The other day God slapped me in the face in a way only God can. Last Fall Gary and I attended the Greek Festival at St Matthew’s Greek Orthodox Church. While I was picking out some great food, Gary was talking with Father Demetrius Nicoloudakis’ wife. The clergy spouses were discussing a program that St Matthew’s coordinates, called Pound of Love. During the Easter season they deliver pound cakes to families of prisoners, Opportunity House (a homeless shelter) and local food pantries. These pound cakes are distributed to “the least of these” to remind them they are loved by Christ and us. It also reminds us of our call to serve others.
Two weeks before Easter, during my Tuesday office hours, a woman from the St Matthew’s showed up with two very large shopping bags overflowing with packets of empty pound cake pans. They were very organized each packet had four small loaf pans, zip lock bags to put the baked loaves into, stickers to put on the bags and the recipe. I took one look at all of those pans and thought of all the projects that were currently happening at Maidencreek. My initial thought was - Gary what have you gotten us into now! You and I will be baking for days! (No, I was not too happy about this) I told her we were very busy at church, I could only take one bag and could not promise I would find people to bake that many pound cakes. Our pot pie dinner was Saturday and people were busy baking for that event.
On Sunday morning prior to worship I gave these announcements: left over pot pie can be purchased following worship; it is the last day to order candy from the youth groups; there are a few items still needed for Easter Boxes that will be given to three of our families going through tough times; today is the last day to give items for the Easter boxes we are sending to our service personnel; parents please remember the Sunday school children are collecting items for Easter Baskets for our home-bound; don’t forget we are staffing the Food Pantry on Maundy Thursday, feel free to attend the service in your work clothes; additional readers are needed for the Good Friday Service; on the Saturday before Easter the young adults will be dying Easter Eggs with the residents of Keystone Villa others are welcome to help; .... and by the way... the pastor’s spouses got together and we are participating with St Matthew’s in the Pound of Love program. Please see Pastor Kim during fellowship time if you can bake pound cakes for families of prisoners, Opportunity House and local food pantries.
After worship, when I finished greeting the people at the door, I ventured downstairs to fellowship time. As usual there was a low hum of noise and a somewhat organized chaos. We are a church that has out grown our space so everyone is always on top of each other. Sunday school classes are held in closets and rooms where people walk through during classes. I finally found Pastor Kim, our student pastor, standing next to a table with the big red shopping bag setting on it. I asked her “did you get rid of any?” While in my mind I was trying to decide the minimum number of pound cakes Gary and I would have to bake for St Matthew’s without seeming inconsiderate. While I was trying to come up with a number - She turned to me and said we don’t have any pans left and people are still asking.
SMACK - Right across my face!!! All that went though my head was “Ye of little faith” - yes it was a double smack God even used the King James version.
In no uncertain terms God left me know. Who am I to decide what the faith community is capable of? Who am I to put limits on them? Who am I trying to box in the Spirit!
That afternoon I called St Matthew’s and asked for more pans. Gary ended up baking two packets (eight pound cakes). I didn’t even have to help. We boxed up and delivered 134 pound cakes! And this pastor is no longer going to worry about asking too much of the faith community! Thanks be to a God who places opportunities before us and calls us to account.
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