31 Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33
Generosity. Hope. Initiative. Joy. These were a few of my favorite things I witnessed last week during a visit to St. John UMC in Avon for a monthly food ministry, where fresh produce from Camden/Currituck County is shared with Dare County islanders.
It was a remarkable afternoon to watch the generosity of the St. John members as they set up tables, unloaded a full panel truck of produce, and organized the multiple boxes of fresh vegetables before members of the community made their way to the church to fill a basket.
Hope arrived in those baskets of produce and was shared via a Facebook Live post, which was all Pastor Gina needed to let the community know it was time to come to the table.
In the above photo, Pastor Gina Miller and Mrs. Justine Post, Faith and Food Coordinator – Resourceful Communities with the Conservation Fund, celebrate the abundance of food ready to be picked up by members of the community. Through their initiative, Pastor Miller and Mrs. Post created a partnership with Nicole Spruill of the Coastal Food Cooperative in Currituck, who provides the produce.
What are we going to eat? Maybe that was the question the young woman quietly thought as she walked up the table. Maybe that was the question the elderly couple wondered as they slowly got out of their car to make their way to the table. Maybe that was the question on the mind of the man with a carpenter’s apron tied around his waist.
When the good folks who responded to Pastor Gina’s invitation to come to the table started arriving that afternoon, something extraordinary happened. Greetings were shared between neighbors. Smiles broke out across faces. Peace was spoken across the table. Words of thanks were expressed. Complete joy had descended upon the side yard of St. John and I realized, the movements of Sunday worship were happening right there in front of me, outside the walls of the church.
We pray so often, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to experience the answer to that very prayer last week.
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings,
If you would like to view past editions of Driving with David, follow this link:
https://beacondistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/