Fishes and Loaves

Bulletin Cover February 24, 2012

Dear Friends,

This evening First UMC will host Fish and Loaves, a free community dinner, at 5:30 pm. We host this meal the fourth and fifth Sundays of each month in our fellowship hall and serve 40 – 50 guests. Other area churches provide meals on other Sundays so that there is a free community meal in Livingston County each week. You are welcome as a guest or as a volunteer at the Fish and Loaves dinner.

If you would like to be part of this ministry, there are several ways to serve. Steve and Becky Stanford, coordinators for our Fish and Loaves ministry, plan a menu and ask that dishes be donated. Volunteers may donate casseroles, salads and desserts. Our guests especially like a variety of pasta and fruit salads.

It takes a crew of at least 10 people to prepare for Fish and Loaves, serve the food and clean up. Volunteers begin at 4:00 with setup, serve food at 5:30 and start clean up at 6:15. There are also opportunities to greet and talk with our guests. For many who attend, the gift of conversation is a blessing.

Several individuals from our church and other community members are regular volunteers and their faithful service is invaluable. In addition, the Sojourner Truth Circle of the United Methodist Women serves on the 5^th Sunday of the month and the Middle School Youth Group volunteers regularly.

All of the leftovers from the Fish and Loaves meals are sent home with our guests. They leave knowing this church has a heart for the community and offers table fellowship with generosity and grace.

I invite you to be in prayer for Fish and Loaves, our volunteers and our guests.

Blessings,

Pastor Sherry