Have you ever done a lot with just a little?
I remember my father often inviting guests to our home for a meal on short notice. My mother was then tasked with figuring out how to make the meal she prepared stretch to feed herself, a husband and four children plus the invited guests. Her go to was fresh sweet corn we had shaved off the cob and frozen, always a hit.
Our text for this Sunday is the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus takes just five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000 families, because he has compassion on them. At the time Jesus was trying to find some alone time to mourn the death of John the Baptist. He was weary and remorseful, yet still full of compassion.
Here at Faith we feed between 50 and 70 families each week with enough food for 5 – 10 meals. So, we perform the miracle of feeding the 5,000 about twice a year. God has blessed this effort with a great core group of volunteers and the last few months we have had the wonderful staff of Oak Glenn camp with us. They really perk up our “regulars”. God has blessed our compassion for our neighbors. The pantry is just one way we mirror the grace given to us in service to others. May God continue to bless this work and all your acts of self-giving service this week and always.
Sometimes we may feel like we have little to offer, especially with so many suffering in our time. Yet communion is an example of how a little goes a long way. Each week Jesus offers himself to us in the breaking of the bread of communion, just a bit of bread and a sip of wine. Still it is life and hope for the journey.
If we endeavor to pattern our life on the Lord Jesus Christ; If in the morning and evening, at work and at play, we live out of gratitude to God; God can take the little we may feel we have and multiply it to be a great blessing to others.
PRAYER
Almighty God, in the power of the Spirit you have knit your servants into the one body of your Son, Jesus Christ. Look with favor upon their commitment to serve in Christ’s name. Give them courage, patience, and vision; and strengthen us all in our Christian vocation of witness to the world and of service to others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NEWS from FAITH
The Good News this week was the wonderful attendance we had outside for our 9 am worship. The spot is shaded in the morning, the music was great and of course, the sermon was a treasure, all about the treasures of God.
This week the gardener and his helper have finished putting in a drip line, weed block and 3″ deep pea gravel the entire length of the south parking along the fence to the street. Thanks to an Action Team from Debi and Lou Hitter, we will plant a crape myrtle tree in the area by the street. So, the south part of the south parking lot is much improved. We will continue working down the sides. The big project is the front yard and that will be approached someday.
We laid some wood-like laminate in the offices. There is some remaining, so we plan to complete the pantry area.
MEMBERS
Nelson Hall is working with Pastor Bunge to call on our members to see if you have prayer concerns. They will be held in confidence unless you would like us to share them with the congregation for their prayers.
Love to you all! Pastor John