Friends,
Hard to believe, this Sunday (Week 1 of Advent) we are beginning our third year of life together as a young parish!
As you’ve likely heard, this winter, we will be making a hot breakfast each Sunday before worship for anyone in our parish and neighborhood who would like to come early and enjoy fellowship together over a warm meal on the front porch.
Hot coffee and good oatmeal will be served and the playground will be open for kids to run around and get some wiggles out before the service.
Food will be ready at 9 am with last call at 9:50.
Why are we doing this? At least two reasons:
First:
As our principal day together as a church family, we are excited to create a
space on Sundays (the morning we already have set aside to be together in
worship) for you all to deepen relational connections with each other.
While community is certainly a strength in our parish—we see this in small groups, in growing friendships, in coffee after the service and more—this will serve as another opportunity for people to get to know each other and develop friendships for the journey.
Second:
This is an opportunity to offer a ministry of mercy and hospitality to
neighbors who are cold and hungry. Over the past months I’ve noticed a growing
number of men and women who are primarily living in the alleys, doorways and empty lots/small wooded areas in our church’s immediate neighborhood.
Offering a warm meal, particularly in the winter months is a way to meet a concrete need.
It is also an opportunity to welcome these men and women into mutual friendships and hopefully, eventually (though not conditionally), into worship with us where we will feast at the Lord’s table together.
So, beginning this Sunday, please plan on joining us when you can for a simple
breakfast before the service on Sunday mornings!
While oatmeal may not seem like a feast (we are committed to keeping it simple, no crazy ideas…), we will remember and hopefully taste some of God’s goodness as we gather together, learn to love each other, and walk together as brothers and sisters in this wonderful, growing parish.
See you Sunday,
David+
P.S. If you would like to help host Sunday breakfasts—setting up chairs, making
oatmeal, inviting neighbors—please contact Father David
(David@allsoulsrva.org).