Matthew 25 in the PC(USA)
Our Mission
The Matthew 25 mission is for the most vulnerable to be seen, known, and loved. In the parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus reminds us that what we do matters and how we treat others is important to God.
Get Involved
When we welcome others, we welcome Christ; when we bring together people who are divided, we are doing God’s reconciling work. We are called to serve Jesus by contributing to the well-being of the most vulnerable in all societies – rural and urban, small and large, young and not-so-young. From affordable housing to community gardens to equitable educational and employment opportunities to healing from addiction and mental illness to enacting policy change – there is not just one way to be a part of the Matthew 25 movement. Make no mistake, Jesus is calling us to perform ordinary acts of compassion in daily life. In so doing, we continue Christ’s work of proclaiming release to captives and good news to the poor — the good news of God’s righteousness, justice, and peace for all.
If you feel called to assist Matthew 25 in their work, please contact Rev. Matt Drumheller at mattdrumheller@highlandpc.org.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
– Matthew 25:35-36
Resources
Shelter, Food, Clothing, Medical, & Legal Assistance
Emergency Housing
- Clay Street Low Barrier Emergency Shelter
- Emergency Family Shelter – Call 211 or 855-567-5341 for shelter for individuals and families
- Tenfold – Provides temporary housing shelter for individuals, couples, and veterans
Food & Clothing Banks
- Lancaster Food Hub– Food pantry, free clothing, and supportive services; call 717-291-2261
- Lancaster Community Meal Program– Network of churches and organizations providing three free meals every day; call 717-299-1113
- Lancaster Food Hub Clothing Bank– Provides free clothes, shoes, and personal hygiene products; located at 812 North Queen Street, Lancaster
Medical & Legal Services
- Water Street Mission– Provides medical, dental, and behavioral health services through its Health Clinic for uninsured and underinsured; call 717-358-2017
- Community Health, Counseling, & Dental Services– For medically uninsured or low-income individuals and families; call 717-367-9797
- Church World Services– Offers housing support, school enrollment, English as a second language (ESL), legal services, and case management for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers; call 717-381-2890
- Parish Resource Center– Holds a free legal advocacy clinic for immigrants on Tuesdays from 5-8 PM; call 717-299-1113
General Resources
Books & Publications
Books
- Brown, Austin Channing. I’m Still Here, Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. New York: Convergent Books, 2018.
- Cotes, Ta-Neshi. Between the World and Me. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015.
- DiAngelo, Robin. White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Boston: Beacon Press, 2018.
- Douglas, Frederick. My Bondage and My Freedom. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1969. Original Publication, New York and Auburn, NY: Miller, Orton and Mulligan, 1855.
- Dyson, Michael Eric. Tears We Cannot Stop, A Sermon to White America. New York: St. Martins, 2021.
- Elliott, Andrea. Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an America City. New York: Random House, 2021. A Pulitzer Prize Winner.
- Northup, Solomon. Twelve Years a Slave: A Memoir of Kidnap, Slavery and Liberation. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2000. First published, Auburn, NY: Derby and Miller,1853.
- Morrison, Latasha. Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Publishers, 2019.
- Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2014.
- Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. New York: Harper Collins, 2017.
- Tisby, Jamar, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2019.
- Thurman, Howard. The Luminous Darkness, A Personal Interpretation of the Anatomy of Segregation and the Ground of Hope. New York: Harper Rowe, 1965.
- Wallis, Jim. America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America. Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2015
- Wilkerson, Isabel. Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent. New York, Random House, 2020. National Book Award.
Online Publications
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Why they are marks of the church, and how we can practice these values in our congregations and mid-councils
- How to have curious conversations in dangerously divided times. How to Be a Better Human Podcast, with Mónica Guzmán, November 21, 2022
- An Equity Profile of Lancaster County: https://nationalequityatlas.org/an-equity-profile-of-lancaster-county
Movies/Plays/Videos
- Harriet, 2019 movie
- The Hate U Give, 2017 movie
- Just Mercy, 2019 movie
- Tom and Sally (The American Way) – Musical with lyrics by Fred Newman and music by Annie Roboff about Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, 2005
- Trouble the Waters: Conversations to Disrupt Racism and Dominance
Museums & Historical Sites
- The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy, Lancaster, PA
- Living the Experience Underground Railroad Reenactment, Bethel AME Church, Lancaster, PA
- The National Museum of African American History & Culture, Washington, DC
- Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center, Cambridge, MD
- Lynching Memorial, Mobile, AL
21-Day Challenge
We have put together a congregation-wide 21-day awareness challenge devotional includes an article or video to watch that focus on the topics of systemic poverty and structural racism. The goal is that by the end of 21 days you will have grown in your awareness of the world, had time for intentional self-reflection and be energized to put your faith into action in new and important ways. Please find the PDF version of the 21-Day challenge below for your useage.
