I got an urgent phone call last week from one of our community members saying, “Ryan, we’ve got to do something!  DART is canceling all Sunday service and I wont be able to come to church anymore!”

Dial-A-Ride Transportation (DART) is a paratransit service that provides transportation for people whose disability or condition prevents them from using Community Transit regular route buses.  See their proposed changes here.

This proposal is personal to us, because if this change occurs, Church of the Beloved will lose the Sunday participation of one of our dear friends, Nancy Lind.  While needing to make budget cuts is understandable, the outcome of this cut is horrific.  This decision will work to further isolate those with limited mobility on the day most commonly set aside for worship.  Some of the most vulnerable people in our neighborhoods will lose their ability to gather with their communities of faith, break bread, offer prayers, and hear the Word.  DART transportation is Nancy’s, as well as thousands of other’s life line to the world and that’s why we are asking you to help stop this cancelation and save Sundays.

Church of the Beloved is proposing that we take action in three ways:

1. Pray for the good of Community Transit. Ask that God would bless them in order to prevent this cut.

2. Take the bus. This does two important things.  A. Creates solidarity with our sisters and brothers who rely upon Community Transit.  B. Creates needed income for Community Transit.   Let us start by making Sunday January 31st “Save Sundays – Take the Bus to Church” Day.

3. Make Your Voice Heard.

A. Write an email to 2010changes@commtrans.org

B. Write a letter to 2010 Changes – Community Transit

7100 Hardeson Road Everett, WA 98203

C. Call (425) 353-RIDE (7433)