What?! No Thanksgiving turkeys for those in need?!
That was the message St. Luke’s Hastings received a couple of weeks ago from Hastings Family Service, which had not received enough funding to provide turkeys to struggling families this Thanksgiving. And what was their response? Here’s the quote I received in the email:
“They raised over a thousand dollars so turkeys could be purchased. It just shows what a small faith community can do when a need arises and the Spirit is among them.”
This is at the heart of what I not only love about, but am truly grateful for, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. Faith communities see a need in the world and they gather together their resources to respond.
The reality is, this does not just happen during the holidays, or in certain size faith communities, or even in the same way. Every one of our faith communities in their culture and context are striving to determine the world’s needs around them and then discerning what gifts for ministry they have to meet those needs. That is engaging the mission God continues to invite us to be a part of.
Thank you ECMN, “for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25:35-37.
Thank you ECMN that you “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ, seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself, and you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Baptismal Covenant – BCP pg. 305.
Thank you ECMN and, “May your work bring order where there was chaos, wisdom where there was ignorance, brightness where there was obscurity, purpose where there was confusion, warmth were there was harshness, laughter where there was pain, challenge where there was boredom, and God’s holy peace where there was hate. May you create in the name of God who creates, be wise in the name of God’s revealing word and loving in the cause of God’s spirit who serves. Amen.” Andrew Greeley – An Irish American Blessing.