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From the Listening
Post
by Darlene Kelly
and Jodey Williams
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| On September 12, Darlene Kelley, like so many other Americans went to Church; however, her Church is just one block south of a police border. Armed men in camouflage uniforms patrolled this unnatural border of police blue barricades. One by one other Church members found their way to the steps of this Sanctuary. Sirens were echoing. Yet, this gathering spoke in whispers knowing they were too close to death to speak in more than hushed reverence. “Has anyone heard from Terry or John?” “Don’t they work downtown?” They all look southward - toward the rising smoke in Lower Manhattan and wait and hug one another and pray. There are others across the street in front of St. Vincent's Hospital clutching photographs and weeping, each with a name on their lips, waiting for ambulances that never arrive. Soon the groups join and wait together. In the new world of September 12, an old ministry filled with compassion and hope for healing begins again. | |||
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Since September 12 Metropolitan-Duane has been a place for the spiritual and emotional support and healing. Early in October this ministry became a part of UMCOR’s, Listening Post with regular “open door” hours for prayer, listening and trauma counseling referrals. An onsite bilingual (English and Spanish) case manager is available for the community on Thursdays from 10:30 to 5:00 aiding in assistance with basic issues of housing, food, and employment. Darlene Kelley, Jodey Williams, and Elizabeth Keppis, who speaks Spanish, are working as a Prayer Partners and Listeners (Pastoral Care Assistants) each day. |
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As from the beginning, this Listening Post provides a place of pause - pause from daily routines or the getting on with things. It provides a place to grieve. Although the waiting is over, the long-term effects of 9/11 are surfacing. The people of New York City, as with all of America, are living with the threat of terrorism. However, New Yorkers must learn to grieve of this horrendous act of terrorism. |
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The Listening Post is open from 12 Noon to 6 PM weekdays. The open doors bring a variety concerns and prayers. The people who visit are wives, husbands, partners, parents, children, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews who are health care professionals, alcoholics, office workers, security guards, prostitutes, merchants, janitors, drug addicts, tourist, street people, lawyers, gay or lesbian, taxi drivers, teachers, transgender - all kinds of folks doing all kinds of work from everywhere on earth. Some visitors speak of sleepless nights, lack of focus and burst of anger - classic signs of post traumatic stress syndrome. They are given spiritual psychotherapy referrals to Blanton-Peale Institute, funded by UMCOR. Others speak of being pulled into the Church. They speak of being “disconnected” as if God isn’t. These people want prayers for they feel as if they cannot pray for themselves. Others want to renew their spirit and Christian journey. Some are discovering Jesus and want to embark on their Christian journey. There is a twenty-four foot banner tied to the prayer rail at the altar. Some visitors, especially teenagers, take comfort in writing their own messages of support or condolence. One day a Mother with two young children stopped in. As she stood reading the banner, she began to cry. Her children drew close to her. Shortly she left returning only minutes later with a bouquet of flowers asking permission to leave them in honor of those who had prepared the banner. Rev. Taka Ishii, Pastor of Metropolitan-Duane
UMC and Supervisor of this Listening Post, says he receives inquiries
from churches wanting to know what is needed. The Listening Post needs
Bibles, The Upper Room daily devotion guides and Ben Campbell Johnson’s
A Seeker’s Guide to Christian Faith (available from Upper Room)
and your prayers. As the Listening Post is welcoming both the churched
and unchurched, these resources will contribute to the edification of
the wanderer, the seeker, and the disciple |
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