Rector's Blog: Sharing Life with Madison Villa
As I mentioned last week, Madisonville is our neighborhood. It is connected to Redeemer, and Redeemer is connected to Madisonville, and what happens in Madisonville is happening to Redeemer. It is our intention that our life, love, mission, and ministry reflect that reality. You already know that our longstanding relationship with Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC) is an important embodiment of that intention. But there is another organization with whom we are closely linked that is making a significant impact in Madisonville: Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS).
We often think first about Deupree House or Marjorie P. Lee when someone mentions ERS – and with good reason: They’re beautiful, thriving senior living homes. But did you know that ERS brings that same level of care to not one but two low-income housing units in Madisonville? One is St. Paul’s Village and the other is Madison Villa. Thanks in part to the leadership of Junior Warden, Emily von Allmen, Redeemer is partnering closely with ERS in a relationship with Madison Villa.
Madison Villa is currently being renovated, but when its 89 units are filled again, Redeemer will be offering opportunities for our parishioners to form friendships and share life with the residents there. This will include bringing our knitting group over to Madison Villa, as well as facilitating outings and field trips, Puzzle and Game Nights, and other intergenerational activities that draw us together.
ERS and Redeemer are committed to community advocacy in the quick-changing neighborhood of Madisonville. We believe strongly in the need for continued affordable housing and will seek to assure that the easy availability of grocery stores and convenient bus lines are part of the landscape.
Of course, we want to recognize our connection to Madison Villa is not just about “us” helping “them”. Healthy mission work is about partnership across traditional cultural and socio-economic barriers, and the residents of Madison Villa – many of whom have lived in Madisonville their whole lives – have much wisdom to share with us about the changes in the community. Our work will not just be for them but with them. As we continue to fine-tune our Mission ministry at Church of the Redeemer, we have a desire to strengthen our relationships with our neighbors.
In 2020 we will commit to meeting the residents of Madison Villa and forming friendships based in Christian love and mutual care. It’s my belief that this will be the beginning of an incredible, life-giving relationship that will transform both the people of Madison Villa and Redeemer. I invite you today to begin praying for this budding connection and asking God to show you your part in its enactment.
