Sometimes our blog stories inspire great video stories! On April 9, a Knoxville news station did a story follow-up on Macy Mitchell, the schoolteacher who makes home-cooked meals for senior citizens and others who can’t get out during the pandemic. Macy is a member at Bearden United Methodist Church. We featured Macy’s cooking ministry on... Continue Reading →
Trying to feed people in a world changed by coronavirus
A lot of good people want to help others during the pandemic, but the question is ... How do you do that without spreading the virus? Several United Methodist groups have found what they hope are temporary, safe solutions for getting meals to people who need it. At Kingston United Methodist Church, a group of... Continue Reading →
‘Magic bars’ for hospital workers on the front lines
When the churches were closed due to coronavirus, a couple of youth members at Rye Cove United Methodist Church didn’t want to stop reaching out to the community. Allison Vincent, age 12, and Lindsey Vincent, age 11, are part of a youth group that “absolutely loves to cook,” says their mother. Cooking has been a... Continue Reading →
Finding a need and filling it with love
Macy Mitchell is making it happen. She’s doing what so many other people are doing right now. She found a need during the coronavirus pandemic and is using her gifts and passion to fill it. Macy says it all started when she checked on her 83-year-old grandfather, who admitted he was depressed. “What can I... Continue Reading →
Here’s a story about a connectional sweet potato
It starts with thousands of potatoes that were dropped on the parking lot at Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, on a chilly Saturday morning in January. The potatoes were gleaned by the Society of St. Andrew, which redistributes produce that would otherwise end up in landfill, so that it can be used to... Continue Reading →
Comfort food when you’ve lost a friend
On Friday night, I made two big pans of lasagna. My son said that comfort food was what they needed, and when he thought about comfort food, he thought of lasagna. I had been waiting for such an opportunity, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I didn’t expect it to be so... Continue Reading →
How to show hospitality: Part 2
I appreciate Angel Smith. She wrote me a few weeks ago and offered to share her experience in showing hospitality to church dinner guests. If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’m trying to learn more about serving guests with allergies and sensitivities to gluten. It’s a lot more difficult and complicated than I... Continue Reading →
Remember this for next Christmas! Lasagna angels
On Christmas day, the Rev. Asa Hendrickson Majors posted this photo on her Facebook page. She is associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee. Here's what she said: Just wanted to share this beauty. This is an act of great love from one of our families at church. We aren’t the only... Continue Reading →
Sweet nativities in Kodak
Icy roads caused school to be closed on December 11, but that didn’t stop Kodak United Methodist Church from going ahead with its monthly community dinner. Pastor Melissa Smith says it was only the second time the congregation hosted “Kodak Church Night." Seventy people attended, including eight who are not church members. The idea is... Continue Reading →
Meal ministries in unexpected places
On Thanksgiving weekend, an old school friend sent a message that stoked a thought I’ve been thinking for a while. Ginny Fisler sent a screenshot of a social-media story shared by one of her friends, Roy Mesa. Here’s what Roy said: What a great idea! I wanted to know more, and sure enough, I found... Continue Reading →