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August was an exciting time at Christ Church. Over the course of the month, we fed 763 people and gave away over 4,600 pounds of food. This past week, the leaders of our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet met with the Wardens and me to reflect and pray about what God was calling us to do. Acting in faith, we are going to adjust our Pantry and Clothing Closet hours to Mondays, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., effective October 1.
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"Behind the scenes" of this time change were two primary considerations. (1) We looked for the busiest hours for the pantry over the course of the week, accounting for the number of folks they were feeding and their proximity to the Church. (2) We found it important to shift to a consistent weekly schedule, rather than a schedule that fluctuated with the monthly calendar. Once we prioritized those within one mile of the Church, we found that Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons had the greatest impact.
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Any time you change a schedule within a community, anxiety can quickly spike. This happened when we announced the "Great Food Pantry Experiment," and it will probably happen again now that we're shifting the time slots for the Pantry and Clothing Closet. I want us to remember the whole month of August: we never ran out of food; we always had enough.
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We heard this enduring virtue in our Old Testament reading from Sunday: God provides the daily bread—we must be faithful in collecting what we need. The story of the Manna comes immediately after the Exodus and crossing of the Red Sea, and it is the nascent Israelites' first lesson as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Learning to see abundance (even in the face of scarcity) is foundational to a life of faith.
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Just as we rallied together in August, I am again going to ask us to come together as we move to new hours for the Pantry and Clothing Closet and set a new routine. Please check your calendars—what may have previously been irregular or impossible will now settle into a regular rhythm: every Monday (10:00 a.m. to noon) and Thursday (3:00 to 5:00 p.m.).
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We need two folks in each space for the Food Pantry and Clothing Closet to be open. This is both a safety measure and an expression of our conviction that Christian ministry is meant to be done in community (remember, Jesus sent them out, two-by-two). Additionally, the sign-up includes a space for someone to be a "floater"—to move back and forth between the Pantry and Closet as needed—as well as someone who is willing to go pick up food during the week. The Driver does not necessarily have to volunteer on Monday (although that's the day it's listed under)—it is someone willing to go pick up food at some point in the week based on our needs.
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Beloved, this is an exciting time as we re-imagine our ministry. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Barb Staton, Kevin Shea, Diane Button, and Susan MacLennan as they have taken the lead in their respective roles leading these ministries. And likewise, I wish to express my appreciation to all of the volunteers over the years who have made these ministries possible.
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May we always seek and serve Christ in all persons with this level of commitment, creativity, and compassion. May we love our neighbor as ourselves.
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