This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope and pray that you are well. This Sunday, we celebrate the feast of All Saints! It's a day when we remember the past and pray for those who have gone before us. It is also the day when we read the words of Jesus's most famous sermon, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God, Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled." They are words that hit particularly hard this year, as we know that on Monday, SNAP food benefits could be cut off for millions of Americans. At St. Martin's, we are doing our best to respond to the upcoming need.

Debbie and Jim Lawler have been working with the Broad River Business Alliance, which will be activating its community hotline on November 1. One need they put forward is the need for space to store non-perishable food items. St. Martin's is volunteering All Saints Hall and other rooms as necessary to support their work. If we are chosen, we will need volunteers for sorting and distribution, but as of now, I am not entirely sure what that will look like.

Secondly, we will continue our work with Lutheran Services. On the first of the month, our offering plate funds go to the clergy's discretionary funds. Caitlyn and I use these funds for direct needs. We will use our discretionary funds to provide Lutheran Services with food gift cards. They are well equipped to serve the most vulnerable in our community, and they have been great partners in mission.

Thirdly, we will continue to work with the Crayton Backpack Program and Harvest Hope. Please continue to bring in food donations. They are needed! As you do so, please also review the labels, particularly the expiration dates. If you wouldn't eat it, please don't donate it. 

Finally, please join me in both prayer and work for the poor and the hungry. Pray that this pause in SNAP funding will be short. And also, if you have time, visit the Harvest Hope website and sign up for a volunteer shift. If there is a call from here to volunteer, please respond. From a young age, I was taught that the red-letter words of the Bible, the words Jesus actually spoke, were the most important parts of scripture. I was taught that the words of the Beatitudes that call us to feed the hungry and love our enemies were not just sermons but actual instructions on how you and I are supposed to live. We are living in a time when help is needed; our response both matters and shows the world who we are. As the song says, "they will know that we are Christians by our love."

Peace,

Mitch