The other evening I was helping out at the weekly community dinner at the church where I am now assigned, which is in a small town up in Red Rock country.
The dinner was actually not run by the church, the church just provides the facility, (kitchen and community hall). Various people from the community come to help prepare the meal and serve the food. The food comes from donated funds, food banks, grocery stores, and generally from those that give to help keep this going. A talented lady is in charge, and to see her in action was amazing. She directs everything, gets the food, coordinates everything, rounds up volunteers, cooks, and more. It is her ministry.
I assisted as I could, chopping vegetables, preparing food and later serving in the food line. As I am new here, I do not know anyone very well yet...and this was a great way to meet new people and make new friends. As well, help 'pay it forward'.
The people started to show up for the meal an hour or so before the serve time. It was cold outside, so the doors were opened so they could come inside and be warm while they waited. Some came to the dinner as they were in need, some homeless, some young people on their grand adventure who were hitch hiking across America and basically living off the "land", and some there to socialize, perhaps to get out of the house and enjoy the company of others.
The room was fully packed and all the food (and there was a lot of it) was eaten. It was so great to see all the people there, gathered together and sharing a meal.
Giving back and helping others is of course, nothing new. Many churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc. sponsor dinners to their communities, or feed and house the homeless...and basically help those in need.
"Religion" is about gathering people. It unfortunately is a term that in popular context has lost its real meaning. We hear so many say they do something "religiously", like a force of habit, or with a certain intensity or rigidity to it. But this is not what the word really means.
Actually, the word "religion" comes from the Latin word "religio", which means to gather together, or to bind together, like when we take some string and bind together a bunch of sticks.
The Community Dinner is only one function, one ministry of this little church. But what a positive impact for the wider community. There are many other gathering functions and service to the wider community that most churches try to carry out. And really what is this? It is a group of people, or maybe just a person or a handful of people, living out their faith and trying to do something positive.
It is a shame that for many, the term "religion" is associated with something negative. Because what it is really about is gathering people together...to grow in the Spirit...to learn from one another, and help each other, as we best can.
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