Dining in and building community

Picture from a community breakfast
at North Emanuel, St. Paul.

Sometimes it takes cooperation to show the neighborhood the value of dining together. A shared meal can build solidarity, strengthen relationships, and enrich lives. Community meals happen all over this synod, but a new effort recently started in the synod’s North Conference is a great example of how inviting communities to dine together can feed and strengthen its members.

Beginning in mid-September, each Monday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. you find people dining together in the fellowship hall at Zion Lutheran in Chisago City. The meal isn’t just for members of Zion. All people in the community are welcome, and no donations are accepted.

This new venture is made possible through the partnership of three ELCA congregations (Zion, Trinity in Lindstrom, and Chisago Lake in Center City) through Christians in Action Team and Family Pathways. The congregations provide volunteers, supplies, and some beverages. Family Pathways provides the food and expertise in coordinating such an effort.

Family Pathways, a grassroots, community-based agency, has been around for over 30 years. It provides senior and youth services and food pantries in 16 counties in central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. It will continue support the meals as long as at least 50 people are consistently fed through this program.

Exciting idea! The meals are a way to feed more than just the physical body as people dine together in community.