Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Sacraments

 

May 4, 2021

Hello church family, and readers near and far!

Somewhere deep in my bones, there is some kind of as-yet-unnamed and undefined attraction to the spiritual connection between food and faith. Between growing and/or cooking food, and God. I’m not sure when that started, because it wasn’t always there (or at least, I didn’t always notice it), but it’s grown stronger over the years.

I remember back in seminary, in a class on meditative prayer, we were asked to write a short paragraph describing a moment from the previous day, focusing on the senses: what did we see, hear, smell, feel, taste in that moment? The moment need not be special, our instructor told us; in fact the more ordinary the better. So I described making lunches for my kids in the rush before school, something I did without thinking every weekday. It was the most mundane thing I could think of; unlike some parents, I didn’t take any particular pleasure in it or feel any particular way about it. But in the describing of it, and in the reading of it out loud to my prayer partner in class the next day, I found myself astonished by the presence of God. Like a bright, warm flood of light, I was brought to tears and thought, how had I not noticed this before? How had I been paying so little attention? That moment may have been the beginning of my noticing this connection between food and God, though I can promise you, friends, *any* moment when we pay careful and prayerful attention we will find the presence and power of God in it.

Anyway, there is something that has been forming itself in my own ministry around this. Something around meals together, and neighborhoods, and home, and welcome, and history, and health, and sacrament, and the real meaning of holiness. First Covid and then cancer treatment have created very annoying obstacles to experimenting and enacting anything around this with you, but still it has been percolating. And then, just a couple of weeks ago, a beloved church member – who doesn’t know any of this – handed me a book she no longer needed, called “The Frugal Gourmet Keeps the Feast”, which is a cookbook of Biblical foods AND full of stories about the connection between food and faith!

It’s a sign, I think.

I didn’t know anything about the Frugal Gourmet before this very morning. Probably many of you already know this, but he (Jeff Smith is his actual name) was a United Methodist minister! He considered his ministry to be all wrapped up in cooking and eating together, and both his books and his TV show were peppered with historical and Biblical references. I feel as though I’ve discovered a long-lost brother.

Now, I am not a great cook. Far from it. I am a passable cook, who nevertheless loves cooking and sharing food. (The other day, Dennis was looking for a personalized recipe book for me as a Mother’s Day gift, and he proposed naming it “Dawn’s Delights and Honest Attempts” which I thought was hilarious and fully endorsed. I’m giggling here, just thinking about it.) Maybe you are not a great singer, but nevertheless love to sing. Or maybe you are a clumsy sort of wood worker, but still love to make things. Or an imperfect parent, who desperately loves their kids. Thankfully, God does not require us to be perfect, but rather uses our honest attempts to lead us into the messy imperfection of joyful, abundant life.

Pay attention this week, friends. To the smallest, most mundane moments and imperfect people. In doing so, you might discover a new joy…and you will most definitely find our living, loving, laughing God rejoicing in you.

May the fourth be with you,

Pastor Dawn

P.S. Very sadly, the Frugal Gourmet's legacy is tarnished by accusations of sexual abuse from when he was a young man. When it came to light in 1998, it ended his television career and his time in public life. When I first read about that, I wasn’t sure I could rightly use or enjoy his book after all. But then I remembered perspective from a counselor I knew, who reminded me that the world is not divided into perfect people and monsters. Human beings are flawed, sometimes catastrophically so. And capable of great good, and great faith, too. We are complex creatures.

 

Worship Any and Everywhere!

Living the Resurrection: Comforters

When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was suffering. He was in jail somewhere, though it’s not clear where. And yet, the tone of the letter is sweet and confident, encouraging and comforting. He repeatedly expresses gratitude to God and to the church at Philippi for the “gifts” they had sent him. He claims this present suffering as something God continues to use for good. And he encourages the church that they need not worry about anything, and can hope and rejoice, because the Lord is near.

In Henri Nowen’s “Wounded Healer”, he writes that God uses the things we struggle with as a source of compassion and comfort to others. Paul certainly shows that in his life, in powerful ways. As you prepare your heart for worship on Sunday, you might like to read and pray with Paul’s letter to the Philippians, and see where God might draw your attention or touch your heart.

After worship this week, we will share a time of snacks and fellowship out on the front lawn. A bit of a sort of Mother’s Day garden party. Because of this, we will not have our usual Zoom coffee hour. Hope you can join us!