UPDATE ON FEEDING MINISTRY

COVID 19 has raised questions around what it means to be church when we cannot gather in our buildings or meet one another. In a way it is a moment like the exile when Israel had to creatively engage with what it meant to be a worshiping community “in a strange land” while they no longer had their temple or rituals it was the time that produced much of the Hebrew Bible as we know it, because they had their stories and songs. In a way we now have to creatively engage with our faith community and see ourselves as a web of connections, COVID 19 has invited us each of us to take responsibility for our faith journey and taken us back to the basics in a ministry built on relationships not programs. During these times food and faith go together. A quote by Sara Miles in her book, “Take this Bread,” is a challenge for me right now, “All of the gospel stories pointed to a force stronger than the anxious formulas of religion: a radically inclusive love that accompanied people in the most ordinary of actions-eating, drinking, walking- and stayed with them, through fear, even past death. That love means giving yourself away, embracing outsiders as family, emptying yourself to feed and live for others.” We would like to update everyone on our feeding ministry. The numbers of homeless that Terrence is feeding are increasing and we are aware that the refuge community in Wynberg is in particular distress. I have had discussions this week with Terrence and the NGO Adonis Musandi which is based in Wynberg and we are looking at joining forces with our day to day feeding. Adonis Musandi are prepared to offer us the help of Community Workers who will assist Terrence with cooking and managing the feeding taking place. Adonis Musandi and ourselves will “pool our resources” in supplying groceries. In our discussions it was clear that it is better for us to work together rather than them starting a separate feeding program from their offices, we can do far more together. The menu we will be following is: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Pap and Chicken or Beef Stew Rice and Veggies Soup and Bread

Thursday: Bread and Potatoes Friday: Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches Hand out jars of hope to refugee community for the weekends Saturday (homeless only): Coffee and Sandwiches Weekly groceries needed: 50-60 loaves of bread Stewing Beef or Frozen chicken pieces Maize Meal Rice Celery Onions Tomatoes/Canned Tomatoes Potatoes Soup Packets Soup Bones Soup Mix Margarine Jam and Peanut Butter We will also need Jars of Hope, you can make these by filling a coffee jar with the following four ingredients to feed four people: 1/2 cup rice (62g) 1/2 cup soup mix (62g) 1 unwrapped stock cube 1 packet soup powder The estimated cost of a jar is about R10.40. For a larger jar you can double the quality (125g) A reminder for those wanting to make contributions to the church via an envelope. There will be a box available for you to drop any contributions in envelopes. Just ring the bell at the courtyard gate during this time and they will come out with the box. You can drop off Jars of Hope at the same time. Blessings Graham Email: revgoodie@outlook.com Mobile: 0610216616