God shows up at Christmas…

Faith United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, where I’m a member, holds a “Food for the Soul” dinner church the 2^nd and 4^th Thursdays of each month.  The reason we hold them is two-fold:  To share Christ’s love with strangers and neighbors over a meal.  And, ultimately to create a faith community where people are growing in love with one another and Christ.  I invite you into last night’s meal…

• Forty people of all colors and ages.  Is that a record number?  
• They straggle in over a twenty-minute period.
• The smell of bodies mixes with the smell of roasted pork and chicken.
• We begin with a “Tell your neighbor they’re beautiful!”  People do it and smile and laugh.  
• We pray for the meal and our time together.
• Carla and her table goes through the serving line first because her birthday is tomorrow.  
• Faith’s table hosts and our guests chat as they eat at tables decorated for Christmas. 

• I interrupt the conversations after about ten minutes.  
• Even though the gym is a cold 64 degrees, I turn the noisy heater off so people can hear me.
• “Any of you receive a Christmas present?”  Hands go up.  
• We then talk about the idea of blessing others, and I point to the verse on the tables, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Acts 20:35
• I describe a time when I was blessed.  I had injured my leg and was to have an MRI.  It was during the pandemic and it dawned on me halfway there that I had forgotten a mask, and masks were required.  Returning home for a mask would make me late.  What to do?  I’ll just stop at a store on the way and buy one.  I hobbled up to its entrance and read on the door, “Masks required in the store.”  Ugh!  Stuck! A woman coming up to the entrance sees my demeanor and asks if she can help.  I explain that I need a mask.  She says she has a new one in her bag and hands it to me.  An angel? I am amazed at the thoughtfulness of the stranger.
• Blessed!  We are called to bless others.
• I share how since I’ve arrived tonight people have demonstrated a giving spirit, blessing others.
• A guest who was at our food pantry earlier in the day shared with me that he had made a donation.
• Another guest showed me the Bible she just picked up from our free “giveaway” area.  She said she has a Bible but loves to give them to others.
• A neighborhood child offered to sing a song for us.  Together we sing “Jingle Bells” and then a request for “Amazing Grace.”
• We sing “Happy Birthday” to Carla. I ask if she wants to say anything.  She says, “I’m 19 and this is the best birthday ever!”  Wow!
• Everyone is given a note that says, “Thank you for blessing me!”  We encourage them to write a note to someone that has blessed them and then give it to that person.
• I am handed one from a guest our church recently helped.  “My cats and I would be on the street if it weren’t for your help with my rent.”  Her words of thankfulness bless me!
• We hand out blank prayer cards and invite anyone who needs prayer to write a note.  One guest writes that she is struggling with mental illness, addiction, and grief and begins rehab tomorrow. A sacred request for prayer. I pray with her.
• Everyone’s encouraged to go back for seconds.  And after an hour-and-fifteen minutes, we start cleaning up.
• The last to leave is a regular guest who lives in his car.  Even though our space was cold, it was warmer than his car will be tonight. We wish him and the others God’s blessings as they leave.
• We take down our signs and finish the dishes.  
• Another Food for the Soul. God once again showed up.
• Emmanuel!

May God show up at your church this Christmas as well. May Christ’s love be experienced! Emmanuel!

— Ed Fenstermacher, Associate Director for Church Development