Homelessness is one of the ever present issues facing our city, and St. John’s has a long history of doing ministry with those who are unhoused. We continue to wonder if what we are doing is enough to meet the growing needs of those living on the streets here in Sacramento, knowing that there is so much more that we can do.

The homeless assistance resource team of Midtown formed in response to the same question being asked by neighbors about how we can do more.

I talked to John Kraynak, president of HART Midtown and member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, about his passion for helping meet the needs of unhoused folks and what he hopes HART and other partnerships can do to make an impact.

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral: https://trinitycathedral.org/
Midtown HART: https://www.hartstogether.org/midtown

Watch an interview with Pastor Amy Kienzle and Rev. Joy Johnson, PhD, founder of Life Matters Inc. and member of Sacramento Areas Congregations Together.

Life Matters Inc: https://www.wherelifematters.com/
Sacramento Areas Congregations Together: https://www.sacact.org/
Sacramental Sacramento Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0JimjsymL24_rBDV_7UvCFKPcTr7C98V

Pastor Amy Kienzle sits down with our two guests, Susan Stewart, owner of Strapping Store and Sara Arbabian, owner of the Rind. They are committed to not only providing goods, but also building community and giving back to their neighbors.

For Christians in the United States, being active in democracy is a faithful work. It is the way we affect change in our public policies and government agencies for the sake of God's desire for us and the world that God loves.

In this episode of Sacramento Sacramento, Pastor Amy Kienzle talks with Regina Banks, Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in California. She is also a candidate on the ballot this year for Trustee and Area 1 of the Elk Grove School Board. We talk politics, faith and getting out the vote

In the third episode of Sacramental Sacramento, Pastor Amy Kienzle had a conversation with Rabbi Seth Castleman, Director of The Exodus Project and Reverend Scot Sorenson, Director of the Custody to Community Transitional Rehabilitation Program at Saint John's Program for Real Change. Each of these programs accompanies women and men from the prison system back into society. Seth and Scot share their experiences working on behalf of those navigating the last part of their sentence and also where they have seen God working in the lives of the people they serve.

One part of faithful life is to work with elected leaders in our district at all levels. We must see them as partners and coworkers for the sake of our neighborhoods no matter what party affiliation they have. With this in mind, I sat down with Katie Valenzuela City Councilmember Elect, 4th district (St. John's district). We discussed politics. being a woman in leadership, faith, and hope for the future.

Welcome to Sacramental Sacramento!

esus' ministry to seek and save the lost brought him in contact with all sorts of people, and he revealed how God was at work in unexpected ways. In Sacramental Sacramento, Pastor Amy Kienzle seeks to highlight the people and places where God is at work right here in our own city of Sacramento. From politicians to shopkeepers, the unhoused and the unsure about religion -- the spiritual and the sacred can be found in the most surprising people and places.

Pastor Amy Kienzle sat down with St. John's Member Jim Keddy who runs an organization, Youth Forward, that empowers young people to use their voice for change in California. They seek investment in neighborhoods where youth have less access to resources and programs. They invest in young people for the sake of building stronger communities and families in our own city. Pastor Amy spoke with Jim in March just after ballot measure G failed to pass. It called for budget money to be set aside specifically for youth programs. Though Jim expressed some disappointment, he also expressed determination to influence the city to making funding youth a priority. Pastor Amy and Jim talked about why he believes working for youth and families is faithful work.

The ELCA participated in worship with our Mexican siblings in Christ at the US-Mexico Border on February 18, 2020. We invited St. John's members Robert Sawyer, Barbara Beddow and Vicar Carolyn Brodt to gather and describe their experience with Pastor Amy Kienzle.