Community Kitchen

Yesterday I had the joy of representing my congregation, First United ChurchFirst United Church, at the groundbreaking of Community Kitchen's new facility. Last year Community Kitchen provided more than 200,000 meals, mostly to seniors and at-risk children through their many programs.

Last year we learned we were inheriting a sizable estate from a recently deceased member. This launched a series of discussions, how do we honor God and model to ourselves and community by being generous with our resources? How seriously do we take tithing? How do we practice what we preach of being generous with our resources? Ultimately, we voted to give a tithe—$100,000—to Community Kitchen’s building campaign.

In the six months since we notified the congregation of this inheritance, not one person has asked, how can we spend this money on ourselves? I’m overjoyed to be part of a congregation that is getting it right.

This community of Christian faith has taught me much about living for Jesus. I came to this congregation more interested in studying and discussing the Bible. My Pentecostal background prepared me for and taught me an importance of Biblical knowledge. It’s funny how the Holy leads us in another direction.

This congregation has taught me we are called to do what Jesus did, to feed, to clothe, to shelter, to embrace all God’s people who are in need. When Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, he instructed him, “Then feed my sheep.” In his first sermon, Jesus preached, “He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” He proceeded to feed, heal, and embrace the downcast and every marginalized group. Now it is up to us.