From the Dean’s Desk (and the pen of Rene Jamieson): The Matthew 25 Project

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Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”  (Matthew 25:34-36)
Winnipeg Harvest

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25:31-46, we are told that when Jesus returns he will ask us how we have treated those who are in need. If you’re not familiar with the passage, it’s well worth taking a few minutes to read the whole passage.

At its May meeting, Vestry voted in favour of a motion for this parish to gather food regularly for Winnipeg Harvest. The severity of the past winter and the increasing number of Winnipeggers who need help to feed themselves and their families have Winnipeg Harvest struggling to keep its shelves stocked. The food gathered by Winnipeg Harvest is distributed to families throughout Winnipeg via its network of some 120 volunteer food banks located in churches, community centres, schools, universities, and more.

Many of those families include children, and they rely on Winnipeg Harvest and its network of neighbourhood food banks to stretch their meagre food budgets. We hope that you will join your fellow parishioners in gathering non-perishable food items to help to stock Harvest’s depleted shelves. As you are able, you are invited to bring at least one of the following items: canned fish (tuna or salmon, packed in water), canned meat (ham, chicken, turkey), canned fruit (packed in its own juice),canned vegetables, canned stew, canned chili, canned brown beans, peanut butter (the less added sugar the better), baby food and infant cereal, wholegrain pasta, packaged brown, converted or parboiled rice, canned spaghetti sauce or tomatoes, high fibre/non-sugary cereals (like oatmeal, Shredded Wheat, Weetabix, Red River cereal, Cream of Wheat),and canned soups (particularly lentil, pea or vegetable soups). Look for the boxes and sign in the narthex.

For more information, contact the Matthew 25 Project co-ordinator Ted Ash at ted.ash@shaw.ca

Oh, just one more thing, why not give thanks for the food which you are privileged to eat, every day, each bite, and every sip of clean, safe water? We’ve earned it, we might be tempted to say, but the truth is different: All is gift from God’s gracious hand. God has given enough for all to share in God’s generosity and abundance. To paraphrase a follower of Jesus who was not a Christian, Mahatma Gandhi, there is enough for the need of all, but not enough for the greed of all. So, what else can we say?

Thanks be to God!