Saturday

 It was a good day.  The morning wiped me out and I knew my energy went for something that mattered. It was Bread and Bowl Day for North folks which happens the second and fourth Saturday of the month. Other groups from other churches work on the first, third and fifth Saturdays.

2 1/2 GALof vegetables are prepared for take-out.  A main dish from Second Helpings is added along with rescued food from schools. More about that coming. 

 I had a super sleep and left home for church a little after 8.  Sarah Ellen and I arrived at the same time.  We always work together for at least the first hour and more, filling part of the take home package that should provide at least two or even three meals over the weekend.  Other folks came and our worker number was good. 

                             We had about 15 minutes to rest and visit before the 11 am opening.  

                                The line was long, and every seat was filled for most of the morning. 

That's at least 40 folks were at the tables most of the hour coming and going during the morning from 11 to 12.  53 take out bags were prepared. 

I want to share information about a ministry that happens at North every Tuesday and Thursday.  There is a group of people from the community who go to the schools and rescue food the children choose not to eat from their prepared school lunch but still remains in their original sanitary package.  It might be fruit, fresh vegetables, sandwiches, milk both chocolate and white naming a few of the items. All still in sealed packaging. What is collected is brought to our church and on Tues. and Thurs., folks come to North and sort what has been collected taking it to many places that provide a free lunch to community folks.  North Church B and Bowl is one of the receivers for their every Tuesday and Thursday invitation to eat with us. Those items are added to the carry out bags. It's a great addition with no cost to the food.  We are grateful for this contribution. Jesus said, "feed the hungry".

Heidi and I spent a few minutes adding visuals in the sanctuary for tomorrow's service.  Darren will preach about the importance of the church and its people.  

Another tapestry made by Doris Douglas.  A shaft of wheat depicts the church with many seeds found in the wheat's head symbolizing the people.  Doris brought this ancient image alive in the pulpit hanging, one of many hangings we are honored to have in our collection. 

We did a bit of reviewing of tonight's Celtic service.  The service starts with a fire before entering the church that will then light a candle for each person. All is ready including a whole lot of candles.  I will help with candle lighting.

The afternoon saw more basketball game entertainment.  Purdue won!  The ladies were impressive with their tenacity in their winning efforts.  I made a run to the drugstore for more meds.  They are keeping me healthy.  I'm thanking God for creating minds that know how to provide solutions that overcome illnesses that took our grandparents and even parents. I am grateful.

The temperatures remain such that inside is better than outside.  One of these days that will change.  It's only March and the choice is either lion or lamb weather.  That goes right along with March Madness.

The garden got some late afternoon attention with me wearing my winter coat.  Weeds are just not a good thing.  Especially if bad flowers are making seeds.  I preened a little bit and then really got going on digging out weeds.  There was way to many but I persevered.  It's a gift, I think, that my mother gave me, letting me work alongside putting vegetable seeds in the ground and eating anything I wanted to eat straight from the garden.  With bare feet I walked on the buried seeds feeling the cool soil as if it were yesterday. 

I found a sprig of asparagus ready to show itself to the world perhaps tomorrow.  Weeds are pretty much gone at this end of the garden.  But a gardener is never really finished.  It's Preen time tomorrow. 

So, the day was a good one.  It was pretty much a lamb experience for me.  Thanks be to God for those breaks and considerably easier than those of the lion variety. Having lion varieties perhaps makes one more appreciative of the lamb variety. Who knows for sure?