My name is Rod Ellenberger, and I am writing this newsletter at the direction of the Side By Side Steering Committee, to provide an update on the status of our ministry. We are alive and well and Side By Side has begun the journey towards becoming an independent non-profit organization. In July of this year, our founder and Director, Linda Kelly-Baker, accepted an appointment to Hope United Methodist Church in Sacramento. Upon announcement of Linda’s plans, the Side By Side volunteers met at a retreat and committed to continuing on with the vital mission and work of Side By Side that Linda has developed over the past 10 years.

In July I entered into a contract with the Steering Committee to serve as a part-time Administrator for the Side By Side ministry. I am currently working 16 to 20 hrs per week in the office at Friendship Park (and also from home and around town). I can be reached at our office at 916-443-4362, or my cell @916-617-1861, or by email at rodellen@gmail.com. I am generally in the office on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, and from 7 to 3 on Fridays.

In the past three months we have expanded the Steering Committee to seven people, assisted with the Friendship Park Anniversary Celebration, assisted with the Thanksgiving Celebration at Loaves and Fishes, continued with memorial services in the park, and continued working on plans to grow and expand our ministry as we go into the next year. With that in mind, we are actively seeking to add to the great team of volunteers we currently have in this active and growing ministry. At this time we have eight volunteers engaging in prayerful listening with our guests, and leading Morning Prayer group in Friendship Park. We hope to add five more volunteers to our team as we go into 2012.

We are proposing a training period for new volunteers that will include a one day (4hrs) training session on Spiritual Direction, followed by orientation and mentoring with a current volunteer. Please contact me if you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with our ministry. I am also available to come and speak for churches or other groups about Side By Side or about the homeless situation in Sacramento. If you are a past donor to Side By Side, we would like to thank you for your support. If you would like to continue to donate to Side By Side you can donate here or mail your donation to: Side-By-Side Spiritual Companions P.O. Box 980250
 West Sacramento, CA  95798-0250.

Your donations will continue to be tax deductible and greatly appreciated as we grow into the next phase of our ministry. We are also continuing to distribute Bibles and crosses in Friendship Park and we greatly appreciate donations of these items. We have prayer circle in our Listening Space Mon. through Fri. from 7:30 to 8:30am, and we welcome all to stop in and join us. Thank you for your time and your support.

Rod Ellenberger- Program Administrator- Side By Side With the Homeless

Greetings in the name of Christ.

Thank you!

It is with deep gratitude I thank you all for your support this year, and to those who  responded so wonderfully to our current need.  We are close to our goal to meet this year’s budget and move into our 10^th year ministering to the homeless community.  We are counting on Thanksgiving and Christmas donations to see us through.  We have faith we will make it..

Almost every day at Side-By-Side I hear someone say, “Thank you for being here.”  Whether they come just to sit in the quiet of the Listening Space, seek a compassionate listener, attend the jam session or a prayer circle, or come to a memorial service for a deceased friend, Side-By-Side’s presence is felt.  Your presence is also here by supporting us.  Christ is alive and embodied to the least of these.  God’s love is shared and people receive hope.  Thank you for making this happen.

In this newsletter you will find a “sermon” by Jack Alexander, one of our homeless guests.  He recited it to me from memory one day in Friendship Park in a casual, song-like cadence.  We mean no offense by it.  The point is that Jack, living on the streets for 20 years, knows a thing or two about grace.  He said the words just came to him and flowed out.  I hope you enjoy it.

With a listening and grateful heart,

Linda Kelly-Baker

We want to thank the following individuals, churches and organizations that have contributed so generously to support the work of Side-By-Side during 2010.  Also, we  extend thanks to those who contributed Bibles, journals, candles, other items and in-kind services that have been requested.

James and Lora Allen

Roland Arel

James and Sue Arwood

June Azevedo and friends

Maria Baccigaluppi

Lance and Elaine Bach

Catharine Bailes

Paul and Lois Bame

Ireta Black

Lorna Blanc

Karla Bowman

Timothy Brown

Cindy Buna

Linda Butler

CA-Nev Conf. Treasurer

Carol Carvell

David Chambers

C. and W. Chesbro

A. L. Choy

Citrus Heights UMW

Ilene Conrad

W. J. Crawford

Dan Delaney

Chris M. Delany

Edward  &  Brigid Donaghy

Patricia Edwards

Walter Edwards

Elk Grove UMC

R. and B. Ernst

Marilyn Ericksen

Gail Erlandson

Susan Ettin

Jean Fado

Fair Oaks UMC

Farmington UMC

Linda Floyd

Andrea Goodman

Ken and Deborah Gudger

Frederick Heinrich

BJ and Maybelle Henry

Doreen Hinshaw

Lily Ikami

Richard Johnson

Shelia Kelley

Donna Klaiber

Chris and Liz Klein

Ronald Lagerstrom

Kimberly Laperle

Loaves and Fishes

Howard and Margaret Lee

Los Altos UMC

K. and W. Manhart

Elizabeth Metz

Margaret McBride

Ruth McKenzie

Judith Pruess Mellow

J. and R. Moore

Kirk and Monika Moulin

North Sacramento UMC

Cary Odell

Marilyn Osver

Florence Perrry

Rancho Cordova UMC

Judi Rath

Jane Rawlings

Robert and Kristen Read

Kay Richardson

Dennis Rieke

Yolanda Riley-Portal

Lucille Roberts

Rocklin UMW

Patricia Ronten

Roseville First UMC

Pat Saito

Sacramento Blues Society

Sacto. Centennial UMC

Sacramento Faith UMC

Sacramento Faith UMW

Sacramento First UMC

Sacramento Hope UMC

Sacto. Japanese UMC

Sacto. St. Andrew’s UMC

Sacto. St. Andrew’s UMW

Salinas First UMC

Lyle Seeband

Becky Sheldon

Richard & Margaret Smith

South Reno UMC

Bob Stanley

Merill Starr

Judie Streeter

Jane Swan

Nancy Sweeney

Eugenia Thompson

Tara Thronson

Tanis Toland

Bill and Laura Tower

Delight Trotter

Ted and Charlene Virts

Beatrice Walden

Rev. Lynell Walker

Winona Spirit Track

Women’s Spirituality Group

Sarge Wright

Janice Yungling

Sara Ziegler

1.  Drum kit seat
2.  Cymbal stand
3.  Three sets of drum sticks
4.  Bass pedal for drum set
5.  Three nylon gig bags for guitars
6.  Three guitar straps
7.  Three power cords for guitar amps   (110 cords that hook to back of amps)
8.   Three guitar cords (with ¼ inch jacks)
9.   Electric guitar tuner
10. Strings for electric bass
11. Two small guitar amps (15-30 watts)
12. Four vocal microphones
13. Keyboard (with line out jack that can be plugged into an amp)
14. Drum tuning keys

Items can be dropped off at Loaves & Fishes warehouse or the UM Conference Office.

Also, we need another volunteer or two to staff the jam session.  Person must have a heart for the poor and a lot of patience.  Musical talent is helpful, but not necessary.  A valid driver’s license and vehicle to transport people form Friendship Park to the session is needed.  Hours are Mondays from 1 to 3pm.  Call Linda at (916) 443-4362 and leave a message if you are interested

There is one significant concern: like many non-profit organizations, Side-By-Side donations have not kept pace with the financial needs. We have depleted our financial reserves and are praying we can make it through the end of the year. Next year funding from a major source (Board of Missions) is questionable due to the economic downturn.

We are writing grants and consulting experienced fundraising and development people. We need your support now more than ever. We are grateful for all our donors and churches who have been so faithful over the years. Next year we’ll celebrate ten years of service in Friendship Park. Help us make it a great year!

Please prayerfully consider what you or your church can do to support Side-By-Side so people like Alise feel loved, so guests can get away to renew their souls, so they can find a safe and loving place to pray or just to be on a daily basis. You can easily make a donation on-line by going to our donation page. If you would like a speaker to come to your church, or if you would like to come and visit Side-By-Side, please call or email me. Thank you so much.

With a listening and hopeful heart,
Linda Kelly-Baker, Director

It was the day Alise screamed at me as I walked past “You’re one crazy f—ing pastor!” that I realized I was in. Stunned, caught completely off-guard, I stopped in my tracks. Then it hit me. Coming from Alise, this was a huge compliment! I slowly turned around and headed towards her and gave her a big hug.

Slowly, through the Side-By-Side candle ministry and cautious visits, I was accepted by this closed group. Alise began calling me “The SMUD Lady” (for Sacramento Municipal Utility District) because the candles Side-by-Side gives away are her form of “electricity” in her tent on the river.

When I first met her, Alise rejected attention and refused to have her photo taken. Today she has agreed to let me share her story here. I am deeply grateful and humbled to do so. Now 41 years old, Alise grew up in and around Sacramento and Davis. She describes her adoptive mother who raised her as “crazy.” She realizes now that her mother probably was mentally ill. Her parents split when Alise was quite small and she rarely saw her father, a sociology professor. She describes him as “pretty messed up.” When Alise was 19 years old, her father took his own life. She says both her parents were “twisted.” Life at home was hard so Alise left the insanity at age 15 and has been homeless off and on since then. She never finished high school because she just couldn’t stay on task. She admits she may have some type of hyperactivity because her thoughts are still very flighty. She’s never been assessed.

Alise has six children, five of whom she knows. Her 15 year old twins live in Sacramento with their father and volunteered this summer at Loaves & Fishes. Alise camps on the banks of the Sacramento River in a secluded forest with her dog Chopper. Chopper is her protection and companion. I know better than to get near Chopper unless Alise has a firm grip on his collar. It’s rough out on the river. Last night, Alise heard a terrible thud from something falling off the highway bridge near her. She grabbed Chopper as he went to investigate when she realized it was a woman’s body. “It freaked me out,” she said, “I’ll never forget that sound.”

Currently Alise works part time for Loaves & Fishes stamping lunch tickets as the ticket numbers are called. She’s worked for Loaves from time to time for four years. Though she doesn’t make a lot of money, Alise says, “At least I’m not sitting on the street corner selling dope anymore.” She admits that drugs were a part of her life and showed me the needle marks on her arm to prove it. I also noticed the scars from the past where she’s intentionally cut herself and the colorful tattoos down her forearm that disguise what is there. She’s backed way off the drugs in recent years. I asked her what changed and she said she doesn’t have the strength to continue the lifestyle. It’s a lot of work to live that way. She’s mellowed a lot over the years. She says she still yells at people, but has to watch it now since she works at Loaves.

Alise has a golden heart that shines even more than her golden hair. When a friend dies, Alise carries the large spray of flowers from the Friendship Park memorial service out to the river where friends hold their own private celebration. Many of her friends and campmates have died over the years. The last one was a suicide and Alise brought a large cross woven from vines and branches to the Friendship Park service and placed it in the memorial wall fountain pool. She rarely attends and never speaks at the services because it is just too difficult.

I asked Alise what she would say to people about homelessness, “People think we’re scum. Get over it. We are all just the same. Whenever you are judging a book by its cover, open it up and read it, at least the first two chapters.”

Recently Alise was a bridesmaid in a wedding I officiated at Loaves & Fishes for another formerly homeless worker and his fiancé. Alise who never wears dresses or fixes herself up, found a dress for the occasion but could not find appropriate shoes. So she made the other women in the wedding, including me, agree to go barefoot with her, but I forgot. “Hey, you have shoes on,” barked Alise. I immediately took off my high-heeled boots (it was winter) and stood in my stocking feet on the concrete floor as I officiated the ceremony. If you say you are going to do something, you do it. We stood in solidarity together, a shoeless bridal party.

Today Alise doesn’t snarl or call me a crazy f—ing pastor when we see each other in Friendship Park or in a crowded dining room at the church community breakfast. Over the noise and confusion she calls out, “I love you!” And I respond, “I love you too, Alise!”