Dear Editor:

During the season of Lent we observe the life and death of a man whose powerful words have a life of their own and whose spirit lives on – as we believe all of us live on beyond this life. You may think it is foolish to be part of a church body that believes in things you can't see, and gives away food and provides shelter to people you don't know in our rural community. How do we know they aren't just trying to take advantage of some kind of misguided, naive good will? Because we take their history, we know where they come from, their stories check out – and their stories are familiar to those of us who have had family members in trouble, or who have taught children from diverse backgrounds.

Some of the people you don't know are families who live from paycheck to paycheck, but it's not enough to buy both heat and groceries during the cold months. Other people you don't know are a woman and two small children who quickly needed a safe place to be away from harm at home, a place to spend the night until relatives can take them in. Or a young man from a rehabilitation center where he struggled with his demons and drugs and now needs a space to sleep, where he can find the peace to get back on his feet and find a job and a better way to live.

These are people who have the humility to ask for help. They are not greedy hordes looking for a handout so they don't have to work. These are people who live on a knife's edge of existence and need a box of groceries or a small space of peace and safety for the night. And they come from here, close by, in Lincoln County. They are just people, as we are just people – a small church acting just like a church, trying to help others.

If you want to help too, we are St Philips Episcopal Church at 12 Hodge Street.

Terry Heller

Wiscasset