A Note from Pastor David
The Food Pantry Miracle?
One of my favorite Biblical stories is about the multiplication of loaves and fishes to feed a hungry multitude. God must like it too because the story shows up in all four gospels and sometimes twice in a gospel! It is a great story of how a miracle comes from God using the resources provided by people. This week I think I may have witnessed a miracle with the reopening of our food pantry as a drive through on Saturday mornings. I saw the miracle of people experiencing the grace of God through the generosity of others in our church. Last Saturday we served 19 families ( actually 18 as one large family received double supplies). In one car, we served three generations of people. We also served another woman who went home and told her mother in law about us. The mother in law drove right over and found help (loving and helping your mother in law- is that not also a miracle?!). Interestingly all of the client families whom we helped were new to our Food Pantry. Likely most of them didn’t think they would find themselves in this position before COVID-19. At least in their unexpected and uncomfortable position they found folks willing to share. I must pause and note the gracious and respectful way our first Saturday volunteers (Margaret, Beth and Pam) interacted with the families. I was humbled and proud to work alongside them.
And then I believe I saw another miracle- the miracle of generosity. On drop off day this Wednesday, your donations filled our bin by the East entrance several times over! In my own neighborhood my wife and I put an announcement on the neighborhood Facebook site and placed a blue wagon on the front porch. Within 48 hours our neighbors had filled our wagon more than three times over and donated $220 in HEB gift cards as well!
One of the understandings of Judaism in the days around the time of Jesus was that if you prayed to God for a miracle, you were at the same time offering yourself to be a part of the answer to that prayer. So, I say thank you for being an answer to prayer and keep up the generosity. This week you and God blessed 18 families. Who knows how many more we may bless in the weeks to come! There is a light shining in the bleak days of COVID-19 for people in need of help. That light is God shining through you.
~David
