Feeding and Being Fed

On Friday I walked to St. Gregory's of Nyssa Episcopal Church to volunteer at their food pantry.  This ministry was brought to my attention through Sara Miles' wonderful book, "Take This Bread."  She writes about being inspired to create a food pantry modeled after their Sunday morning communion. Every Friday they surround the communion table with various fresh foods to distribute.  Like the morning communion, everyone is welcome.  No one is turned away.  Presently, they are serving about 450 families every week. 

I arrived around 11 a.m.  The volunteers were sitting down for lunch.  Immediately, Angela, one of the volunteers arose and welcomed me to the table.  I was fed and I hadn't even done anything yet!  Angela told me that she is not a member of St. Gregory's but she appreciates the work they do and volunteers every week.  She also introduced me to Sara Miles, who was equally gracious in her welcome.

Food at St. Gregory's is distributed around the communion table.  There were stacks of food...artichokes, bok choi, apples, bananas, rice, potatoes, yogurt, bread.  It was a healthy offering of food.

As I prepared to distribute the bananas, I was reminded of the communion metaphor.  I looked the guests in the eyes as I offered them the food they needed.  I presumed that if I was a regular volunteer I would have known some of the regulars and would have been able to call them by name, as I prefer to do in communion. 

Most importantly, I was reminded that the word eucharist comes from the Greek word meaning "to give thanks."  And I heard those words repeatedly.  As hungry people received the food that would nourish their bodies for another week, they said thank you in many different languages.

Two days later I would return to St. Gregory's to participate in worship.  We gathered around the same table and were fed once again.  And I was thankful to be fed in so many ways.