Good Food, Good Fellowship

Sunday's mission meal was a huge hit. (We have some marvelous cooks in this church!) Best of all we collected over 40 bags of groceries for LIFE Food Pantry. In fact, we had so much food that we had to get recruit another driver to help deliver it.

Thank you for your generosity to those in need. I know that Jesus was smiling!

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?" Matthew 25:35-37

I thought I would share this wonderful post that I read by Elizabeth Glass Turner of Good News Magazine.

Blessings and peace,
Pastor Beth Ann

The Simple Ministry of Food
By Elizabeth Glass Turner

When I was little, my mom had major health problems. She was in and out of the hospital. I remember fearful nights with her away, and Dad trying to do my hair.

I also remember the casserole dishes. It was fascinating to see what would pop up under aluminum foil. There were lots of leftovers. I have vague memories of kind omen stopping by with supper, helping to fill the gap while mom was recovering at the local hospital across town.

We weren't left alone.

Years later, a Zimbabwean family in my church suffered several major health crises in the midst of pursuing higher education in the states. The mother, her husband in seminary, was diagnosed with breast cancer, and required surgeries and chemotherapy. A notepad was passed around. Names and dates were aligned. I signed up. Later, a clean dish was returned to me, the mounds of spaghetti long gone, growing kids satisfied.

I saw the family unexpectedly at a camp in Florida this summer. They were joyous, healthy, and working hard in ministry, planting a church. I smiled to myself as I thought of the empty casserole dish returned to me.

Why do casserole dishes carry such power?

Maybe you haven't ever needed anyone to help you do simple things: wash dirty laundry, make a meal, take the dogs for a walk, watch the kids for a couple hours.

There is no feeling so naked as having to rely on someone else for the most basic needs of a day.

One time, I was quite sick, living alone, and my basement apartment began to flood in the night.

Some friends quietly came over, brought me something hot to drink on the cold January night, fetched the dirty, mildew-smelling towels that soaked up the flood waters, and returned fresh, fluffy clean towels the next day.

I could've cried. I think I did.

Jesus feeds us. We feed each other. Whether you feed someone today, or whether you have to accept the role of being fed, I hope that you carry with you the instinct to feed the hungry - whether they're wealthy members of your congregation, or neighbors with cancer, or homeless folk on the bypass.

We all need fed.