JUSTembrace

As we prepare to close JUSTembrace at the end of April, memories like these from the very first months in this house are precious heirlooms! So many of those sitting at this first table of friends have passed away, but the friendships formed in moments like those captured here etched their memories upon our hearts and we are honored to carry them with us.

Small Group 10

We were delighted and honored to be chosen by .balloon to receive this beautiful addition to our final holiday event!

Even days later it's decorating the front porch to continue to spread cheer this season!

Thank you Luft for always looking for ways to make an impact!

During the warm months, and as we continue to wait for a safer time to gather indoors, we're having an early dinner with anyone and everyone who stops by!
Sundays at 4pm!
Take a meal to go, or sit and visit for a bit!

JUSTembrace is taking a much slower journey back to "normalcy" as we are keenly aware of the added vulnerabilities of many of our neighbors. We are also attempting to discern together how we want to practice our faiths and values together.

It's not easy and it's not fast, but warm months and all beef hot dogs are a great backdrop for our journey together!

Getting together with this crew is the best part of the week!

Within 24 hours we had 2 free refrigerators offered, and a standing freezer! Not only exactly the combo we needed to replace, but with even MORE capacity! (this is the first fridge, and it's the biggest thing I've ever seen!!!)

In addition, a few of those folks who are first to jump to a need, donated some cash that we are able to put towards filling this first fridge with supplies to feed our community on Sundays this summer!

I'm truly blown away.

When I woke up to a broken freezer two days ago, I was so discouraged. I've been gone for so long, and adjusting back to my role at JUSTembrace while a pandemic is still very much real among us, has just been hard.

This incredible display of generosity and support has reminded me of the joys of managing JUSTembrace - even and especially in a crisis. It has been one of my favorite things to steward resources on behalf of JUSTembrace. 💚💛💚💛💚💛

Timing is incredible!
Kevin and I were trying to get the dead fridge out of the back porch so we could also get the freezer out when I happened to spot a junk truck! I yelled and yelled and yelled and he FINALLY looked at me in the nick of time!
What a gift to have his eager help in removing these items!
Next up, sanitizing the porch and everywhere else the turkey stock seeped 😩

I just went outside to grab the last 4 clearance purchased corned beef roasts to make soup for the community this coming Sunday (It got rave reviews last week!).

I found a fully thawed and warm freezer. 😫
Devastated.

In addition, back in March, I discovered one of our two back up fridges was dead and the other one is inconsistent.
We just started weekly meals for the community, so this is terrible timing.

Does anyone in Chicagoland have quick access to a fridge/freezer that's donate-able?

Please feel free to share this post!

Been going through the archives preparing for a deep dive analysis.

It's exhausting and emotional just gathering documents.

This piece made me smile. Before finding this house on craigslist, we were imagining a storefront for the first home of JUSTembrace.

This house made us.

This house nurtured our vision.

This house hosted our grief.

This house held up our decorations.

This house is our home.

Did the roof start leaking last night on BOTH floors?
Yep.
Did we rip open the ceiling and wall today?
Yep.

This house is our home for now, and for now I honor it for it's 11 years of hospitality - minus the mold.... 🥰😣💚🏡

We did hours of yard work today since it's 60⁰ in December!
Scout had several friends drop by and Gary noted that the chipmunks are bigger than him! So we got photo proof.
A cool thing mentioned in conversation today with a neighbor was their memory of praying for the holiday meal they attended a few years ago. Before each meal I invite a guest to pray for the meal before I assume that job. Often this results in a truly authentic gift of reciprocated hospitality. I'm thrilled to hear that this neighbor remembers it fondly too!

I've known Heather longer than anyone on this neighborhood. She was one of the first people I met when I started visiting the neighborhood in Mondays to play cards with a few folks back in 2009.

My friendship with Heather is such a great example of what the holidays at JUSTembrace are about. Creating meaningful traditions where neighbors can feel like family!

I ran into another neighbor the other day. He told me his son asked to come see us for his birthday this year because he misses seeing us - he and his sister have grown up creating holiday memories at JUSTembrace!

As you plan your holiday traditions with your family this year, would you consider contributing to the traditions JUSTembrace is keeping alive for the neighbors in Uptown?

Oh my GOODNESS!
What a night!
Nearly 150 hot, homemade holiday feasts we boxed up and served in a legit love fest!
I really can't express the emotional experience of being with our community during events like today. It is not a service opportunity... It is not a feeding of the hungry... It is not a gift to under privileged or resourced people. Days like today are about removing all of those barriers and truly enjoying each other's company. It's about making traditions of feasting and celebration accessible and inclusive.

Typically, just embrace seeks to do this through much more open events like family style dinners and carnivals in the yard. Serving people in a line outside of the house is the coldest form of hospitality we have ever offered, but, it seems as if our neighbors have not allowed that to impact their trust and affection.

For that, I am incredibly grateful.

To be honest, this time of the year is packed with opportunities to exploit the poor and vulnerable. We are committed to growing and learning, we are committed to being held accountable when we get it wrong. On a day like today, it can feel like the odds are stacked against us as high as the fence that separates us from our community.
I am overwhelmed this evening with encouragement that somehow, someway, we shared a reciprocal experience with our neighbors.

I cannot wait for dinner number two! December 19th! All are welcome!

Pre prep inside is in full gear!

More of that epic prep happening around the city!!

Twas the night before our first holiday feast:

Goodnight to all, and to all a good night!

This sign caught me off guard tonight. Everyone around here knows this face but few knew his name.
I'm encouraged by the fact that there are others in this community determined to dignify the lives of our neighbors in their deaths. I'm thankful Paul was known and will be missed.

I knew this would happen as I get reconnected in the neighborhood, but it's still so hard to fathom.
Miss Tina was killed in a senseless act of violence this year, while I was gone.
Jimmy passed away after a short illness.

As 2021 comes to an end it's hard not to be numb to death - especially as I come and go from a gate covered in thousands of remembrance ribbons.

These photos help me remember our friends and the unique impact they had on us. These two in particular were so instrumental in helping me feel welcomed and accepted and safe on this block. I feel disoriented without them.

144 servings of Mac and cheese!
I'm not sure what Scout is thinking, but I'm tired! Plugging away on prep for our first of two holiday feasts where we will be ready to host 250 of our neighbors! Nov 28th 4:00pm at 4942 N. Kenmore Ave!

It's done! Ready to install at our local Starbucks!
We're honored to be partnering with and customers in Uptown to help provide necessary warm items to our neighbors this holiday season. ⛄🎄🧑🏼‍🎄🦌☕

It's been a long year and a half since I, left Chicago and JUSTembrace to walk with my parents through sickness, death, and the excruciating adjustment that follows.💙

During that time all of us were and continue to navigate a pandemic. Despite so many barriers, thrived in my absence. With the leadership and stewardship of and Kevin and the new housemate in (and Salem 😺), and a whole family of community members continuing to look out for each other and our neighbors, this house has continued to be a place where reciprocal values of Generosity, Hospitality, and Inclusivity are practiced.

In addition there are dozens of monthly donors who faithfully gave without wavering : trusting our commitment to our mission and providing for us as we've sought to discern how to adapt.🙌🏼🥰

I made this crude piece of art (it's not done yet...) before I came home to Chicago as a representative of the network of people who make this house a place of love. This house is old and moldy and rickety, but the love of the JUSTembrace extended family makes it our collective home.💗

JUSTembrace's year-end video!
https://youtu.be/kCoQd17mF5U

JUSTembrace 2020 This video is about My Movie 6

Tune in TODAY at 4pm to ABC 7 Chicago for a short segment called "localish" all about what JUSTembrace is doing during the pandemic to pastor a community through grief and lament.
https://abc7chicago.com

ABC Chicago - Breaking News and Weather ABC7 is Chicago's source for breaking news, weather and live video. Covering politics, health, traffic and sports for Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana.

The JUSTembrace family created a virtual sunrise service for Easter morning. We invite you to use this tool anytime you'd like, but nothing beats the sunrise on Easter morning!

If you're interested - grab a couple blankets and find a place outside on Sunday morning to engage this video.

We encourage you to start with this link - a beautiful song that captures the feelings of Easter morning, and many of our mornings right now:

https://youtu.be/yJlSYbuxOqQ
(The link to the song is also in the comments of this video posted below)

If you'd like a copy of the readings so you can read along, you can get it here:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iK9N_oYYWnM0xZE8votmmsAib8sRPssxQQ7aE1cw6vM

https://youtu.be/6dywugzYLjA

Sunrise Service 2020 A companion for Easter Sunrise

GREAT news! They are accepting mail at the nursing home! If you would like to send some cards - keep your kids busy with some crafty crafts - They would be GREATLY appreciated!!
Due to the great skepticism at work in these places, however - would you consider sending them HERE - and then I will take them and deliver them? Also I can wipe down the items and wear gloves when delivering! I noticed today the mailman is not wearing gloves....
Our address is:
4942 N. Kenmore Ave.
Chicago IL. 60640
Message me or comment here with questions!

It's official! We've listed some of our space on Airbnb! If you know anyone looking for a place to visit in Chicago - spread the word!
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3576287?s=67&shared_item_type=1&virality_entry_point=1&sharer_id=18009638&unique_share_id=a3248c0e-17f3-4d16-a196-49db3158f180

Semi-Private Upstairs Unit in Hospitality House - Houses for Rent in Chicago, Illinois, United States Private room in Chicago, United States. A quiet and cozy retreat just blocks from Lake Michigan! 2 private rooms in semi-private upstairs unit. Two blocks from the Red Line, buses, Marian...