Greenblade - creation - faith - justice

Expansion: Chapters 16-20

Getting one pantry started was just the beginning for Sara Miles.  Rather than congratulate herself and continue on in the same routine, she continues to challenge herself in these chapters.  She starts delivering food to shut-ins for another pantry, she attends a conference with members from her church, she receives an unsolicited grant which she uses to help another pantry start nearby, and she starts cooking for the volunteers before the weekly pantry distribution.  My first reaction was to think, "Of course, these are natural outgrowths of her initial urge to feed."  But then I thought, "Where does she find the time?"  

From the beginning, we know that she has an unconventional job, but you almost wonder if she is doing any other work at all beside "church" these days.  How does she pay her bills?  When does she do her own grocery shopping?  When does she spend time with her partner and child?  Of course, ... MORE

Take this Bread, Chapters 11-15

The "meat " of Sara's story continues in these chapters as she begins organizing and developing  the food pantry at St. Gregory's church.  As I delved into these chapters, I began thinking about my own congregation, a conglomeration of wonderful people who reach out to receive communion every week, but like those at St. Gregory's afraid to step beyond what is comfortable. But Sara's story would not be inspirational if it were not for the struggle and the persistance with which she persued her call to feed the people of the area. 

As I read through her journey of commitee meetings and board meetings and all the resistance she encountered from the congregation along the way, I found myself not only wanting to cheer her on, but also bean her on the head as well.  While there is no doubt trying to get something new started in an already developed organization can be taxing at best, ... MORE

Chs. 6-10: In which Sara takes her first communion

These chapters are, for me, the core of this book. Sara begins her journey as a Christian and as an Episcopalian at St. Gregory of Nyssa,  a famously un-typical Episcopal church. There the founders have opened up worship, "reclaiming the ancient Middle Eastern roots of the liturgy." The result is a setting where the wind of the Holy Spirit blows freely, ready to knock over someone like Sara who, blessedly for the rest of us, is articulate enough to be able to describe the experience. In the chapters we are discussing this week she takes us along for the ride.

Her journey happens within a particular community but within the context of her particular life, with the particular attachments, relationships, and history she brings. It is all going to mean that what begins to happen in chapter 10 makes perfect sense. Just as Gregory of Nyssa celebrates the Eucharist within a living, breathing community, the experience of the ... MORE