What do we think of when we hear the word “community”? Our minds might first go to our town of Connersville. However, withing our community of Connersville, Indiana, is another community, a community of believers … followers of Christ.
From its inception in 2014, the Sunday night dinners in Fellowship Hall, known as Community Meals, have taken place with various churches and organizations serving warm, nutritious meals to our neighbors who lack financial resources to provide meals for themselves and their families on a daily basis. Throughout the years, there has never been a lack of volunteers to prepare and serve these meals.
This past year, attendance has remained steady from month to month, with numbers being fewer at the beginning of the month when monthly benefits are received to higher numbers at the end of the month. Meals are served from 5:00 to 6:00, but people can often be seen waiting on the steps outside the door as early as 4:00.
We do receive occasional donations from various sources. One family provides a sizable donation each year with the words, “Feed the hungry.” We have also received various items from the Fayette County Food Council. Each church or organization serving the evening meal provides its own food. We provide the paper products used by servers, as well as occasional contributions of drinks.
What about the guests at Community Meals? You will find a variety of ages and socio-economic levels. All are there in anticipation of a good meal and a sense of community, of belonging. Not only can conversations and laughter be heard, gestures of caring are also evident. For example, the young people sometimes help the older with drinks, pulling out and sliding in the chairs, etc. Most of our guests do not leave without expressing their appreciation to the servers.
Although one of the foremost missions of Community Meals is to serve nourishing meals to our neighbors, it is also to welcome them into the Community of Christ. When Jesus broke bread, he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” We can also extend this to each table of guests on Sunday evenings. Jesus is present as we break bread and share a meal together.