I love traditions. They connect us to the past and they often serve to keep us connect to each other. Slowing down to cook for a fundraiser or dinner gives time for fellowship and to take stock of relationships. When I was at the Smyrna ARP church, we started having a once a month Deacon's dinner. On Saturday or Sunday night, the deacons of the church would cook a meal together for the whole church. We had Country Fried Steak, Fried Chicken, Salmon Stew, and Oyster Stew dinners, just to name a few. Those were fun time with wonderful people and really good food.
The Bethany ARP church, near Clover, had a tradition where each fall the men of the church would eat Oyster stew together. Families in the church owned hunting land on the coast and on returning from hunting would bring back several bushels of oysters and make stew. I know this was still going on when I was at Smyrna from 1997 to 2005.
Several Churches have BBQ fundraisers. The Coddle Creek ARP Church has a very famous one from what I hear. This weekend the Shiloh ARP Church in Lancaster is having their annual BBQ. Some would say why do this? Well it is not always about the money. There is something important about men spending time together cooking and serving BBQ. I know some of you are saying "What?" Trust me this is male bonding at its best.
I think that too often we are driven by the bottom line in church. We often think that the goal is to raise money, fix the lights, clean the church, in other words to accomplish the goal. These things need to be done but at the same time when we do them together something else happens that is important. The journey is just as important as the destination. We become a family and we connect with one another. The Shiloh ARP Church men get together every other Saturday during the grass cutting season to eat breakfast and cut the grass together. Now they could pay someone to do this for them, but there is something special about getting together and working together.
Think about this, if you have a new young man in the church and he is willing to come. What an opprotunity for fellowship over breakfast and for him to feel like he is contributing to the church. Even more important is feeling like a part of the church.
These traditions are not just things we always have done or just a way to fund mission projects or youth group trips. These are opportunities to help us bind ourselves together and make new people feel apart of something. It can even remind older missing members part of what they are missing. Yes, these BBQs, Hash Dinners, Hot Dog Suppers, and the like are an important part of our church lives beyond the money raised and the food consumed.
So does your church not have a tradition? Have you not been a part of your church's tradition? Then go get involved. Tomorrow you can get involved by buying some BBQ at Shiloh ARP. You know it has to be good! The BBQ connoisseur is the pastor there.
Good Eatings!
The Hungry Preacher
Comments
Post a Comment