On Sunday November 8th Linwood House Ministries and The Great Room hosted High Tea for women of the downtown eastside and surrounding communities. The Great Room was transformed into a beautiful fall scene as women gathered over fine china, hot tea and delicious sweets to celebrate their communities, their lives and each other. There were over 100 women gathered together including residents, politicians, city officials, More Than Gold and Vancouver Olympic Committee representatives. The Honourable Yonah Martin attended, and brought greetings on behalf of the federal government. One friend commented, "this must be what Heaven is like, seeing people from every background sitting together at the table". Indeed, it was wonderful to witness women coming together, discussing the things that mattered most to them, and building bridges between their communities.
Enjoy, as you read some reflections from this memorable event.
Karen Reed
Executive Director, More Than Gold
"What a blast it was to be a part of Linwood House ministries Great Room Tea party!
As you walk up the stairs of this condemned building and enter the Great Room, one is struck with surprise, then awe at the oasis of beauty this sacred space is! A true diamond in the rough that awakens hope, and helps us to recover our humanity. Not only for the residents of the DTES, but for visitors as well.
This amazing gathering of women from every age, social strata, and neighbourhood provided a taste of heaven. Guests were greeted warmly as a harpist played in the background. Lovely table settings with special china and linens and home baking filled each table. The buzz in the air was palatable. Friendships were beginning at every table as the hum of chatter was being enjoyed over tea and goodies.
As the invitation went out for local residents to consider signing up to volunteer during the Olympics as radical hosts, it was a joy to hear how many women from outside the DTES wanted to sponsor the residents--who were their new friends sharing the same table--to be those hosts.
I was struck by how many women who came from the suburbs were overwhelmed with a sense of privilege and blessing to be apart of the afternoon. Many pushed back any expressions of thanks, feeling that they received so much more than they could have given. Being in an environment where economic or educational differences were not what identified or divided us, provided a reminder of our core identity and commonality, and in the process we discovered and experienced a deeper level of the heart of God. What subversive power is in radical hospitality, to heal and restore our souls and small hearts, and free us to more deeply receive and extend His lavish love.
Thank you to Linwood House Ministries for faithfully facilitating and modeling this lavish hospitality where Jesus is both guest and host!"
Jen Allen
Vancouver
"I think you have created a piece of heaven here. I think this is exactly what Heaven will be like. People sitting down together without titles or status, and instead we were just a group of women, together in a room, sharing our stories."
Donna Kain
Vancouver "When I thought of residents living in the Downtown Eastside, stereotypes came to mind: individuals who were hardened, hostile and difficult to converse with. So when I accepted an invitation to host a table at the Great Room, it came with a bit of angst. I decided to risk, and I dug out my Grandmother’s fine china set that had been in storage for years, to set a lovely table for my potentially problematic guests. What happened that afternoon was beyond expectation. The four ladies seated at my table were warm, appreciative and a pleasure to dine with. It was a delight to get to know them and I was humbled by their generosity of spirit and graciousness. It was such an easy and natural way to begin friendships with women that live in such difficult circumstances. I have now relocated my china tea set in my kitchen, in anticipation of a future gathering with my new acquaintances who reside in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood."
Judy Graves
Coordinator, Tenant Assistance Program, City of Vancouver
"That was the most beautiful hospitality I have ever seen in the DTES!"
Idelette McVicker
Surrey
For me, the tea with our friends from the Downtown Eastside started in the preparation. There was something about setting aside the Saturday and gathering everything needed that already began to draw down heaven for me.
I took my two girls on an outing and we visited our favourite bakeries to pick up treats. We stopped for fresh, soft bread to make dainty sandwiches. We bought flowers. At home, I washed the tea cups, originally bought for Gabrielle’s third birthday. I gathered all the elements: teaspoons a friend from South Africa had given me; my favorite round-bellied teapot; a frivolous tea cosy.
Saturday became a prayer of preparation. I prayed for the event, for the girls who were coming, for the friendships to be shaped, for the Kingdom to come in that room.
When Sunday came around and the girl buzz filled that room, my heart just about exploded. Heaven became visible and tangible. We had gathered from every segment of society—from structures of power, from warm, comfortable homes and from vulnerable places on the side of a road. It didn’t matter where we came from. It mattered that in that moment we had gathered in the same place and we were like one. A sisterhood.
We may have had sips of tea and plates of treats, but to me it tasted a lot like holy Communion.
