dryer can’t handle the volume of blankets and bedding.”
The cost of doing laundry was driving Linda’s family and other families deeper into poverty. And so began the church’s “Fresh Start: Loads of Love” laundry outreach program, funded in part by a grant received from the Presbytery of Carlisle’s portion of the Peace & Global Witness Offering. The presbytery grants empower congregations and individuals to become peacemakers in their communities and in the world.
Traditionally received on World Communion Sunday, the Peace & Global Witness Offering is unique in that half of it is directed to peacemaking and global witness efforts at the national church level to address critical justice issues around the world. Twenty-five percent is retained by our congregation for peace and reconciliation work, and 25% is kept by mid councils for similar ministries on the regional level. (TALK ABOUT HOW YOUR CONGREGATION HAS USED/WILL USE YOUR OFFERING)
“The Waynesboro church’s laundry outreach program exemplifies the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s longstanding commitment to peacemaking,” said the Rev. Wilson Kennedy, the PC(USA)’s associate director for Special Offerings and Appeals. “Even the simplest tasks, like washing clothes for those on the margins of our communities, helps sow seeds of peace like Jesus commands us.”
And following Jesus’ commandments is integral to the mission of “Fresh Start.”
The Rev. Caroline Vickery says, “We know that Jesus makes it clear that how we treat the vulnerable is how we treat Jesus. Most of our members are college-educated, literate and middle-class. Our laundry outreach has put them in touch with a world whose hardships they’re unaware of. It comes as a shock for people to realize how costly doing your laundry can be and to know that people can’t use their SNAP benefits to buy detergent, cleaning supplies or personal hygiene items. Not being able to keep yourself clean robs people of their dignity. There’s something restorative about knowing that people will be able to be their best selves. That’s why we call it ‘Fresh Start.’ It’s a chance to start over.”
“There are many other small churches who want to improve the lives of people in their communities so that the love of God can be made visible through their ministries,” Vickery said. “By giving to the Peace & Global Witness Offering, people can help other small churches make God’s love real — in their town and around the world.
And as we always say, when we all do a little — it adds up to a lot! Please give generously.
Let us pray~
God of Peace, even the simplest acts of love and care for another person are counted as peace to you. Thank you for showing us the way of peace in the person of Jesus, and walk with us as we work to sow seeds of peace in our world through our gifts. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.