Six mornings a week, a call for quiet stills a day center for homeless people in Northern Virginia, and those so inclined gather to thank God, read scripture and ponder its message for their tribulations.

They come from shelters and tents under bridges. They come hungry and sick. They seek meals, showers, clothes, jobs and connections to health care and housing — all of which the Lamb Center provides with no religious message or test.

Some also come to talk about God.

The center’s Bible study group recently pondered the kingdom of heaven: why does Jesus compare it to hidden treasure so precious that the man who finds it would sell everything to buy the surrounding field?

An elderly man scoffed: He would not sell his possessions unless heaven were guaranteed. A newcomer said that heaven already exists for those who believe. Then a woman who said God had sustained her through nearly a decade of homelessness shot up a hand.

“When you discover that God is real and taking care of you — that’s the hidden treasure,” said Kate Brady. “And it’s worth any price!”