Library of Congress Copy
Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnson (1864-1952)
IPC food service began mid 1950's by Reverend James English Cousar. Being a downtown church, the purpose of the meal program was to bring people together in fellowship. There are 3 meals each week:
Tuesday: Prayer Breakfast (Avg. 30 in attendance)
Wednesday: Noon Service Lunch (Avg. 65 in attendance)
Sunday: Evening Fellowship Dinner (Avg. 300 in attendance)
Everyone, including the pastors give "suggested donation" for each meal, which covers most of our food and disposable expenses. Since we don't worry about profit margins, we can offer quality, home cooked meals at a low price for families to pay.
Though food service is not necessary, it has be very helpful to our church. We are historic downtown church with 600+ attending every Sunday. Having a meal program has proven to be very effective in keeping our congregation close and connected.
Acts 2:44,47
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Amen and Amen. One of my favorite passages of scripture.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit ArizonaBorn! :) Hope you had a wonderful restful sabbath today?
ReplyDeleteIt is such a small world....My husband just returned from a two week business trip to Savannah, attended two of your fellowship meals, and church worship services two days.
ReplyDeleteI host a fellowship meal after worship the last Sunday of every month...It's pot luck and has been a blessing to our congregation for three years now.
After hearing the details of your fellowship meals I requested from our Session a monthly Wednesday night for the Summer. It was granted.
So tonight I get on the internet to look into "what others are doing" and this website pops up and I click on it, and it's IPC. What a small world.
Anyway, My first will be a potluck and then maybe for the next two I'll will
cater it myself, with a suggested donation, as your site has encouraged me.
Blessings to your and yours,
Ginger, in California
Dear Ginger! Yes, we are all in the palm of His hand. What labor of love to nourish the bodies of God's people. So glad we can connect. And perhaps you can come with your husband on his trip to Savannah next time and we can cook together in IPC kitchen? Don't hesitate to email me; I would be very happy to share any information about large volume cooking. God bless!
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