Recipient of The Marty Cox Award For Christian Unity
By Pastor Laura Kincaid
Pork loin! Mashed potatoes! Macaroni and cheese! Ham and green beans! All the good comfort food you could want, plus a big scoop of fellowship - this is what God’s Kitchen in Middletown has been serving up on Tuesdays since January of 2018! Winners of the Marty Cox Award for Christian Unity, God’s Kitchen began as the idea of laity and clergy from Wesley UMC and Evangelical UMC who wanted to provide a free meal for the community in Middletown. God’s Kitchen was born and grew to include Highspire UMC, Geyers UMC, and New Thing UMC. It began as an outreach to those in need, but expanded to include anyone in the community who wanted fellowship and a good meal.
All meals are served at Wesley UMC, but each church takes a turn providing the meal and cleanup once a month. There is one central cooperative board that makes the decisions, and one treasurer who keeps track of the funds. The volunteers have been very faithful and cooperative, and the community responded with enthusiasm! The emphasis of the meals has always been interaction, so takeout meals were discouraged unless there was a serious need, and each church was to provide volunteers whose only job was to sit and talk with folks coming to the meals.
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus, the meals at God’s Kitchen are on hold until the Spring. Prayerfully, the folks of Middletown are hoping they can get back to some good eating and connection then!
The enthusiasm of laity like Tina George was key in the dream of God’s Kitchen coming to life. They and the following churches and pastors are recognized by the Bishop’s Committee on Christian Unity and Interfaith Relations for their work in God’s Kitchen:
- Wesley UMC - Rev. Peggy Spengler
- Highspire UMC - Rev. Willie Caraballo-Lopez
- Evangelical UMC - Pastor Bob Graybill
- Geysers UMC - Pastors Stevan Atanasoff
- and Don Walters
- New Thing UMC - Pastor Joanne Darrow
We thank you for your example of the good things that happen when we work together in Christian unity!
