“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
By Heather Killen
The Spectator
NovaNewsNow.com
A new supper program in Lawrencetown is giving everyone the chance to bring something to the table.
It’s late Friday afternoon and the pots are already clanging in the kitchen, as volunteers are bustling to prepare the Friday supper at the Lawrencetown United Baptist Church. It takes about 20 volunteers every week to cook, serve and cleanup for each of these suppers, yet they’ve never run short of help.
They’ve actually had to turn some away some willing hands, according to Barry Roscoe.
“In the beginning, we actually had too many people coming to help,” he said. “The response to this has been overwhelming. All the food has been donated, everything has been provided. We really don’t need anything.”
The first Feed My Sheep dinner was held on November 11 and they will continue to run on Fridays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. until April 27. These nutritious meals are being provided at no cost throughout the heating season, with no strings attached.
Everyone is Welcome
Everyone is welcome, although the current hall can only accommodate up to 40 people at a time so space is limited. Roscoe said the Friday night supper club was inspired by a small Bible study, but the meals are really about bringing faith into practice rather than preaching.
“We set up a kitchen Bible study, where we would share meals at each others’ homes,” he said. “Sharing the meal made it special. And this inspired us to do something for the community to bring people together and get in touch with our faith.”
While the core mandate for the suppers is found in the simple instruction of John 21:17, the intent behind the meals ensures that grace is brought in the hearts of all the people involved rather than a blessing that is served over the food.
Food is a necessity for everyone and there’s a special chemistry whenever people work together to prepare, serve and share a meal, he added. Each smile brings a special satisfaction for the cooks and servers.
Roscoe added that the folks sitting around the table are really the ones who bring the festive atmosphere.
“It’s amazing. I’m always surprised by the energy of the room,” he said. “There’s a good number of families with children attending, so it’s very social and upbeat.”
Family of God
Pastor Patty Beals said that she thinks the suppers unite the church and community as a family of God and that when people are united in faith, they feel called to serve.
“The reward for this is seeing the joy,” she said. “Especially whenever someone comes in and others remember their name and are happy to see them.”
Everyone is welcome, from students to seniors. For more information on Feed My Sheep, call 584-7125 or 584-3376.
