Church of the Advocate/The Red Door Community
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Since 1997, the worshipping community of Church of the Advocate has helped thousands of people by providing daily necessities, like personal care items, shoes, and clothing, along with mental health and substance abuse counseling, jobs training and medical attention. The volunteers and clergy work closely with social service agencies to help break the cycle of homelessness.
But Church of the Advocate is not a social service agency or homeless outreach. It's an Episcopal congregation made up of the housed and the not-yet-housed. Meeting at Trinity Church Asheville, Advocate's weekly worship is centered in the Eucharist and it calls those who attend to remember their baptismal vows-or join the Jesus movement through baptism. Like every other Christian community, Church of the Advocate is a visible gathering of the Communion of Saints, only most of its saints have, like the Savior they worship, no place to lay their heads.--Matthew 8:20
Worship times
The sanctuary opens at 12:00 noon for quiet reflection. In addition to music, there is a spiritual art activity prior to worship such as collage making and coloring. Refreshments are available.
The prayer circle follows the Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina that involves four easy steps: read, meditate, pray, contemplate. The prayer leader first reads a passage of Scripture. The group then reflects on its meaning, after which prayer and contemplation of the Scripture follow.
This ancient tradition, which began in monastic communities in the 4th century A.D., provides a soothing structure through which each person can explore the meaning of Scripture in his or her life.
Breakfast is served following the prayer circle.
Volunteer opportunities
We depend on volunteers for our community meals served on Tuesdays and Sunday following our worship. Volunteers can help by bringing food to share, helping to serve and clean up afterwards.
We have opportunities to serve in Shoe and Clothing Closet, our Nurses Station (Licensed Registered Nurses Only), and our Personal Care Closet on Tuesday following worship.
Ministries
All Souls Counseling at Church of the Advocate
Once a week, COA offers mental health counseling services to parishioners by appointment. Locating this important service at Trinity, in a walkable location, eliminates a major barrier to mental health care – access. By getting their care in a place they know and trust, parishioners are more open to scheduling and keeping appointments.
Good Works Crew
In 2016, Church of the Advocate launched its Good Works Crew. The crew’s members are parishioners who are:
- Living in permanent housing or
- Pursuing placement in permanent housing and
- Actively involved in mental health counseling.
The Good Works Crew is currently working at CarePartners Thrift Store and First Presbyterian Church’s community garden (located at the Black Mountain Home for Children), as well as assisting with Habitat projects in Buncombe County and restoration of an historic trail at Lake Logan, the diocesan retreat center in Haywood County. The crew also assists parishes in western North Carolina with grounds maintenance and participates in service projects in the city of Asheville.
Shoe & Clothing Closet
Since many of our parishioners are street people, one of the greatest needs we fulfill is providing new or lightly used shoes and clothing.
Nurse's Station
We have several volunteer nurses who do patient assessments, provide over the counter medicines as needed and provide physician referrals.
Personal Care Closet
We provide socks, underwear, toiletries and other personal care items for our homeless parishioners.
News about Church of the Advocate/The Red Door Community
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60 Church St
Asheville, NC 28801-3622
United States
