Francis Fund Recipient: The Welcome Church

When she was co-pastor at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at Germantown, the Rev. Violet Little found herself becoming increasingly concerned about the plight of the homeless.    She would see them on the streets of Center City, in the train station and at public restrooms – and felt compelled to do something to help.

At first, she began holding twice-weekly teatimes at a room provided by the Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion at 21st and Chestnut Streets.   As attendance grew, she then expanded to a second room, and finally, a third, providing about 100 homeless people with a hot beverage and light snacks as well as a place to relax and use a restroom.

But soon, Little discovered that they wanted more than just sustenance  and a safe haven – they were interested in weekly services, a Bible study group and a fellowship in which they could explore and strengthen their relationship with God.  And that was when Little realized that she essentially had the makings of a whole new and very different kind of congregation.

The result was the Welcome Church, a church without walls that holds a weekly worship service every Sunday afternoon on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and also is known for its “Welcome Table,” gatherings that revolve around cooking and sharing meals in spaces provided not just by the Lutheran Church but by other religious denominations as well.

“I had to do it,” recalled Little, a psychotherapist who is pastor but works closely with an ecumenical group of clergy from different religious denominations.

With an expected $5,000 donation from the Francis Fund, Little said she plans to increase programs for women.  “There are fewer services on the street for women, and women are so vulnerable,” said Little.   “We need more places for women to feel safe.”

She said the money will help expand the “Chat and Chew” monthly women’s group meals now held at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church at 22nd and Spruce Streets.  It will also be used to start a second meal program known as “Sanctuary Angels,” a time for reflection, reading and writing that is followed by a meal.

Little said she also would use the money to add a second overnight retreat for women, purchase supplies to help develop a natural soap-making project and pay for printing  costs of a new cookbook, which aims to tell the story of the Welcome Church and offer recipes from the women’s gatherings.

The Welcome Church already offers an array of programs and services.  For example, when homeless people finally find more permanent housing, they are given a house-warming gift of $500 to $700 of brand-new items – everything from bed linens and curtains to pots and pans and and dishes. 

The gesture is important, Little said, because homeless people have long had to make due with used items – so the gift of new items is a significant way to help them mark the transition from homelessness. 
The Francis Fund contribution, she said, is another example of what can happen when walls come  down – this time, the walls between different faiths.   

“It’s not about a denomination or any one faith.  It’s about getting us back to our roots of who Jesus is,” she said.  “It’s not so much about Francis or about the Catholic Church.  I think it’s more about the work of the Holy Spirit bringing us together.”