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Heal With a Meal
Pr. Thomas Bryan
As I reflect upon the life and ministry of Jesus and the early church
as they are described in scripture, it becomes apparent that one
of the distinctive marks
of followers of Christ was the way they cared for one another. Jesus took care
of his friends spiritually but also physically. He fed the hungry and healed
the sick. Feeding and healing often go hand-in-hand. It is impossible to get
well if one is not fed.
A meal is one of the most gracious gifts that can be given to a family in crisis;
I know this from first-hand experience. When a family member is hospitalized
or dies, mealtime is the first thing to be disrupted. There is either no time
to cook or very little inclination to prepare a meal. When my wife Audrey was
seriously ill, the meals prepared by members of St. John's were vital. They took
the pressure off thinking about cooking and allowed our family to focus where
we needed to focus.
It was during Audrey's illness that some of the Befrienders began to explore
the possibility of furnishing meals for other members of St. John's who were
going through troubled times. My response: Excellent idea! So, "Heal with
a Meal" began to take shape as an ongoing ministry.
The program is not in any way intended to replace efforts on the part of other
family members or neighbors as they respond to people in need. It is intended
to insure that the hurting are cared for in this very helpful and loving way.
Before this ministry can happen, the Befrienders need your help. Would you be
willing to cook a meal for another individual or family every once in a while?
If so, we need to know. Would you be willing to cook if somebody else would do
the delivering? Or would you be willing to deliver if someone else did the cooking?
Printed below is a simple little form that you can fill in and return to the
office (or drop in the offering plate). Your help is needed and will be greatly
appreciated by all who receive your special gift.
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Yes! I want to help "Heal with A Meal"
_____ Cook meals
_____ Deliver meals
_____ Both cook AND deliver
Name ______________________ Phone # _____________________
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