November 7, 2025
Adopt a Corner, a Ministry of Presence
Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 37-40)
A few Saturdays ago, I spent a couple hours with the day laborers at my neighborhood Home Depot. They graciously welcomed me with smiles and handshakes to their little corner of the massive parking lot where they wait, sometimes all day, hoping for work. (As a side note, theparable of the day laborers can also be found in Matthew!) They were kind as I practiced my rusty Spanish with them, and they shared their stories with me while we all stood out in the cold drinking coffee and eating pan dulce.
I’d been invited to this corner by a man named Chris from Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church who’s been visiting these men weekly for months now. He knows the names of over 40 men who regularly show up at the Shoreline Home Depot. Chris volunteers with an organization called NDLON (National Day Laborer Organizing Network) through their Adopt a Corner program, which provides a concrete way for neighbors to show solidarity with day laborers in their communities.
As they wait patiently for someone to swing by looking for manual labor, these men are vulnerable to harassment from passersby and detention by immigration enforcement. Having a community presence helps to prevent harassment and provides support in the event of immigration enforcement activity. Volunteers like Chris and me have been trained in rapid response (as have some of you!). We know what we are and are not allowed to do should ICE show up. We know what to document and what information to get from any who are detained so that we can inform their families and provide them with valuable resources on legal support.
But an equally important part of what the Adopt a Corner program provides is relationship: relationships between people who might otherwise never cross paths. And this is a gift not just to the day laborers, but also to the volunteers.
I think about that Matthew passage above, and it raises a question for me: what does it mean that Jesus really equates himself with those in need–with the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the prisoner? It seems to me that in doing so, in saying whatever you do to them you do to me, he not only humbles himself, but he also exalts them. These are not charity cases to whom God’s people must minister; these are children of God, equally capable of ministering to us.
For about nine months now, we’ve had a particular focus on immigration here at First Cov. We’ve learned about the biblical call to care for the immigrant and researched different immigration support organizations; we’ve taken a pilgrimage down to the ICE detention center in Tacoma; we’ve supported the work of Riverton Park United Methodist with a diaper drive; we’ve learned about the accompaniment program through the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice—all very important, fruitful work. And there is something so valuable about spending time with those who are most affected by the government’s mass deportation efforts, and not just when they’re in crisis, but when they’re simply going about their daily lives. Adopt a Corner provides an opportunity for this in a way that few other immigrant support efforts we’ve encountered do. It provides an opportunity for the important ministry of presence—just being together.
As I chatted with these men, I learned about their stories and struggles. One man told me that he understands the president’s desire to protect the borders. “He needs to keep out criminals,” he said, “but we’re not criminals. We’re just trying to support our families.” Chris and I bonded with another man over our love for dogs. He works at a local animal shelter during the week and comes out to the corner on weekends to supplement his income. He was one of the lucky few who got a job that day. From another man, we learned about the process of sending earnings overseas, since many day laborers give most of their money to family members outside the U.S., even as they struggle to feed, clothe, and house themselves–a problem that’s only getting worse.
When asked what would be most helpful to them, they said food–especially a hot, substantive meal–and warm clothing. The coffee and pan dulce is nice, but many of them don’t know from where or when their next full meal will come. Chris asked if they might like a tarp to stand under when it rains, or a trashcan or porta potty installed at their gathering place, with the city’s approval. But the man we spoke with was clear that he didn’t want anything that would draw attention to them. They already get harassed enough, he said. He didn’t want anything that would further mark their presence. But that hot meal, that would be very welcome.
As Thanksgiving nears and we think about the bounty that many of us enjoy, the immigration ministry team would like to give us an opportunity to share that bounty and to practice the ministry of presence. After church on November 23, we’ll cook a big meal together and then distribute it to day laborers at our local Home Depot stores. We’ll break into three distribution teams: one going to West Seattle, one to North Seattle, and another to Shoreline. It would be especially helpful to have some people in each group who speak Spanish and/or are trained in rapid response, but all are welcome and encouraged to join!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be organizing groups, planning the meal, and collecting donations of hand warmers and new or gently used men’s cold weather clothing. More details to come, but for now, please get this event on your calendars!
Let’s, together, go be the hands and feet of Jesus to our day laborer neighbors, even as they are the very presence of Christ to us.
Grace and peace,
~ Pastor Lauren