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From Intern Beth…

 

I am going to start this month again by taking some time to thank some people in the congregation. Thank you to Merrell Otte for the invitation to and guiding me through the North Vernon Farmers Market. Thank you to Sam, Tyler, and Trey Plumlee for your hospitality and welcome into your home. And a big thank you to the men at BBC who were very patient with me as I (kind of) learned how to play euchre. A final thanks to Olga Otte for the invitation to join her annual Labor Day Party.

 

When I first came to the church many joked that food was the love language of the congregation. The whole church expresses its love and embraces the community of Christ through sharing food and meals together. While that is a strong emphasis here at St Paul, it is also a common tradition throughout the bible. In the Old Testament, we read of individuals gathering to eat and drink together in the presence of God (Exodus 24:9-11) and we hear God telling us to share portions with those who do not have any (Nehemiah 8:9-12). As we move into the New Testament, we read Jesus’ first miracle is through supplying wine for the wedding at Cana, we hear of banquets that are held for Jesus, and we learn that the traditions of meals continued to be shared together with glad and generous hearts (Acts 2:46). Communal meals in the bible are not just about eating, rather they represent a covenant with God and a celebration of the community of Christ.

 

As summer came to an end and we all gathered together to celebrate the start of another school year, we continued in this tradition of gathering around a meal. It was a time where we were able to share stories of lives, watch families and kids play together, laugh and tell jokes, and celebrate the community that Christ has brought together here in Seymour. We read again and again in the Bible of meals where people gathered to be nourished through food and sustained through the presence of God. As you all continue to invite me to join you at the table, I feel blessed to experience and be a part of the holy work that God is doing through you all in this place.