Erica Koser
Hi, It's been awhile!
So much for great plans to write once a week and take you on at least a bi-weekly ministry journey with Shelter Church and the Shelter. ...
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Boots on the Ground
Everyday ministry stories and blessings
Erica Koser
Oct 18, 20223 min read
Night Shift Thoughts
As I write this, it is the middle of the night. I am "last minute" working an overnight shift at the shelter. As the clock ticks...
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Erica Koser
Aug 15, 20223 min read
The Story of Stuff: Of magic and unicorns
While we never like to see families need the shelter, staff and volunteers usually love having kids around. Even most guests enjoy the...
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Erica Koser
Aug 13, 20222 min read
What Lies Ahead
I am spending what is likely my last summer weekend at the lake. It is a cool and quiet weekend, with the clouds hanging low and the...
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Erica Koser
Aug 4, 20223 min read
A Window on the World
This week, we moved our shelter offices out of the shelter and into a street level strip mall on the fringe of the downtown core. The...
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Erica Koser
Jul 31, 20223 min read
The Story of Stuff
We get lots of calls at the shelter. Many calls are asking about space and resources, but many people call asking if they can donate...
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Erica Koser
Jul 5, 20223 min read
Survival Sleep
Sleeping Rough The first time I heard the phrase, it made me cringe. I don’t know why, but the semantics of it immediately made me...
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Erica Koser
Jul 1, 20223 min read
Hard to House: Not Our Choice
This is the last week in the series on Hard to House. We hope that you have learned a little as we have shared some of the barriers our...
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Erica Koser
Jun 30, 20222 min read
Hard to House: Criminal Records
Have you ever made a poor choice? Gotten tangled up in a bad situation? Done something stupid and lived to regret it? For most of us,...
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Erica Koser
Jun 21, 20223 min read
Hard to House: Mental Health
This is the first in a series on what can stand in the way of getting those experiencing homelessness housed. I have known ‘Ben’ for 10...
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Erica Koser
Jun 5, 20223 min read
ALL are welcome
ALL are welcome Jolly, Princess, Bailey, Tala- these are the names of some of my favorite congregants. Upon meeting them, you might be a...
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Erica Koser
May 31, 20224 min read
Goodbyes are hard
In this work, we say a lot of goodbyes. Goodbyes wrapped in mystery or confusion. Goodbyes that were full of celebration and the promise...
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Erica Koser
Jan 10, 20222 min read
In the Still of the Night
In the Still of the Night I happen to be working the overnight shift at the shelter tonight. It’s not something I usually do as one of...
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Erica Koser
Nov 1, 20212 min read
Sometimes, it doesn't work
(This post was originally posted as part of a series on The Parking Lot Pastors Blog) We preach dignity. We stake our deep belief on the...
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Erica Koser
Oct 24, 20213 min read
I See You
(Blog originally posted as part of a series on the Parking Lot Pastors blog) One of the very first opportunities we get to sit down with...
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Erica Koser
Sep 30, 20212 min read
Dignity DNA
(This post was originally posted as part of the Parking Lot Pastors Blog for Connections Shelter) Dignity. Webster defines it as “the...
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