Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
~John 6:10-13~
This time last week, many of us were scurrying to prepare for Thanksgiving, a day when Americans gather with family and friends to feast, give thanks, and feast some more.
We in the Church know the spiritual wonder that can come from sharing a meal with others. Most of our gatherings involve potlucks and much of the stories of Jesus and the Apostles have a feast at their center. Wondrous things can happen when people gather at a table together: bodies are satiated, relationships are fed, and souls are nourished.
Perhaps the most compelling illustration of this is the Eucharist, one of the our most cherished sacraments, which uses food and drink to bring form to the spiritual act of communion with our Lord.
In our society of plenty, somehow we too often find ourselves saying the words, "I don't have enough; I can't help anyone; I have nothing to spare." But, are we being honest with ourselves and each other? The truth is we have more than most, and when we trust in God there is always enough, or more accurately, there is always more than enough. We see in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 that it is possible to take little to no food and miraculously turn it into enough to feed all that are hungry (and then some).
God's Pantry began as an answer to Jesus' call to "feed my sheep" (John 21:17). The Pantry started with a few items in a small closet located in the UUMC office and, much like the fish and bread that fed the thousands, it has multiplied since its genesis.
This year has brought major growth in the ministry. First, the Pantry moved into a larger space in the Fellowship Hall, then a refrigerator was added, and now the Pantry has partnered with Roadrunner Food Bank.
This new partnership means greater resources to reach out to and aid our surrounding community; it means, starting in January, the Pantry will have more food to distribute and will now be able to offer fresh produce. It also means opportunities to pursue new endeavors, such as a "mobile pantry" that will directly serve the families of the students at University Hills Elementary School.
The key to living a life of plenty is believing that the Lord works in our lives. Jesus calls all of His people to help the poor, the hungry, and all those in need. However, we are not expected to do this on our own--He provides for us the resources. He may provide by way of miracle, or by placing others in our path that can fill in where we are lacking.
Whatever the way may be, it's important to trust that there is always a way.
The first "mobile pantry" will be on December 12th and God's Pantry is open every Friday between 9 am and 11 am. If you are interested in donating, you can find a list of needs posted in UUMC's bulletin. If you would like any more information about this ministry, contact Amelia (amelia@uumclascruces.org) in the church office (575.522.8220).
