Through-out the year and weekly through the summer Washington UCC along with others serving God through mission have a "Street Feed." We do this when youth mission Workcampers come to spend a week with us. We do this on weekends when churches bring Communion classes to do hands-on ministry. We do this when Covenant Clusters come to do ministry and mission together, united with each other through the love of Christ.

You may have heard some of the controversy about Street Feeds. Principalities have banned us from serving meals in Washington Park. There are many reasons given for why we have been banned - attracting the "wrong" people, leaving a mess, etc. NONE OF WHICH ARE TRUE. This pastor goes around picking up garbage just to be sure nothing is left behind. But, since we work for a higher authority than the Cincinnati Park Board, God opened another door, and sidewalk! The City Gospel Mission! We thank God for the City Gospel Mission and the many ways the Mission is also serving Christ in the community.

The food for the street feed is prepared in Washington UCC's kitchen by the group, taken to the City Gospel Mission sidewalk and served to the homeless and marginalized - the poorest of the poor people. We will continue to do this because feeding the hungry is very basic to who we are as Christians and followers of Christ. It is a part of our mission life-style - and it was a part of Jesus' life-style! It is just that simple - there are hungry people and we have been directed by Jesus to feed them! So we do.

One reason to do this is to open the eyes of those who have never seen the face of homelessness, who have never looked into the face of a child and seen hunger except on TV, who have never seen real loneliness and isolation and desperation in another human being, or hunger - not only for food but for acceptance and assurance. Those who struggle to pay $100.00 a week for an apartment with no lock on the door and overrun with bugs?..those who sleep in ally ways?.those who are longing for an experience of God and may not even know it. But it is so much more than that. It is, in truth, inviting homeless and marginalized, isolated people to the Feast - the banquet.

When we go to invite people to come and eat with us. When we meet the homeless in the park or on the street we look directly in their eyes - we see them as a child of God - a fellow human being - a brother or sister - we treat them with respect - and we act out of love for Christ - and for them.

For most of these women and men, it has been a long, long time since someone invited them to a meal and a conversation - Since someone was interested in spending time with them - listening to them. Since anyone even saw them?..We see them - through the eyes of Christ we see them and in the love of Christ we invite them to a meal. We do not "feed" them - we welcome them and eat with them - we feast with them. We sit side by side and listen to their stories. We connect with them on a very basic level. As the pastor, I am there to pray with them and offer support and we all offer our undivided attention.

We encourage those who come to do mission to look for the face of Christ among those whom some might call the least of these - They will see the face of Christ. We remind them that they will BE the face of Christ to those some might call the least of these.

I think you would agree that sharing a meal in community, being invited to the table just as you are is an important part of our each of our lives - it is how we live.

It is, as in Luke 24:41, in the intimate sharing of food with strangers that we recognize Jesus.

At a Street Feed we are offering ourselves to the homeless and the marginalized. We are offering radical hospitality and extravagant love - exactly what Christ offers each of us - exactly what Christ calls us to offer to others.

In worship preparation for doing a Street Feed we also use Luke 14:12-15:

Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your

brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you

Recently St. Peter's UCC, Carmel, IN, was at Washington UCC for a Youth Mission Workcamp. We gathered the evening before the scheduled Street Feed for worship, focusing on the scriptures included above. Out of this worship/prayer/discussion the phrase Street Feast emerged.

Street Feast

Isn't that really what it is? A feast, certainly for someone who hasn't had much to eat in the last week, but also a feast of community, of sharing, of "being with" those who frankly no one much wants to be with.

A Street Feast - with the Resurrected Christ - the Body of Christ as the hands and feet and heart of Christ - serving Christ - in many, many ways.

If you are involved in a group that would like to hold a Street Feast please contact

Pastor Pam @513/541-7757 or 859/630-7789. You will be blessed beyond measure!

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