Welcome to FOCUS Churches! For more than 50 years, FOCUS has created a community called to be a collective voice - and a helping hand - for those in need.
FOCUS serves hungry bodies and souls through its feeding programs. The Breakfast Club provides more than 18,000 meals year round and helps connect guests with much-needed services such as housing. The Interfaith Food Pantry located at Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Food Pantry at First Church in Albany offer emergency food supplies to families and individuals. And with each meal FOCUS serves a helping of hospitality. FOCUS also gives voice to critical issues of hunger and homelessness and joins with other organizations to raise awareness of the impacts and needs of those living in poverty.
Our Mission: FOCUS IS SIX COVENANT CHURCHES, FOUR FAITH AFFILIATES, AND TWO FAITH PARTNERS, DOING TOGETHER WHAT WE CANNOT DO ALONE. UNITED IN A COMMON CALLING TO RESPOND TO OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEEDS IN THE CITY OF ALBANY AND BEYOND, AS GOD'S SERVANT PEOPLE IN A BROKEN AND HURTING WORLD.
FOCUS serves hungry bodies and souls through its feeding programs. The Breakfast Club provides more than 18,000 meals year round and helps connect guests with much-needed services such as housing. The Interfaith Food Pantry located at Emmanuel Baptist Church and the Food Pantry at First Church in Albany offer emergency food supplies to families and individuals. And with each meal FOCUS serves a helping of hospitality. FOCUS also gives voice to critical issues of hunger and homelessness and joins with other organizations to raise awareness of the impacts and needs of those living in poverty.
Our Mission: FOCUS IS SIX COVENANT CHURCHES, FOUR FAITH AFFILIATES, AND TWO FAITH PARTNERS, DOING TOGETHER WHAT WE CANNOT DO ALONE. UNITED IN A COMMON CALLING TO RESPOND TO OUR NEIGHBOR'S NEEDS IN THE CITY OF ALBANY AND BEYOND, AS GOD'S SERVANT PEOPLE IN A BROKEN AND HURTING WORLD.
A MESSAGE FROM FOCUS CHURCHES OF ALBANY
BLACK LIVES MATTER
The FOCUS Churches of Albany affirms without equivocation the statement that ”Black Lives Matter.” We proclaim that all people are made in the image of God and are of inherent value. In our desire to dismantle systemic racism, we support the Black Lives Matter movement.
There is a giant BLACK LIVES MATTER sign painted on Lark Street. Perhaps you’ve seen it. It's quite impressive. It was commissioned by "In Our Own Voices" whose offices are on that block of Lark. We had seen reports about this kind of street painting in other cities, but hadn't anticipated such a thing right here in Albany. In any case, it's an important message even though it's shocking that it should need to be said. Our lives have all been turned upside-down in recent months by a new physical disease: COVID 19. It’s been disruptive and reorienting in ways we never anticipated. But we’ve also been reminded that it’s not the only issue we need to face as a national and world society. In recent weeks we’ve been reminded of that much older spiritual and emotional disease: racism. The violent deaths of Amaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd were the final straw for many and the occasion for protests and demonstrations here and abroad. “Black Lives Matter” has been the rallying cry.
These words have become the slogan of the movement for racial equality in recent years and a reminder of the unequal treatment people have received and still receive. They remind us that some lives seem to be valued less than others. That is hard to hear and know and harder still for some to be on the receiving end of. Some people have tried to distract from that difficult reality by arguing that "all lives matter". Of course, they do. It should go without saying and usually does. The fact that anyone feels they have to make that statement as a reminder should resound in all our ears and chasten us. Black lives matter! It's not an argument. It's a statement, a challenge and a calling for everyone to hear and live up to. It's a call to be a respectful and caring community. It's a call to be a good neighbor. Lark Street in Albany is now host to a reminder of the values we espouse. Let's all live up to and into those values together.
Jeffrey Matthews, President
Kathleen Donley, Vice President
FOCUS Board of Directors.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
The FOCUS Churches of Albany affirms without equivocation the statement that ”Black Lives Matter.” We proclaim that all people are made in the image of God and are of inherent value. In our desire to dismantle systemic racism, we support the Black Lives Matter movement.
There is a giant BLACK LIVES MATTER sign painted on Lark Street. Perhaps you’ve seen it. It's quite impressive. It was commissioned by "In Our Own Voices" whose offices are on that block of Lark. We had seen reports about this kind of street painting in other cities, but hadn't anticipated such a thing right here in Albany. In any case, it's an important message even though it's shocking that it should need to be said. Our lives have all been turned upside-down in recent months by a new physical disease: COVID 19. It’s been disruptive and reorienting in ways we never anticipated. But we’ve also been reminded that it’s not the only issue we need to face as a national and world society. In recent weeks we’ve been reminded of that much older spiritual and emotional disease: racism. The violent deaths of Amaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd were the final straw for many and the occasion for protests and demonstrations here and abroad. “Black Lives Matter” has been the rallying cry.
These words have become the slogan of the movement for racial equality in recent years and a reminder of the unequal treatment people have received and still receive. They remind us that some lives seem to be valued less than others. That is hard to hear and know and harder still for some to be on the receiving end of. Some people have tried to distract from that difficult reality by arguing that "all lives matter". Of course, they do. It should go without saying and usually does. The fact that anyone feels they have to make that statement as a reminder should resound in all our ears and chasten us. Black lives matter! It's not an argument. It's a statement, a challenge and a calling for everyone to hear and live up to. It's a call to be a respectful and caring community. It's a call to be a good neighbor. Lark Street in Albany is now host to a reminder of the values we espouse. Let's all live up to and into those values together.
Jeffrey Matthews, President
Kathleen Donley, Vice President
FOCUS Board of Directors.
Please join us for our Summer Joint Worship Services with our Partners in Ministry
July 5th Delmar Reformed Church, ONLINE @ 10AM: www.youtube.com/channel/UCv7ZyRBcWPo8-hAyBwkStDg NO COMMUNION
August 2nd First Church in Albany: SOCIAL DISTANCE DRIVE IN SERVICE at First Church @ 10AM Details/ http://www.firstchurchinalbany.org/
BRING YOUR OWN COMMUNION ELEMENTS AND A LAWN CHAIR IF YOU LIKE.
September 6th Westminster Presbyterian Church, ONLINE @ 10 AM: For details: https://www.wpcalbany.org/upcoming-events. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR OWN COMMUNION ELEMENTS.
July 5th Delmar Reformed Church, ONLINE @ 10AM: www.youtube.com/channel/UCv7ZyRBcWPo8-hAyBwkStDg NO COMMUNION
August 2nd First Church in Albany: SOCIAL DISTANCE DRIVE IN SERVICE at First Church @ 10AM Details/ http://www.firstchurchinalbany.org/
BRING YOUR OWN COMMUNION ELEMENTS AND A LAWN CHAIR IF YOU LIKE.
September 6th Westminster Presbyterian Church, ONLINE @ 10 AM: For details: https://www.wpcalbany.org/upcoming-events. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR OWN COMMUNION ELEMENTS.
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FOCUS Fresh is an exciting and brand new FOCUS program designed to incorporate more fresh produce options into our guests’ diets, right from the shelves of our Pantry. Our goal is to boost their health and well being through enhanced nutritional options, fresh FOCUS grown herbs and spices, on site food demonstrations and meal kits. Click below to learn more.
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