Friends,

Last week a small group of volunteers mostly composed of St. Luke’s members were worked as federal employees and members of our outreach committee, filled three shopping carts up with the food and then packed fifty bags of groceries to hand out. We had an online sign-up where we invited anyone affected by the shutdown to sign up to receive some groceries. We threw in the extra bean soup mix from the pumpkin patch, and a church member donated some dog food as well. A few of us hung out for about three hours while people came to pick up their food on that Tuesday evening. Now that big push to do something to help those acutely affected is over, I am still processing everything we learned. Here are some of my take aways:

Our community is eager to help when there is a perceived need. I received more requests to help in our efforts than we received requests for groceries, and I did not have time to respond to everyone. If you’re interested in offsetting the cost of this effort you can give to our outreach committee that funded this ministry by following this link and selecting “community outreach” on the drop down menu. The overwhelming offers of support was deeply moving. Thank you.
We helped many people that we did not expect and did not help many of the people we expected to see. Everyone we helped was in needed, so mission accomplished, but many of the groceries went home to people who were not federal employees, but still deeply affected by the shutdown. If families suddenly stop receiving a paycheck, then they will likely stop their cleaning service, delay home repairs, and other things that either helped them work fulltime while keeping a clean house, or services that can wait. Some pop-up food pantries were asking for federal IDs when they picked up food. I suspect that we helped fill in the gaps of services available to people in our community.
Many people completely unrelated to the Church signed up to receive groceries, but most of the food went to families that had some sort of secondary connection. When we were spreading the words, it was friends of friends who knew of families in acute need that asked to take groceries to distribute in their neighborhoods. For me, this is evidence that genuine connection and relationship remain our strongest tools to engage our community.
We expected to get a massive wave of people needing food, but we received something more akin to a steady stream. The sign-up did not fill up immediately, but people kept trying to sign up after the event was over. There is need is our greater community, but if we are to imagine how to help in the future, it may be worthwhile to plan something smaller that happens more often.
Showing direct kindness is always effective. Some of the best things that happen at and through Church, you will never know about. Just know that showing up and showing love, especially if it requires a bit of vulnerability, is generally a good strategy.

I am thankful for our Furlough Feds and Outreach Committee for taking such a strong lead in trying to do something good when the world stopped working the way it should, and my heart has grown knowing that so many wanted to help when they knew others were struggling. I am writing this on Tuesday, and as of right now, the world is once again dynamic. The shutdown appears to be ending soon, but it has not ended yet.

In last Sunday’s Gospel, I love how Jesus so strongly contrasts with the Sadducees. Their work is perpetually in the Temple and in Jerusalem, while Jesus knows more of the world, and the people that inhabit it. He eats with all sorts of types and travels around preaching to and sometimes arguing to different types of people. He is rooted in scripture but it is clear that the people around him are also a source of strength and inspiration. Remember that you are armed for ministry with the relationships you have cultivated. People will still need physical and spiritual support regardless of if the government opens back up, and I encourage you to be vigilant in seeking those in need and bold in offering support.

Blessings,

Nick