All are invited this Sunday afternoon, December 20, at 3 pm to participate in the 10th Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Service in Ventura’s Plaza Park, across from the post office, at Santa Clara Street and Fir. Services will be in the gazebo. We will remember by name 17 men and women who died homeless in our community in the past year. We know that those who lack a home die young compared to the rest of us. Of those we will remember on Sunday, 3 were in their 30s; 5 in their 40s, 6 in their 50s, 2 in their 60s, and 1 was 82 and blind. They died in bushes, in alleyways, in encampments, on sidewalks and in motels. They left behind children, and spouses, siblings and parents. Come help us remember them and join us in a silent walk through downtown Ventura to solemnly say that we want to live in a community where everyone has a safe and warm place to live.
Participating clergy include:
Neal Andrews, member, Quaker community and Ventura City Deputy Mayor
Pastor Jim Ayars from Ventura Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Pastor Kris Bergstrom from Church of the Foothills (United Church of Christ)
Rev. Ed Brock, Interim Minister of Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura
Pastor Jim Duran – The River Community Church
Pastor Sam Galluci from the Harbor Church
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Hall – First Church of Christ
Rev. Judy Prando – Center for Spiritual Living
Pastor John Robison – College United Methodist Church
