NOW
FOR A TOTALLY DIFFERENT
SUNDAY MORNING.
Our
parish has been
looking for a different
way to observe Lent.
We are seeking a
way that is not
about giving up,
but of simply giving.
The third Sunday
of Lent we focused
our attention on
Seton Youth Shelters.
The shelter for
girls age 9-18 is
on the property
of St. Aidan's and
we took the opportunity
to visit their home
as well as hear
about the great
work they do. This
was our look at
the domestic part
of the Foreign
and Domestic Missionary
Society that is
still a part of
the corporate name
of the Episcopal
Church.
 Our
big effort though
was in the foreign
area. As a Lenten
discipline we put
money aside and on
the fifth
Sunday we packed
over 15,000 meals
that will go to Haiti.
We worked through
an organization that
is called Stop Hunger
Now. Stop Hunger
Now is a nondenominational
organization
that has programs
to feed the
hungry in many nations.
They are an
important force in
feeding the hungry
in Haiti. With four
distribution locations
that survived the
earthquake they are
critical to efforts
to feed the people
of Haiti.
The
morning began with
unloading the truck.
The meals are made
up
of rice, protein
powder, dehydrated
vegetables and chicken
flavoring. The rice
comes in 50 pound
bags. All of this
is combined at the
funnel stations
that
were set up inside.
While the truck
was being unloaded
the rest of teh
congregation gathered
for the beginning
of the Liturgy of
the Word and heard
our readings and
the gospel. The
original plan was
to then process
to the parish
hall
to pack the food
instead of the sermon
and return to the
nave for communion.
However, because
of a
dealy in the truck's
arrival we went
ahead and celebrated
communion and then
went to the parish
hall. This is a
flexible group and
it all worked out
in the end.
 (Left)
The
funnel stations are
a 5 person operation.
Each person has a
specific job.One
holds the bag while
each of the other
4 people pour in
the
various ingredients.
The mantra is "rice
goes in last." Next
to the funnel station
is a person with
a scale who weighs
the bag.
 (Right)
Once
weighed,
the bag is then sealed.
At this station we
had three generations
of the Byng and Rue
family working. Mom is
off the to right
helping fill bags.
Grandma and the
grand kids
are sealing the
bags.
  (Left)
After the bags are
weighed
and sealed its out
the door and off
to the boxers.
(Right)
Each
box gets 36 bags
of food. The boxes
are then placed on
a pallet and shrink
wrapped
for shipment to Haiti.
Two generations of
the Smith family
count the bags and
place them in the
boxes.
 
Many
hands make light
work. Almost 150 people
gathered in our parish
hall. One of the
joys of this project
was the large number
of people of a wide
variety of ages helped
out. The fellowship
that has long been
a hallmark of St.
Aidan's was certainly
alive and well this
morning.
You
too can plan a sermon
in motion like this.
Please email Mark for details
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