The Abbey

06/16/2026

The Way Out Program (TWOP) is a trial project we’ve started to hold space for deeper conversation and assistance. This has formed yet another community partnership and opportunity for The Abbey to follow Jesus through hospitality and loving our neighbor. Many thanks to Jessica for sharing her heart and wisdom as the leader of TWOP, to Holy Apostles and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Churches for providing food and drinks, and to Zion Spring Baptist Church for always welcoming us. We give thanks for the relationships we have developed with the people of Avondale so that we can connect people with this very special life-coaching program. So far, we’ve made a dozen connections and have high hopes for those who are joining us. Thanks be to God!

06/08/2026

Real talk with Anthony about the joys and challenges of adjusting from being unhoused to moving into housing. Put a mic in his hand and he’s a natural! And just look at that smile!

Today, Anthony spoke with a journalist about what it’s been like over the past couple months and what he wants people to know about his experience. Anthony expressed lots of gratitude for the community and resources helping him through these changes and I can’t wait for his interview to be published soon. He has a lot of truth and wisdom to share!

05/25/2026

The Holy Spirit showed up today for Pentecost! Gathering with our sister churches, Zion Spring Baptist and St. Thomas Episcopal, as well as friends from breakfast ministry, baptizing 2 new members into the household of God, praying for Rev. Katie with a heartfelt send off to her next call to Honolulu, Hawaii, and finishing with a cookout afterwards! Aloha, Katie! Happy 100th Anniversary, ZSBC! And keep loving our neighbors, friends of St. Thomas and The Abbey!

05/23/2026

05/15/2026

Grace and peace to you, our beloved breakfast ministry friends. I bid your prayers for our founder, friend, and priest, Rev. Katie, who is leaving our community to love and serve God’s people in Hawaii! We give thanks for her ministry among us, for her vision, determination, compassion, generosity, and resilience in bringing The Abbey into being, in chasing the Holy Spirit throughout Avondale, and constantly asking: Who is our neighbor. This ministry of connection and hospitality will continue as we strive to love our neighbor. Aloha Katie!

05/04/2026

Eastertide celebrations at dinner church over the past few weeks!

04/30/2026

Returning to the scene of Gumbo Gala for some debriefing and socializing with our Abbey/ St. Thomas combined gumbo team and ministry partnership

04/21/2026

God is doing good work through friends and strangers, alike, helping us love each other and see our neighbor as beloved. One of the greatest joys of this ministry is offering a House Blessing for the sanctuary of home and for the person who inhabits it.

It’s a really big deal for someone to move from living outside into housing! A lot of time and energy goes into the whole process by the individual and the people assisting along the way. And there are big adjustments for the individual to adapt. Anthony preached that to us today and blessed us in our work, in our friendships, and in God’s goodness.

He quoted to me as I was leaving today, “It takes a village!” And I agreed, we are the villagers and I’m thankful for Anthony’s life within this village. What he is doing now is sharing his experience with other villagers to encourage them and bring them hope in the long process and hard work. Thanks be to God for Anthony and his new home, and the joy that comes with it!

04/19/2026

Life is better with gumbo! And our combined team with The Abbey and St. Thomas is kinda like gumbo! A spicy melting pot of goodness and a divine combo of ingredients. Just like a good roux, we had the basis for a delicious gumbo and a perfect day to enjoy with friends - and we made some new friends too. Winning 3rd place for the spirit award felt well deserved, especially since one of our teens from The Abbey helped guide the theme for our booth and made part of our decorations…Dinosaur Gumbo! Great community building and good work for a great cause benefitting Episcopal Place.