This photo has nothing to do with this blog entry, but it will give you a taste of the beauty we have been seeing along the Oregon coast.We stopped in McMinnville, OR at the invitation of Ecclesia network friend, Joyce Wolcott. She and Howie Harkema host Love in Action, a group of providers of services to the homeless in the community. They come together every week to share information and problem-solve together. They meet at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church which is also the site of a daily meal to over 2000 people per month. Their model of collaboration serves their community well.
John and I were able to share our travels to Street Churches all across the country and to open up the possibility of Street Church in McMinnville. The group does great work as individual organizations and together, but they had never considered (to our knowledge) the idea of worshiping as part of what they do, though most are from religiously affiliated programs. I hope that we were able to plant some seeds.
The St. Barnabas Soup Kitchen brochure includes a quote from Gandhi -- "There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread." When we share bread, whether at a meal or at the Holy Table, God is very much present. And when we share ourselves the kingdom is very near. All people, regardless of circumstance, long for connection and meaning. Bread, sacramental or with peanut butter and jelly, brings us together and binds our lives with God.
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