Womens Ministry Food & Fellowship
On Sunday, February 18, 2024, the GFC Womens Ministry Committee held a new event — Food & Fellowship. Most of the women who attended brought their favorite prepared recipe to share, as well as a written copy of the recipe to be copied and shared with the other women who enjoyed the dish and wanted the recipe.
There was a good turnout for this event, 25 ladies attended (this included the Women’s Ministry Committee).
Main dishes and sides filled two tables.
Additional activities included food related icebreaker questions to discuss at the table. A fun trivia game to see how many ladies recognized restaurant advertising slogans/jingles. There was a three-way tie of winners for this game.
Desserts and drinks filled one table.
Our pastor’s wife, Beth Alban presented a devotion about “Gathering Around the Table”.
Beth pointed out that in Ephesians 1:4 “He chose us before the creation of the world.” So even before Genesis 1, where God created the world and all that is in it, He chose us so that we would have a relationship with Him.
In the Bible, God also talks about the table in several passages, including Psalm 23, where it says “He prepares a table for us.” God uses everyday things to teach us about himself. Beth also mentioned that in the Song of Solomon, spices are mentioned, something else that goes along with cooking and sitting at the table.
Beth shared that gathering around the table has three purposes: community, conversation, and connection. When we sit around the table, especially when we sit face-to-face, it may sometimes feel awkward, but it enables us to have real, honest communication. It encourages us to be vulnerable. Beth shared how many women often feel like they need to be up and about, preparing food and/or serving the food like in the story of Mary and Martha from Luke chapter 10. Beth said, “Sitting at the table can be awkward, but sitting at the table gives you the opportunity to share real life. Where you can have a relationship. Where you can talk about anything. Where you can share in honesty and intimacy.”
Beth shared how God knows all about us anyway, so we should not feel awkward to be vulnerable and honest when we speak with Him.
Finally, Beth mentioned that in Revelation, Jesus speaks to the Church in Laodicea, and in Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
After Beth’s devotion, the ladies had a time of sharing with one another at their tables before the evening came to a close.