Congregational Council Updates

Update from Congregational President, Deb Cordes

2019-2022 PoP Response – A surprising request to help – Parking Lot Ministry

COVID had a significant impact on those whose lives were marginal. More and more often, cars were parked in the parking lot for nights and days at a time. Few requests for help were made. They just a place to stay. A couple even added a tent to the lawn for a few days.

Roseville reached out to see if there was more we could do – thus began our current Parking Lot Ministry. People come to stay, use the bathrooms, showers and sometime eat or even, chose to worship with us. It was messy. It took time to create solutions to the issues but as we did, we came to embrace this Ministry as part of who PoP is.

2019-2022 PoP Response & Creation – Prince of Peace add to the community – Sacred Settlement

Many of you can recite the story by heart. Valerie in her RV/bus arrives. It seemed like an instance when she was a visitor then just part of us. She introduced Prince of Peace to Sacred Settlement, Inc. A group of dedicated people working to end homelessness one tiny home at a time. It was different though – this group was not espousing just plopping a house down and stick someone into it.

It was all about community. The intent is to not only provide housing. It was to create community within and as part of Prince of Peace. This fit who we are and it answered the call God had made.

The church worked with Sacred Settlement, Inc. to add one tiny home – for Valerie. It was not without issues.

• How many of you remember the various Roseville City Council meetings where the council was not sure whether “those people really belonged in Roseville” should be allowed here?
• Housing code issue with an Interim Use Permit
• Remember the fear of community backlash that did not happen?
• Did you join the team at the legislature when the MN Sacred Settlement bill was argued? Valerie, Peter, and Michael among many represented PoP’s stance that God calls and we need to respond. It was simple and law was made.

This congregation passed a motion to add a total 3 tiny homes creating Prince of Peace Sacred Settlement. Once this happened, God again pushed us forward. Other churches and organizations donated houses, furniture, landscaped, help to create the community room. It continues today.

I believe God was working through all of those who worked to make Prince of Peace’s Sacred Settlement a reality.

2025 PoP Response & Creation – Prince of Peace Sacred Settlement

Someone asked me if I thought we were done yet. I think we’re just beginning. Here’s what I know. Homelessness is messy and WAY more complicated than we originally thought. AND we lean into that messiness to create a better tomorrow for our community including Prince of Peace sacred settlement. Prince of Peace leads the way.

A short-term phone tree is being used to help alleviate the pressures on staff. Evaluation of its success is in process.

Working on a play book to help us:

• Determine next steps in adding home,
• Upkeep requirements
• Defining the roles from intentional/mission neighbors (support residents), invited neighbors, supportive friends (us)
• Staffing needs
• Monetary requirements including grant requests, support from other churches, community organizations, etc. (I call this – we are not alone)
• and more.

Just remember: As with all of God’s creation, we are in the process of becoming. God is up to great things at Prince of Peace, I am sure of that.
BLESSINGS!!