Matthew 25 Partners for Change: New Name, Same Important Work.

Rev. Marci Auld Glass • July 12, 2021

Last October I wrote about Calvary’s decision to become a Matthew 25 church, adopting a bold vision to live out our faith through service.

I noted the national church’s recommendation that Matthew 25 churches focus on three areas:

  • Building Congregational Vitality
  • Dismantling Structural Racism, and
  • Eradicating Systemic Poverty.

At Calvary, we are already working in these areas through Faith in Action, including our significant support for our main nonprofits: Boys & Girls Clubs, New Door Venture, Raphael House, and San Francisco Achievers.

 

These four partners have been known up to this point as our “breaking cycles of poverty” partners. Session recently approved a name change: from “breaking cycles of poverty” partners to “Matthew 25 Partners for Change.” This name change more accurately reflects the work of these four nonprofits, which includes various efforts to level the playing field, not only anti-poverty work, and conforms to the broader social change vision of a Matthew 25 church.


When you see Matthew 25 Partners for Change,” remember – it’s just a new name for our four major nonprofit partners!

Bold colored image of 2 women and an angel - Do Not Be Afraid by He Qi
By Rev. Marci Glass April 20, 2025
At the start of Lent, the children 'buried' an alleluia in worship. We put the word away during a season. On Easter, we bring it back. On the first Easter morning, the women went to the tomb, assuming their alleluias were going to stay buried forever. Their rabbi was dead. Their hopes and dreams, buried with him. An encounter with the angels in the empty tomb makes them reconsider what they thought they knew of death, of endings. Maybe you've buried a lot of your hopes and dreams recently too. What might the Easter story have to say to us anew this year?
The Disciples Peter and John running to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection 1889
By Rev. Marci Glass April 20, 2025
Calvary's 7am Easter Service
3 Black Power fists holding green palms, the text reads 'protest as an act of faith'
By Rev. Marci Glass April 13, 2025
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he is greeted by raucous crowds. It is a celebration of him. It is also a counter protest to Rome. The crowds have gathered and are crying out "hosanna", which means "save us". Save us from injustice. Save us from cruelty. Save us from crushing poverty. Jesus does not silence the crowds. And he responds to their cries by weeping over Jerusalem and by turning over tables in the Temple.
Zacchaeus by Lauren Wright Pittman - Jesus at tree holding out his hand to man in tree
By Rev. Marci Glass April 6, 2025
It is easy these days to say who we are against. Maybe it has always been easy to do so. What is harder is to create space for people to change their minds, change their views, change their behavior. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, he stops in Jericho and accepts an invitation to eat at the home of someone who society wanted to cancel. How can the story of Zacchaeus help us give space for each other?
By Rev. Victor Floyd March 30, 2025
The Good Shepherd calls home all of the sheep, even "those" sheep. No matter how far you've wandered, no matter who has tried to separate you from God's fold, Jesus is waiting. It's time for a homecoming. 
A blooming fig fruit on a fig tree
By Rev. Marci Glass March 23, 2025
Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem and his disciples ask him a question as they walk. They want him to answer the questions we always want God to answer for us too—why do bad things happen to good people? Join us as we consider Jesus' answer to the question.
Mary & Martha by Lauren Wright Pittman - A golden, green, and blue depiction of Mary, Martha & Jesus
By Rev. Joann Lee March 16, 2025
The story of Mary and Martha is often painted as a story where one does right and one does wrong. We know, however, that life is often more complicated than that. We know that faith is embodied through being present and taking action—and everything in between. Join us on this second Sunday in Lent as we consider, how can we live along the spectrum of faith and works.
Cover image of the 2024 Annual Report.
By Rachel Wolf March 11, 2025
The 2024 Annual Report
An image of two palms facing each other - text reads
By Rev. Marci Glass March 9, 2025
In today's scripture reading, someone asks Jesus who, exactly, qualifies as a neighbor. Jesus tells the story of a person found half dead on the side of the road, but seen by at least one passerby as half alive, a neighbor worthy of care. Join us as we consider the question for today's world.
The Transfiguration by Augustin Kolawole Olayinka - a colorful triad of men in robes and a halo
By Rev. Joann Lee March 2, 2025
Stay woke! Or we might miss the glory of God (at least according to Luke's gospel). The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the story of Jesus's transfiguration on the mountaintop. But only Luke records that the disciples witnessed this amazing transformation because they had stayed awake. In a time when we are tired and overwhelmed with exhausting news, how can we stay awake to witness what God is doing in the world and in our lives?
More Posts