Prarie suppers and building community ...

Tonight we held our annual Spring Smorg Banquet ... we usually have a couple of hundred people ... we usually hold it in our Church centre ... we usually regard it as well attended, and enjoy the time of fellowship ...

Tonight we fed over 360 people !!! An enormous number. And we came close to running out of food ... well, we ran out of things like turnips, gravy, stuffing and veggies ... thankfully we fed everyone and no one went away hungry ...

The best part of the night was watching a community come togethe to organize, prepare and serve the meal ... the kitchen was filled with people who rolled up their sleeves and washes, filled, bussed and sorted ... food flowed from the kitchen and the tables were filled. It was great.

There were friends from Rivers, Dauphin, Ochre River, Rivers, Strathclair, Brandon, and almost every point in between ... it was truly awesome. Many came to offer their support to our congregation and to get a meal. The wonderful weather today helped ... but whatever it was that drew the crowd, isn't as important as their presence there. They came, they ate and they helped all of us to continue rebuilding the sense of community that took a beating in the fire.

On the prairies dinners and meals are important ... hanging out on coffee row and getting caught up on the news is important ... any gathering with food and refreshments is important to the life of the community (why else are there community halls all across WestMan??). Tonight we've affirmed the strength of the community around us - thanks to all those who've come and shared a meal with us - and a HUGE thanks to those who made it happen ...

The church is alive and well in Minnedosa ... tonight we've proved it.

dayenu