Contribution Letter - Fall 2010

Dear Friends ,
  
"Annunciation of Mercy", artwork by Debra Classen      In the hushed silence of the intensive care room, punctuated only by the electronic beeps of monitors and machines, a woman takes her last breath. The darkness of death in the sterile institutional surroundings is broken by the light of the “hope and healing” prayer cards her family has tacked on the walls around her. 
      The addict, a twenty something young man,extremely successfully by today’s standards has accrued all the latest up to date amenities and entertainment money can buy, yet one day is overcome by the true emptiness of his life and existence.  Somehow he is miraculously snatched back from the jaws of death and despair after an overdose. His mother writes to our prayer request ministry, pleading for his life, his soul.  She asks that we pray that God’s beauty will infuse the miracle of her son’s second chance at life. She asks that we pray that he will fight the demon of addiction. She asks that we will pray that her son will know God’s love and beauty in his life.
     A prisoner, incarcerated for life, sits in the hostile, regimented, and unforgiving “system”.  Here beauty is an alien concept, where the prisoner’s world consists mostly of concrete, steel bars; an asphalt “yard” surrounded by a concrete wall and barbed razor wire.  Prison Chaplin, Father Ron, solitary footsteps echo the corridors as he passes out brightly painted Christmas cards. He distributes the cards in the “Box” (a disciplinary unit), stopping outside the cells, and sharing a story of forgiveness.  This prisoner stares at the card, the bright colors illuminating him for a moment. He slowly, almost reverently opens the card to write a note inside, a note to his family. For a moment he stands on an oasis of beauty in the midst of hell.  Father Ron later writes to us, “There is something about beauty that touches the soul and moves the heart. That is what makes it such an effective tool for ministering to broken people in prison.”
     Each of these encounters is made possible by YOU, your donation of time, money, prayers or encouragement to our ministry and our mission. As Mother Teresa said, “Now let’s do something beautiful for God.” We can do something beautiful for God, only with your help.
In a world of unhappiness, hopelessness, and broken lives The Mute Swan Ministry brings“beauty”, truth and goodness to lives (not the muscular “hot” image of men, not the botox'ed, anorexic beauty of “young” women, or the materialistic consumption of beautiful “things” which attempts to define the empty ‘beauty’ of our society). These works of love are possible only because of you.Your donations of hard earned money, your precious time to help in some way;your heartfelt prayers, these are the life lines of our existence. We need you. They need you.
     There are so many ways to give; volunteer your time and gifts, your prayers, and your practical financial support –each gift is absolutely vital to allow us to continue. No one receives payment for their work within the ministry, so you can be assured that your money goes directly towards the projects we mentioned. In fact, we would cease to exist without YOU.
Thank you with all our hearts for your past support. Thank you in advance for your help and donations yet to come. None of it is possible without your support.

Blessings of beauty,
Debra Classen
Executive Director
The Mute Swan Ministry

NOTE: The painting - "Annunciation of Mercy" by Debra Classen, is textured acrylic with antique finish. 24 x 36". It is $500. + shipping. The entire proceeds will pay for the printing of the cards sent to Sing Sing for prisoners to mail home to their families.

216.832.4445
www.themuteswan.org

Posted by Debra Classen at 10/14/2010 10:08 PM
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: cancer outreach prayer ministry prison ministry
 

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