Yesterday at work I helped host my first big seniors' luncheon. It was a Chinese New Year celebration. A few volunteers did most of the planning, facilitated by my work partner. They planned the menu and ordered the food - about eight different dishes plus desserts. They bought decorations and organized door prizes. They booked entertainers and planned the program for the event. Hours of preparation went into it. When the day arrived, we came to work ready to work hard. We set up the room, put up the decorations, prepared a space for the entertainers to dress and wait, then just in time we were ready to welcome 108 guests. It was a big success. My favourite parts included the decorations, the meal (mmmmm), our own musicians and singers, and the seniors Chinese dancers from a neighbouring commmunity centre. Our member volunteers did the lion's share of running the event, while we ensured they had what they needed to make the afternoon go smoothly. It was a triumph of happiness and community spirit.
Last night at the church, our temporary homeless shelter opened. We are the 4th church out of five to take a turn at hosting this shelter, run by a local society that is working with a federal housing grant. Our rezoning approval came just in time (Tuesday night) and staff at the church and our volunteer coordinator (herself a volunteer) have mustered more than one hundred volunteers to work morning and evening shifts, sort donated clothing, prepare suppers, breakfasts and bag lunches and ensure that information is distributed to our neighbouring homes and businesses about what we are doing. I didn't work at the shelter last night, but I prayed for its success. Tonight, Alex will work the evening shift. I can't wait to hear from him how it went. I'll do early mornings (breakfast and cleanup) twice a week starting on Wednesday. The ladies in the 'hood are donating Wednesday's supper.
In life, there are many feasts that feed our hearts and souls in many ways. I am grateful for this abundance.
question: what is a feast for you?
mompoet - reflecting
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