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Each week Pastor Sarah blogs on the Scripture for Sunday's upcoming sermon. Use this entry as a way to prepare your heart and mind for worship. See you Sunday!
Sunday's Scripture ~ Matthew 10:40-42.
This week South Shore UMC made two unexpected and very special deliveries to our partners at Restore, a ministry of Riverview First UMC. We received additional items from our July Replenish Restore food drive and SSUMC's Backpacks On A Mission Leadership identified donations from their stock to gift to persons experiencing financial hardship and food insecurities during this time.
I am so grateful for the generosity of this church family. We live in our actions what Jesus said in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:
"'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...'
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you?'
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'"
(Mt 25:35a, 37a, and 40).
As we unloaded our vehicles with the donated items, the Restore volunteers became overwhelmed with emotion. We heard words of gratitude. We heard words of thanksgiving.
We heard words of hope.
One of the leaders shared with us, "We were running low on food this morning. We opened knowing that we might run out before our pantry hours conclude for the day. And then you arrived."
Friends, the food that we share with those experiencing need and loss in our community through Restore is so much more than just food. It is tangible hope. It is physical comfort.
It is assurance of belovedness.
South Shore UMC will host our July Replenish Restore on July 1, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the SSUMC Portico. We welcome the following donations - in paper bags - please:
Canned Beans and Dry Beans
Peanut Butter or other Nut Butters
Rolled Oats
Whole Grain, Low-Sugar Cold Cereals
Canned Fruit (in juice)
Canned Vegetables (no or low-sodium)
Canned Soups and Stews (low-sodium)
Canned Tuna (in water)
Canned Chicken
Nuts and Dried Fruits
Whole Grain Pasta
Pasta Sauce (low-sodium)
Unsweetened Applesauce
Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
SSUMC's 2020 Virtual Vacation Bible School - Knights of the North Tower - will also host Mission: Restore during VBS Week to collect food items as their mission project. Well done, SSKids and SSKidsLeadership!
When we shared news with Restore Leadership that we anticipate two deliveries to the pantry in July, you would have thought it was Christmas morning. Because friends, what we give is so much more than just food.
It is tangible hope. It is physical comfort.
It is assurance of belovedness.
Well done, good and faithful servants.
Prayer: "You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice, so when you call your family, Lord, we follow and rejoice. ... You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be, to serve each other in your name in truth and charity. You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat. Come, give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat."* Amen.
*"You Satisfy the Hungry Heart," The United Methodist Church 629.