By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com

Some Crestline churches have decided doctrinal differences shouldn’t interfere with obeying Jesus’ commandment to feed the hungry.

For the past three years, on the last Thursday of every month, a free, hot meal has been provided at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Crestline. Seated in the community room, it is a chance for anyone and everyone to be served a hot, hearty meal by members of the congregation, and to mingle, converse, and provide fellowship to one another.

In the past three years, this act of community building and service has grown considerably. It was originally a solo effort by Trinity Lutheran, but now features help from fellow Crestline churches First United Methodist, the United Church of Christ, and St. Joseph Catholic Church. The venue has remained Trinity Lutheran due to its centrality, ease of access, and handicap accessibility. But it has become a joint effort by the community for the community.

The husband and wife team of Sean and Roberta Vincent were on hand to help conduct proceedings, and they gave some background information about the origins and purpose of this event.

Sean, who is a youth leader in the church, said, “Here at Trinity, we just felt the need for this ministry.”

The meal is completely free of charge, but donations are not turned away. It is a full meal featuring salad, main course, and dessert. Of special importance to Sean was the fact that those partaking in the meal are served their food by the volunteers.

“It’s not a buffet or a cafeteria. We serve the food, we clean the tables. It’s an act of service,” Sean said.

The placement of the meal in the calendar is important as well. By the last Thursday of the month, people on fixed incomes may find themselves growing short of funds. This event provides them a way to receive a hot and hearty meal without further taxing the budget.

Aside from the food, the Volunteers stress the value of the fellowship this coming together brings. The meal officially runs from 5:30-6:30 p.m., but the room is usually crowded well before 5:30, and the mingling continues well after 6:30. They have been averaging between 50 and 75 people, and Sean was to be providing a way for people to get out of the house who otherwise might not.

Roberta Vincent serves as the unofficial coordinator of the event. Especially since the joining of the other churches in October, she has served as the communication hub between the groups to keep the event running smoothly. At the beginning of each month, Roberta and representatives from the other churches meet to plan the next meal. The groups take turns providing the main course, dessert, and other items. Roberta said they always like to be one month ahead so they can announce the next meal at the end of the previous.

Roberta stated that 25 volunteers were in attendance Thursday night, a number that she was clearly quite proud of.

“It’s important to pay attention to the needs of others,” Roberta said.

Among those volunteers were Jean Ness and Jan Maddy, the ladies who since the very beginning have been manning the drink table. They facilitate the distribution of punch, water, lemonade, iced tea and coffee. They joined up when they heard about the event and the call for volunteers. Maddy and Ness stressed the importance of both the service and the fellowship, echoing the idea that this is a social hour for many of the attendees.

“It’s a good service to the community and we’re just happy we can do it,” Maddy said.