No sermon on Sunday morning, however eloquent or insightful, could express God's love for us in a more powerful and lasting way than the kind of witness I just recalled for you. I am aware of the important support this congregation has given to our neighbors who are poor and homeless and seeking our help at Light Street Housing. Thank you for that. Yours is a powerful ministry. We are doing what we can at the governmental level - we just received some federal housing funds that will help some, but not all, of those who are without shelter.
Children now live in decent homes there, learning and playing in an atmosphere of hope.
During his visit, the President and Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo announced an expanded program to reach out to homeless people in America. And we heard inspiring testimony from formerly homeless people who had regained their homes and their sense of dignity in life. That is why what you are doing with the Light Street Housing is so wonderful and important. You are helping people once again see themselves as children of God who have choices to make and a job to do in life. So, I say to you what I said to the President back on December 23, 1998.