It is no secret that food is a big part of our Union community life. From sandwich-making to Thanksgiving meals to burrito-rolling and more, food is woven in our external focus. This week's gingerbread house decorating, while not as edible as a brown bag lunch, is another way we are using food to serve our neighbors.
Tell me more, you say? I'm glad you asked. Gingerbread is simply a reason to gather. A reason to be present and a way to be externally-focused. It's another touch point for those in our Union community with Compass House and Play & Learn.
Speaking of Play & Learn, I want to share what is brewing there, as we welcomed the largest group of children and adults so far this fall on December 6. Parents, caregivers, grandparents, neighbors and nannies are coming with their young children. They are finding community and I'm honored to say, that I'm finding community with them, too. It's a give and take and we all win.
As we welcome more folks through the doors on Wednesday mornings, we are finding it's often those who are new to Seattle who walk in. They are looking for a place to take their young child and meet other parents in this city. At Union (and Kakao), we have the opportunity to be that place that creates community for people like G. from Australia awaiting his work visa and his 18- month-old daughter, or for P. from Chile by way of Los Angeles and her toddler daughter, or for G. and the children whom she nannies for, or for A. who has a three-year-old, but dreams of finishing her Ph.d, among others.
So, this weekend, when Tauryn Beeman, Kathy Foster, Renee Notkin, Olivia Hill, Chandra Jamerson, Theo Helt, and Jermaine Harris help to welcome friends from Play & Learn, Compass House, and our larger Union community for this holiday event, you'll know that this gingerbread is a conduit for connection. A venue to serve our neighbors. It is a way to be in the community and be the hands and feet of Jesus, the Bread of Life, in a very delicious way.
It's a externally-focused gingerbread. Bless this food.
John 6:35 (NIV)
"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."