16th Annual Celtic Prayer Retreat

We have all just returned from Mustard Seed Associates 16th Annual Prayer Retreat on Camano Island.  It was a wonderful time of fun, fellowship and food as well as prayer, worship and meditation.  I always return feeling refreshed and renewed.  Read more…

Important Update on the Lora Lake Apartments

We at MSH are particularly pleased to hear the most recent news about the Lora Lakes Apartment complex. For those who don’t know, these are clean, safe, low-income apartments which were unnecessarily slated for total demolition (to be replaced by a mega-store). MSH was present at a service of lamentation a few weeks ago to protest their planned destruction (see our July 31st post below). As a result of the efforts of many concerned parties, a judicial injunction has just been issued, thereby granting a temporary reprieve.

Read more below and please pray that the rights of the poor to affordable housing be upheld…

Dramatic, Last-Minute Judicial Injunction Saves Lora Lake Apartments – For Now
(From the Church Council of Greater Seattle’s e-newsletter)

In the space of two days, anti-homeless advocates were disappointed and then delighted with the turn of events in the ongoing Lora Lake saga. On Thursday at a packed hearing by the Port of Seattle, commissioners voted 3-2 to demolish the 162-unit apartment complex (Hara, Creighton and Davis in support). The vote came in spite of an overwhelming show of support from members of the public and elected officials who were also represented.

Then the next day one of two lawsuits was heard and Judge Deborah Fleck issued a Preliminary Injunction forbidding the Port to demolish the units until a full hearing on March 24, 2008. This means an almost seven month reprieve for the $32 million development.

Homeless advocates were particularly disappointed in Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara who in the past has been supportive of making the Port more sensitive to the local community. Hara’s vote, however, temporarily put the last nail in the coffin of the apartments.

“I am delighted with Judge Fleck’s ruling,” commented Stephen Norman, Executive Director for the King County Housing Authority, “this buys the time needed to find a compromise that works for all the parties involved.”

“This is a very positive development for affordable housing in the region,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “This ruling gives us the time we need. I am committed to finding a solution that benefits all parties.”

Many leaders specifically praised the work of the Church Council in advocating for preservation of the apartments. Our thanks to the many people who sent cards, letters, and e-mails to support our efforts!

Another article about the most recent news by the Seattle PI

Open hospitality

On Saturday Brent, David and Thomas from Indiana spent the day with us.  We had never met them before but they had discovered Mustard Seed Associates and the Mustard Seed House through the references at the back of Shane Claiborne’s book The Irresistible Revolution and decided to make contact.  Brent and David and Thomas had been on the road since the middle of June exploring the country and helping out wherever they were able.  They were certainly a blessing to us as they spent the day in the garden pruning, pulling weeds and spreading out compost.  In the evening we treated them to homemade burritos and ice cream with our home grown peaches.

We all love the opportunity to extend hospitality to any that God sends our way.  Sharing life together is meant to be at the centre of our faith and yet so often many of us do not have time for others.  We always find that we are blessed and enriched by the fellowship… even with people we have never met before.  This time we have also been blessed by their willingness just to get out there and help.  If you are travelling through Seattle and would like to check us out we would love to hear from you too.