Every Monday at 5pm in St John’s church lounge in Arawata St, there is a free community meal. A wide range of people from across Te Awamutu come together to share company and good food. Members of the Anglican and Catholic churches in Te Awamutu work together to cater the meals.
Julie Guest
As for where the food actually comes from… have you ever heard of the Old Testament story of Elijah and the widow? During a period of severe drought, Elijah was in need of food and a place to stay. God guided Elijah to the widow and directed him ask her to feed and house him. In Elijah’s day it was a requirement to offer food and drink to travellers. So the widow told Elijah she would happily bring him water and bread, but she only had a small jar of flour and very little oil left, and she had a young son to feed. Making a loaf of bread for Elijah would be the end of their food and survival. Elijah promised her that if she shared her flour and oil to bake bread for him, her flour and oil would never run out.
My guess is that she thought he was talking porkies, but she went ahead and followed her cultural tradition – she baked bread for Elijah. And sure, enough, her flour did not run out. Every day she was able to bake bread, enough to feed her son, herself and Elijah.
Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Photo: Sweet Publishing.
Our community meal is like the Elijah story. The people who volunteer to make the meals often do not know where the ingredients are going to come from, but somehow there is always enough. Generosity, the willingness to give what there is, is rewarded through many sources. Some people who can no longer cook meals regularly donate money enabling cooks to buy what’s needed. Local organisations have supported the meal over the years, some local businesses are equally generous. Parishioners with productive gardens contribute what they can, as do those who attend weekly.
And there are surprises. A Hamilton based producer of meat products who can’t store their daily surplus, heard of the community meal and now donates excess meat products.
This meal is open to anyone. Do you know someone who eats alone every night? Why not invite them to come with you one Monday? When I’ve shared this invitation with people, some have replied that they don’t need a free meal. Well, that’s wonderful for them, but the while Monday meal is an opportunity to stretch the budget, it is also about sharing – your food, your conversation, your company. For those who are alone, a place to eat together is as important and valuable as the actual food.
There is also research that shows that sharing meals with others leads to longer life.
Jesus ate with many people across the broad spectrum of society. His demonstrated his love for all people through sharing food and conversation- offering a listening ear and loving presence. Monday night. Come and eat, come and cook, bring a friend. All are welcome.
