Cherith Brook
’s Mercy & Gospel Obe
So E li jah did according to the word of the L ord; he went and lived by the C her ith Brook…and the ravens brou ght him bread… I Kings 17
Following the Movement
By Ben Parker Sutter
At Cherith Brook, we’ve
dedicated this short Lenten
newspaper to the new
Poor People’s Campaign.
This movement for today
stands humbly on the
shoulders of the Poor
People’s Campaign of 1968,
a movement the Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was
helping to organize before
he was assassinated. We’re
joining our voices to the
movement and we invite
you and your community
to join as well.
In these pages you’ll
find frustrations with the
inequality in our country,
ideas for how we can change
our community and even
some hope about what we
can accomplish together.
We’ve gathered friends
and volunteers from
Cherith Brook for the
campaign to talk together
and to listen to the
experiences that each of us
brings. As a community, we
read Liz Theoharis’s book
Always With Us? to get a
theological perspective on
the need for a poor people’s
movement.
We have joined with
the Missouri and Kansas
organizing committees and
Stand Up KC in actions
icing God
Pract
C A T H O L I C
intended to prepare for
civil disobedience in the
coming months. Now,
we’re reaching out to those
of you connected to this
community and asking:
what can you personally do
to support this movement
of the people?
The revived Poor
People’s Campaign: A
National Call for Moral
Revival is uniting tens of
thousands of people across
the country to challenge
the evils of systemic racism,
poverty, the war economy,
and ecological devastation.
As fellow laborers in
the movement, we see
these four priorities as
moral priorities essential
to the future good of our
country. We also see these
as priorities of theological
importance that put Jesus’s
gospel of reconciliation
and salvation into practice.
We join this movement out
of gospel obedience.
John W. de Gruchy says
in his book Reconciliation
that “the Christian ‘grand
narrative’ is open-ended,
a story still in the making
through the Spirit, a story
inclusive of all who wish to
participate and respectful
of those who do not.”
dienc
e
W O R K E R Lent 2018
Shut It Down
By Virginia Davis
Personally, I see this
movement as part of that
grand Christian narrative.
I pray that as we join
together, our eyes may
be open to the continual
movement of the Spirit to
build, encourage and create
that ongoing story.
While the movement
of the Holy Spirit guides
and shapes us in new
directions, we still have
a personal responsibility
to decide to join in God’s
grand narrative. Dr. King
said, “I choose to identify
with the underprivileged. I
choose to identify with the
poor. I choose to give my
life for the hungry. I choose
to give my life for those
who have been left out…
This is the way I’m going.”
Which way are you going?
Poor People’s Campaign Fundamental Principles
• Provide a moral • Deepen leadership and • Build multiracial unity
analysis that demands agency to those across lines of division
justice for all most affected
• Start a season of
• Build a • Build from the bottom sustained nonviolent
non-partisan and up power through civil disobedience
multiracial movement strength in numbers
Priorities condensed
• Acknowledge and fight • Organize at the state from the Fundamental
the impact of and local level Principles as outlined by
white supremacy poorpeoplescampaign.org.
2 | Cherith Brook Catholic Worker
Voices from Our Community
Twice a month, we gather after Tuesday shower mornings to reflect on how we want to
be a part of the Poor People’s Campaign. These thoughts are from those reflections.
Realizing Our
Shared Goal:
We aim to participate
in 40 days of
civil disobedience.
We call for an end to
poverty, racism, the
war economy and
ecological devastation.
What We Believe In:
“I am for equal opportunity,
housing, living wages,
healthcare and education
for everyone. I want to
stand up for all people.”
- Günter
“I want to learn all I
need to know so I can
give from my best
effort. I want to see the
end of homelessness
and the fulfillment of
equal opportunities for
everyone in this country.
It’s about time for us to
make a big difference.
Let’s do this one and all.”
- Elston
“It’s important for me to
join this movement to
figure out what I can do
personally to improve
economic opportunities
for all. My message for
our community and our
country is to love your
neighbor as yourself.”
- Jerry
Lent 2018
Important
Issues for Us:
• Racism
• Race prejudice
• Discrimination
• Race as a construct to
separate and conquer
• Economic exploitation
• Class division
• Slavery
• Not having good jobs
• Not having healthcare
• Not having education
• Not having housing
• Militarism
“The change I want to see
in our country is shared
economic wealth. It’s
important for me to join
this movement, because it’s
important for all to join.”
- Christopher
“Poverty affects my
neighbors in devastating
ways—preventing them
from obtaining good
educations, housing and
even meeting their basic
needs. It is painful to see
people I love struggling
in these ways. Regardless
of the struggles I face and
the struggles my neighbors
face, we are all ultimately
bound up with each other.
Coming together as a
unified force is the only
way we can change society.”
- Virginia
“It is essential for us as
a community to join the
poor people’s campaign,
because our guests have
been told for so long by
What We Want
in Good Jobs:
• Good pay and a
livable wage ($15-20)
• Employers treating
employees with respect
• Healthcare and benefits
• Balanced unions
• Breaks On March 24th, join people of faith from across
• Equal opportunities the metro area for a faith assembly focused on
• Upward mobility renewing the Poor People’s Campaign in Kansas City
• Training (Paid) and across the state.
• Appropriate raises We’ll be joined by national faith leaders, Rev. Liz
• Employer commitment Theoharris and Rev. Jimmie Hawkins for a special
to the community day of learning, multi-racial movement building, and
strategizing to put our faith into collective action.
Join us on the afternoon of Saturday, March 24,
society that their personal from 3-5pm at Community Christian Church (4601
choices are the reason Main Street, KCMO 64112). This will take place after
for their struggle with the March for Our Lives in downtown Kansas City.
poverty. But we know this For more informoation and to RSVP, visit:
is a lie. It is an attempt to bit.ly/ppckcfaithassembly
scapegoat them for the
injustice of our capitalist
system and a war economy. Intern at Cherith Brook
As Christians we
worship a Jesus who
preaches good news to the
poor, who was the anointed
liberator of the oppressed
and the herald of a Jubilee
economics. When we are
following Jesus we will find
ourselves as allies in their
struggle, joining them in
the streets as they stand up
and organize for their own Photo by Henri Garbison
empowerment. ”
Come join in the fun! We’re looking for interns to
- Eric
join us this summer.
Have you ever thought about living and serving in
“This movement most
community with others? Do you know someone who
impacts my life by
might want to join us?
addressing housing.
For more information about what your internship
My setting in a new
apartment has been the with Cherith Brook could look like, email us at
Lord blessing me with a cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com and tell us more
new year and life.” about yourself.
- Joyce We can’t wait to meet you!

Jesus Was a Poor Man
By Grace Parker Sutter
The Matthew 26 passage
to the right is the focus of
Liz Theoharis’ book Always
With Us? What Jesus Really
Said about the Poor. Over
the last two months, we
have been reading this
book as a community
and wrestling with what
Matthew’s words mean for
us in our work at Cherith
Brook and beyond.
For me, the words “the
poor you will always have
with you” have echoed in
my ears and Theoharis
has challenged me to
reimagine what they
mean. Is Jesus saying that
poverty is inevitable? How
does Jesus understand our
economic statuses? How
does he call his disciples to
dismantle poverty?
Theoharis depicts the
An organizer passes out signs to prepare for an action announcing the Fight for Fifteen joining
the Poor People’s Campaign. Photo ©Jeremy Ruzich. Used with permission.
Always With Us? What Jesus
Really Said about the Poor
by Liz Theoharis
harsh economic realities
of the Roman Empire to
underscore the similarities
between it and our
American system—the
exploitation of the poor
for the benefit of the rich,
the wealth disparity, and
the displacement of people
during urban growth.
Lent 2018 Cherith Brook Catholic Worker | 3
Shower
Needs
“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the
Tennis Shoes
Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of (esp. men’s 9-15)
very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head
Jeans (30-34; 4-6)
as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw
Boxers & Panties
this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. (S & M; 4-7)
“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and
Warm Gloves
the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said
to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has Shampoo
done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always Conditioner
have with you, but you will not always have me. Body Wash/Shower Gel
When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it Razors
to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this Toilet Paper
gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has
Toothbrushes
done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Foot Powder
- Matthew 26:6-13
Tampons & Pads
Within these realities, that turns what we see Ibuprofen
Jesus made his position as the “status quo” on its Chapstick
very clear—he too head, that does not rely
Antibiotic Cream
was a poor man. Jesus on the exploitation of
Reading Glasses
unequivocally stands with the poor. He makes way
the poor and condemns the for the poor themselves
economic structures that to be popular-movement
allow poverty to persist in leaders who call others to
the world. He calls for an a new vision of society—
economic restructuring one that values each
person, forgives debts,
and relinquishes any need Hospitality
for power at the expense
of others.
Needs
Theoharis offers Powdered Creamer
refreshing possibilities Toilet Paper
for what Jesus meant Tissues
to do with his ministry.
Baking Soda
With this book, she
continues the tradition Dish Soap
of understanding our Salt & Pepper
social and political world Bus Passes
through a theological lens. (31-day, all-day, & one-ride)
Knowing more about how Hot Sauce
our theology is informed Butter
by poor people allows us Rice
to enter into the Poor Energy Saving
People’s Campaign with a Light Bulbs
desire for both moral and Stamps
spiritual justice. Post Cards (Postage Paid)
Rooster Crowing
Photo by Henri Garbison
Cherith Brook
Catholic Worker
3308 East 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64127
(816) 241-8047
cherithbrookkcmo@gmail.com
cherithbrookcw.blogspot.com
facebook.com/cherithbrookkc
instagram.com/cherithbrookcw
Who We Are
Nonviolence—to live
by Jesus’ model of a
nonviolent way of life and
his Sermon on the Mount
manifesto (Matthew 5-7).
Hospitality—to
welcome everyone in a
manner that mirrors the
upside down nature of
God’s reign (Luke 7:36-
50, 14:7-24, etc.); to daily
welcome everyone as
Christ (Matthew 25).
Community—to live
together and share a
life of table fellowship,
economic resources,
labor, study, prayers and
worship and to trust that
by covenanting with each
other, we can do more
together than we can do
on our own (Acts 2:38,
42-47, 4:32-35).
Downward Mobility—
to live simply, practice
alternative economics and
voluntary labor among
people on the margins
and excluded from life’s
resources. Downward
mobility comes at
personal surrender
and connects us to an
economy of grace (Luke
9:57-62; Mark 8:34-38;
Matthew 6:19-21, 25-34,
7:13-14).
Revaluing Land and
Labor—to rediscover our
original connection with
the goodness of God’s
handiwork, the proper
meaning of labor and self-
sufficiency, our intimate
connection with nature,
the need to steward native
resources and discern
appropriate technology—
all to celebrate the sublime
mystery of God’s creation
(Genesis 2:4-9, 15-16,
“Aims and Means“).
Catholic Worker—We
are a part of the Catholic
Worker movement co-
founded by Dorthy Day
and Peter Maurin (See
Catholic Worker “Aims
and Means“).
Our Schedule
Showers | Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 8-11:30 am
Prayers | Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:15am; Thursday at 12pm
Community Meal | Thursday from 5–7 pm
Work Day | Monthly, 2nd Saturday from 9 am–1 pm
Upcoming Events
March 20 — Poor People’s Campaign meeting at CB, 11:30am-1pm
March 24 — Faith Assembly at Community Christian Church (4601
Main St., KCMO 64112), 3-5pm
March 26 — Poor People’s Campaign Panel at the North East Public
Library (6000 Wilson Ave., KCMO 64123), 6:30-8pm
March 30 — Stations of the Cross at Jerusalem Farm (520 Garfield Ave.,
KCMO 64124), 1pm
April 3 — Poor People’s Campaign meeting at CB, 11:30am-1pm
April 4 — Memphis Trip to remember the assassination of Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., travel arrangements TBD
April 14 — Workday at Cherith Brook, 9am- 1pm
April 17 — Poor People’s Campaign meeting at CB, 11:30am-1pm
May 1 — Poor People’s Campaign meeting at CB, 11:30am-1pm
May 12 — Workday at Cherith Brook, 9am- 1pm
Visit cherithbrookcw.blogspot.com/email to subscribe to our monthly
email updates with information about other upcoming events.