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When the participants in the Occupy Wall Street movement walked 240 miles from New York to Washington D.C., the Rev. Norman Obenshain and members of Havre de Grace UMC provided hospitality.

The walkers made their way through Harford County down Route 40 Nov. 18, the local newspaper reported.

In a note to conference leaders, he recounted the experience:

Tipped off by parishioners who were contacting me Thursday afternoon about what we could do for the Occupy Walkers who had re-routed from the Conowingo Dam to the Hatem Bridge, Suzanne and I opened the parsonage to Occupy Walkers Friday morning since we have a shower on the first floor.

The parsonage is across the street from St. John's Episcopal Church where the city arranged to house the Walkers since it was so cold that night. But St. John's has no showers and a limited number of bathrooms. Most of the Walkers were young people -- part of the nominally religious or non-religious cohort we are seeking to reach as a Conference.

We greeted them in our living room and had many good conversations. Several asked for prayer or blessings. One asked to go to the sanctuary and pray which we did. Some challenging questions were asked about the place of war in Christian faith. The Walkers said it was the most welcome they had felt so far on their trek to Washington, D.C.

Local businesses and citizens provided food and water. We provided some clothing and Havre de Grace UMC provided shoes to one barefoot walker at the request of a pastor in Cecil County. (He declined them because he was walking barefoot to make a statement.)

I went to the city council meeting Monday night to commend city officials, police, businesses and citizens for their caring response. I feel if we want this kind of civil society we need to compliment those who make it happen. I hope in this small way we lived out the call to be disciples who work for the transformation of the world.

Grace & Peace,
Norman