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Dear Covenant Friends,
Last Friday night I had the joy of attending a very special graduation dinner. After six intensive months, 17 chefs graduated from the One World Kitchen, trained by Edwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute. This program for refugees and immigrants is provided by Building Hope in the City. These graduates originally came from Syria, Palestine, Eritrea, Sudan, Congo, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Afghanistan, and they may soon be cooking at a restaurant near you.
What was so joyful about it?
- The smiles on the chefs' faces as we went through the line to taste the delicious dishes from participants’ home countries.
- The warmth of a winter night at tables made up of friends and strangers.
- Hearing Brandon Chrostowski speak. Through Edwin’s, he has helped formerly incarcerated individuals with culinary training, job placement, and reentry support in Cleveland. He has also cooked all over the world, including Ukraine, Israel and Palestine for people in need.
A few days later, at Covenant, we had our annual Soul Food Lunch in honor of Black History Month. This year it was dedicated to the memory of Nikki Elliot, a beloved deacon who recently passed away. Nikki was a chef too, and she fed so many people over the years, beyond the daily sustenance for her own family.
The Bible includes multiple stories where eating together is both nourishing and spiritually significant. Jesus shared meals with his followers throughout his earthly life and ministry- common suppers, miraculous feasts, and the covenant commemorations of the people of God. In Luke 14 Jesus instructs disciples to invite people who are poor or have physical infirmities to meals, instead of just friends. Acts 2 describes early Christians devoting themselves to fellowship and breaking bread together. John 21 tells the story of Jesus preparing breakfast for his disciples after his resurrection.
And then there’s the Lord’s Supper. The opportunity to eat and drink with Christ is not a right bestowed upon the worthy, but a privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love. Join us on Sunday, the gifts of God for the people of God.
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