It begins!!!

It's September and a brand new year is just about to begin!

We kicked things off with Hineni weekend this past Saturday and Sunday, hosting an intimate gathering of friends and supporters at the house for a fundraiser which included a concert by yours truly as well as lovely desserts made by Rev. Heidi! The house was absolutely sparkling, with beautiful sunflowers laid out on the dining room table and a freshly re-decorated living room with a new reading corner! We are so looking forward to evenings in the new space.

Hineni Sunday was also a blast, with the church packed for Heidi's first day back and our house blessing. I introduced a new prayer activity with a wooden and wire frame on which parishioners and residents hung coloured ribbons indicating their prayers for the year ahead. Afterward we trooped across the street for snacks, coffee, and the blessing. I cannot believe how beautifully decorated the rooms are! We may take some new photos to post on the website. :)

This week we'll have our very first programming session! We've switched our meeting nights to Thursdays and will begin with all of the nuts and bolts of community, eventually transitioning into deeper conversations about how we communicate, our Enneagram numbers, our conflict styles, and how we will offer hospitality at Hineni House.

So far we've done well on the latter! While Hineni weekend was not as massive as we had hoped, our four residents did their very best to create a warm, beautiful, and welcoming place for everyone to enter into. A few weeks ago, we were even able to offer very short-term housing for a prospective resident for next year who came all the way from India!

All of us at Hineni House are excited to begin a brand new year of adventure, introspection, and friendship. Please keep us in your prayers!

​-Clare