Reflections from Your Co-Pastors Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Mark 6: 34-44
"Give them some food yourselves." (verse 37)
Jeff and Kathleen Baumgardner took these words of Jesus to heart. On Thanksgiving Day 2014, they opened a nonprofit restaurant on Maple Street in Fort Collins. The name of the restaurant is FoCo Cafe. But FoCo, in this instance, does not stand for Fort Collins. Instead, it stands for Feed Our Community Ourselves. I have never asked Jeff and Kathleen if they got the idea for starting their Cafe from Jesus's words, but it feels right.
You see, at FoCo Cafe, the food is home-made and the menu changes from day-to-day. There are no prices listed for your meal. There is a box at the end of the counter where people can discreetly deposit whatever they can afford... or not. If a person has no money, they are still welcome to eat a meal. Volunteer duties are available if someone wishes to offer their time in exchange for a meal. Food is bought from local farms-- organic meat and produce. The Cafe offers vegan, gluten free, and also choices for the carnivores, such as myself.
The hope of these co-founders is that the 5000+ will be fed, and fed with a healthy, nutritious, meal. The hope is that "we," -- all of us who eat at the Cafe, and even those who do not but wish to donate-- will join in to feed the
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5000+, and that some of us who dine at the Cafe will be able to pay it forward so that others who cannot pay for their meal can enjoy a good meal in a warm and welcoming environment. Part of FoCo's mission states that "everyone deserves to eat nutritional food" and that "participating in a community nourishes the soul."
The hosts and volunteers come out and get to know their customers. They share the ingredients of every dish, share their recipes, and the names of the farms that source their food. They reach out in welcoming and hospitable ways to all who enter.
So far, the loaves and fishes are multiplying by leaps and bounds. It''s always amazing to me to see what can be done when we follow the words of Jesus. It's truly miraculous!
"Give them some food yourselves," Jesus says. Feed Our Community Ourselves. Then all can eat and be satisfied.
How will you feed your community in 2021?
Amen
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Scheduling Your Vaccination Appointment? |
If you have the opportunity to schedule a Covid-19 vaccination appointment and need transportation, we may be able to assist.
Pastor Jane is offering transportation to vaccination appointments that can be scheduled in the morning. Contact Jane at 973-610-6104 to find out more.
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Prayer Requests and Service Links |
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Healing prayers for Carol and Mike Persons - members, and Aidan - grandson of Mother Kae. Prayers for Lisa McCann - member, for personal challenges this year.
For Jim Berry - member, for his new journey to chaplain. For Lauren Roob - friend of Rosanna Bateman.
Healing prayers for Dianna Padilla, sister of Lisa Jones, who underwent surgery for cancer. For Liz and Ken Zornes and family, friends of Sandra and Dick Life, whose daughter is struggling with addiction. For Michael Keefe, son of member Yvonne Keefe.
For Dona Bosse - community member and Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother. For Dani - niece of the Cloyds and Mary Crosby – parishioner.
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For Ruth Parker, sister of Dori Carroll. And Leo Six – father of Michael Six, Mike Gudim, Suzanne King, Robert Browel
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For the peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the families.
For Marietta Ricke - sister of Jim DeMuth and for Kristin - daughter of ECC priest Scott Jenkins and Joan Kneeland - sister-in-law of Bill and Chris Kneeland. For Aunt Ilo and Aunt Ginny - Aunts of Jean Christian.
For Rita Ortiz, friend of Deacon Rosean, and for Margie Weitz - member. For Chris Bachman, friend of Lisa Jones.
For Bob, husband of Joyce Dehaven -
friend of Cathy Engel
For David Heyman - member,
Teri Kent - member,
Bill McClellan - Father of Jennifer Pfeister,
Father of Julie Shoenbauer, member, and
Edwin White - brother in law of Pastor Jane
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Sunday Service Recordings and More
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On Sunday we honored the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, a decentralized political and social movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against black people.
All 3 women are activists in their own right apart from the BLM movement. Alicia writes and organizes around issues of health, student rights, rights for domestic workers, ending police brutality, anti-racism, and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people of color. Patrisse has directed or served on boards of organizations seeking an end to police violence and civilian oversight of prisons. Opal was the director of BAJI, the first national immigrant rights organization for people of African descent, writes for Huffington Post and Time, and collaborates with various cities throughout the US.
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For all bulletins, reflections, Sunday recordings during our hiatus from celebrating together, visit our webpage. Please contact us with questions, concerns and ideas for better connection with and for the community - marymagdalafc@gmail.com
Newsletters of Trinity Lutheran Church and the St. Paul's Episcopal
What are our partners in ministry here up to? Go here for the Trinity Lutheran Church monthly newsletter, "Tidings". And here is St Paul's weekly bulletin
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